Chasing Railroads: List of 24 family-friendly train rides in Northern California
Have you ever listened to your toddler cry about going on public transportation while driving your luxurious car?
My parents love to remind me of a story about our family road trip across Europe in the late ’80s. We traveled from Poland through Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. Those days, it was quite unusual for Poles to go West, mainly for economic reasons and the difficulty in getting a passport. My family was one of the lucky ones because we could go in our new BMW. After a month of travel and seeing many great and magical places, we came back to Warsaw. It was an extremely hot July. I was looking through a tinted window from the air-conditioned car into a crowded tram of sweaty people trying to get air through open windows. Then I said, “Mom, I dream of going on a tram. Why do we always have to go by car? It is not fair!”
Around 30 years later, I understand this story differently now that I’m listening to my toddler’s cry while passing by a train or a tram. I also do understand how important it is to come up with ideas on how to spend family time with your kids. This is what inspired me to explore North Californian historical and unique railroads with my family. Since we started discovering unique train rides, the steam locomotives are our favorite ones. Nowadays, these locomotives which produce steam in a boiler are mostly fueled by oil. In the age of building transcontinental railroads (in the 19th century), they were powered by wood or coal, and steam came out in loud, steamy puffs. You can imagine these old, giant iron machines are taking a breath. The same kind of magic still exists today, but the trains are safer and more pleasurable for visitors. Passengers in open cars pulled by coal-fueled steam trains struggled with black smoke coming out from the locomotive and straight into their faces. We’ve also realized our child’s excitement mostly comes from the long ride, multiple short rides or locomotive visits, more than from the locomotive type.
Another point that is worthy of mention is that many of the listed places are built and operated by volunteers. That means that by visiting these places, you are meeting people full of passion and with immense knowledge. Our experience is that these passionate people are friendly and happy to take care of you. If you decide to ask a question, you will get an exciting and detailed story as an answer.
Below, I am posting two lists of kid-friendly train rides in Northern California. The first list contains original historical trains and railroads. The second list points to fun miniature train rides. The train rides on the lists are posted in order from north to south. Since these train rides are kid-friendly, the list does not include, for example, a wine tasting train in Napa Valley. This train, in my opinion, should be considered just for kids friendly special events, like the Christmas train. The list also doesn’t contain railroad museums which don’t offer train rides, such as the Cable Car Museum in San Francisco, San Francisco Railway Museum, Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, Niles Depot Museum or South Bay Historical Railroad Society. On the list, you will not find the San Francisco Cable Car ride as well as BART, Muni or CalTrain, since they are still in public service.
If your child is a huge fan of trains, you may also want to stay for a few days in the Railroad Park Resort located one hour north from Redding. This site offers lodging and dining opportunities in classic rail cars and cabooses. For more information, visit https://rrpark.com/
List # 1 Historic trains and railroads
1. Western Pacific Railroad Museum, Portola
The museum is located in Northeast California close to the state of Nevada, approximately a 3-hour drive from Sacramento and a 1.5-hour drive from Lake Tahoe. Regardless of where you’re coming from, the trip to Portola is a scenic one. Western Pacific Railroad Museum offers just a 10-minute ride on a 1-mile train track around the museum grounds. The journey is short but is done in a vintage caboose, just like the ones used in the olden days. This location stands out because of its diverse collection of around 80 different pieces of real railway cars and motor engines. The museum is kid-friendly and encourages visitors to climb aboard and experience the collection in a truly “hands-on” way. The museum offers a one- and two-hour “Run-A-Locomotive” program, which allows visitors to drive a locomotive.
