Holiday Train Rides Near Sacramento: Polar Express & Santa Trains 2025
Sacramento is rich in rail history and home to the beloved California State Railroad Museum. A city rooted in railroad heritage means numerous options for families to take scenic train rides throughout the Sacramento Area. This also means these trains transform into holiday train rides come December. From sit-on Santa trains to the Polar Express in Old Sacramento, families have their pick of which trains to climb aboard during the holiday season.
Holiday train rides are some of the best holiday activities in Sacramento for kids. Children can wear their Christmas pajamas, meet Santa, sip hot cocoa, and be awed by holiday lights. Due to the popularity of holiday trains, tickets sell out fast! It’s best to get tickets early so you don’t miss out on these wonderful holiday experiences. Some trains also won’t run in inclement weather, and cancellations may occur.
1. The Polar Express Train Ride – California State Railroad Museum (Old Sacramento)
Select dates from November 14 – December 21, 2025
The Polar Express Train Ride at the California State Railroad Museum is one of the best holiday activities in Sacramento. It’s also one of the top family-friendly holiday activities in Old Sacramento.
Kids get to step into a real-life version of the classic children’s book, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. The story is read aloud to everyone on the train. Additionally, passengers get to enjoy treats and hot chocolate. Santa will also board the train and hand out silver sleigh bells to every passenger. Singing Christmas carols and festive spirit will be plentiful on the train ride. After returning to Old Sacramento, you can continue the holiday magic by walking to the Eagle Theatre to spend more time with Santa.
The Polar Express train ride lasts approximately one hour. Additionally, there is a pre-boarding stage show that takes place 35 minutes before the train departs. Wearing pajamas is encouraged! Feel free to bring along a copy of The Polar Express book for the ride.
Tickets: The Polar Express train ride in Sacramento sells out fast! Tickets go on sale early, around mid to late September, on the California State Railroad Museum website. To be transparent, Polar Express tickets are not cheap, so prepare for sticker shock.
2. Magical Christmas Train – River Fox Train (West Sacramento)
Select dates from November 28 – December 28, 2025
The River Fox Magical Christmas Train in West Sacramento is just as popular as The Polar Express train, but it’s actually more affordable. It’s not only one of the best holiday activities in Sacramento for kids, but it’s one of the best holiday things to do in Yolo County for families.
The Magical Christmas Train will be full of festive spirit on the tracks with sing-alongs and games. Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance on the train, handing out cookies and hot chocolate in souvenir mugs. In 2025, the Magical Christmas Train will stop at Santa’s Village. Here, families will get treated to entertainment, holiday light displays, and photo ops, including a photo with Santa.
Tickets: Like the Polar Express, tickets go quickly for the Magical Christmas Train. Purchase tickets online at the River Fox Train website. Multiple train rides tend to run each day the Magical Christmas Train operates.
3. Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure – Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad (Folsom)
December 6-7, 13-14, & 20-21, 2025
For the first three weekends in December 2025, families can climb aboard Santa’s Whistelestop Adventure motorcar in Folsom. The train ride is short, which is actually a good thing if you have kids with little attention spans. The train ride takes you to a stop in the woods at Willow Creek to visit Santa, enjoy . When the train arrives in Willow Creek, children will have the opportunity to visit with Santa while enjoying interactive activities and refreshments.
The Willow Springs nature area is also fun to explore. There are easy nature trails to wander and a creek for kids to toss rocks into. My son enjoyed ringing the rail bell. Families can also try pumping a handcart. You’re welcome to stay at the nature area for as long or as little as you want, and can take a return motorcar back at any time they run.
Want to know what to expect? Check out my Instagram Reel of the Pumpkin Patch Flyer. While this was their fall motorcar experience, Santa’s Whistlestop Adventure will be similar. The total experience took about an hour, though we chose to take the first return motorcar back since we have young children.
Tickets: Purchase tickets by day and time on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad website. Kids under age four ride for free. The motorcar may cancel train rides due to bad weather.
4. Starlight Express – Folsom Valley Railway (Wild Nights and Holiday Lights in Folsom)
December 5–7, 11–14, & 18–22, 2025
In conjunction with Wild Nights and Holiday Lights at the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, the Folsom Valley Railway runs special nighttime trains through holiday lights on the same nights. This beloved miniature open-air train is adjacent to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary and also in Folsom City Lions Park.
Learn more about visiting the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary with kids here.
Tickets: While the train operates on the same evenings as the event from 5-8 pm, Wild Nights and Holiday Lights at Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary admission does not include train rides. Separate tickets for the Starlight Express must be purchased. As of 2025, tickets are approximately $8 per person with fees. Children under age two ride for free.
5. Santa Train – Sacramento Valley Live Steamers (Rancho Cordova)
December 6-7 & 13-14, 2025
If you want a daytime holiday train option, the Santa Train at Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova will run for two weekends in December. This is an underrated train ride in the Sacramento Area, and an affordable one. They do a great job of making the train ride a unique experience as it goes through tunnels, past small waterfalls, over trestles, and through miniature towns.
