Polar Express & Santa Train 2026 | Indiana Holiday Train Rides

Looking for holiday trains in Indy that remind you of the Polar Express for the 2026 holiday season? We’ve been trying all the holiday trains in Indiana for some time, and we’re not even done yet! If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments at the end. There are also a lot of other Indiana train rides and train activities near Indianapolis.

Be sure to book your Christmas train tickets as soon as you can when tickets go on sale! These experiences are extremely popular and often sell out quickly. Some 2026 dates were already filling up by late summer.

Heads up for 2026: The Whitewater Valley Railroad in Connersville is not running The Polar Express this year after August flooding damaged its tracks and equipment. Since French Lick is mostly booked, St. Louis Union Station is your nearest Polar Express stop this season.

2026 Christmas Train Rides in Indiana

Our favorite time of year is winter and Christmas time! We live for bundled-up walks in the snow, hot chocolate, making memories, and feeling all the holiday love in the air. One of our favorite things to do during Christmas in Indy is to take a special ride on a train. There are tons of trains running through Central Indiana, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to ride a train with the big guy in the red suit!

Because we know how important the details are for our readers, we’ve included the important stuff below. For more info, be sure to click the link to be taken to information about our visit, the event website, and photos and videos!

Sullivan Express

Sullivan Hardware and Garden, 6955 N Keystone Ave, Indianapolis

The Sullivan Express is a small, trackless train that will take you and your family on a memorable trip to see Santa at the North Pole! Travel through the outdoor garden center at Sullivan’s Hardware store. It’s been set up to be the perfect winter wonderland.

When the train arrives, your family will be seated together in one car. The short train ride is open-air, so be sure to dress for the weather! After leaving the station, the narrated train ride will travel through Bear Country, where you’ll encounter some friendly bears doing some rather unusual things. Upon your arrival at the North Pole, the kids can play in Santa’s workshop as your family takes turns visiting with Kris Kringle himself.

2026 tickets go on sale Sunday, November 1 at 4 pm, and rides run November 20–22, November 25, and November 27 – December 23. Seating is limited. One ticket covers a whole train car, which fits approximately 4 adults and 2 children, or a similar combination depending on ages and sizes. Full 2026 pricing posts when tickets go live; early listings show $98 per car for at least one December date, and 2025 cars ran $75–$95. Tickets should be purchased in advance.

If your child is more interested in the train ride than meeting Santa (or if the traditional ride is sold out), guests also have the option of taking the Santa’s Outpost excursion. This ride is the same as the traditional version, but instead of disembarking at the North Pole, guests remain in the cars, and Santa comes out to deliver cookies and take selfies. As a bonus, this ride comes at a discount!

Reindeer Express Train Ride

Nickel Plate Express, 825 Forest Park Drive, Noblesville

Hop aboard the Nickel Plate Express Reindeer Express, departing from Forest Park in Noblesville, Indiana! Guests take a 75-minute round trip through northern Hamilton County toward Arcadia while enjoying holiday music, a holiday cookie, and a letter-to-Santa activity with delivery to the North Pole post office. Santa visits during the ride. Standard Class guests get chocolate milk, and Platinum, Diamond, and Private Caboose guests get hot chocolate.

Rides run on select dates November 14 – December 23, 2026. Standard tickets are sold in groups of 2 or 4 (ages 3 and up): $95 for 2 or $180 for 4 in November, and $115 or $230 in December. Children 2 and under may ride free on a parent’s lap in Standard seating only. Private tables and a private caboose for up to 20 are available for an additional cost. All seating is upstairs, and the passenger cars are not accessible. Book a November ride for the lowest price.

Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure

Nickel Plate Express, 825 Forest Park Drive, Noblesville

Been there, done that with the Reindeer Express? Here’s a fun twist for older kids and their adults: instead of riding the Nickel Plate line, you pedal it. Start at Santa’s House in Forest Park, where fire pits keep everyone toasty while you wait. Then climb onto an open-air railbike for the Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure and roll toward downtown Noblesville under twinkle lights and through a 60-foot light tunnel. At the halfway point, you’ll hop off for hot chocolate and a cookie while the crew turns your bikes around. Plan on about an hour, start to finish.

Rides run select nights November 19 – December 31, 2026, with departures at 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:45 pm, and 9 pm. Seats are $24.95 each, or claim a whole four-seat bike for $89.95. Heads up: all sales are final, and dates can’t be swapped. Someone in your group needs to be ready to pedal, and the bikes aren’t recommended for riders taller than 6’4”. Closed-toe shoes, a real coat, and a lap blanket for the kids make it much cozier.

The Polar Express Train Ride

Whitewater Valley Railroad, 455 Market St., Connersville

Not running in 2026. The Whitewater Valley Railroad canceled its 2026 Polar Express season after mid-August flooding caused extensive damage to its tracks and equipment. Volunteers are working on repairs, and we hope to see the golden tickets back in Connersville next year. For a Polar Express ride this year, head to French Lick (below) or St. Louis Union Station.