Museum admission: Adults $8, Kids $4, Children (3 and under) free
Train ride tickets: Adults $4, Youth (ages 4 to 18) $2, Children (3 and under) free
locomotive cab rides: Adults $20, Youth (ages 4 to 18) $10
For more information visit https://www.wplives.org/
2. The Skunk Train, Mendocino County
The Skunk Train is located about 3.5-hours north from San Francisco, passing through the Sonoma and Napa regions. The train track is situated in 2,000-year-old Redwoods between Fort Bragg and Willits. The Skunk Train offers two different types of roundtrips: a one-our trip from Fort-Bragg available throughout the entire year, and a two-hour trip from Willits, which can be taken seasonally from March to December. The Skunk Train offers rides with diesel-electric and steam engines that pull passenger cars, including a bar car as well as an open-air car. Both rides are serviced by staff dressed in period costumes and includes live music. Additionally, at Fort Bragg, two-seater railbike rides and small museum exhibitions are available. Special occasions trains like the Pumpkin Express and the Magical Christmas Train are run during designated days.
Ticket prices depend on the trip and in the case of Fort Bragg time of the year.
Trips from Fort Bragg start from: Adults $27, Child (ages 2 to 12) $16.20, Infant (ages 2 and under) $10.80, Dogs $10.80.
Trips from Willits: Adult $49.95, Child (ages 2 to 12) $29.95, Infant (ages 2 and under) $10.95, Dogs $10.95
For more information, visit https://www.skunktrain.com/
You can see more pictures and see my travel report from The Skunk Train ride going here.
3. Sacramento River Train, Sacramento
The Sacramento River Train operates between Woodland and West Sacramento on the 14-mile “Woodland Branch.” This train ride is unique from twenty different types of experiences offered by the family-owned and operated business. Sacramento River Train offers eight different dining train rides, including Sunset Dinner Theater, Farm to Fork or Thanksgiving Supper; six different seasonal trains like the Trick or Treat train, Easter Egg Express or New Year’s Eve Bash; two libation trains focused on beer and wine tasting and four other unique rides like Murder Mystery or Great Train Robbery. Many train ride experiences are prepared specially for kids of all ages. All of the train rides are roundtrips, and most of them take 2.5 hours.
Trip prices vary according to the type of train, but regular trains start from: Adults (ages 13+) $45, Child (ages 3 to 12) $35, Infant (ages 2 and under) $10, Dogs $10
For more information, visit https://www.sacramentorivertrain.com/
4. California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento
The California State Railroad Museum is located in Old Sacramento State Historic Park. The museum’s passenger train station is a faithful reconstruction of the western terminus of America’s first transcontinental railroad from 1876. Train rides are 45-minute roundtrips and are done along the Sacramento River. The train rides can be done on Saturdays and Sundays from April to September and additionally on Tuesdays in March, April, and October. Trains are pulled by a steam locomotive or one of the vintage diesel locomotives. All rides include closed coach cars, open-air gondolas, and a first-class observation car. The museum is kid-friendly and runs exciting kid-friendly programs and activities, like the Junior Engineer Challenge and All Aboard for Storytime.
Train tickets: Adults $12, Youth (ages 6 to 17) $6, Kids (ages 5 and younger) free
For more information, visit https://www.californiarailroad.museum/
5. Western Railway Museum, Suisun City
The Western Railway Museum train is located between San Francisco and Sacramento. The museum focuses on electric equipment, including streetcars, interurban cars, and the specialized work and maintenance cars used to support and maintain electric railways. The Interurban 50-minute rides and the Streetcar 15-minute rides are done year-round on Saturdays and Sundays on 22 miles of track. The museum has large, shaded grounds perfect for picnics. Admission tickets to the museum are valid the entire day, and there is no limitation on a type or number of rides.
Admission to the museum is good all day and includes all scheduled rides. Ticket prices: Adults $10, Seniors (over 65) $9, Children (ages 2 to 14) $7
For more information, visit https://www.wrm.org/
6. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown
The Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is located in the heart of the historic California Gold Rush countryside about three hours east from San Francisco and about two hours from Sacramento. This place is home to a working roundhouse, water tower, landmark railroad buildings and historic railroad equipment, which still works and is under continuous service and repairs. The site is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Train rides can be done on Saturdays and Sundays from April to October. Antique steam and diesel engines operate on the 6-mile track and depart four times a day. The roundtrip train ride takes around 45 minutes.
