We’ve put together a list of Christmas trains throughout North Carolina.
For attractions outside of the Triangle, we’ve indicated the number of miles it is from Raleigh. Please adjust the distance from your own starting point.
We’ve put together a huge list of holiday events in the Triangle, including parades, festivals, markets, Santa visits, and more. Check out our growing day by day list of holiday events in the Triangle!
Caveat: Not all of these train rides are cheap. Some of these are pretty pricey. But we’re including them anyway, because they are so popular.
Also, please note that some of these rides are on actual, full-size trains, and some are on smaller models.
Please make sure to follow the links below for the official information and to buy tickets.
And at the end of this post, there’s be a day-by-day list of holiday events in the Triangle
Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express at New Hope Valley Railway
Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express
New Hope Valley Railway
3900 Bonsal Road
New Hill, North Carolina 27562
24 miles from Raleigh
919-396-5833
2025 dates: December 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 20, 2025
Cost: All ages: $18.61
Take pictures with Santa in the rail yard, using your own camera. Then go on a 50-minute train ride and search for Santa’s missing reindeer. Tickets are on sale now.
Pullen Park’s Holiday Express
Holiday Express
Pullen Park
520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh
2025: Goes on sale October 14, 2025.
Pullen Park’s immensely popular Holiday Express sells out almost immediately.
Holiday in the Park at Museum of Life + Science
Museum of Life + Science
433 W. Murray Avenue
Durham, NC 27704
919-220-5429
2025 dates: Check back soon.
Ticket price: Check back soon.
Check back soon for 2025 info. The Museum generally offers some variety of a holiday-themed train ride every year. We’ll update once we have the information.
Carolina Christmas Train
Carolina Christmas Train with Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway
100 Russell Drive, Star, NC
70 miles from Charlotte
2025 dates: The train will be running from December 3 to 20, 2025, except for December 10, 11 and 17.
Cost: $49 to $69 for the double-decker car. Prices vary on other cars.
The journey incudes festive cheer, cookies, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa.
Country Christmas Train at Denton Farmpark
Denton Farmpark
4259 Handy Road
Denton, NC 27239
93 miles from Raleigh
336-859-2755
2025 dates: November 28-30, 2025. December 5-7, 11-14, 18-23, 27-27, 2025.
Check back soon for 2025 prices. In 2024 the ticket prices were: $20 for adults; $6 for ages 5-11; Free for children 4 and under
Enjoy a train ride, and explore the grist mill, a petting zoo, doll museum, kids’ rides, and much more. Santa pictures are available.
The Polar Express Train Ride at North Carolina Transportation Museum
The Polar Express Train Ride
North Carolina Transportation Museum
1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer
123 miles from Raleigh
2025 dates: November 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30. December 5-7 and 11-23.
Tickets start at $42 for kids and $49 for adults.
The train ride is set to the sounds of the movie soundtrack as you travel to the “North Pole.” Along the way, listen to a reading of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic, The Polar Express, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. At the North Pole, families will leave the train and watch Santa present the first gift of Christmas. Back at Candy Cane Lane, all passengers who “believe” will receive their own sleigh bell.
Kannapolis Christmas–Winterland Express
Kannapolis Christmas
Village Park
700 W. C Street
Kannapolis, NC 28081
141 miles from Raleigh
2025 dates: November 15 to December 30, 2025
Cost: Free to enter and walk through the light display. $2 to ride the train.
It’s free to enter the park, where you can see more than 250,000 Christmas lights. A group of animatronic bears will sing Christmas carols, and Santa will be available for visits and pictures, at now cost. The Winterland Express is Village Park’s g-24 scale replica CP Huntington engine, decked out for the holidays!
Tweetsie Christmas
Tweetsie Railroad
300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
192 miles from Raleigh
800-526-5740
2025 Dates: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 28 to December 28, 2025, plus December 22, 23, 29 and 30.
Cost: $65 for adults and $45 for children. Children ages 2 and younger are admitted for free. Tickets are on sale now.
- Meet Santa in his own home — made of gingerbread, and filled with candied furnishings.
- Take a night-time train ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains. See thousands of Christmas lights along the three-mile track and the open areas of the park.
- Enjoy the sounds of Christmas during a 15-minute variety show in the Tweetsie Palace.
- Two new rides: Jingle Bell Jets and Little Drummer Boy (a teacup ride)
- The Blizzard, a new walk-through experience
- Snacks for sale: Roast s’mores over an outdoor fire pit and enjoy freshly baked cookies, warm funnel cakes, and other handmade items from Tweetsie Railroad’s famous Fudge Shop.
The Polar Express with Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Polar Express Train Ride
Bryson City Depot
45 Mitchell Street
Bryson City, NC 28713
309 miles from Raleigh
800-872-4681
2025 Dates: Dates from November 6 to December 31, 2025. No rides on November 10 or 11, or Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.
Cost: Starting at $33.52 for children and $50.85 for ages 13+. Children ages 2 and younger are admitted for free. Tickets are on sale now.
Set to the soundtrack of The Polar Express movie, the 1 1/4 hour round trip excursion takes passengers from the Bryson City depot to a visit to the North Pole. Guests will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening to and reading along with the story.At the North Pole, Santa will board the train and greet each child. Santa will give each child a silver sleigh bell.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in:
- Signing up for Triangle on the Cheap’s daily email
- Free events this week
- Day by Day list of holiday events
- Best Christmas Lights in the Triangle
- Christmas tree farms and lots near the Triangle
- Free pictures with Santa in the Triangle
- Holiday Markets in the Triangle
- Christmas Trains in North Carolina
More Holiday Events in the Triangle
Check out our big list of holiday events in the Triangle.
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