It’s Polar Express season, but that’s not the only train ride near Greenville, SC to enjoy during the holidays. Read on and get ready to hop aboard for some Christmas jingle rides this year.
Why are trains so magical? Maybe it’s the movies or the novelty of riding trains but they have always felt really cool to me and my kids would tell you the same. Add in the Christmas season and the magic abounds.
There are some pretty amazing holiday-themed train rides within a couple hours’ drive of Greenville, SC in both South and North Carolina that we think you’ll really love.
Best Christmas Train Ride Experiences near Greenville
Polar Express Ride (Bryson City, NC)
Probably the most well-known Christmas train ride is the Polar Express out of Bryson City, NC on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Tickets usually go on sale in June for the upcoming season and families absolutely love this experience. With a ride that mimics the movie, you can’t go wrong when you board this Polar Express adventure.
Read our review on the Polar Express in Bryson City for all the holiday details.
The first Polar Express departs Bryson City Depot on November 6, 2026, and the train runs all the way through January 3, 2027. It doesn’t run every single day, so check the booking calendar for the dates you want. Most days, there are three departures a day, and tickets sell out quickly.
There are several classes to choose from, with Coach Class being the cheapest of the train tickets at $33.52 for kids ages 2-12 and $50.85 for adults ages 13 and up (infants under two ride free in Coach), up to First Class, which is $287.76 for a 4-top table and $143.88 for a 2-top table. Crown Class ($115 for a 2-seat section, $230 for a 4-seat section) and Premium Crown Class ($264.64 for a 4-top table) fall in between. Those prices already include the railroad’s Historic Preservation Fee and ticket fees, and the railroad notes that peak dates, steam service, and Christmas Eve may run higher. Depending on what ticket class you choose, you’ll receive a cookie, hot chocolate, and a souvenir of some type for a full Polar Express experience.
- Operator: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
- Location: Bryson City Depot, Bryson City, NC
- 2026 dates: November 6, 2026 – January 3, 2027
- Starting price: $33.52 child (2-12), $50.85 adult (13+), Coach Class
- Ride length: About 1¼ hours round trip
Polar Express (Spencer, NC)
The Polar Express train in Spencer, NC at the NC Transportation Museum is also a lot of fun for families. They have different classes of cars to choose from, hot chocolate and cookies, and a ‘North Pole’ with Santa Claus.
Read our full review on this Polar Express train ride for all the information.
The 2026 Polar Express runs November 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29, plus December 4-6 and 10-23, 2026. While trains depart in the afternoon, the departure times vary by date, so be sure to check the NC Transportation Museum’s website for the schedule. Everyone age two and up needs their own ticket and seat, and one lap infant under age two rides free per paying adult. Prices begin at $43 for children and $50 for adults. Check the Polar Express website for available dates and times, and to purchase tickets.
- Operator: North Carolina Transportation Museum
- Location: 1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer, NC
- 2026 dates: November 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29; December 4-6 and 10-23
- Starting price: $48.50 +
- Good to know: Everyone age two and up needs a ticketed seat
Jingle Bell Trolley (Asheville, NC)
This is a very sweet little trolley ride just north of Asheville on the Craggy Mountain Railroad, a historic site with rail cars you can explore. The actual trolley ride is a 25-minute, two-mile round trip on an open-air car and there are lots of jingle bells along the way. When you get back to the Depot, Santa and Mrs. Claus are waiting to greet guests. When we went, each child received a small gift.
They also have hot chocolate and cookies plus a really cute little train village to walk around in. This is the perfect intro for smaller kids to a Christmas train ride. Read our review on the Jingle Bell Trolley for all the details. This place is pretty amazing. Tickets are $23 per person, and children three and under ride free.
- Operator: Craggy Mountain Line
- Location: 111 North Woodfin Avenue, Asheville, NC
- 2026 dates: TBA
- Starting price: $23 per person; children three and under free
- Ride length: About 25 minutes
Read our review on the Jingle Bell Trolley.
Santa Twilight Train (Winnsboro, SC)
Departing from the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro, SC, the Santa Twilight Train is a really sweet experience for all ages.
Guests enjoy hot chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, stories, a visit with Santa, and Christmas carols in the historic rail cars. Santa’s Twilight Express runs the first three Fridays and Saturdays of December — December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026. They also offer the North Pole Express during the day on the first three Saturdays of December — December 5, 12, and 19, 2026 — where Santa stops to talk to every kid on the train. Both rides last about 90 minutes, or until Santa has talked to every child aboard. Note that every rider needs a purchased ticket, including lap babies and children under two.
- Operator: South Carolina Railroad Museum
- Location: 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro, SC
- 2026 dates: Twilight Express December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19; North Pole Express December 5, 12, 19
- Starting price: Waitlist Available
- Ride length: About 90 minutes
Read our review on the Santa Train at SCRM.