Park admission: Adults $5, Youths (ages 6 to 17) $3
Train ride tickets: Adults $15, Youth (ages 6 to 17) $10
Children 5 and under get free park and train ride admission. If you purchase train tickets, park admission is included in the train ticket price.
For more information visit https://railtown1897.org/
7. Niles Canyon Railway, Fremont
Niles Canyon Railway operates between Niles and Sunol, located in the East Bay between Fremont and Pleasanton, about a one-hour drive from San Jose. This place is a railroad museum where the exhibits come to life, so all you’ll want to do is jump into the train to experience it by taking a ride. All train rides are roundtrips that take 1 hour and 20 minutes. Trains depart on Sundays from two different stations. It is possible to ride one-way on one train, get off, and return on a later train. On operation days, there are three scheduled trains departing from the station in Sunol and two trains from the station in Niles. Trains operate February to October. Every Sunday, rides are available just between April and August. Steam locomotive rides are done on special occasions. Nilsen Canyon Railway offers special event rides as well as caboose and train charters.
Ticket prices depend on the locomotive type. For diesel locomotive rides: Adults $15, Seniors (ages 62+) $12, Children (ages 3 to 12) $9. For steam locomotive rides: Adults $20, Seniors (ages 62+) $15, Children (ages 3 to 12) $10
For more information visit https://www.ncry.org/
8. Rails-Train Rides Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont
Ardenwood Historic Farm is a working farm that grows crops, breeds animals using historic methods, and offers memorable train rides. This place is welcoming visitors with the help of volunteers dressed in Victorian attire. The train runs from April to November on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays and during special events. The 30-minute ride is a roundtrip operated on a 1.25 mile track. The narrow-gauge track lays along three sides of the park. The train rides are included in a park admission ticket. Park admission depends on season and day. Prices start from: Adults (ages 18+) $4, Seniors (ages 62+) $3, Children (ages 4 to 17) $2, Kids (under 4 years old) visit for free
For more information visit http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
You can see more pictures and read my travel report from Ardenwood Historic farm going here.
9. Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine trains operate on a 4-mile mountain railroad hidden in the Redwoods. The railroad is located 3.5 hours from San Francisco and just a 10-minute drive from the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park. This site is a multilevel mountain area laid facility which offers train rides, gold panning, an on-site rail museum, and a gift shop. Rides are available on a daily basis April through October. Train trips are made with a steam train, which seats up to 200 passengers and takes 1 hour, or with the Jenny Railcars, which seats up to 10 passengers and takes 30 minutes. This location’s signature event is the Moonlight Special Dinner Train which combines a mountainous train ride with BBQ, campfire and live music. It takes about 3.5 hours from start to finish. Ticket prices vary depending on the type of train.
The Logger steam train: Adult $27.00, Children (ages 3 to 12) $15
Moonlight Special Dinner Train: Adults $63.00, Children (ages 7 to 12) $36.00, Children (ages 3 to 6) $29.00
Jenny Railcars: Adult $19.00, Children (ages 3 to 12) $9.50
For more information visit http://ymsprr.com/
10. Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton
Roaring Camp Railroads is located in Felton, about a 1-hour drive from San Jose, and just a 20-minute drive from Santa Cruz. Visitors can choose between a steam train forest ride and a diesel engine beach ride. The Redwood Forest Steam Train goes on a 1.5-hour roundtrip to the Bear Mountain inside the redwood forest on a narrow-gauge track. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Train goes on a 3-hour roundtrip to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on a standard-gauge railroad while being pulled by a diesel engine. Roaring Camp Railroads is open throughout the year, but its Santa Cruz Beach Train operates from spring to the end of the summer. A significant advantage of this place is the spacious Town of the Roaring Camp, which offers different food options, shops, a blacksmith house, handcar rides, picnic areas, and other activities for both kids and adults. The ticket price depends on the type of train.