The Sacramento Valley Live Steamers miniature train is one you sit on. In addition to the train ride, kids will get to meet and take photos with Santa. Children are encouraged to bring a letter to Santa with a return address listed. The whole experience will take approximately 30 minutes.
The Santa Train is also right next to the Hagan Community Barn. Kids can feed farm animals on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. Check out my Instagram Reel of feeding farm animals in Hagan Community Park. You could also add Soil Born Farms to your itinerary, as it’s right next to Hagan Community Barn. Don’t worry–I’ve got an Instagram Reel about Soil Born Farms, too!
Tickets: Santa Train tickets must be bought in advance, online. Tickets are $10 per person (including youth tickets). Children ages two and under ride for free.
6. Los Encantos Circle – Elk Grove
Check the Kiwanis Club of Laguna-Elk Grove Holiday Home Tour Map for hours—the home usually runs it on weekend nights in December. I’ll confirm the hours in December 2025.
Every year, the Kiwanis Club of Laguna-Elk Grove provides a free holiday home tour map of Elk Grove homes that take holiday decorations to the next level. They do this for Halloween, which is particularly popular, as well as their annual fundraiser. One of those homes has a free train ride that starts in their front yard and chugs around tracks through the back.
Usually, this free train ride runs during the Halloween season. However, a few years ago, the family transitioned it from Halloween to a holiday train ride for the first time. It’s a very well-done train ride and a train you sit on. There are many fun details, holiday lights, and a surprise snowfall at the end. The family does a fantastic job of having this fun, free holiday activity for the community.
It might feel awkward to stroll up to a stranger’s house, but the family is very friendly and welcoming. Tip: While there, check out the dinosaur house a few homes away.
Nearby Holiday Trains Worth a Day Trip from Sacramento
These train rides aren’t technically in the Sacramento Area, but they’re close! Each of these train rides would make for easy day trips from Sacramento.
7. Santa Trains – Western Railway Museum (Suisun Valley)
Friday-Sunday, December 5-21, 2025
For an easy day trip from Sacramento during the holiday season, the Western Railway Museum has Santa Trains every December. An indoor light show takes place in the Carhouse, where children meet Santa. Families will be met with a festive golden bell. Santa Trains take place during the daytime, so kids don’t have to stay out late.
Seasonal treats will be for sale. Children can also write letters to Santa and create a homemade ornament in the Western Railway Museum Visitor Center. There is also a holiday lights walk-through option that does not include a train ride or Santa visit.
Tickets: Santa Trains are a popular holiday experience in the Bay Area and sell out quickly. Purchase tickets online at the Western Railway Museum website.
8. Winterfest – Tilden Park Steam Train (Berkeley)
Saturday & Sunday, December 13-14 & 20-21, 2025
The Tilden Park Steam Train on the Redwood Valley Railway is already a cherished experience in the East Bay for families. Each December, this train gets a holiday makeover for Winterfest. The redwood trees get decked out with holiday ornaments and lights. Father Solstice also makes appearances on a special train. Check out what to expect at Winterfest in my Instagram reel.
In 2025, Winterfest trains run from 11am to 7pm. So long as you’re in line before 7pm, you’ll get to ride the train. Train rides are weather-dependent and won’t operate in poor weather conditions.
Tilden Park is approximately one hour and 20 minutes from Sacramento. It’s a short, five-minute train ride. Therefore, it’s not worth the drive for the train ride alone. However, there is so much to do in Tilden Park that you can make it a full day. Kids can feed animals at the Little Farm, take a spin on the treasured merry-go-round, explore the free botanical garden, and participate in educational programs.
Tickets: Walk-up train tickets only for $4 per ride or $16 for 5 rides at the train station gift shop. Children under two ride for free. No tickets available online.
9. Holiday Magic Train – Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad (Fish Camp)
Select dates from November 26, 2025 – January 4, 2026
You’ve likely heard of the majestic Yosemite National Park, one of the top destinations for families in California. You may not know that a steam train operates just outside the south entrance to the park (the south entrance is the most popular and is where you would enter for the easiest access to Yosemite Valley). For the first time, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad is having a Holiday Magic Train debuting in 2025.
Enjoy a one-hour train ride adorned with sparkling holiday lights while enjoying festive music and a cup of hot cocoa. This train experience might be a little longer than a day trip from Sacramento. Also, be prepared for the weather when traveling near Yosemite National Park in the winter months. Check weather conditions before traveling and carry tire chains.
At four miles from the South Park entrance, the train is outside of Yosemite National Park. Therefore, you don’t need to go into the national park to ride the train, as the two are separate. Another perk about this train is that it’s handicap-accessible.
Tickets: Purchase Holiday Magic Train tickets online aboard the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Children ages two and under the train ride for free on a lap.
Top Photo Courtesy of California State Railroad Museum; Photo by Kelly Huston
