# Christmas train rides near Hartford and New Haven, 2026

> We found eight Christmas trains within a drive of Hartford and New Haven with 2026 dates posted: two Polar Express rides, four Santa trains, one holiday lights train and one model-train holiday display. The closest, Santa Express in Thomaston, is about 20 miles out.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 8 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/christmas-trains/
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- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/hartford-new-haven/index.md
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## Train rides

- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Woonsocket, RI · about 60 miles away. When: Nov 6 – Dec 20. Time: Weekends. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://bvtcri.org/polar-express (checked 2026-10-29)
- **North Pole Express** at Essex Steam Train, Essex, CT · about 30 miles away. When: Nov 20 – Dec 23. Time: Fri–Sun Nov 20–22 and 27–29, Tue–Sun Dec 1–20, plus Dec 22–23; trains from 2 to 8 p.m. Ages: All ages. Booking: Sold online only; all sales final. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://essexsteamtrain.com/christmas-2025/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Cape Cod Central Railroad, Buzzards Bay, MA · about 105 miles away. When: Nov 20 – Dec 23. Time: Usually 2 p.m. on weekends, plus 4:30 and 7 p.m.; about 90 minutes. Price: Standard Class from $44 child / $54 adult; higher classes cost more. Ages: Child fares for ages 3–12; lap babies ride with a paying adult. Booking: 2026 tickets on sale now. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://www.capetrain.com/rides/the-polar-express-train-ride/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Edaville's Winter Wonderland train and lights** at Edaville Family Theme Park, Carver, MA · about 100 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 27. Time: Fri–Sun evenings plus Dec 26–27; closed Christmas Day. Booking: Online tickets strongly recommended; nights often sell out. Type: Lights train. Official page: https://www.edaville.com/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Express** at Railroad Museum of New England (Naugatuck Railroad), Thomaston, CT · about 20 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 23. Time: 12 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Price: Coach seat for two $70; Hi-Level and Premium Coach for two $130; lounges cost more. Ages: All ages. Booking: No cancellations without trip protection; a sensory-friendly train runs Nov 29. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.rmne.org/excursions/santa-express (checked 2026-10-29)
- **The Tinseliner** at Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum (Hoosac Valley Explorer), Adams, MA · about 65 miles away. When: Next: Fri Nov 27, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 2 more. Time: Two or three departures a day between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Booking: Book through the museum's FareHarbor calendar. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.berkshiretrains.org/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Ride With Santa on NJ Transit** at Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Wayne, NJ · about 100 miles away. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Price: $33 adults, $29 children. Ages: Adult fare from age 12; under 2 free in a parent's arms. Booking: All four trains sold out; waiting list open. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.tristaterail.org/santatrain/about (checked 2026-10-29). SOLD OUT (still listed; check the official page for a waitlist or added dates)

## Model-train holiday displays

- **Holiday Train Show** at New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY · about 90 miles away. When: Nov 14 – Jan 10. Time: Garden hours; evening hours on select nights. Ages: All ages. Booking: Timed tickets. Type: Model trains. Model trains run past nearly 200 New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. Official page: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2026/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### Is there a Polar Express train ride near Hartford and New Haven in 2026?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Woonsocket, RI · about 60 miles away: Nov 6 – Dec 20. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Buzzards Bay, MA · about 105 miles away: Nov 20 – Dec 23. Price: Standard Class from $44 child / $54 adult; higher classes cost more.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Hartford and New Haven?
North Pole Express (Essex, CT · about 30 miles away): Nov 20 – Dec 23. Santa Express (Thomaston, CT · about 20 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 23. The Tinseliner (Adams, MA · about 65 miles away): Next: Fri Nov 27, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 2 more. Ride With Santa on NJ Transit (Wayne, NJ · about 100 miles away): Sat, Dec 5, 2026.

### Are there holiday light trains or zoo trains near Hartford and New Haven?
Edaville's Winter Wonderland train and lights (Carver, MA · about 100 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 27.

### Where can kids see a model train holiday display near Hartford and New Haven?
Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden: Nov 14 – Jan 10.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. Five of the eight here ask you to book ahead or warn that seats sell out. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.

### How do you check these train rides?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).