In past years, families boarded at Grand Central Station in Connersville to pick up Santa Claus at the North Pole. Hot chocolate and cookies were served by dancing chefs, Santa visited each child with the first gift of Christmas, and the conductor punched every golden ticket, just like in the story.

Polar Express Train Ride

French Lick Scenic Railway, 8594 W. State Road 56, French Lick

Take a magical journey on the Polar Express, departing from French Lick, Indiana, while experiencing sights and sounds from the classic book and film. Just like the movie, cocoa and cookies are served by dancing chefs, and guests read along with Chris Van Allsburg’s tale. The train passes through the Hoosier National Forest and Flat Top Tunnel before arriving at the North Pole. Santa then makes his rounds through the train, delivering the first gift of Christmas, a silver sleigh bell. Elves lead caroling on the ride back.

2026 rides run November 6 – December 23, with departures at 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm, and 7:30 pm (Friday rides in most weeks start at 5:30 pm). The ride lasts about 65 minutes. Pricing varies by date and seating class, from $47 to $117 per ticket. Many December dates sold out by late summer, so check availability now. The ride includes flashing or strobe lighting, which may affect anyone with light sensitivity.

Polar Express Train Ride (Road Trip Pick)

St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis, Missouri

Can’t snag French Lick tickets? Point the minivan west. St. Louis Union Station hosts its own licensed Polar Express Train Ride from the historic station’s train park, with the Conductor, Santa, and his elves on board. The bonus here is everything else on the same campus: the St. Louis Wheel, the St. Louis Aquarium, a hotel, and plenty of places to eat, so an overnight is easy. Budget about four hours each way from Indy.

Trains roll every night November 13 – December 30, 2026, at 4:30 pm, 6 pm, and 7:15 pm Central time. Fridays and Saturdays add a fourth train at 8:30 pm starting November 27, and that late train runs nightly December 20–30. Prices depend on the date and train car; the lowest-priced Holiday Saver seats have been promoted at about $19.99 before fees and tax. Ride on a November weekday, and you’ll score a free St. Louis Wheel ticket, and December riders get a free pass to the Elfie Express inside Union Station. Need a calmer ride? Sensory-friendly trains run Monday, November 23, and Tuesday, December 1, in the Northern Lights and Grand Rapids cars.

Santa Train

The Indiana Railroad Company, Various Locations

Don’t miss the 2026 Santa Train! This volunteer-run event is a crowd favorite for those who have been coming for years. You will get to watch the decorated train roll into the station after visiting with Santa’s helpers ahead of time, then climb aboard vintage passenger cars to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. You will also have the opportunity to mail your letter to Santa through the North Pole’s Express Mailbox.

The 2026 schedule hasn’t been announced yet. The train usually runs the first weekend of December; in 2025, stops included Bargersville, Morgantown, Helmsburg, Solsberry, Bloomfield, Linton, Dugger, Jasonville, and Sullivan. This is a FREE event for all, but we highly recommend getting in line early! It’s a crowd favorite!

Indiana Christmas Train

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, 1469 West Main Street, Pleasant Lake

The Indiana Christmas Train runs December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, and 22, 2026. Saturday departures are 12 pm, 2:15 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:45 pm; Sunday departures are 12 pm, 2:15 pm, and 4:30 pm; December 21 and 22 departures are 2:15 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:45 pm. Guests enjoy a 90-minute, carol-filled ride through the winter countryside with Santa visiting every train and live music on board. Travelin’ Toms Coffee serves hot chocolate and seasonal drinks at the station before departure, and passengers may bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Deluxe Coach seats start at $34–$45, and a family package for four is $135 (plus processing fees). Children 3 and under who don’t occupy a seat ride free in Deluxe Coach. First Class, a 21-and-over Cocktail Class on Saturdays, and private cars are also available. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Plan ahead; they do sell out!
New this year, the shorter Reindeer Run rides will run Thanksgiving weekend, November 27–29, in Edon, Hudson, and South Milford.

Santa Train

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, 507 Mulberry Street, North Judson

The Santa Trains are back this year, operating five times daily on Saturdays, November 21 and 28, and December 5, 12, and 19, 2026. Times are 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm. Coach tickets are $30 for adults (ages 16 and up) and $25 for ages 3–15; Economy Coach is $25 and $20. Ages 2 and under ride free on a lap. Your ticket includes a 60-minute ride aboard the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum’s Santa Train, a visit with Santa, an opportunity to take family photos, and a gift for each child onboard. For a more upscale experience, ride First Class aboard the 1924 Monon business car or book a private room or entire car. There are no working restrooms on the train. Please note: All trains run on CENTRAL TIME (Chicago time).

Santa’s Candy Cane Express

Hesston Steam Museum, 1201 E. 1000 N., La Porte

For the train-obsessed kid who wants the real deal up close, the Hesston Steam Museum in La Porte County goes all in on the holidays with Santa’s Candy Cane Express. Santa sets up inside a vintage caboose, the museum’s old-fashioned soda fountain pours hot cocoa, and families can ride as many as three of Hesston’s railroads if the weather cooperates. Most of the event is outdoors, so layer up. Get the scoop on the museum in our Hesston Steam Museum guide.

