# Christmas train rides near Phoenix, 2026

> We found five Christmas trains within a drive of Phoenix with 2026 dates posted: one Santa train, two holiday lights trains, one zoo or park holiday train and one model-train holiday display. The closest, Princess Express Train at Christmas at the Princess, is in Scottsdale.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 5 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/phoenix/christmas-trains/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/phoenix/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/phoenix/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/phoenix/llms.txt

## Train rides

- **Princess Express Train at Christmas at the Princess** at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, AZ (7575 E Princess Dr). When: Nightly Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027. Time: Mon–Thu 5–10 p.m., Fri–Sun 4–11 p.m.; from Dec 17 it's 4–11 p.m. every night. Price: General admission from $35 a person, with early-bird discounts online; the Princess Express Train and Santa's Train Ride are included. Ages: Ride height limits vary by ride. Booking: Tickets must be bought online ahead of time; no refunds, rain or shine. Type: Zoo & park train. The resort grounds fill up with lights, an ice rink and a big Ferris wheel. Photos with Santa cost extra. Official page: https://www.christmasattheprincess.com/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Holiday Lights at the Railroad Park** at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale, AZ. When: Nov 27 – Dec 30. Time: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Type: Lights train. Official page: https://www.therailroadpark.com/events/ (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Illumination Express at Christmas at Schnepf Farms** at Schnepf Farms, Queen Creek, AZ (24810 S Rittenhouse Rd) · about 40 miles away. When: Nov 27–29, Dec 3–6, Dec 10–13, Dec 17–24 and Dec 26–27 (closed Christmas Day). Time: General admission 5–10 p.m.; twilight admission 7:30–10 p.m. Price: Farm admission $19.95–$27.95 a person depending on the night; the train is an extra $10 a person. Ages: Kids 2 and under ride free. Booking: Train tickets sell out on some nights, so book them with admission online. Type: Lights train. The train rolls through more than a million lights set to holiday music. Santa visits are included with admission. Official page: https://www.schnepfchristmas.com/faqs (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Mesa Santa Express** at Valley Metro light rail, downtown Mesa, Mesa, AZ. When: Dec 11 – Dec 13. Time: Friday Dec 11 to Sunday Dec 13. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.mesasantaexpress.com/mesa-santa-express-schedule (checked 2026-10-29)

## Model-train holiday displays

- **Christmas Trains at HD South** at HD South Museum (lower level), Gilbert, AZ. When: Saturdays from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year's, during museum hours. Time: Museum hours. Price: See museum for admission. Type: Model trains. The Gilbert Model Railroad Club runs Christmas-themed trains on its layout downstairs. On Dec 5 they run all day during the museum's Breakfast with Santa. Official page: https://www.gilbertmodelrailroadclub.com/christmas-trains-2026 (checked 2026-10-30)

## 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 Phoenix in 2026?
Not one we could confirm with 2026 dates on an official page. The closest thing on this page is Princess Express Train at Christmas at the Princess, Holiday Lights at the Railroad Park and Illumination Express at Christmas at Schnepf Farms.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Phoenix?
Mesa Santa Express (Mesa, AZ): Dec 11 – Dec 13.

### Are there holiday light trains or zoo trains near Phoenix?
Holiday Lights at the Railroad Park (Scottsdale, AZ): Nov 27 – Dec 30. Illumination Express at Christmas at Schnepf Farms (Queen Creek, AZ (24810 S Rittenhouse Rd) · about 40 miles away): Nov 27–29, Dec 3–6, Dec 10–13, Dec 17–24 and Dec 26–27 (closed Christmas Day), Farm admission $19.95–$27.95 a person depending on the night; the train is an extra $10 a person. Princess Express Train at Christmas at the Princess (Scottsdale, AZ (7575 E Princess Dr)): Nightly Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027, General admission from $35 a person, with early-bird discounts online; the Princess Express Train and Santa's Train Ride are included.

### Where can kids see a model train holiday display near Phoenix?
Christmas Trains at HD South at HD South Museum (lower level): Saturdays from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year's, during museum hours, See museum for admission.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
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.

### 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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).