9 Christmas Train Rides in North Carolina (All Aboard!)

Published by Carl. Last Updated on November 15, 2024.

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This travel guide features Christmas Train Rides in North Carolina that will get you into the holiday spirit!

Jump to List of Christmas Train Rides in NC

The Christmas season is full of joyous, festive occasions, and North Carolina is no stranger to the holiday spirit.

One of the best ways to celebrate Christmas here is by embarking on one of the Old North State’s lit-up and decorated Christmas train rides.

These enchanting rail journeys provide families and friends with an unforgettable Christmas experience amid scenic views, twinkling lights, and holiday treats. Train rides are offered across the state, and this article lists some of our favorites.

While reading, we suggest you pair this article with a cup of hot cocoa and a peppermint candy cane. We’ll wait.

Now that you’re ready to find the holiday spirit, let’s hop onto our favorite Christmas trains in North Carolina.

List of Christmas Train Rides in North Carolina Featured in this Guide

We organized these NC Christmas train rides alphabetically by the town or city where they’re happening:

Meadow Lights (Benson)
Tweetsie Christmas (Blowing Rock)
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (Bryson City)
Carolina Christmas Train at Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway (Candor)
Museum of Life and Science (Durham)
Kannapolis Winterland Express
Santa’s Reindeer Roundup at New Hope Valley Railway (New Hill)
Pullen Park (Raleigh)
NC Transportation Museum (Spencer)

Meadow Lights

Address: 4546 Godwin Lake Rd, Benson, NC
2024 Dates: November 22, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Event Info

Meadow Lights in Benson is one of our favorite Christmas lights displays and the perfect start for this guide. Admission is free, but for $3 per person, you can take a train through the lights, which all of us train lovers enjoy.

After the Christmas train ride, spend time at the old-fashioned carousel, which always adds to the fun.

Of course, this Johnston County attraction had us at “train,” and that’s a big reason why we’ll keep coming back.

Read More: The Best Day Trips from Raleigh

Tweetsie Christmas

Address: 300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC
2024 Dates: November 29 and 30, December 1, 6 to 8, 13 to 15, 18 to 23, and 26 to 30
Ticket Info

Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock is one of our favorite attractions in Western North Carolina. The Wild West-themed amusement park offers a great experience year-round, but the park transforms into a magical winter wonderland during the Christmas season.

Every year, Tweetsie Christmas opens for select evenings and you can celebrate the holidays on the park’s signature historic steam train as it chugs along underneath thousands of dazzling Christmas lights.

In addition to the Tweetsie Railroad Christmas train ride, families can visit Santa’s Gingerbread House and kids can tell their Christmas wishes to Santa himself. Visitors can enjoy the park’s plethora of amusement rides, live entertainment, Christmas shows, and holiday treats.

Tickets are $60 for adults (age 13+), $40 for children aged 3-12, and free for children under 2. Ticket prices include admission, one ride on the Christmas Train, amusement rides, Santa’s Gingerbread House, and live entertainment.

Parking is free.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Address: 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC
2024 Dates: November 11 to December 31
Ticket Info

Embrace the holiday spirit with a front-seat view of the majestic Great Smoky Mountains. The historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in Bryson City offers train rides throughout this stretch of Western North Carolina all year-round.

With 53 miles of track, the railroad meanders through the Smokies, Nantahala Gorge, Fontana Lake, the Tuckasegee River, and many other top attractions.

In November and December, enjoy a special ride on the Polar Express Train, inspired by the popular Christmas movie of the same name. The Polar Express is a 1.25-hour excursion throughout WNC and to the North Pole!

There are several classes of train cars to book, but all passengers can enjoy hot cocoa from the train’s chefs, meet Santa, and receive a small gift!

Prices for the Coach Class start at $44 and increase with each tier to $249 for First Class.

Carolina Christmas Train at Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway

Address: 967 NC Hwy 211 E, Candor, NC 27229
2024 Dates: December 4 to 9 and 13 to 20
Ticket Info

Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway is the state’s largest private regional railroad.

The railway runs from Charlotte to Raleigh to Pinehurst and specializes in freight loads. During the holiday season, the railroad offers a Christmas-themed passenger ride through Central North Carolina.

