It’s the time of the year for your little train engineer to enjoy holiday trains in and around Washington, DC, this holiday season. Many of the trains featured in the DC Area Moms’ Trains to See and Trains to Ride: The Ultimate Guide to Trains in the Washington, DC Area offer special holiday events. Our favorites are listed below.
9 Amazing Holiday Train Experiences
1. Holly TrolleyFest at the National Capital Trolley Museum
1313 Bonifant Rd., Colesville, MD
Take a streetcar ride with Santa at the National Capital Trolley Museum’s Holly TrolleyFest on Saturdays & Sundays November 29 – Dec 21, 10:30 am to 5 pm. Reservations are required for ticketed admissions every 30 minutes from 11 am through 5 pm. A ride is also available on December 22nd with admission from 10:30 am through 2:30 pm.
The Museum is open for the Holly TrolleyFest. Tickets include one trolley ride. (Admission is $12 per person, under 2 free). Ride the Street Cars, Visit Santa, and see the Winter Garden Railway.
2. B&O Railroad Museum
901 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD
A true gem year-round, the B&O Railroad Museum is also the Grand Dame of holiday trains. The Polar Express Train Ride is from November 28-29 & December 6-7, 13-14, 19-23, 2025 at various times from 10 am to 7 pm. Tickets range from $45-120.
B&O also offers the Holiday Festival of Trains. Kids can take a ride on the Reindeer Railway on November 24-26 & 30 and December 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-23, & 26-31. The museum will be open 10 am through 4 pm. Tickets cost $28 for Adults and $18 for Children (2-12). B&O is also a part of Museums for All with admission only being $1 with snap/EBT card at the door!
3. The Polar Express at Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
13 Canal Street, Cumberland, MD
Go on a 1-hour Polar Express journey to The North Pole with Western Maryland Scenic Railroad on December 8th, 9th, & 10th departing from Frostburg Station OR take a steam powered train on November 21st – December 23rd, 2025. Steam Engines are November 21–23) and Diesel are November 28–Dec 23. Advanced tickets (starting at $40) are required and available online. Children 2 and under are FREE!
Inspired by the classic children’s book The Polar Express, get your golden ticket punched by the conductor, sip hot chocolate and cookies in your pajamas on your way to The North Pole, and go home with a silver sleigh bell from Santa. There are several options for the experience like coach class, deluxe class, table car class, lounge class, and dome class.
4. The North Pole Express at Potomac Eagle
Join Mrs. Claus for milk, cookies, and caroling on a journey to meet Santa on The North Pole Express at Potomac Eagle on a 75 minute train ride. Book November 21-23, 28-30, December 5-7, 12-14, 17-23. Experience the magic of the Christmas season as Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad presents “Yes, West Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” “The Potomac Eagle Saves Christmas,” and characters from “The Nutcracker.”
Availability varies by date but generally is at 3 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm. General tickets are Adults $62, Kids (2-12) $52, and lap children (23 months and under) are free—but need a ticket. First Class tickets are Adults $72, Kids (2-12) $62, and lap children under 2 are free—but need a ticket.
They suggest arriving two hours before departure time to fully enjoy the festivities!
5. U.S. Botanic Garden
100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC
This year, the U.S. Botanic Garden display will have the holiday trains outside again for all of us to enjoy. The display featuring the monuments was inside. The holiday display will run from November 27 through January 5, 2026. This has always been FREE and open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm indoors or outside in the garden. We recommend getting there early to avoid the crowds! This year’s theme is DINOSAURS!
6. Virginia Railway Express
1500 King Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA
Back this year, the VRE’s Santa Train is an incredible trip for just $5! This one-day excursion on December 13th, you won’t want to miss it! Tickets are available in person on Monday, December 1, 2025 from 10am to 12pm at designated vendor locations. And online tickets will be available starting Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10am through Eventbrite. This event SELLS OUT quickly, so make a plan to get tickets fast.
7. Northern Central Railway of York
2 West Main Street, New Freedom, PA
The Northern Central Railway offers several experiences this fall and winter. Hop aboard the Santa Express at various times December 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22. Tickets are $44.99 for adults age 13 years and older and $29.99 for children ages 2-12. Or enjoy the Christmas Elves Express on November 29-30 and December 1 only at various times. Or enjoy Fall Foliage Excursions NOW!
8. Walkersville Southern Santa Train
34 West Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville, MD 21793
The Walkersville Southern Railroad offers an adorable Santa Train Experience November 28-30 and December 7, 13-14, and 20-21 at 11 am, 1:30 pm, and 4 pm. Tickets are required and must be purchased in advance. Rides are 1 hour and 10 minutes. Children under age 2 are free if they ride on a lap. Children’s tickets start at $28.
9. Christmas at Strasburg Railroad
The Strasburg Railroad creates MANY train experiences for families to enjoy this holiday season. Tickets start at $29 for children. Infants under age 1 are free!
- Santa Claus Limited runs Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays for the first three weeks of December.
- Santa Paradise Express Coach is on weekends only in November and December as well as December 22, 23, and 24. This experience offers a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a gift from Santa, a cookie, hot chocolate, and an atmosphere of fun with decor and musicians.
- The Night Before Christmas experience recreates “The Night Before Christmas” Book. Santa is not aboard, but everyone gets milk and a cookie! This happens two days in November and select days in December.
- Christmas Caboose Charter offers a 45 minute ride on November 28th only!
Have the best time this holiday season with these outstanding train experiences! Nearly all of the holiday train experiences are non-refundable. Get your tickets now and if something comes up and you aren’t able to attend, consider it a donation to keeping the trains in tip top shape!
Enjoy these fantastic holiday train experiences with your kids and please tag us @dcmoms on Instagram!
