8 Of The Best Day Trips By Train

Escape — even for just a few hours — and take in local scenery.

By

Rebecca Treon

 
Published May 08, 2026
A bright yellow and blue Alaska Railroad passenger train travels alongside a calm river, surrounded by green forested mountains and blooming wildflowers
Glenn Aronwits/Alaska AIrlines

On your next vacation, if you’re looking for a relaxing, slow-travel way to take in an area’s natural beauty, consider a train ride. There's no need to commit to a multi-day cross-country adventure. These day trips let someone else do the driving and let you enjoy the scenery. Often using beautifully restored historic train cars that hearken back to travel’s golden age, some have themed excursions that let you enjoy live music, stop for a picnic, or partake in holiday celebrations. Here are eight day trips on the rails for the perfect scenic mini-escape.

Colebrookdale Railroad

A historic train station with Victorian-style architecture, a decorative tower, and a vintage railcar
Alamy Stock Photo

Roughly an hour from Philadelphia, the Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown features several painstakingly restored Pullman Palace cars that in their heyday were likened to “mansions on wheels.” Featuring velvet upholstery, stained glass accents, and elaborately carved woodwork, they’re the height of vintage-style luxury. The tourist train’s excursions run through the densely wooded areas of Pennsylvania’s Secret Valley while riders enjoy white-glove service for cocktails, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Some trains feature live music, seasonal events, and special experiences. If you need an excuse to infuse your day-to-day with a little glamour, rides go from 90 minutes to two hours and tickets start at just $10.

Durango & Silverton Railroad

A historic steam locomotive pulling passenger cars along a cliffside mountain railway, surrounded by pine forests and a river below
Courtesy Durango & Silverton Railroad

In continuous operation since 1882, the Durango & Silverton Railroad shuttles tourists from the train depot in Durango to Silverton, a historic mining village high in the San Juan Mountains. Whether you travel through a snow-covered landscape in winter or through the Animas Canyon when its foliage is lush and green, the excursion is well worth the time. The Victorian-era cars range from glass-topped observation cars with plush seating to those with wooden seats open to the elements. Themed rides include a ragtime live music train, a cowboy poetry train, and one that stops to watch the ascent of festival hot air balloons. Tickets start at $96 and trips range from two to nine hours.

Grand Canyon Railway

A classic Grand Canyon Railway passenger train travels through a snow-dusted pine forest under a clear blue sky
Jim West/Alamy Stock Photo

Join the likes of President Theodore Roosevelt, actor Clark Gable, and naturalist John Muir and explore the majestic vistas of the Grand Canyon from a train. The Grand Canyon Railway takes travelers from the train depot in Williams, Arizona (where the morning kicks off with a reenactment of an old-west style shoot-out) to the edge of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. The two-hour, 15-minute scenic ride drops passengers in the Historic Village to stroll trails, explore educational exhibits, historic buildings, and have a bite to eat. The train has a range of seating options including vintage Pullman, coach, and first class cars plus a luxury parlor, luxury dome, and observation dome. Tickets start at $38 for the round-trip ride, which allows for three hours exploration time at the Grand Canyon.

Alaska Railroad

A long passenger train travels across a high bridge in Alaska, surrounded by autumn forests and rugged mountains
Stewart L Sterling

A ride on the Alaska Railroad takes passengers into territory with unparalleled natural beauty, some of which is only accessible by train. Choose from modern Gold-Star Service cars with panoramic views from observation dome-style cars with an open-air deck, a private bar, tour guides, and accessible front-facing seating or Adventure Class seating with large viewing windows and a dining car. There are myriad day trips to take, say, going from Anchorage to Seward and you can do an excursion like guided kayaking, fjord exploration, a wilderness hike, or a dog-sled ride before catching the train back in the evening. There are numerous route and activity options with tickets starting at $29.

Amtrak Mardi Gras Service

A man addresses attendees from a decorated podium outside of Amtrak train
Courtesy Amtrak

After being out of service since Hurricane Katrina, in August 2025, Amtrak relaunched its Mardi Gras Service running from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama (two cities that claim to be the birthplace of Mardi Gras celebrations in the U.S.). Stopping along coastal Mississippi cities Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, the four-hour train runs daily in the morning and afternoon. The new route has drawn double the number of expected passengers — it's also a popular way to get to a Saints home game — and even its conductors have a cult following. Skirting the edge of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi coast, each stop offers something interesting to discover, whether it’s a 121-year-old train depot converted into a brewery, a sultry Southern speakeasy, an oyster farm, or a hidden spot for Viet-Cajun fusion. One-way tickets start at $15.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Elegant dining table set inside a scenic wine train with white tablecloth, wine glasses, and red upholstered seating
Courtesy Napa Valley Wine Train

Riding the rails while stopping at wineries for tastings along the way has to be one of the best (and easiest) ways to explore Napa. Two trains outfitted with vintage Pullman cars built between 1915 and 1950 (including a glass-enclosed Vista-Dome car) offer daytime and evening excursions that range from two-and-a-half to six hours long. Some offer multi-course gourmet lunch or dinner, and some include on-board tastings, stops at wineries, or whodunnits on a murder-mystery themed ride. Tickets start at $522.

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Vintage diesel freight train moving through a lush green forest on a curved railroad track
Courtesy Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Ride through gorges, valleys, mountain tunnels, and across bridges along 53 miles of track on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Offering several options for scenic round-trip excursions, rides range from three-and-a-half hours to a full day. Departing from the quaint Bryson City depot, they either go through the Nantahala Gorge and back or along the Tuckasegee River, passing through old railroad towns along the way. The Tuckasegee route stops in Dillsboro, where there are restaurants, breweries, and craft and antique shops. The Smokies make up some of the most beautiful landscapes in America and can be experienced in first or coach class seating options, including an open-air gondola. Tickets start at $21.

The Hawaiian Railway Society

Vintage green Hawaiian Railway parlor car on a coastal rail line surrounded by tropical trees
Courtesy Hawaiian Railway

Hawaii’s only operating historic train is on Oahu, operated by The Hawaiian Railway Society, a nonprofit that preserves and educates people about Hawaii’s railroad history. Vintage diesel and steam trains take passengers on a leisurely two-hour ride along the coast, offering oceanside views. One car, the Dillingham Parlor Car, was once only used for Hawaiian royalty and only runs one Sunday a month and sells out far in advance. The narrated tour teaches passengers about the days of sugar plantations (with a stop for ice cream) with views of the Waianae Mountain Range. Tickets start at $13.

Have you ever gone on a train getaway? Where did you go? Let us know in the comments below.