Pick December 5–6 or 12–13, 2026, 12–4 p.m. Central Time. Online tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for kids under 13, and there’s no separate museum admission. Parking is free. It’s about three hours from Indianapolis, so pack the snacks and make it a day trip.

More Miniature and Trackless Train Rides in Indiana

Snowfall Express

Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis

If your littles are more “choo-choo!” than “two-hour excursion,” start here. The Snowfall Express is a short indoor train ride inside Celebration Crossing, the museum’s holiday wonderland. Kids watch Indiana critters getting ready for winter as the train winds through a forest scene, and yes, it snows on you at the end. The whole ride is about five minutes, which is right in the sweet spot for preschool attention spans. Santa’s House and the vintage L.S. Ayres train are steps away, so plan to linger. Our Celebration Crossing guide has more tips, and the museum tells us the train is ADA accessible.

Celebration Crossing is open every day from November 27, 2026, through January 3, 2027 (closed Christmas Day), 10 am – 5 pm. Santa makes a big entrance by helicopter on opening morning at 10:30 am. You don’t pay extra for the train, since it comes with museum admission: $23 adults, $21 seniors, $17 kids 3–17, and free for kids under 3 and members. Indiana Access Pass families pay $5. Buy online for a small discount, and hang onto your ticket for the $4 parking validation. Pajama fans, mark Tuesday, December 8, 6 – 8:30 pm, for the Snowflake Pajama Party.

Jingle Rails

Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis

No ticket to the North Pole required for this one. Every holiday season, the Eiteljorg fills a gallery with Jingle Rails, a model train wonderland where eight G-scale trains chug past mini versions of Indy landmarks and the American West. Spot Monument Circle and Lucas Oil Stadium, then follow the tracks out to Mount Rushmore, the Hoover Dam, and the Las Vegas Strip. Our crew’s favorite moment: Old Faithful really erupts every few minutes, so stick around. Look closely, and you’ll see every scene is built from natural materials like bark, pinecones, and nuts, and last season added a stretch of Route 66.

Grab the activity guide on your way in, because the I-Spy checklist on the back turns the whole display into a scavenger hunt (fair warning, you may end up doing laps). When little legs need a break, the sculpture court has train tables, coloring, picture books, and Magna-Tiles. Jingle Rails runs November 21, 2026 – January 18, 2027, and is included with museum admission. Last season, tickets were $20 for adults, $16 for seniors 65 and up, and $12 for ages 5–17, with kids 4 and under and members free. On-site museum parking makes it an easy stop, and the Snowfall Express at the Indiana State Museum is right next door if you want to make it a double-header.

Piney Acres Express & Glimmer Lights

Piney Acres Farm, 1115 E. 1000 N., Fortville

Just northeast of Indy in Hancock County, Piney Acres Christmas Tree Farm turns its Christmas tree fields into Glimmer Lights each winter, and the star of the show is the Piney Acres Express. This trackless train carries kids and grown-ups together on a 20-minute loop through the light displays, with a cup of hot cocoa and a fresh cookie for every rider. Look for Santa at his cabin on select nights. Still need a tree? You’re standing in the right place.

The 2026 season runs select evenings November 15 – December 20, mostly Thursdays through Sundays, even when it’s raining or snowing. Trains leave every half hour from 6 – 8:30 pm, with an extra 5:30 pm departure on December nights. Tickets are $18 per rider plus fees; the Holly Jolly Tractor Ride is $15, and the 8 pm and 8:30 pm rides are $3 cheaper. Any kid who can walk needs their own ticket. This train ride is not wheelchair accessible.

Train Themed Holiday Fun

Sleep in a Train Car at Union Station

Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station, 123 W. Louisiana St., Indianapolis

Want the train magic to last past bedtime? Book a night in one of the 26 vintage Pullman train car rooms parked on the old tracks inside Indy’s historic Union Station. My kids were over the moon about sleeping on a real train (one that stays put, thankfully), peeking out the little train windows, and spotting the white “ghost traveler” statues frozen mid-stride around the hotel. It makes a festive downtown staycation, too. Pair it with Celebration Crossing and the Snowfall Express at the Indiana State Museum, Jingle Rails at the Eiteljorg, or an evening stroll around Monument Circle. For dinner, the Old Spaghetti Factory, where you can eat inside a trolley car, is a short walk away.

Train car rooms have either two full beds or one queen, plus a mini fridge and a Keurig. They’re cozy, so we found them just right for a family of two to four, and bigger crews can request adjoining rooms. You’ll climb a few steps into the car with your bags, so ask the hotel about accessible options if stairs are tricky. Train car rooms are limited and can book up around big downtown weekends, so reserve early and check current holiday rates. Read about our stay or check availability.

Find all Indy Christmas events here.

We love the massive model train layout at Mr. Muffin’s Trains.