Hop on These 20 Train Tours to See Stunning Fall Foliage

From Maine to Oregon, trains take you to hidden color sanctuaries

fall foliage surrounding the mount washington cog railway in new hampshire

The Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire takes you to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington. The train ride is a three-hour round trip on a biodiesel locomotive.

Catskill Mountain Railroad

Sheryl Jean and Bobbi Dempsey,

Updated September 25, 2025

AARP

Published September 08, 2023

/ Updated September 25, 2025

In this story

New England | Northeast | Upper Midwest | The South | The West

Cooler weather brings autumn colors galore. And one of the most popular fall pastimes is to take a trip to view the changing leaves.

According to the AARP 2025 Travel Trends report, nearly half of travelers 50-plus who plan to travel by air this year are unhappy about the high cost of airfare, while many also have concerns about cancellations and other airline issues. Train travel offers an alternative that’s often more affordable, without the hassle of crowded airports or flight delays. Trains are also a great way to travel in a way that lets you relax and rejuvenate, which nearly half of travelers 50-plus say is important to them – and train travel also often evokes the feeling of going on an adventure, which is something that appeals to 26 percent of travelers in this age group. Fall foliage tours are often just a few hours, so they are easy to fit into a busy schedule. Though New England grabs the most attention, you’ll find plenty of other festive foliage shows around the country.

Make the most of the short leaf-turning season by ditching your car to ride the rails — from Maine to Arkansas to Oregon — to see fall colors in hidden areas not easily accessible otherwise.

You’ll find fall foliage train tours and other special excursions in many states. We’ve assembled some of the best options for a day trip or weekend getaway. Check the Farmers’ Almanac for dates of peak foliage nationwide.

New England

The Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire takes you to the 6,288-foot summit of Mount Washington. The train ride is a three-hour round trip on a biodiesel locomotive.

Mount Washington Cog Railway

Train: Mount Washington Cog Railway, Mount Washington, New Hampshire

When: Steam trains run through Oct. 13; biodiesel trains run through Oct. 19; Summit Pre/Post Season trip from Oct. 20 to 26

Known as one of New England’s best fall train rides, the route from Marshfield Base Station to Mount Washington’s 6,288-foot summit provides stunning views of the highest peak in the Northeast.

Tourists have been riding the Cog since 1869 to see fall colors and experience hair-rising climbs and descents on grades averaging 25 percent. The round trip, including a one-hour layover at the summit, takes about three hours on a biodiesel locomotive (adults starting at $84) or steam train, although they are currently running a mid-mountain steam train that doesn’t go all the way to the summit ($69). Don’t forget to snap a photo at the famous Mount Washington Summit sign.

Train: Railroad Museum of New England’s Naugatuck Railroad, Thomaston, Connecticut

When: Oct. 17, 22-24

The Naugatuck Railroad’s 20-mile, two-hour Autumn Colors Limited train ride travels through some of the best fall foliage in northwestern Connecticut. The railway follows the Naugatuck River and crosses the 142-foot-high Thomaston Dam. Tickets start at $25 for adults.

On weekends in October, there’s an hour-long Pumpkin Patch Express, which stops at a pumpkin field. Tickets start at $15 for adults.

Train: Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad, Unity, Maine

When: Sept. 27, 28 and Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 1-15

Fall may be the best time to visit Maine, when the birch, maple, oak and elm trees turn brilliant yellow, orange and red. The Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad offers three train tours to view those colors. Its one-hour Fall Foliage Train Ride costs $23 for adults. A 90-minute extended fall tour (adults $33), which is offered on only three dates, travels along Unity Pond and through woods and bogs. An up-to-90-minute Pumpkin Express (adults $25) operates only Oct. 18-19.

Train: Cape Cod Central Railroad, Hyannis and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

When: Various dates through Oct. 29

View woodlands, cranberry bogs and other natural Cape Cod landscapes that can only be seen by train. The railroad offers narrated tours with varying routes and destinations, including brunch, luncheon and dinner trains. Choose from several seating options, including premium class, which offers elevated seating and panoramic windows.

