Planning a leaf-peeping weekend is easier when someone else does the driving.
Fall foliage train rides let the whole family settle in together while the season’s brightest reds, oranges, and yellows put on a show through wide train windows.
Quick FAQ
When’s the best time to ride a fall foliage train?
In most of the Northeast and New England, mid-September through late October is when fall foliage train rides show off their brightest colors.
Northern mountain routes usually hit their peak first, while southern and coastal lines keep their leaves a little longer.
That means you can plan more than one weekend trip and catch different routes at their best all season long.
Do you need to book fall foliage tickets in advance?
Yes. These leaf peeping trains are like pumpkin patches with wheels… the good dates go fast.
If you’re aiming for peak weekends, lock it in early.
What should you bring on the train?
Layers. Snacks. A charger for your phone.
Some trains have concessions, but packing your own kid-approved treats means fewer meltdowns when the snack cart rolls by with nothing they like.
Are these rides good for young kids?
Definitely. Plenty of these seasonal train rides offer shorter trips (and themed pumpkin rides) that work for toddlers.
Just double-check the ride length before booking… because not every 3-year-old is built for a two-hour scenic sit-down.
How much do fall foliage train rides cost?
Anywhere from $15 for a basic ride to $100+ for a fancy dinner train. Add a little extra for souvenirs… because you know someone’s going to spot a stuffed train conductor bear in the gift shop.
Strasburg Railroad
Strasburg, PA
The Strasburg Railroad has been chugging through Lancaster County’s farmland since 1832.
The 45-minute steam train ride is the main event, but the vintage station, restored passenger cars, and crisp country air make it feel like you’ve stepped into a slower, sweeter era.
Strasburg Railroad Highlights:
• One of Lancaster County’s oldest steam-engine railroads offering a truly historic train ride through Lancaster County’s rural towns.
• Seasonal rides like the Fall Harvest train, wine and cheese evenings, and kid-favorite Great Train Robbery.
• Enjoy Amish country views you just can’t see from the highway.
• On-site extras: a station gift shop, train playground, mini train rides for little kids, and a train museum.
Love the view from the train? These are the Best Fall Getaways that deliver the same fall magic… with a little more room to roam.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA
• Season & Hours: Fall foliage rides run late September through late October… check the schedule for themed departures.
• Cost: Adults from $22.50, kids 2-11 from $12.50, under 2 free.
• Best Ages: All ages (young kids especially love the Thomas the Train events).
• Website: StrasburgRailroad.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Make it a complete fall getaway in the Lancaster area by staying at the Cartoon Network Hotel and visiting Cherry Crest Adventure Farm.
Stretching out your visit to Lancaster, PA?
Check out our guide on How to Spend 4 Days Filled with Lancaster Activities.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
Jim Thorpe, PA
The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway is pure Poconos magic in the fall.
Departing from a restored 1890s station in the charming town of Jim Thorpe, the ride winds along the Lehigh River with fiery leaves crowding every curve.
Open-air or climate-controlled cars let you take in the views your way, and nearby lakes in PA with cabin rentals make it easy to turn a day trip into an overnight.
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Highlights:
• Autumn Leaf Excursions in October with peak-color views along the Lehigh River Gorge State Park.
• Open-air cars for the full fall foliage excursion or enclosed cars for a cozier ride.
• Departures right from Jim Thorpe’s walkable downtown, filled with shops, cafés, and historic buildings.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 1 Susquehanna St, Jim Thorpe, PA
• Season & Hours: Autumn Leaf Excursions run October 1st through November 16th, 2025
• Cost: Standard Coach Seating $22/adults, $9/children (ages 3-12), under 3 free.
Crown Class and Open-Air Seating is $24/adults and $10/children.
• Best Ages: All ages… toddlers to grandparents will love it.
• Website: LehighGorgeScenicRailway.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Explore Jim Thorpe’s quaint streets, tour the Old Jail Museum for a dose of history.
Visiting the Poconos for winter fun? Check out these places for snow tubing near Tobyhanna PA once the leaves have fallen.
Conway Scenic Railroad
North Conway, NH
The Conway Scenic Railroad delivers peak New England fall… golden leaves, mountain views, and crisp air straight from a postcard.
Departing from a 19th-century station in North Conway, the ride winds through the Mount Washington Valley and deep into the White Mountains.
Planning a trip to the area this winter?
These Things to Do in North Conway will keep everyone busy.
