Santa trains, Polar Express runs and North Pole Expresses — the family season on rails, November to Christmas.
From mid-November, excursion railways across America hang the lights, load the hot chocolate and hand the railway over to Santa. These are the biggest family dates of the railway year — and the ones that sell out first, sometimes within days of tickets opening. Every train below runs a holiday program according to its operator; dates are set each fall, so book from the operator's site as soon as their calendar opens.
About the Polar Express name. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ is a licensed production — the name belongs to the licence, not to any Christmas train with hot chocolate. In this calendar it is billed under that name by the operators themselves at 11 railways: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (Durango, CO); Grand Canyon Railway (Williams, AZ); Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (Bryson City, NC); Texas State Railroad (Palestine, TX); Adirondack Railroad (Utica, NY); Catskill Mountain Railroad (Kingston, NY); Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (Cumberland, MD); Chehalis-Centralia Railroad (Chehalis, WA); Branson Scenic Railway (Branson, MO); French Lick Scenic Railway (French Lick, IN); Big South Fork Scenic Railway (Stearns, KY). Every other railway here runs its own holiday trains under its own names — Santa trains, Christmas Expresses, North Pole Expresses. Best Train Rides is an independent guide, not affiliated with any of them.
Strasburg, PA · Northeast
SeasonNearly year-round; Christmas trains November 21 to December 24, 2026
Steam through Amish country: rides from Strasburg through the Lancaster County farmland of Pennsylvania, running nearly year-round — with Christmas trains from November 21 to Christmas Eve.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Essex, CT · Northeast
Season2026 operating schedule runs spring through fall, plus holiday trains
Steam train and riverboat in one ticket: a 2.5-hour combined excursion through the Connecticut River valley from Essex, running spring through fall with holiday trains — plus the named Essex Clipper Dinner Train on select dates.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Utica, NY · Northeast
Season2026 schedule published; Polar Express November 22 to December 20, 2026 from Utica
From Utica into the Adirondack Park: excursion trains on a published 2026 schedule, fall trips into the park, and a Polar Express from November 22 to December 20.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Kingston, NY · Northeast
SeasonSpring through fall excursions plus Polar Express
Round trips from Kingston, New York, through the Catskill foothills — spring through fall excursions, fall foliage trains, and a Polar Express in the holiday season.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Arcade, NY · Northeast
SeasonWeekends Memorial Day Weekend through the last full weekend of September, plus fall and holiday specials
New York State's only regularly operating steam-engine passenger excursion railroad, by its own billing: weekend trains from Arcade, Memorial Day weekend through the last full weekend of September, plus fall and holiday specials.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Wilmington, DE · Northeast
SeasonMost weekends April through December
Delaware's heritage line through the Red Clay Valley: trains most weekends April through December — the Santa Claus Express, the Autumn Leaf Special and the Holiday Lights Express among them.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Rockhill Furnace, PA · Northeast
SeasonRegular excursions February 14 to October 30 (steam Fri–Sun, diesel Wed–Thu in main season), plus February Winter Spectacular and December holiday trains
A narrow-gauge railroad preserved in place at Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania — steam Friday to Sunday and diesel Wednesday and Thursday in the main season, February 14 to October 30, plus a February Winter Spectacular and December holiday trains.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Walkersville, MD · Northeast
SeasonRegular trains weekends May through October; charters and special trains all year
A small Maryland heritage line out of Walkersville: regular trains on weekends May through October, with charters and special trains — Santa trains among them — running all year.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Cumberland, MD · Northeast
SeasonFrostburg Flyer operates May through October; Polar Express November 21 to December 24, 2026
The Frostburg Flyer from Cumberland, Maryland, operating May through October — and a Polar Express from November 21 to Christmas Eve.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Bryson City, NC · Southeast
SeasonYear-round excursion calendar with seasonal specials
Two excursions from Bryson City, North Carolina — into the Nantahala Gorge and along the Tuckasegee River — on a year-round calendar of seasonal specials, headlined by the licensed Polar Express.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Cass, WV · Southeast