The historic passenger cars are decked out in Christmas decorations, with cozy seating and large windows for great views. Passengers can choose from the Summit View train car or the Double Diner car, both of which come with hot chocolate, cookies, and visits from Santa.

Train rides are approximately 50 minutes and the tickets start at $49. Book your ticket and train ride here.

Holidays in the Park at Durham Museum of Life and Science

Address: 433 W. Murray Avenue, Durham, NC
2024 Dates: November 30, December 1, 4, 6 to 8, 11 to 15, 18 to 22, 26 to 29
Ticket Info

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham lights up for the holiday season with glowing trees and colorful light displays throughout.

General admission to the Museum’s holiday celebration is $17, with an extra $3 for the train ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway.

General tickets include entry to the museum’s campus from Butterfly House to Dino Trail, holiday music and lights, a synthetic ice rink, candy canes, and more.

The train ride also opens the door to a woodland winter wonderland and is a wonderful experience for the whole family.

Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express

Address: 401 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC
2024 Dates: November 16 to December 30 (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day)
Ticket Info

Each night is a spectacular adventure in downtown Kannapolis during the month-long Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express.

The annual celebration located at the Village Park boasts over 250,000 lights, marshmallow roasting and s’mores, and Christmas carols from local singing groups.

Kannapolis’ Winterland Express promises passengers a train ride through the dazzling lights. From Sunday through Thursday, the train operates from 6 to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets can only be bought online for train rides during the week. On Friday and Saturday, tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis in person.

Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express at New Hope Valley Railway

Address: 3900 Bonsal Rd. New Hill, NC
Dates: December 7, 8, 14, 15, and 21
Ticket Info

The North Carolina Railway Museum operates the New Hope Valley Railway in New Hill, a small community near Holly Springs and Apex.

The passenger railroad has become known as the “Triangle’s Train,” and travels four miles of historic track through southeastern Wake County.

For a few select dates in December, the Triangle’s Train becomes the Reindeer Roundup Express. This holiday-themed train ride runs five trips on these days. Passengers can enjoy the holiday decor while helping Santa find and round up his missing reindeer along the train route!

Tickets start at $16 and can be purchased online here.

Read More: The Best Day Trips from Durham

Pullen Park

Address: 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh, NC
2024 Dates: December 2 to 18
Ticket Info

Pullen Park in Raleigh was North Carolina’s first public park, established in 1887, and the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the country. Its 66 acres contain a lake, amusement park, sporting grounds, and green space.

During the holiday season, the historic park transforms into a winter wonderland with its annual Holiday Express event. The Holiday Express features a Christmas-themed train ride, festive decorations, and live music in addition to the park’s year-round attractions.

The Holiday Express train ride is one of the Triangle’s most popular holiday events, and tickets often sell out weeks in advance. The train meanders through the park, gliding under shimmering lights and a clear sky.

NC Transportation Museum

Address: 1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer, NC
Dates: November 8 to 10, 15 to 17, 22 to 24, 29 to 30 and December 1, 6 to 8, & 12 to 23
Ticket Info

A list of holiday train rides would not be complete without including the NC Transportation Museum, the state’s dedicated institute for all things transportation.

Visitors to the Transportation Museum can not only take a train ride, but they can learn about trains, planes, and more in a fun environment.

On select weekends in November and December, passengers can embark on a festive ride on the Museum’s Polar Express Train. Drawing from the classic Christmas tale, the train ride is a festive experience complete with a dramatic reading of the Polar Express, hot cocoa, cookies, and a visit from Santa Claus.

The entire family, from couples to kids, will enjoy this mystical ride.

When booking your ticket, choose from Train A or Train B. Train A has the only Parlor Class train while both trains have Standard, Deluxe Coach, and First Class. The trains run at different times throughout the offered dates, and you can check the availability here.

Ready to Hop On One of these Christmas Train Rides

These festive Christmas train rides are the perfect way to kick up the holiday spirit. We’re always looking forward to riding the rails with a cup of hot chocolate while we wait to meet Santa.

If you plan to hop on any of these trains, we’d love to hear about your experience. Let us know in the comments and remember to share your adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!