Nov28to Dec 20
Daytime Christmas Trains
East Troy Railroad Museum · East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away
- Time
- Not listed
- Ages
- Ages 0–2 need a $13–$16 ticket
- Price
- Adults $41–$43, kids 3–14 $36–$39
Christmas trains 2026Madison · Mad City
Christmas train rides near Madison, 2026.
In 2026, Santa train rides near Madison run Nov 28 through Dec 20, from $18. Daytime Christmas Trains at East Troy Railroad Museum starts Nov 28, tickets $36–$43. Ages 0–2 need a $13–$16 ticket. Santa Express at Mid-Continent Railway Museum starts Nov 28, tickets $18–$30.
The quick answersChecked
Cheapest ticket?Santa Express, from $18.from $18Is there a Polar Express ride?None with 2026 dates near here yet.Not yetWhere’s the Santa train?Daytime Christmas Trains: from Nov 28. Plus 3 more.4 trainsDo I need to book?1 of 5 ask you to book ahead or warn they sell out.Book early
By date
Every Christmas train, by first date
Filter by kind of ride, then tap one for dates, ages, price and how to book.
28NovSatDaytime Christmas Trains
Santa train · to Dec 20 · East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away28NovSatSanta ExpressSanta train · to Dec 12 · North Freedom, WI · about 35 miles away28NovSatSanta's Special Evening TrainsSanta train · to Dec 19 · East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away28NovSatSanta's Trolley ExpressSanta train · to Dec 20 · South Elgin, IL · about 95 miles away5DecSatHoliday Express Model Train & Flower Show
Model trains · to Jan 3 · Madison, WI
Santa train · to Dec 20 · East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away28NovSatSanta ExpressSanta train · to Dec 12 · North Freedom, WI · about 35 miles away28NovSatSanta's Special Evening TrainsSanta train · to Dec 19 · East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away28NovSatSanta's Trolley ExpressSanta train · to Dec 20 · South Elgin, IL · about 95 miles away5DecSatHoliday Express Model Train & Flower ShowModel trains · to Jan 3 · Madison, WINothing matches that filter yet.
What to know
Dates, ages and tickets near Madison
Each line is copied from that operator’s page. When they have not posted a price, the line says so.
Daytime Christmas Trains (Nov 28 through Dec 20, East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away). Ages: Ages 0–2 need a. Tickets: Adults $41–$43, kids 3–14 $36–$39.
Santa Express (Nov 28 through Dec 12, North Freedom, WI · about 35 miles away). Tickets: $30 adults, $18 children.
Santa's Special Evening Trains (Nov 28 through Dec 19, East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away). Tickets: Adults $69–$79, kids 3–14 $59–$72.
Santa's Trolley Express (Nov 28 through Dec 20, South Elgin, IL · about 95 miles away). Ages: Every passenger needs a ticket, whatever their age. Tickets: $50 per person from Nov 1.
Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show (Dec 5 through Jan 3, Madison, WI). Ages: 5 and under free. Tickets: $10 general, $6 ages 6–12.
Train rides
Polar Express, Santa and lights trains near Madison
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: Cheapest: Santa Express (from $18).
Nov28to Dec 12
Santa Express
Mid-Continent Railway Museum · North Freedom, WI · about 35 miles away
- Time
- 10, 11:30 a.m., 1 and 2:30 p.m.
- Ages
- Not listed
- Price
- $30 adults, $18 children
Nov28to Dec 19
Santa's Special Evening Trains
East Troy Railroad Museum · East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away
- Time
- 5 p.m.
- Ages
- Not listed
- Price
- Adults $69–$79, kids 3–14 $59–$72
Nov28to Dec 20
Santa's Trolley Express
Fox River Trolley Museum (boards at Blackhawk Station, Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve) · South Elgin, IL · about 95 miles away
- Time
- Weekends from 10:30 a.m.; Friday evenings from 5:30 p.m.
- Ages
- Every passenger needs a ticket, whatever their age
- Price
- $50 per person from Nov 1
- Tickets
- Each departure booked separately; all sales final
Model trains
Holiday model train displays near Madison
Most let you walk through at your own pace, so you can stay as long as little ones are interested.
Dec5to Jan 3
Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show
Olbrich Botanical Gardens · Madison, WI
- Time
- 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily; closes 2 p.m. Dec 24, closed Dec 25
- Ages
- 5 and under free
- Price
- $10 general, $6 ages 6–12
- Tickets
- Tickets at the door
Good to know: Large-scale model trains run among hundreds of poinsettias.
More to come.Model train shows often post late. We recheck every week through December.Email me when one’s addedBefore 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 Madison
November: things to do in MadisonEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in MadisonEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in MadisonFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in MadisonIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Ice skating in MadisonHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Sledding in MadisonSledding hills and snow tubing, with height rules
Thanksgiving weekend in MadisonParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Christmas parades in MadisonParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThe Nutcracker in MadisonBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in MadisonChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas tree farms in MadisonChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in MadisonDates, times and what the organizer posts for kids
Splash pads in MadisonSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hours
More things to do with kids in Madison this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Christmas trains near Madison: the FAQ
Not one we could confirm with 2026 dates on an official page. The closest thing on this page is Daytime Christmas Trains, Santa Express and Santa's Special Evening Trains.
Daytime Christmas Trains (East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 4 more. Santa Express (North Freedom, WI · about 35 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 1 more. Santa's Special Evening Trains (East Troy, WI · about 55 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Fri Dec 4, Fri Dec 11, Sat Dec 12 and 2 more. Santa's Trolley Express (South Elgin, IL · about 95 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5 and 7 more.
Holiday Express Model Train & Flower Show at Olbrich Botanical Gardens: Dec 5 – Jan 3, $10 general, $6 ages 6–12.
Many do. One of the five here asks you to book ahead or warns that seats sell out. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.
Cheapest ticket: Santa Express, from $18. 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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