# Christmas train rides near Philadelphia, 2026

> We found 11 Christmas trains within a drive of Philadelphia with 2026 dates posted: two Polar Express rides, eight Santa trains and one model-train holiday display. The closest, Breakfast with Santa train in Woodstown, is about 25 miles out. 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
- 11 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/philadelphia/christmas-trains/
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## Train rides

- **Santa Express** at Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington, NJ · about 40 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's Paradise Express** at Strasburg Rail Road, Strasburg, PA · about 55 miles away. When: Nov 21 – Dec 24. Time: Weekends Nov 21–Dec 20, plus Nov 27 and Dec 21–24. Price: $47.70 adults, $37.10 children. Ages: All ages. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://strasburgrailroad.com/event/santas-paradise-express (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Claus Specials** at Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe, PA · about 70 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)
- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Delaware River Railroad Excursions, Phillipsburg, NJ · about 50 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 25 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)
- **Candy Cane Express** at Stewartstown Railroad, Stewartstown, PA · about 75 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 1 more. Time: Daytime trains; evening trains Dec 5 and 20. Price: $19–$67. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://stewartstownrailroadco.com/events1/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Trains** at Allentown & Auburn Railroad, Kutztown, PA · about 50 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)
- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at B&O Railroad Museum (National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation), Baltimore, MD · about 90 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 6 more. Time: Trains between 2:30 and 9:30 p.m.; about two hours with the North Pole stop. Price: Bronze $60–$70 adult, $50–$60 child; Silver $80–$95; Gold $105–$125. Ages: Everyone 2 and up needs a ticket; under 2 ride as lap infants. Booking: Tickets on sale now; non-refundable. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://nationalrailroad.org/events/polar-express-4/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa Claus Express** at Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad, Kempton, PA · about 60 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 85 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 Philadelphia in 2026?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Phillipsburg, NJ · about 50 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). THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Baltimore, MD · about 90 miles away: Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 6 more. Price: Bronze $60–$70 adult, $50–$60 child; Silver $80–$95; Gold $105–$125.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Philadelphia?
Santa Express (Flemington, NJ · about 40 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28 and 8 more. Santa's Paradise Express (Strasburg, PA · about 55 miles away): Nov 21 – Dec 24. Santa Claus Specials (Jim Thorpe, PA · about 70 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 24. Breakfast with Santa train (Woodstown, NJ · about 25 miles away): Nov 28 – Dec 20. Plus four more on this page.

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

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. Three of the 11 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/).