We found six Christmas trains within a drive of Chattanooga with 2026 dates posted: one Polar Express ride, four Santa trains and one holiday lights train. The closest, North Pole Limited, is in Chattanooga. Each card has the dates, times, the ages it suits, the price as the operator lists it and whether you need to book ahead.
By date
Filter by kind of ride, then tap one for dates, ages, price and how to book.
Polar Express · to Jan 3 · Bryson City, NC · about 110 miles away7NovSatStone Mountain Christmas trainLights train · to Jan 3 · Stone Mountain, GA · about 110 miles away13NovFriNorth Pole LimitedSanta train · to Dec 23 · Chattanooga, TN21NovSatSanta and Mrs. Santa Arrive by TrainSanta train · 11 a.m.–3 p.m. · Duluth, GA · about 100 miles away27NovFriHoliday ExpressSanta train · to Dec 24 · Blue Ridge, GA · about 55 miles away5DecSatHiwassee Holiday TrainSanta train · to Dec 22 · Delano, TNNothing matches that filter yet.
Train rides
Dates, ages, price and booking notes come from each railroad, zoo or park’s own page. The area line shows where you board.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad · Bryson City, NC · about 110 miles away
Stone Mountain Park · Stone Mountain, GA · about 110 miles away
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum · Chattanooga, TN
Southeastern Railway Museum · Duluth, GA · about 100 miles away
Good to know: Train rides, family portraits and treats after the Clauses arrive.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway · Blue Ridge, GA · about 55 miles away
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum · Delano, TN
Before you go
TicketsBook as soon as you canPolar Express and Santa trains often sell out weeks ahead, weekend evenings first.
DressPajamas are part of itMany Polar Express rides invite kids to come in pajamas. Bring a warm layer for the platform.
TimingPick a ride before bedtimeEarly departures are easier with toddlers. Late lights trains are better for older kids.Keep planning
November: things to do in ChattanoogaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in ChattanoogaEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in ChattanoogaFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in ChattanoogaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in ChattanoogaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in ChattanoogaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in ChattanoogaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in ChattanoogaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in ChattanoogaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in ChattanoogaWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
Birthday party places in ChattanoogaStarting prices, ages and what’s included
This week in ChattanoogaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Bryson City, NC · about 110 miles away: Nov 6 – Jan 3. Price: Starting at $44; Crown, Premium Crown and First Class cost more.
North Pole Limited (Chattanooga, TN): Nov 13 – Dec 23. Santa and Mrs. Santa Arrive by Train (Duluth, GA · about 100 miles away): Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Holiday Express (Blue Ridge, GA · about 55 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 24. Hiwassee Holiday Train (Delano, TN): Dec 5 – Dec 22.
Stone Mountain Christmas train (Stone Mountain, GA · about 110 miles away): Nov 7 – Jan 3.
None on this page warns about it right now. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Chattanooga that weekend, holiday trains included.
