​Book Now for Santa Train Rides This Winter

Picture this: Several months from now, when the dark winter has set in, you and your sweet family are enjoying a holiday train excursion on The Polar Express, perhaps with the grandparents or a group of friends. Your kids are over the moon at the prospect of meeting Santa, and there might even be hot cocoa to keep things cozy. The historic train car trundling through the countryside makes for a special afternoon of holiday cheer.

But wait! If you don’t take a moment to book your tickets now, you might miss out on this holiday tradition. Holiday excursions like The Polar Express and Santa train rides tend to sell out. There’s even a brand-new train ride on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.

So, while we apologize for bringing up anything related to the winter holidays before we’ve even picked out our pumpkins or spent the day at a fall festival, now is the time to book your tickets for these Santa train rides.

The Polar Express Train Ride, Chehalis

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Nov. 15–Dec. 21, 2025 (Friday dates available starting Dec. 5)

Location: Excursions depart from the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum, 1101 S.W. Sylvenus St., Chehalis.

Tickets: $66 per person (everyone ages 3 and older needs a ticket; tots age 2 and younger ride free on a lap). First-class group seating is available. Tickets go on sale Sept. 1 and can be booked online.

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum’s popular holiday train excursion, The Polar Express, is not to be missed. On this 75-minute round-trip train ride, families listen to the classic story book “The Polar Express,” by Chris Van Allsburg, while sipping hot cocoa and snacking on treats. At the North Pole, train passengers encounter Santa and his elves. On the trip back to the depot, everyone sings Christmas carols while Santa presents each child with a gift: a silver sleigh bell.

Christmas With the Clauses, Elbe

Dates: Select dates, Nov. 21–Dec. 23, 2025

Location: Trains depart from the Elbe Depot, located at 54124 Mountain Highway E., Elbe. Elbe is about a two-hour drive from Seattle or Bellevue, and a one-hour drive from Tacoma.

Tickets: Coach tickets for adults cost $48–$54; $38–$44 for youth ages 2–17; tots younger than 2 ride free on a lap. First-class tickets start at $68 for adults and $58 for children. Tickets go on sale Sept. 1 and can be booked online.

This year, you can take a brand-new excursion with Mr. and Mrs. Claus themselves on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Elbe. This 75-minute immersive theatrical experience includes a visit with Santa, who will board the train with a gift for each kid. There’s a joyful welcome show at the forest outpost, followed by cookies and hot chocolate with Mrs. Claus on the train ride back. Wear your coziest sweaters and most festive holiday attire, and enjoy the magic of the holiday season.

Yuletide Express Train Ride

Dates: Fridays, Dec. 12 and 19; Saturdays, Nov. 29–Dec. 20, 2025

Location: Board this train at the Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 S.E. King St., Snoqualmie.

Tickets: $30 per person (everyone age 2 and older needs a ticket; tots age 1 and younger ride free on a lap). Book online.

This holiday train excursion is offered by the Northwest Railway Museum. It begins at the historic Snoqualmie Depot where passengers board antique train cars that are all dressed up for the season. While your train chugs along toward a view of majestic Snoqualmie Falls, Santa turns up to give each child on board a small gift and a peppermint stick. Note: Friday rides are 40 minutes round-trip, while Saturday trips are 25 minutes to account for different train capacities.

Santa Limited Train Ride

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Nov. 29–Dec. 21, 2025

Location: Board the train at the North Bend Depot, 205 E. McClellan St., North Bend.

Tickets: $40 per person (everyone ages 2 and older needs a ticket; tots age 1 and younger ride free on a lap). Book online.

The Northwest Railway Museum’s Santa Limited is its longer holiday train excursion. This two-hour train outing has been running since 1969 and is the museum’s most popular seasonal event. Board the Santa Limited at the North Bend Depot and enjoy the ride in a festively decorated antique train car. Travel past the Snoqualmie River and through the woods to the Railway History Campus. There, Santa greets each family and presents each child with a small gift. A Santa Limited ticket includes access to exhibits and hands-on activities all located inside the Train Shed Exhibit Hall. All guests receive a holiday cookie on this train excursion.

North Pole Express

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Nov. 29–Dec. 21, 2025

Location: Railway Museum of British Columbia, 39645 Government Rd., Squamish, British Columbia. (Squamish is about an hour north of Vancouver, British Columbia, or a 3.5-hour drive from Seattle, across an international border.)

Tickets: Prices start at $41 CDN per person; tots age 1 and younger ride free on a lap. Book online.

This holiday train ride takes place in Canada and we’re including it in case your family makes a trek north. Catch the North Pole Express at the Railway Museum of British Columbia in Squamish. The festive 50-minute ride delivers families to the North Pole activity area where they’ll meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and also Marshall P. Bear, the polar bear who’s in charge of Santa’s workshop.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published many years ago and updated most recently on Aug. 28, 2025, by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba. A new Santa train adventure was added and all entries were fact-checked and updated with 2025 pricing and ticket information.