We’ve put together a list of several Christmas Trains you can take the kids to this holiday season around the state of North Carolina.
For each, we’ve indicated the number of miles it is from the center of Charlotte, and we’ve organized the list with the trains closer to Charlotte first.
Caveat: Most of these train rides are cheap. In fact, some of these are very pricey. But we’re including them anyway, because they are so popular. For many families, these Santa Trains are a highlight of the holiday season.
Also, please note that some of these rides are on actual, full-size trains, some are on smaller models, and one is sort of a train-like ride, not actually a train on tracks.
And at the end of this post, there is a day-by-day list of holiday events in the Charlotte area.
Kannapolis Christmas–Winterland Express
Photo by Mace Publishing, LLC
Kannapolis Christmas Village Park
700 W. C Street
Kannapolis, NC 28081
28 miles from Charlotte
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!
The Polar Express Train Ride at North Carolina Transportation Museum
The Polar Express Train Ride North Carolina Transportation Museum
1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer
46 miles from Charlotte
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.
Country Christmas Train at Denton Farmpark
Denton Farmpark 4259 Handy Road
Denton, NC 27239
59 miles from Charlotte
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 for an additional fee. Please bring cash.
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.
Tweetsie Christmas
Photo used with permission from Tweetsie Railroad
Tweetsie Railroad 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
96 miles from Charlotte
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.
Holidays in the Park at Museum of Life + Science
Museum of Life + Science 433 W. Murray Avenue
Durham, NC 27704
143 miles from Charlotte
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.
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
151 miles from Charlotte
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.
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
180 miles from Charlotte
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 Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