Felton to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Train: Adult (ages 13 and up) $34; Child (ages 2 to 12) $26
Redwood Forest Steam Train: Adult (ages 13 and up) $32, Child (ages 2 to 12) $23
For more information visit https://www.roaringcamp.com/
List # 2 Miniature train rides
1. The train ride at Confusion Hill, Piercy
This miniature mountain train ride is a 30-minute roundtrip through Mendocino Redwoods on a 20-gauge track. Train rides can be taken seasonally in the spring and summer. This train uses European alpine system to switch its direction. There is also an interesting collection of old logging equipment and other attractions at Confusion Hill like Gravity House, Redwood Shoe House, and the world’s tallest free-standing redwood chainsaw carving totem pole.
Train tickets: Adults $10, Children (ages 4 to 12) $7.50, Children (ages 3 years and under) free
For more information visit http://www.confusionhill.com/
2. Train in Howarth Park, Santa Rosa
The colorful miniature replica of a steam train takes guests on a quarter-mile train trip. It only takes a few minutes and goes through the tunnel, down to the pond, across a bridge and into the forest! The train operates in good weather between March and October. Howarth Park in Santa Rosa provides other pleasant activities for kids like a carousel, jump house, animal barn, and pony rides.
Train ticket: $2 per ride
For more information visit https://srcity.org/1271/Howarth-Park
3. Sonoma TrainTown Railroad, Sonoma
Sonoma TrainTown Railroad is a garden-based amusement park located within a 1-hour drive north from San Francisco. Its main attraction is a 20-minute steam train ride with tunnels, waterfalls, bridges, and hidden miniature decorations. The trip includes a short stop in a miniature town with a petting zoo. The train ride is open throughout the year, but daily in the summer. Park admission is free, but rides require tickets.
Train ticket cost: $7.50 per person (ages 12 months+)
For more information visit https://www.traintown.com/
You can see more pictures and read my travel report from Sonoma TrainTown here
4. Train Ride in Small World Park, Pittsburg
Small World Park is about a 1.5-hour drive east from San Francisco. This amusement park, which is dedicated to smaller kids, is open seasonally from April to October. During the spring and fall, the park is only open on weekends. During the summer, rides can be enjoyed Wednesday through Sunday. One of the main park activities is a short train ride around the park. General park admission includes all rides pass and the experience is very affordable.
Park admission: Adults (ages 15 and older) $6.00, Seniors (ages 55 and older) $3.00, Children (ages 1 to 14) $3.00
For more information about visit http://www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us/
5. Pixieland Express, Pixieland Amusement Park, Concord
Pixieland Amusement Park is located in the East Bay area and is dedicated to smaller kids. It offers seven fun rides, and a miniature train ride is one of them. The train ride goes on more than a ¼-mile long railway through the tunnel and around the duck pond. Park admission is free, but all riders must have a ticket to take a ride. The park is open almost the whole year on weekends and nearly every day during summer vacation. However, all days and hours are subject to change due to inclement weather.
The ticket: A single ride is $2.35
For more information about visit http://www.pixieland.com/
6. Jolly Trolly in Children’s Fairyland, Oakland
Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland Storybook Theme Park offers visitors a train ride in fairytale cars, seven other rides, storybooks sets, and a petting zoo. The train ride is situated in the park and goes through Old West Junction and a tunnel. The amusement park operates on weekends year-round and every day from June to August. The short electric train ride takes two little loops and is done in about 5 minutes.
Park admission includes all rides and is $12.00 per person
For more information about visit https://fairyland.org/
7. Golden Gate Live Steamers, Tilden Park
Golden Gate Live Steamers is a non-profit museum that operates a miniature live steam railroad. The railroad is located close to the east side of Berkeley in Tilden Park. This facility includes ground-level and elevated tracks as well as tunnels, bridges, a turntable and a roundhouse. Train rides can be done every Sunday. Each ride takes about 8 minutes. The station is separated from the Redwood Valley Railroad’s passenger loading station entrance and is located just a bit further north.