Tweetsie Christmas Railroad (Blowing Rock, NC)
A Christmas tradition for many, the Tweetsie Christmas Railroad is a fun and magical experience in Blowing Rock, NC. The Christmas Train ride is part of the Tweetsie experience at the theme park and takes riders on a 20-minute ride through holiday lights and festive decor. Your ticket also includes four theme park rides, Santa’s Gingerbread House for photos, and Christmas shows with multiple performances.
Tweetsie Railroad is open select evenings from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. — November 27-29; December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23, and 26-30, 2026 — and tickets are $65/ages 13+, $45/ages 3-12, free for kids ages two and under. Parking is free. The park is closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve, and Santa is there through December 23. You pick your Christmas Train departure time when you buy, with trains leaving every half hour from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Operator: Tweetsie Railroad
- Location: 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock, NC
- 2026 dates: November 27-29; December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23, 26-30
- Starting price: $45 ages 3-12, $65 ages 13+, free ages two and under
- Ride length: About 20 minutes, plus park admission for the evening
Carolina Christmas Train (Star, NC)
Join in on a magical journey of twinkling lights, festive music and the warm glow of holiday cheer! The historic passenger cars of the Carolina Christmas Train are a beauty in themselves with cozy seating and will give you a feeling of nostalgia as we wind our way through the heart of North Carolina. Sit back, relax and sing Christmas carols as Santa makes his way to visit you and your family.
Included in each ticket purchase is a souvenir cup with hot chocolate and a cookie.
- Operator: Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway
- 2026 dates: December 13th, 19th, 20th, 2026
- Starting price: $60
- Good to know: The railway sells these tickets online only
Bonus: Ride the Mini Christmas Train in Kannapolis, NC
Here’s a budget-friendly option! The mini steam train at the gorgeous Village Park in Kannapolis gets all decked out for Christmas and offers rides for just $2 per person through the huge Christmas lights display at Village Park. The Celebration of Lights runs November 13 through December 30, 2026, and the train runs every 10 minutes each evening. There’s also a beautiful carousel to enjoy at this park (also $2), and there’s no admission fee to see the lights and no charge to park. So you can enjoy your train ride and stay as long as you want. Train reservations go on sale October 14, 2026, and are suggested Sunday through Thursday; Friday and Saturday seating is first-come, first-served.
- Operator: City of Kannapolis Parks & Recreation
- Location: Village Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis, NC
- 2026 dates: November 13 – December 30, 2026
- Starting price: $2 per train ticket; lights and parking free
- Good to know: Trains depart every 10 minutes each evening
Check out our visit to Kannapolis Celebration of Lights.
Christmas Train Rides Near Greenville: Your Questions, Answered
When does the Polar Express run in Bryson City in 2026?
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad runs THE POLAR EXPRESS from November 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027, departing the Bryson City Depot. It doesn’t run every day, and most operating days have three departures. The round trip takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
How much does the Bryson City Polar Express cost?
Coach Class starts at $33.52 for kids ages 2-12 and $50.85 for ages 13 and up, with infants under two riding free in Coach. First Class is $287.76 for a 4-top table or $143.88 for a 2-top. Crown Class runs $115 for a 2-seat section and $230 for a 4-seat section, and Premium Crown is $264.64 for a 4-top. Those prices include the railroad’s Historic Preservation Fee and ticket fees; peak dates, steam service, and Christmas Eve may cost more.
Is there a Christmas train ride in South Carolina?
Yes — the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro runs two. Santa’s Twilight Express operates December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026, and the daytime North Pole Express operates December 5, 12, and 19, 2026. Both rides last about 90 minutes, or until Santa has talked to every child on the train. Every rider needs a purchased ticket, including lap babies and children under two.
What are the 2026 Tweetsie Christmas dates and ticket prices?
Tweetsie Christmas runs select evenings from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. on November 27-29 and December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23, and 26-30, 2026. Tickets are $65 for ages 13 and up, $45 for ages 3-12, and free for ages two and under, and parking is free. Santa is at the Gingerbread House through December 23. The park is closed Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
What’s the cheapest Christmas train ride on this list?
The Winterland Express at Village Park in Kannapolis, at $2 per train ticket. The Celebration of Lights around it runs November 13 through December 30, 2026, and there’s no admission fee for the lights and no charge to park. The carousel is $2 as well.
Do babies and toddlers need their own ticket?
It depends on the railroad, so check before you book. On the Bryson City Polar Express, infants under two ride free in Coach. At the NC Transportation Museum, everyone age two and up needs a ticketed seat, and one lap infant under two rides free per paying adult. At the South Carolina Railroad Museum, every rider needs a full-price ticket, including lap babies. At Tweetsie, ages two and under are free.
For more Christmas fun near Greenville, check out our big Holiday Guide to the Upstate.
