# Christmas train rides near Syracuse, 2026

> We found three Christmas trains within a drive of Syracuse with 2026 dates posted: one Polar Express ride and two Santa trains. The closest, THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Utica, is about 55 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: 2026-10-30
- 3 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/syracuse/christmas-trains/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/syracuse/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/syracuse/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/syracuse/llms.txt

## Train rides

- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Adirondack Railroad, Utica Union Station, Utica, NY (321 Main St.) · about 55 miles from Syracuse. When: Nov 22 – Dec 20. Time: 4:30pm and 7pm; 1:30pm on select December weekends. Price: Coach $47 adults, $39 kids 2–12; first class $68 adults, $58 kids; under 2 ride free. Ages: All ages. Booking: Buy online. Type: Polar Express. The story opens in the Union Station lobby, then families board for a ride north with hot chocolate and cookies and a Santa visit at the North Pole. The whole outing runs about 2 hours. Official page: https://adirondackrr.com/utica/polar-express/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Santa Train** at Adirondack Railroad, Thendara Station, Thendara, NY · about 100 miles from Syracuse. When: Nov 27–29. Time: 1pm and 3pm. Price: No ticket listed. Ages: All ages. Booking: Buy online. Type: Santa train. A 90-minute ride from Thendara to Otter Lake. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with each family. Official page: https://adirondackrr.com/departure-schedules/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Finger Lakes Christmas Train** at Finger Lakes Rail Experience, Canandaigua, NY (25 Pleasant St.) · about 75 miles from Syracuse. When: Nov 28–29; Dec 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20. Time: Departure times are on the booking page. Price: $40 to $100 per person depending on the car; kids 2 and under ride free without a seat. Ages: All ages. Booking: Buy online. Type: Santa train. A 70-minute ride with hot chocolate and a visit from Santa, who walks through the train. Kids can write letters to Santa on board, and each party gets a keepsake. Trains run snow or shine. Official page: https://flxrailexperience.com/finger-lakes-christmas-train/ (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 Syracuse in 2026?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Utica, NY (321 Main St.) · about 55 miles from Syracuse: Nov 22 – Dec 20. Price: Coach $47 adults, $39 kids 2–12; first class $68 adults, $58 kids; under 2 ride free.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Syracuse?
Santa Train (Thendara, NY · about 100 miles from Syracuse): Nov 27–29. Finger Lakes Christmas Train (Canandaigua, NY (25 Pleasant St.) · about 75 miles from Syracuse): Nov 28–29; Dec 4–6, 11–13 and 18–20.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
None on this page warns about it right now. 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/).