Holiday trains & ‘Polar Express Train Rides’ (2024) - Trains (2024)

By Nastassia Putz | May 23, 2024

| Last updated on May 29, 2024

Spreading holiday cheer along the rails

Holiday trains & Polar Express Train Rides (2024)

Holiday trains & Polar Express Train Rides (2024): It’s never too early to start planning for a magical train ride with family and friends — especially when tickets go on sale during the spring and summer for some venues.

Purchasing a ticket for a holiday ride on a passenger train is a wonderful treat for anyone. The youngsters — and the young at heart, especially — like to gather on a cold, wintry day for a comfy, cozy experience that sparks wonderment in the eyes of all whom truly believe.

Depending on what you’re looking for this 2024 season, there are many different types of holiday trains to choose from. Some where you can meet Santa, visit the “North Pole,” sip hot chocolate or wine in a beautifully decorated vintage passenger car, or, for one magical night, be fully immersed in the classic children’s book, Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Whatever your choice may be, here is a list of the 2023 Polar Express and holiday trains by location.

ALABAMA

ARIZONA

  • Grand Canyon (Williams), thetrain.com (Polar Express & Ultimate Polar Express Nov. 1 to Dec. 30 — on sale now)

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

  • Wilmington & Western (Wilmington), wwrr.com

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

ILLINOIS

  • Chicago Union Station (Chicago) chicagounionstation.com (Polar Express — TBD)
  • Fox River Trolley Museum (South Elgin), foxtrolley.org (Polar Express — on sale June 1, 2024)
  • Illinois Railroad Museum (Union), irm.org
  • Monticello Railway Museum (Monticello), mrym.org (Polar Express — TBD, on sale Sept. 7, 2024)

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

  • Big South Fork Scenic Railway (Stearns), bsfsry.com (Polar Express Nov. 15 to Dec. 23 — on sale now)
  • Bluegrass Scenic Railroad (Versailles), bgrm.org
  • Kentucky Railway Museum (New Haven), kyrail.org
  • My Old Kentucky Dinner Train (Bardstown), kydinnertrain.com

MAINE

MARYLAND

  • B&O Railroad Museum (Baltimore), borail.org (Polar Express — on sale July 20, 2024) (Christmas in July on July 20/21, 2024)
  • Walkersville Southern (Walkersville), wsrr.org
  • Western Maryland Scenic (Cumberland), wmsr.com (Polar Express Dec. 8 to 17 — on sale in July)

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

  • Minnesota Streetcar Museum (Minneapolis), trolleyride.org
  • North Shore Scenic (Duluth), northshorescenicrailroad.org
  • Railroading Heritage of Midwest America & Friends of the 261 (St. Paul), 261.com/npe/npe-sponsorship/

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

  • Great Smoky Mountains (Bryson City), gsmr.com (Polar Express Nov. 7 to Dec. 31 — on sale now)
  • New Hope Valley Railway (New Hill), triangletrain.com
  • North Carolina Transportation Museum (Spencer), nctrans.org (Polar Express Nov. 8 to Dec. 23 — on sale June 6, 2024)

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • South Carolina Railroad Museum (Winnsboro), scrm.org

SOUTH DAKOTA

TENNESSEE

TEXAS

UTAH

VERMONT

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

MULTIPLE STATES

CANADA

Interested in learning a bit more about the Polar Express… check out this online article, “Behind the scenes of Polar Express,” or the more in-depth print version in Trains’ December 2023 issue!

Holiday trains & ‘Polar Express Train Rides’ (2024) - Trains (2024)

FAQs

Do you get off the train on The Polar Express? ›

You are on board the train for approximately 1 hour. Once your experience is over you can spend as much time in our gift shop as you wish but we tend to find guests spend around 15min – 30min here before you head back on the shuttle to the car park. Therefore we find guests are with us around 1:30-2 hours.

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What to expect on The Polar Express train ride? ›

After watching a short live production taken from Chris Van Allsburg's book, The Polar Express, all guests are invited aboard the train. During THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, passengers are served hot cocoa and a cookie, delight in lively songs and dance, and enjoy a reading of the holiday classic, The Polar Express.

Keep Reading ›
What is included in The Polar Express train ride? ›

Passengers enjoy a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg and receive the First Gift of Christmas (a silver sleigh bell) after Santa boards the train to greet families. Attendants lead passengers in caroling and fun holiday activities on the return trip.

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Do you wear pajamas on The Polar Express? ›

What should I wear for THE POLAR EXPRESS™? We encourage our guests young and old to wear pyjamas, just as in the book with a dressing gown for good measure.

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Is there a toilet on the Polar Express? ›

The carriages are stationed so you can't see either end of the train. The carriages were decorated with tinsel and lights and there are toilets on the train. The journey was entertaining with music, dancing chefs, ghost hobo and the conductor. We had hot chocolate and a giant cookie.

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Is it better to ride the Polar Express at night? ›

Consider what time of day you travel. Younger kids may do better on earlier trains, but the last train ride of the evening is arguably the most atmospheric when it's darker outside, the train cars seem cozier, and you can see the holiday lights better.

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Is The Polar Express ride worth it? ›

Honestly, we had the best time and everyone was so friendly and in character and everything was executed so well. It was definitely a wonderful and festive way to kick off the holiday season. You could REALLY feel the magic of Christmas!

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Is it cold on The Polar Express train? ›

The weather can be cold at the North Pole, so we recommend layering properly, even though all the cabins are heated aboard the train. As always, we recommend wearing pajamas to capture the Christmas spirit! Click below for more frequently asked questions about THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train. Book Now!

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What is the difference between standard and premium on The Polar Express train ride? ›

Premium Class is the luxurious way to travel on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Passengers enjoy plush, booth seating at tables of four which are located in the upper level of our dome car with panoramic windows. Based on the number of people in the party, passengers may be seated at multiple adjacent tables.

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What do you need to bring on The Polar Express train ride? ›

We encourage families to dress in warm pajamas and bring your The Polar Express book for the Conductor to sign if you wish. Be sure to dress warmly enough to walk comfortably to and from your car, and make sure that everyone is wearing appropriate footwear.

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Do you get food on The Polar Express? ›

Every customer travelling on the POLAR EXPRESS™ will receive Hot chocolate, a cookie and the sleigh bell from Santa, (the first gift of Christmas). Customers in the premium carriages will also receive the special ceramic mug each and the special POLAR EXPRESS™ bag (per pair of seats).

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Does the train move on The Polar Express? ›

Yes, the train does move. You will be on-board for approximately 1 hour.

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How long are you on The Polar Express train? ›

We ask guests to arrive at the check-in time shown on your e-ticket at the park and ride this gives us enough time to shuttle you to site and for you to grab a bite to eat if you wish. You are on board the train for approximately 1 hour.

Read On ›
Do you eat on The Polar Express? ›

Passengers are served hot chocolate and Walker's Shortbread by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the classic book by Chris Van Allsburg, and receive the First Gift of Christmas after Santa boards the train to greet families.

Get More Info ›
Do you get a bell on The Polar Express train ride? ›

Santa and his helpers board the train to greet passengers and each guest is given the first gift of Christmas – a silver sleigh bell.

Learn More Now ›

References

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