SeasonSpring through fall regular season, plus Christmas at Cass holiday trains
Shay steam up the mountain: geared locomotives work vintage logging cars out of the old company town of Cass, West Virginia, from spring through fall, with Christmas at Cass trains to close the year.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Versailles, KY · Southeast
SeasonTrains Saturdays May through October, plus December Santa trains
An 11-mile, 1.5-hour round trip from Versailles, Kentucky, to Young's High Bridge over the Kentucky River — trains on Saturdays May through October, plus December Santa trains.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
New Haven, KY · Southeast
SeasonExcursions spring through December; Santa Claus Express December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20
Excursions on the L&N's historic Lebanon Branch from New Haven, Kentucky — 1.5-hour trips spring through December, closing the year with the Santa Claus Express.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Bardstown, KY · Southeast
SeasonYear-round on varied schedules
Dinner is the destination: 2.5-hour, 35-mile round trips from Bardstown, Kentucky, in restored 1940s dining cars, running year-round on varied schedules — holiday excursions included.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Stearns, KY · Southeast
SeasonRegular season April through October, plus Polar Express at Christmas
A three-hour round trip from Stearns, Kentucky, down to the Blue Heron Mining Community on the historic Kentucky & Tennessee line — April through October, plus a Polar Express at Christmas.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Nashville, TN · Southeast
SeasonExcursion dates throughout the year; 2026 events run through December 19, 2026, with 2027 events already listed
Mainline-style excursions from Nashville, Tennessee, through the year — fall foliage trips to Watertown, a Santa Express in the holidays, and trains that, in the operator's own words, sell out quickly.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Knoxville, TN · Southeast
SeasonSeasonal only — currently the Christmas Lantern Express (Black Friday to December 23); no spring/summer trips
A holiday-season specialist: Knoxville's Three Rivers Rambler currently runs essentially one production — the Christmas Lantern Express, from Black Friday to December 23 — with no spring or summer trips, and its listing says so.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Hill City, SD · Midwest
SeasonDaily mid-May to mid-October, plus Holiday Express November 25 to December 27, 2026
The 1880 Train between Hill City and Keystone, South Dakota — daily from mid-May to mid-October through the Black Hills, plus a Holiday Express from late November to December 27.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Duluth, MN · Midwest
SeasonLate May through fall, plus Christmas City Express November 27 to December 20, 2026
Along Lake Superior's shore from Duluth, Minnesota — excursions from late May through fall, a named Elegant Dinner Train, and the Christmas City Express from late November to December 20.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Boone, IA · Midwest
SeasonThursday–Sunday, Memorial Day weekend to October 31, plus Santa Express November 27 to December 20, 2026
Iowa's excursion line out of Boone, crossing the high Bass Point Creek trestle — Thursday to Sunday, Memorial Day weekend to October 31, with a named dinner train and a Santa Express to close the year.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Peninsula, OH · Midwest
SeasonYear-round excursion calendar; Fall Scenic in October and North Pole Adventure in November–December 2026
A train through a national park: year-round excursions from Peninsula, Ohio, through Cuyahoga Valley National Park — Fall Scenic trains in October and the North Pole Adventure in November and December.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Branson, MO · Midwest
SeasonExcursions March through November plus Polar Express; dinner trains April through October, Saturday evenings only
Out of Branson, Missouri, through the Ozarks: excursions March through November, dinner trains on Saturday evenings April through October, and a Polar Express in the holiday season.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
French Lick, IN · Midwest
SeasonExcursions through the year plus Polar Express
The Indiana Railway Museum's railroad at French Lick: excursions through the year, headlined in the holidays by a Polar Express.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Nelsonville, OH · Midwest
SeasonRegular weekend trains May through October, plus themed trains across the year
Weekend trains from Nelsonville, Ohio, May through October — plus a themed calendar across the year: robbery trains, dinner trains, October fall foliage, Santa trains and a New Year's Eve train.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Wellington, OH · Midwest
SeasonEvent trains only: Easter, June Railroad Heritage day, three October fall weekends, Santa Trains November 28 to December 13, 2026