A standard class adult ticket for a trip that takes between 1 hour and 10 minutes and 2½ hours, depending on the day and route, costs $29.99. They offer a 10 percent discount on excursion trains to first responders, active military members and veterans, and people 60-plus (if you book online, you’ll need to call to have a retroactive discount applied).

Northeast

The Catskill Mountain Railroad’s Fall Adventure Trains tour is an 8-mile trip in New York.

Catskill Mountain Railroad

Train: Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

When: The Autumn Leaf trains run Oct. 1-Nov. 16

Pennsylvania is famous for its fall foliage, and this route going around the Jim Thorpe region of the Poconos provides an opportunity to see an abundance of vibrant colors plus mountain vistas and wildlife. During the narrated, 16-mile, 70-minute ride, you will travel along the curves of the Lehigh River. Depending on the date of your trip, you may be able to choose from an open-air car, a standard coach (many of which were built in the 1930s by Bethlehem Steel), a first-class lounge car, the crown-class car or the vista-class dome car. Tickets start at $22 for adults for a standard coach seat.

From Oct. 1 through Nov. 16, there’s a 45-minute autumn leaf tour. Tickets aren’t sold in advance and must be purchased on the same day, in person, at the ticket booth in Jim Thorpe on a first-come, first-served basis.

Train: Catskill Mountain Railroad, Kingston, New York

When: The Fall Foliage Adventure is on selected dates (mainly weekends) through Oct. 13; Pumpkin Express runs Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26

Some of the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s tracks date back almost 150 years, so passengers travel routes with plenty of rich history. The volunteer-run railroad’s Fall Foliage Adventure trains (adults $19; discounted rate of $18 for people 62 and older and military/veterans) take you on an 8-mile, 75-minute trip via Ulster County’s only scenic train. Choose from seating on open-air flatcars or standard coaches.

For two weekends (Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26), the railroad runs a Pumpkin Express tour (adults $24; $22 for people 62 and older and military/veterans), on which passengers can pick out a pumpkin to take home with them.

Upper Midwest

passengers sitting in an open-air car on the lake superior and mississippi railroad

Passengers seated in a Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad open-air car may see deer, eagles, loons and other wildlife in Minnesota.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad

Train: Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad, Duluth, Minnesota

When: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26

Fall colors abound on the nonprofit, volunteer-run railroad’s Duluth River Train, which resumed service in 2023 after closing in 2020 for the pandemic and cleanup of a nearby U.S. Steel Superfund site.

The 13-mile round-trip train ride travels through woods and over Mud Lake causeway. Passengers seated in coaches that are more than 100 years old or an open-air car may see deer, eagles, loons and other wildlife. Adult tickets cost $24, but it’s free for active-duty military and veterans on Sundays.

Train: Black Hills Central Railroad’s 1880 Train, Hill City and Keystone, South Dakota

When: Through Oct. 13

Black Hills Central Railroad offers two rides on a refurbished vintage steam train to view the golden leaves of birch and aspen trees mixed with pine and spruce in western South Dakota. Passengers can see mountains, rock formations and historic structures as the train travels through national forest land and along old mining routes.

The standard narrated trip (adults $39) between Hill City and Keystone takes two hours and 15 minutes. An Oktoberfest train ride ($69), with beer, food and entertainment, will run Sept. 27.

Train: Coopersville and Marne Railway, Coopersville, Michigan

When: Weekends in October

Take the slow route and bring the grandchildren on Coopersville and Marne Railway’s vintage train to see the fall colors and pick a pumpkin in western Michigan. The 12-mile, 90-minute round-trip Pumpkin Train passes creeks, fields and farms at about 10 mph.

The volunteer-run train features renovated coaches from the 1920s, including one converted for accessibility. Assigned seats cost $35 to $45 for adults.

One person can pay $65 to ride in the locomotive jump seat. This year, an Oktoberfest train will run on Saturdays in October. Tickets — which typically sell out quickly — are available for passengers 21 and older for $55. Two drinks are included on the ride.

