# Christmas train rides near New York City, 2026

> We found ten Christmas trains within a drive of New York City with 2026 dates posted: one Polar Express ride, eight Santa trains and one model-train holiday display. The closest, Holiday Train Show, is in Bronx. Each card has the dates, times, the ages it suits, the price as the operator lists it and whether you need to book ahead.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 10 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/new-york-city/christmas-trains/
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## Train rides

- **North Pole Express** at Essex Steam Train, Essex, CT · about 95 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)
- **Santa Express** at Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington, NJ · about 45 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28 and 8 more. Time: Departures between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (evening trains on some dates). Price: $36.99 ages 12+, $33.99 ages 3–11; premium options cost more. Ages: Under 3 ride free as lap riders. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.blackriverrailroad.com/train-rides/santa-express-train/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Claus Specials** at Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe, PA · about 90 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 24. Price: From $25 adults, $9 kids 3–12; better seats cost more. Ages: Children 3–12 pay the child fare. Booking: 2026 tickets on sale now. Type: Santa train. Runs Nov 27–30 and Dec 4–6, 11–13 and 18–24. Official page: https://www.lgsry.com/holiday-trains (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Express** at Railroad Museum of New England (Naugatuck Railroad), Thomaston, CT · about 80 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 POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Delaware River Railroad Excursions, Phillipsburg, NJ · about 60 miles away. When: Next: Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri Dec 4 and 8 more. Time: Fridays 6 and 8 p.m.; Saturdays 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.; Sundays 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Price: $48 adults, $38 children (subject to change). Ages: All ages. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://877trainride.com/polarexpress.htm (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Breakfast with Santa train** at Woodstown Central Railroad, Woodstown, NJ · about 100 miles away. When: Nov 28 – Dec 20. Time: Saturdays and Sundays. Price: $245 per table for four. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://woodstowncentral.com/breakfast-with-santa/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Trains** at Allentown & Auburn Railroad, Kutztown, PA · about 95 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 4 more. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://allentownandauburnrr.com/santa-trains/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Claus Express** at Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad, Kempton, PA · about 95 miles away. When: Dec 5 – Dec 6. Price: $18 adults and children 3–11. Ages: Ages 2 and under $2. Booking: Reservations required. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://kemptontrain.com/santa-claus-express/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Ride With Santa on NJ Transit** at Tri-State Railway Historical Society, Wayne, NJ · about 20 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. 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 New York City in 2026?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Phillipsburg, NJ · about 60 miles away: Next: Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri Dec 4 and 8 more. Price: $48 adults, $38 children (subject to change).

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near New York City?
North Pole Express (Essex, CT · about 95 miles away): Nov 20 – Dec 23. Santa Express (Flemington, NJ · about 45 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28 and 8 more. Santa Claus Specials (Jim Thorpe, PA · about 90 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 24. Santa Express (Thomaston, CT · about 80 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 23. Plus four more on this page.

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

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. Four of the ten 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/).