Christmas trains 2026Grand Rapids · Furniture City

Christmas train rides near Grand Rapids, 2026.

In 2026, Polar Express and Santa train rides near Grand Rapids run Nov 20 through Dec 22, from $15. North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225 at Steam Railroading Institute starts Nov 20, tickets from $85. Santa Express at Southern Michigan Railroad starts Nov 28, tickets $15–$175. Little kids 0–2 free.

The quick answersChecked
Shortest ride?North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225: 4 hour 45 minutes.4 hour 45 minutesCheapest ticket?Santa Express, from $15.from $15Best for under-3s?North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225.Under 3Is there a Polar Express ride?North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225, Owosso, MI · about 75 miles away: from Nov 20.1 rideWhere’s the Santa train?Santa Express: from Nov 28. Plus 1 more.2 trainsDo I need to book?1 of 3 ask you to book ahead or warn they sell out.Book early

Last checked · 3 trains · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

By date

Every Christmas train, by first date

Filter by kind of ride, then tap one for dates, ages, price and how to book.

20NovFriNorth Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225Polar Express · to Dec 20 · Owosso, MI · about 75 miles away28NovSatSanta ExpressSanta train · to Dec 13 · Clinton, MI · about 55 miles away5DecSatIndiana Christmas TrainSanta train · to Dec 22 · Pleasant Lake, IN · about 100 miles away

What to know

Dates, ages and tickets near GR

Each line is copied from that operator’s page. When they have not posted a price, the line says so.

North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225 (Nov 20 through Dec 20, Owosso, MI · about 75 miles away). Tickets: Coach $85 per seat. Cocoa Class is $250 for two seats at a shared table or $480 for a private table of four.

Santa Express (Nov 28 through Dec 13, Clinton, MI · about 55 miles away). Ages: Little kids 0–2 free. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 seniors and ages 3–15; private cabooses $150–$175.

Indiana Christmas Train (Dec 5 through Dec 22, Pleasant Lake, IN · about 100 miles away). Ages: All ages. Tickets: Deluxe Coach from $34–$45; First Class table for four $275.

Train rides

Polar Express, Santa and lights trains near GR

Dates, ride length, ages, price and booking notes come from each railroad, zoo or park’s own page. The area line shows where you board.

Quick picks: Shortest ride: North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225 (4 hour 45 minutes). Cheapest: Santa Express (from $15). Best for under-3s: North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225.

Nov20to Dec 20

North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225

Steam Railroading Institute · Owosso, MI · about 75 miles away

Polar ExpressBook early
Ride length
4 hours 45 minutes
Time
Fridays 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Ages
Children 24 months or younger who can sit on a lap for the whole trip do not need a ticket. All ages are welcome unless a trip says otherwise.
Price
Coach $85 per seat. Cocoa Class is $250 for two seats at a shared table or $480 for a private table of four.
Tickets
Tickets are sold only on the institute’s website. They sell out fast, and there is no waiting list. The sale date was still listed as coming soon when we checked, so this ride is not marked sold out.

Good to know: The operator lists the round trip as 4.75 hours, with about two hours off the train in Ashley. Free parking is on the museum grounds. During this ride, free parking is in the public lot just north of the museum, across the river. A private lot across the street charges and is not part of the institute.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov28to Dec 13

Santa Express

Southern Michigan Railroad · Clinton, MI · about 55 miles away

Santa train
Time
Saturdays 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Sundays 11:30 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Ages
Little kids 0–2 free
Price
$20 adults, $15 seniors and ages 3–15; private cabooses $150–$175
Tickets
Departs from Clinton United Methodist Church
Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Dec5to 22

Indiana Christmas Train

Indiana Rail Experience (Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society) · Pleasant Lake, IN · about 100 miles away

Santa train
Time
90-minute trains
Ages
All ages; 3 and under ride free in Deluxe Coach without a seat
Price
Deluxe Coach from $34–$45; First Class table for four $275
Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Know one we missed?Send us the railroad’s or venue’s page and we’ll check the dates and add it.Suggest a train

Before you go

Three things that make train day easier

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 little kids. Late lights trains are better for older kids.

Keep planning

More for little kids in GR

November: things to do in GREvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in GREvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in GRFree days, free events and places that never chargeFree museum days in GRFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in GRIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in GRStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branchIce skating in GRHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in GRParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in GRKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in GRParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in GRBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in GRChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas tree farms in GRChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in GRDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsChristmas break in GRWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Splash pads in GRSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursBirthday party places in GRStarting prices, ages and what’s includedMore things to do with kids in Grand Rapids this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Christmas trains near Grand Rapids: the FAQ

North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225 in Owosso, MI · about 75 miles away: Nov 20 – Dec 20. Price: Coach $85 per seat. Cocoa Class is $250 for two seats at a shared table or $480 for a private table of four. Book ahead: the operator sells these as timed tickets or warns they sell out.

Santa Express (Clinton, MI · about 55 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 2 more. Indiana Christmas Train (Pleasant Lake, IN · about 100 miles away): Next: Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, Sat Dec 12, Sun Dec 13 and 4 more.

Many do. One of the three here asks you to book ahead or warns that seats sell out. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.

Shortest ride: North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225, 4 hour 45 minutes. Cheapest ticket: Santa Express, from $15. Best for under-3s: North Pole Express behind Pere Marquette 1225. Those come from the ride length, price and age notes on this page.

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.

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