Train: Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Peninsula, Ohio

When: Various dates through Oct. 26

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the only park in the U.S. with a heritage railroad operating within its borders. The fittingly named National Park Scenic Tour offers an interesting contrast in views as you go from the vibrant fall colors of the forest to the modern cityscape skylines of Akron and Cleveland. Those who like to customize their own adventure will appreciate that you can choose from a two-hour ride (great for grandkids with limited attention spans), a full 3½-hour ride spanning all 26 miles of historic track, or ride all day, hopping on and off as you like. An all-day adult pass for coach class starts at $25; some trips offer a reduced fare of $23 for people 55-plus. Ticket prices cost $1 more during October.

The South

the blue ridge scenic railway in the fall through the chattahoochee national forest

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway trip through Georgia travels through the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Rachal Gray

Train: Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Blue Ridge, Georgia

When: Runs most days between Sept. 18 and Nov. 4, except on Wednesdays and a few other dates

On this railway’s fall foliage tours in Appalachia, hosts narrate the local history in open-air cars or interior coaches as the train travels along the winding Toccoa River, through rolling hills and the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Choose a two-hour train ride or four-hour trip that includes a two-hour stop in the twin towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. Adult coach tickets cost $60.99 to $75.99, or $57.99 to $70.99 if you’re 65-plus. Premier pricing on the two-hour ride is $85.99 for adults and $82.99 for those 65-plus; premier pricing for the four-hour trip is $124.99 for adults and $119.99 for those 65-plus.

Train: Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, Springdale and Van Buren, Arkansas

When: Various days, Sept. 27–Nov. 22

Red and orange leaves abound on fall train rides through the Boston Mountains, the highest in the Ozarks in northwestern Arkansas. Ride in comfort in a refurbished 1920s coach, a 1950s café-style or parlor car, or a 1940s Silver Feather glass-domed car as conductors narrate the journey over a 125-foot trestle and through the 1,700-foot Winslow Tunnel.

For the most bang for your buck, take the daylong, 134-mile round trip from Springdale to Van Buren, which includes a three-hour stop in the quaint town of Van Buren (adults $81 to $101). Discounted tickets are available for adults 65-plus and veterans, and AAA and AARP members. There are other train rides, too.

Train: Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad, Elkins and Cass, West Virginia

When: Various days through Nov. 9

All four of this railroad’s fall excursions offer fantastic foliage. The Cass Bald Knob Trip, Cass Whittaker Station trip, New Tygart Flyer and Greenbrier Express range from two to 5½ hours. Adult tickets cost $73 to $93, less for people 65-plus and veterans. The Cass Bald Knob Trip is selling out quickly.

The 8-mile, two-hour-plus Whittaker round-trip train climbs 10-percent grades up Cheat Mountain and zigzags through two of the nation’s few remaining rail switchbacks, including the highest non-cog railroad east of the Rocky Mountains.

Train: Tennessee Valley Railroad, Chattanooga, Tennessee

When: Selected Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 8

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum runs old-fashioned train cars — many of which were donated by railroad companies that replaced the traditional cars with more modern options — that travel along a historic route dating back to the mid-1800s, when the region became a hub for train transportation.

To really feel like you’ve traveled back in time, try the Summerville Steam Special. Passengers ride a steam-powered train on a nine-hour trip from Chattanooga to the picturesque town of Summerville, Georgia, enjoying the fall colors along the way. Rates start at $120 for a coach car ticket that includes lunch and admission to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum property and exhibits. For $90, you can take a ride with no meal included.

Train: Virginia Scenic Railway, Goshen, Virginia

When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for five weekends starting Sept. 26

The Shenandoah Valley region is known for its beautiful fall foliage, quaint towns, historic sites and blue-tinted mountains. The Shenandoah Valley Limited tour is a rare chance to see all the sites while riding in a steam locomotive that belongs in a museum (literally – this one is owned and operated by the Virginia Museum of Transportation as a traveling exhibit and is usually displayed on its property).