Event trains from Wellington, Ohio — Easter, a June Railroad Heritage day, three October fall weekends and Santa trains. Rides are currently short (about two miles) while track work continues, and labelled so.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Durango, CO · Colorado
SeasonYear-round operation with seasonal schedules; Polar Express and Cascade Canyon Winter Trains begin November 20
The narrow-gauge icon: steam through the Animas River gorge between Durango and Silverton, running year-round on seasonal schedules — winter brings the Cascade Canyon trains, and from November 20 the licensed Polar Express.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Georgetown, CO · Colorado
Season2026 season opened March 20, 2026, running into the holiday season
An engineering marvel rebuilt: trains cross the Devil's Gate high bridge between Georgetown and Silver Plume, Colorado, on a season that opens in March and runs into the holidays.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Heber City, UT · Mountain West
SeasonYear-round excursions; North Pole Express November 16 to December 30, 2026
Utah's heritage line out of Heber City, running excursions year-round — and one of the country's bigger holiday productions, the North Pole Express, from mid-November to December 30.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Ely, NV · Mountain West
SeasonSeasonal themed trains through the year; Santa's Reindeer Flyer November 21 to December 26
A museum that runs a real railroad: full-size themed excursions from the East Ely depot in Nevada through the year — with Santa's Reindeer Flyer from November 21 to December 26.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Virginia City, NV · Mountain West
SeasonSeasonal operation May through fall, plus Candy Cane Express November 29 to December 20, 2026
The Comstock Route: a 35-minute ride from Virginia City toward Gold Hill, Nevada, May through fall, with a Candy Cane Express in December. The longer Carson City–Virginia City route is a separate operator, listed separately when verified.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Chama, NM · Southwest
SeasonRegular season late May to late October (2026 start delayed to June 9 by drought/wildfire conditions); December Santa Trains
Two-state narrow gauge over 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass, from Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado — a full-day ride from late May to late October, a named dinner train among its featured trips, and Santa trains in December.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Williams, AZ · Southwest
SeasonDeparts daily year-round (except December 25)
The classic way to arrive: a daily, year-round train from Williams, Arizona to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon — closed only on December 25 — with a Polar Express season from November into January.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Palestine, TX · Southwest
SeasonExcursion season March through December, including Polar Express
Steam and diesel through the Piney Woods: a four-hour round trip between the historic depots at Palestine and Rusk, Texas, running March through December — with a Polar Express to finish the year.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Grapevine, TX · Southwest
SeasonMost Saturdays and Sundays mid-February through mid-November (Fridays added in summer); closed December 31 to February 22 for maintenance; North Pole Express in December
The Cotton Belt Route from Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards: trains most weekends from mid-February to mid-November, and a North Pole Express in December.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Elbe, WA · Pacific
SeasonSteam excursions February through October 2026; Christmas Train November 21 to December 23
Back in operation and, by its own account, entering its third year: steam excursions from Elbe, Washington, February through October — and a Christmas Train from November 21 to December 23.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Chehalis, WA · Pacific
SeasonExcursions spring through fall, plus Polar Express November 14 to December 20, 2026; dinner trains on select dates
Excursions from Chehalis, Washington, spring through fall — currently diesel-hauled while steam locomotive No. 15 undergoes repairs, and labelled so — with dinner trains on select dates and a Polar Express.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Garibaldi, OR · Pacific
SeasonExcursions spring through fall, plus Candy Cane Express November 27 to December 23, 2026
Along the Oregon coast from Garibaldi: excursions spring through fall, and a Candy Cane Express from November 27 to December 23.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Sunol, CA · California
SeasonRegular rides on select weekends March through October 2026; Train of Lights November 20 to December 30, 2026
Diesel and steam through Niles Canyon from Sunol, California, on select weekends March through October — and the Train of Lights, November 20 to December 30, which sold out in 2026.
Official site ↗✓ Last verified: November 2026
Earlier in the year: the same railways run their most scenic trips in autumn — see the fall foliage calendar.