Train tickets: Rides can be done for free but donations are appreciated
For more information visit https://www.goldengatels.org/
8. Redwood Valley Railway, Tilden Park
Redwood Valley Railway is located in the East Bay area of Tilden Park. It operates every day during summer vacation and on weekends and holidays. This 15-inch gauge steam train ride goes through the tunnels and bridges inside charming redwoods decorated with miniature old-style houses. The trip takes about 10 minutes.
Train tickets: $3 (children under 2 years old ride free) For more information visit https://redwood-valley-railway.business.site/#summary
9. Outback Express Adventure Train, Oakland Zoo
Located in the East Bay area of the Oakland Zoo’s miniature diesel engine train rides the track placed in the Australian part of Oakland’s zoo. The ride is available from outside the zoo, which means it is not necessary to pay zoo admission to jump on the train. However, while getting there with a car you will still need to pay a $10 parking fee. During the trip, visitors can see emus and wallaroos in an environment similar to the authentic Outback, as well as some scenic views of the Bay Area. Trip takes about 8 minutes. Next to the train station, also outside the zoo, kids can enjoy other rides like the carousel, mini rollercoaster, Jeep rides, and airplanes.
Train tickets: $3.50 per ride
For more information about visit https://www.oaklandzoo.org/
10. The little Puffer, San Francisco Zoo
The Little Puffer is an integral part of the San Francisco Zoo. It is one of only three remaining 22-inch gauge steam engines in the world, and it is believed to be more than 100 years old. The Little Puffer ride is roundtrip. It lasts two loops through the Prehistoric Garden in the South America zone as well as the Bear Country zone. The trip takes around 7 minutes. Little Puffer pulls open cars with passengers the whole year.
Train tickets: $7 per person, children under 3 ride free when accompanied by a paid adult
For more information visit http://www.sfzoo.org/visit/rides-and-more.html
11. Bianchi Mini Train, San Mateo Central Park
The Bianchi Mini Train operates in San Mateo Central Park next to the kid’s playground. The train runs throughout the year on weekends. During summer vacation, rides are available every day. The hours of operation are limited between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm but only if it’s not raining. The short electric train ride takes two little loops and is done in about 2 minutes.
Train rides tickets: $2.00 for a single ride
For more information visit http://sanmateocentralparktrain.com/
12. Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Los Gatos
Located in the south San Jose area, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad offers steam and diesel train rides. Rides are available throughout the year on Saturday and Sunday, and every day between June and August. Each trip takes about 10 minutes and goes around Oak Meadow Park. The picnic area and playground are available close to the train station.
Train tickets: $3.00 per person, while children under 3 ride free when accompanied by a paying adult
For more information visit https://bjwrr.org/
13. Bonfante Railroad Train Ride, Gilroy
Bonfante Railroad Train is a 1/3 scale replica of an 1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive. The train has custom-designed roofs that allow a full 180-degree view. Rides are done in Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park which is an amusement park located in the botanical gardens. The Park is home to 22 rides and five attractions. It is also home for the Circus Trees. The gardens are open every day during the summer vacation time and on weekends on the other parts of the year. The schedule of operation is subject to changes so it is better to check opening hours before going there.
The park admission ticket includes all rides. Ticket prices vary on ticket type and is usually between $30 and $50. Tickets bought via the internet are up to 45% cheaper than the ones at the gate. Children under age of 3 visit park for free.
For more information visit https://www.gilroygardens.org/
14. Casa de Choo Choo, Hollister
Casa de Choo Choo is an Italian family business with a variety of stores, attractions, and a playground located roadside in Pacheco Valley between Monterey and Yosemite. It is about a 1-hour drive south from San Francisco. The diesel engine miniature train runs on a narrow gauge two-mile-long railroad track that goes through the park, passing along scenic Pacheco Creek.
Train rides tickets: Single ride $4.50
For more information about visit https://www.casadefruta.com/