You might feel like you’ve gone back in time as the train chugs its way around winding curves through forests and past fields. The 50-mile round-trip journey takes around four hours. Tickets range from $128 for standard coach seating to $318 for a spot in the elevated upper dome.

The West

the historic georgetown loop railroad in colorado

The Georgetown Loop Railroad in Colorado travels on a 3-foot narrow gauge railroad built in 1884.

Efrain Padro/Alamy Stock Photo

Train: Georgetown Loop Railroad, Georgetown, Colorado

When: Various days through Oct. 19

Colorado is famous for its aspens. The Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Fall Colors Train and two other options let you see the trees in their bright yellow glory. Trains travel on a 3-foot narrow gauge railroad built in 1884.

The Autumnfest Train (starting at $189 for a four-person table) and the Pumpkin Fest Train run on certain dates in October. The Fall Colors and Pumpkin Fest trains cost $40 per adult.

Train: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, Elbe, Washington

When: September and October weekends

The Pacific Northwest has colors, too. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad resumed regular steam excursions in 2023 for the first time since 2019. Although a historic wooden trestle on a nonoperational section of track was destroyed by fire in May 2025, excursions are still running as normal. The 75-minute, 12-mile round-trip train (adults $34 or $52 for the 21-plus lounge car) travels through mountains, farmland and forest between Elbe, about 90 minutes south of Seattle, and Mineral or the newly added New Reliance destination. You might see deer or elk. You can choose to ride in historic coach cars, an adults-only lounge car or an open-air mountain view car. For the last two weekends in October, the Family Halloween Train (adults $38) will run, and passengers are encouraged to wear costumes.

Train: Verde Canyon Railroad, Clarkdale, Arizona

When: Various dates through November for best fall colors

The railroad’s Fall Colors Tour takes you through Verde Canyon, where you’ll see red rock cliffs, the sparkling water of the Verde River and the ghost ranch of Perkinsville. The 40-mile round-trip ride takes around four hours. Tickets start at $139 for adults and include complimentary appetizers. A portion of all train ticket revenue is donated to Liberty Wildlife’s raptor rescue program.

On selected dates in September and October, the railroad offers a special Ales on Rails experience ($139 for adults 21 and older), which includes a champagne toast, a charcuterie box and the opportunity to purchase a variety of local beers.

Train: Oregon Scenic Coastal Railroad, Garibaldi, Oregon

When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3–Nov. 16

This railroad offers the unique experience of seeing fall colors along the Pacific Ocean on Oregon’s Tillamook Coast, less than two hours from Portland. Choose open or covered vintage train cars for the 2-hour and 15-minute round-trip ride, which includes a 45-minute stop in Wheeler. The Fall Splendor Excursion costs $32 per adult or $27 for passengers 55-plus, first responders and veterans. Note that this excursion is not wheelchair accessible.

Train: Mount Hood Railroad, Hood River, Oregon

When: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 1

Enjoy a scenic and colorful ride through another part of Oregon, a couple of hours from the coast. This route follows the path of Hood River, climbs 3-percent grades and offers backdrops of natural scenery that include waterfalls, vineyards and orchards. There’s a 45-minute stop in the middle of the three-hour trip, during which you can tour The Fruit Company (a factory that makes fruit baskets and has an orchard and museum on the property) or check out Mt. Hood Winery. Rates start at $37 for a standard adult ticket. A special Oktoberfest Edition of this train featuring musical entertainment and specialty food and drinks will run Oct. 18 – there’s an additional $8 charge for tickets for that ride.

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Sheryl Jean is a contributing writer who covers aging, business, technology, travel, health and human-interest stories. A former reporter for several daily metropolitan newspapers, her work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and The Dallas Morning News and on the American Heart Association’s website.

Bobbi Dempsey is a freelance writer who has written about a variety of topics, including health and entertainment, for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Parade, The New York Times, Harper’s and other outlets.

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