# Christmas train rides near Sacramento, 2026

> We found six Christmas trains within a drive of Sacramento with 2026 dates posted: two Polar Express rides, two Santa trains and two holiday lights trains. The closest, THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, is in Sacramento. 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: 2026-10-30
- 6 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/sacramento/christmas-trains/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/sacramento/santa/index.md
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## Train rides

- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at California State Railroad Museum, Old Sacramento, Sacramento, CA. When: Nov 13 – Dec 21. Time: Evenings; Dec 21 runs only the 3:30, 5 and 6:30 p.m. trains. Price: Coach $80–$85, First Class $100–$110 per passenger; tables of four $320–$440. Ages: All ages. Booking: Timed tickets for each train. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/events/polar-express (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Holiday Lights Train** at Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA · about 110 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 23. Time: Select evenings Nov 27 to Dec 23. Type: Lights train. Official page: https://roaringcamp.com/events (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Magical Christmas Train** at River Fox Train, 18095 County Road 117, West Sacramento, CA · about 10 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 24. Time: Select dates; departures at 10am, noon, 2, 4 and 6pm on run days. Price: From $100.35; VIP tickets cost more. Ages: Made for children; infants ride on a lap. Booking: Reserve a departure online; arrive 30 minutes early. Type: Santa train. A one-hour round trip through the Yolo countryside. Elves help kids write letters to Santa, everyone gets hot chocolate and a cookie, and Santa walks through every car. Santa's Village at Elkhorn Station is open before and after rides, and parking is free. Official page: https://www.riverfoxtrain.com/trains/magical-christmas-train/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown, CA · about 75 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 20. Time: Select dates Nov 27 to Dec 20. Price: Coach $85 per person. Ages: All ages. Booking: Timed tickets for each train. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://www.railtown1897.org/visit/events/polar (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa's Whistlestop Adventure** at Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad, Oak Station, 700 Oak Avenue Parkway, Folsom, CA · about 22 miles away. When: Dec 6 – Dec 21. Time: The first three weekends of December; motorcars leave the station every 30 minutes. Price: Tickets go on sale in November. Ages: Kids under 4 ride free. Booking: Buy tickets online once sales open. Type: Santa train. A short motorcar ride to Santa's Whistlestop at Willow Springs, next to Willow Creek. Families can stay as long as they like, and most visits run 60 to 90 minutes. The station is a pop-up tent by the tracks in the Folsom Family Fitness lot near Oak Avenue Parkway and East Bidwell. Official page: https://www.psvrr.org/event/santas-whistlestop-adventure-2026/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Train of Lights** at Niles Canyon Railway, Fremont (Niles) and Sunol, CA · about 70 miles away. When: Next: Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Mon Nov 23 and 20 more. Time: Leaves Niles at 4:30 p.m. and Sunol at 7:30 p.m. Price: $40 general seating, ages 3 and up. Ages: All ages; under 3 free on a lap. Booking: The railway says every 2026 ticket is sold out. Type: Lights train. Official page: https://www.ncry.org/ride/train-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-29). SOLD OUT (still listed; check the official page for a waitlist or added dates)

## 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 Sacramento in 2026?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Sacramento, CA: Nov 13 – Dec 21. Price: Coach $80–$85, First Class $100–$110 per passenger; tables of four $320–$440. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Jamestown, CA · about 75 miles away: Nov 27 – Dec 20. Price: Coach $85 per person. Book ahead: the operator sells these as timed tickets or warns they sell out.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Sacramento?
Magical Christmas Train (West Sacramento, CA · about 10 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 24. Santa's Whistlestop Adventure (Folsom, CA · about 22 miles away): Dec 6 – Dec 21.

### Are there holiday light trains or zoo trains near Sacramento?
Holiday Lights Train (Santa Cruz, CA · about 110 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 23. Train of Lights (Fremont (Niles) and Sunol, CA · about 70 miles away): Next: Fri Nov 20, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Mon Nov 23 and 20 more, $40 general seating, ages 3 and up.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. Four of the six 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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).