Conway Scenic Railroad Highlights:
• Choose your ride style… hop on the quick 55 minute Valley Train for an easy scenic spin or go all-in on the longer 4 hour Mountaineer Train that climbs into the heart of the White Mountains for the very best views.
• Step aboard restored vintage coaches and grab an open-air car seat to feel that crisp mountain breeze… or stay toasty in an enclosed coach when the fall air gets brisk.
• The onboard live narration keeps it fun with bits of local history, railroad tales, and Mount Washington Valley trivia so kids actually listen while they look out the window.
• Time it right for the late-September and October Fall Foliage Trains… the route glows with vivid colors of autumn foliage and spares you the highway leaf-peeping crowds.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 38 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH
• Season & Hours: Fall foliage trains run late September through late November… schedules vary by train type.
• Cost: Valley Train from $24/adults, $18/kids (4–12), under 4 free… Notch Train from $83/adults, $63/kids.
• Best Ages: All ages
• Website: ConwayScenicRailroad.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Wander North Conway’s walkable downtown for shopping, coffee, and quirky bites.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Essex, CT
Fall in Connecticut doesn’t hold back… and neither does the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat.
You’ll start by departing from a 19th-century train station in the heart of Essex, CT.
The vintage steam train winds through the lower Connecticut River Valley, past marshlands, riverbanks, and a postcard-worthy towns.
After the one-hour train ride, you’ll step right onto the riverboat for a one-hour narrated cruise along the Connecticut River and past Gillette Castle.
The full train-and-boat trip lasts about 2.5 hours, but you can also book the train ride on its own.
Visiting in December?
You might spot a few stops from our Hallmark Christmas Movie locations in CT.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Highlights:
• Ride behind a real steam engine… a vintage steam-powered locomotive pulls beautifully restored coaches that feel straight out of a storybook.
• Seasonal extras keep it fresh… Fall Foliage Cruises for peak-color leaf-peeping, a kid-magnet Pumpkin Patch Express, and holiday Santa Rides when the leaves drop.
• Relax while the live narration points out local history, quirky riverfront sights, and bits of river ecology trivia that keep kids entertained.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 1 Railroad Ave, Essex, CT
• Season & Hours: Fall Foliage Trains run late September through late October… check the schedule for special cruises and themed events.
• Cost: Everyone ages 2+ needs a ticket… $49 for Coach, $65 for First Class, or $29 for Train-Only
• Best Ages: All ages… especially fun for kids who love trains and boats.
• Website: EssexSteamTrain.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Stroll the historic streets of Essex village, explore the Connecticut River Museum, or extend the trip with a visit to nearby coastal towns like Old Saybrook and Mystic, CT for even more New England charm.
New Hope Railroad
New Hope, PA
Enjoy your meal as the countryside rolls past your window.
The New Hope Railroad pairs Bucks County’s brightest fall colors with vintage 1920s passenger cars.
The 45-minute fall foliage train ride winds through the Delaware River Valley, past river views, farmland, and bursts of autumn you just don’t get from the highway.
New Hope Railroad Highlights:
• Hop aboard restored 1920s passenger cars or grab a seat in the open-air car for that fresh-air, hair-in-the-wind leaf-peeping view.
• The scenic route winds through the Delaware River Valley, where bursts of autumn foliage and river views feel like a postcard in motion.
• Once you roll back into town, it’s a quick walk to New Hope’s shop-lined streets, riverfront restaurants, and historic corners… an easy way to stretch the day into a full family outing.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 32 W Bridge St, New Hope, PA
• Season & Hours: Fall rides run late September to early November… check schedule for peak weekend departures.
• Cost: From $24.99 for standard seating… premium and themed rides extra.
• Best Ages: All ages… especially if you pair it with a day exploring New Hope, PA with little kids.
• Website: NewHopeRailroad.com
• Nearby Bonus Stop: Spend the day exploring New Hope, PA with a stop at the Bucks County Children’s Museum, and wrap it up with dinner at one of the best restaurants in New Hope, PA for a full Bucks County fall day.
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad
Portland, ME
Portland’s waterfront is already a fall-season favorite… but add a vintage train ride along Casco Bay and you’ve got peak autumn vibes.
The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Pumpkin Train runs weekends in October, mixing coastal foliage views with kid-friendly fall activities.
