The Polar Express Train Ride
Passengers board decorated train cars for a theatrical journey to the North Pole, where they can watch and listen to the festive scene. On board, guests are served hot cocoa and a cookie, receive a golden ticket, and are gifted a silver sleigh bell from Santa. Depending on the seating class booked, riders travel in standard coach seats or reserved tables with specialty souvenir mugs and treats.
What to Expect
Theatrical holiday train ride to the North Pole with hot cocoa and Santa.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation
Food & Drink
All classes include hot cocoa and a cookie; Deluxe, First Class, and Parlor Class also include a special treat, with cocoa served in different cups or mugs by class.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with young children
Vibe
Festive and storybook
Energy Level
Low
Budget
$$$
Photo Friendly
Moderate
Weather Sensitivity
Low
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Prices shown include handling/ticket fees; N.C. sales tax is added at checkout. Starting prices: First Class 4-top table $316 ($79 per seat; all four seats must be purchased); First Class 2-top table $158 ($79 per seat; both seats must be purchased); Deluxe Coach adult $66; Deluxe Coach child ages 2–12 $59.50; Standard Coach adult $51.75; Standard Coach child ages 2–12 $45.50. First Class 6-top table $474 and Parlor Class 4-top table $429 are marked sold out. Peak prices: First Class 4-top table $336 ($84 per seat; all four seats must be purchased); First Class 2-top table $168 ($84 per seat; both seats must be purchased); Deluxe adult $71; Deluxe child ages 2–12 $64.50; Standard adult $56.75; Standard child ages 2–12 $48.50. First Class 6-top table $504 and Parlor Class table $439 are marked sold out. Peak pricing applies to performances marked with ** in the schedule; 2:30 and 3:15 trains are not peak pricing. Everyone age 2 and up needs a ticket and seat; one lap infant under age 2 per paying adult rides free. Class amenities are included as described: Standard includes cocoa, a cookie, silver sleigh bell and golden ticket; Deluxe includes cocoa in a keepsake tumbler, a special treat, a cookie, silver sleigh bell and golden ticket; First Class includes cocoa in a keepsake ceramic mug, a special treat, a cookie, silver sleigh bell and golden ticket; Parlor Class includes those items plus one signed hard-bound copy of The Polar Express per table. – Get tickets
- Hours: Train departures are scheduled at 2:30 PM, 3:15 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:45 PM, 5:30 PM, 6:15 PM, 7:00 PM, 7:45 PM, and 8:30 PM, with availability varying by date and Train A or Train B.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair lifts and accessible seating are limited to Train A's Jingle car and Train B's Noel car; motorized devices or wheelchairs over 30 inches wide cannot be guaranteed.
Tips & Advice
- Choose one of the earliest afternoon departures to avoid peak pricing, which applies to the starred trains on busy weekends and in late December.
- If you book First Class, remember you have to buy every seat at the table, and nobody else can be added to it.
- Wheelchair users should book Train A's Jingle car or Train B's Noel car, since those are the only cars with a lift and accessible seating.
- Add pre-sale merchandise like the signed book or light-up sword when you buy tickets so it's ready to pick up when you arrive.
- To earn free Standard tickets through the Stay & Play package, book your Rowan County hotel before your weekend's deadline, since each event weekend has its own cutoff.
Special Events & Promotions
- Friday, November 6 is the Final Dress ride, the first ride of the season.
- The Overnight Stay & Play package lets you book a participating Rowan County hotel and get free Standard Class tickets while supplies last, or an e-gift card instead.
- The earliest afternoon departures are never peak pricing, even on peak dates.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Train A and Train B?
The performance is the same on both trains, which leave at different times. Both have Standard Coach, Deluxe Coach and First Class table seating. Only Train A has the Parlor Class car.
What do you get in each seating class?
Standard Class gets hot cocoa in a paper cup, a cookie, a silver sleigh bell and a golden ticket. Deluxe adds a keepsake tumbler and a special treat. First Class serves cocoa in a keepsake ceramic mug at a table. Parlor Class adds one copy of The Polar Express signed by Santa per table.
Do babies and toddlers need their own ticket?
Everyone age 2 and up needs a ticket and a seat. One lap infant under 2 rides free per paying adult.
Is the train wheelchair accessible?
Only Train A's Jingle car and Train B's Noel car have accessible seating and a wheelchair lift. The lift works at the boarding point and the final destination only. There's no lift at the North Pole scene, so riders in those cars watch and listen from inside the train. Wheelchairs over 30 inches wide and motorized devices can't be guaranteed a spot.
Can I buy souvenirs ahead of time?
Yes. You can add pre-sale Polar Express items when you buy tickets and pick them up when you arrive. Choices include a book signed by Santa, a lanyard, a light-up sword, a caribou plush, a Sherpa throw and a jingle bell frame for Santa's sleigh bell.
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