Maine Narrow Gauge Highlights:
• October weekends in Portland, ME (Oct 19/20 & Oct 26/27, 2025) brings the Pumpkin Train… the ride is 40 minutes round trip and packed with kid-friendly fall activities and a pumpkin included!
• The route hugs the coastal edge of Casco Bay… every seat (especially the open-air seating) feels like a front-row view of the water framed by fiery fall colors.
• After the ride, pop into the small on-site museum… kids can climb into vintage train cars and explore hands-on exhibits about Maine’s rail history.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 49 Thames St, Portland, ME
• Season & Hours: Pumpkin Train runs weekends in October… check the schedule for times.
• Cost: Adults $21+, kids (3–12) $15+, under 3 free.
• Best Ages: All ages… especially great for younger kids who won’t sit through a long ride.
• Website: MaineNarrowGaugeRailroad.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Stroll Portland’s Old Port and local shops or add this as a highlight on your road trip stops from New York to Maine for a scenic fall route packed with family-friendly detours.
Catskill Mountain Railroad
Kingston, NY
The Catskill Mountain Railroad will take your family on a trip through the foothills of the Catskills, giving you the kind of fall views that make you want to slow the ride down.
Departing from Kingston, NY, this fall foliage train rolls past quiet woods, open fields, and the Esopus Creek, all framed by fiery foliage in peak season.
It’s also an easy add-on to any Upstate New York getaway… especially if you’re chasing the best leaf-peeping spots.
Catskill Mountain Railroad Highlights:
• Fall Adventure Trains run weekends in October for about 1 hour 15 minutes (roughly 8 miles round-trip), timed perfectly for the brightest foliage.
• Choose from vintage coaches or open-air flat cars with sun canopies for breezy, unobstructed views.
• The Pumpkin Express takes your family to a trackside Pumpkin Patch, where you can pick your own pumpkin to bring home and decorate.
• Departures from Kingston make it an easy add-on to a Hudson Valley fall day
Know Before You Go:
• Location: 55 Plaza Rd, Kingston, NY
• Season & Hours: Fall Adventure Trains and the Pumpkin Express run weekends in October
• Cost: $24/Adults, $18/Kids (ages 2-12), under 2 free.
• Best Ages: All ages… open-air cars are a hit with kids.
• Website: CatskillMountainRailroad.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Stroll Kingston’s historic waterfront district, visit the Hudson River Maritime Museum, or plan a quick side trip to Cold Spring, NY for small-town charm and river views.
Champlain Valley Dinner Train
Burlington, VT
Board the Champlain Valley Dinner Train in Burlington and settle into a vintage railcar for a 2½-hour round-trip ride to Vergennes and back… all while enjoying a three-course dinner served right at your table.
This seasonal train blends Vermont’s small-town charm with lake views that only get better as the leaves turn.
Champlain Valley Dinner Train Highlights:
• Vintage 1930s dining cars with real tablecloth service… because why shouldn’t a leaf-peeping day feel a little fancy?
• The scenic ride along Lake Champlain is basically a moving postcard of mountains glowing in fall colors.
• Fresh-made meals served onboard… plus optional beverage upgrades for the grown-ups (you deserve it).
• A 2½-hour round-trip that lets you linger over dinner and the views… no rushing.
Know Before You Go:
• Location: Burlington Amtrak Station Platform, 1 Main St, Burlington, VT
• Season & Hours: Fall rides run September 14 – November 1, 2025, on Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings.
– Check-in: 3:00 pm
– Boarding closes: 3:45 pm
– Departs Burlington: 4:00 pm
– Returns Burlington: 6:30 pm
• Cost: Tickets are sold by the table (ages 5+ only) 2025 Prices
– Private Table for Two: $390
– Private Table for Three: $435
– Private Table for Four: $520
• Best Ages: Ages 10+… best for kids who can enjoy a sit-down dinner.
• Website: ChamplainValleyDinner Train.com
• Nearby Bonus Stops: Make it a whole day in Burlington with some apple-picking at nearby orchards, a stroll along Burlington’s Waterfront Park, or check out our guide to Weird Burlington VT Attractions.
Fall Train Rides in the Northeast You’ll Never Forget
Whether you’re chasing peak foliage or just looking for an excuse to slow down, these scenic fall foliage train rides make fall feel like it lasts a little longer.
Pick your route, grab your favorite sweater, and let someone else do the driving… the leaves won’t wait.
Happy Travels…
