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Christmas Train Rides in Georgia 2026: Santa Trains and Holiday Rails

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A Blue Ridge Scenic Railway train pulling into the depot in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Photo: Thomson200, public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons

Georgia’s holiday trains range from a one-hour Santa ride in the mountains at Blue Ridge to an all-day trip to Plains in South Georgia, plus an open-air Santa train on the coast. Every date and price below was checked on October 12, 2026, against the railroad’s own website or its official tourism listing. Santa trains sell out, especially on weekends in December, so buy tickets as soon as your dates are set.

Santa Train Rides

Holiday Express, Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Blue Ridge

A one-hour round trip from the historic Blue Ridge depot with holiday music, a reading of The Night Before Christmas and a visit from Santa. The railroad lists select dates from November 27 to December 23. Fannin County’s tourism listing gives prices of $56.99 for ages 13 and up and $46.99 for ages 2 to 12; infants ride free. Snacks and hot chocolate are sold in the concession car. 241 Depot St., 877-413-8724, brscenic.com. Make it a weekend with our Atlanta to Blue Ridge itinerary.

Santa Special Christmas Train, Georgia Coastal Railway, Kingsland

A short show in the station theater comes first. Then Santa walks through each car during the ride, with elves and Frosty along too. You ride in open-air cars, or book the private caboose for up to 10 people. 2026 departures: November 27 and 28, December 5 and 12, and December 19 to 23 at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m.; December 18 at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.; and Christmas Eve at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $24.50 for ages 13 and up and $12.50 for ages 3 to 12, plus tax and fees. Lap children 2 and under ride free. The train runs rain or shine, and all sales are final. Kingsland Station, 440 S. Lee St., about 2 miles west of I-95, 904-206-7160, thegeorgiatrain.com.

Candy Cane Express, SAM Shortline, Cordele to Plains

An all-day trip with Santa on board from Georgia Veterans State Park to Plains, home of President Jimmy Carter. 2026 dates are Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5. The train leaves the park at 10 a.m. sharp, reaches Plains at 11:45 a.m., stays 2 hours and returns at 3:30 p.m. Coach fares are $41.99 for adults, $31.99 for children 2 to 12 and $38.99 for seniors 62 and up and military, plus tax and handling. Deluxe ($51.99, ages 13 and up) and Premium ($91.99, ages 16 and up, with food and drinks) cars are also offered. Pick up tickets at the Will Call window, 2459 US Hwy. 280 W, Cordele, 229-276-0755, samshortline.com.

Cordele Holiday Train and Plains Christmas Lighting, SAM Shortline

The SAM Shortline also runs a one-hour Cordele Holiday Train with hot chocolate, cookies and gifts from Santa. Last season it ran on two December weekends, but 2026 dates weren’t posted when we checked. Explore Georgia lists a train to the Plains Christmas tree lighting on November 28, 2026. Check samshortline.com for times and tickets. See our Jimmy Carter National Historical Park page to plan a Plains visit.

Santa Train, Azalea Sprinter, Nashville

A two-hour round trip from Nashville, Georgia, in Berrien County, with unlimited hot cocoa and one-on-one time with Santa for each family. Tickets start at $49, and the dates are on the railroad’s booking calendar. It departs Nashville’s Farmers Market, 503 E. Marion Ave., azaleasprinter.com.

Feature Your Event

Promoting a festival, show or seasonal event in Georgia? Feature it here, in front of people deciding what to do and when. See our advertising options or download the 2026 media kit (PDF).

More Holiday Trains

Holiday Model Trains, Atlanta Botanical Garden

November 14, 2026, to January 10, 2027. Norfolk Southern presents the model trains, which run through miniature villages in the Garden, and they’re included with admission by day and during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. The trains can’t run in the rain. Last season the Garden also ran a kids’ ride-on train around the Great Lawn on weekend days ($6, $4 for members). 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, atlantabg.org.

Winter Wonderland Train, Pine Mountain Gold Museum, Villa Rica

An evening ride of almost a mile through decorated, lighted woods, with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and the Grinch. 2025 was its 13th season, and the 2026 dates hadn’t been announced when we checked. Rides may be canceled in bad weather. 1881 Stockmar Rd., Villa Rica.

Southeastern Railway Museum, Duluth

Georgia’s official transportation history museum hosts the Festival of 100 Trees from November 19, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with decorated trees among more than 90 pieces of railroad equipment. Admission includes one ride on the historic train or the park train ($19 adults, $16 seniors and students, $13 ages 2 to 12; extra rides $4). The museum is open Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Santa visited during last year’s festival; the 2026 Santa dates weren’t posted when we checked. 3595 Buford Hwy., Duluth, train-museum.org.

Not Running This Season

Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad

The park’s sing-along Christmas train has been a Stone Mountain tradition. As of October 2026, Stone Mountain Park lists the Scenic Railroad as closed for scheduled maintenance. Reservations stopped after early June 2026, when the park changed operators. Stone Mountain Christmas itself still runs on weekends and holidays from November 7, 2026, to January 3, 2027; see our Atlanta Christmas lights guide.

Tips for a Holiday Train Ride

Book as Soon as You Can

Santa trains are short, cars are small and weekend departures in December go first. Weekday and late-November rides are easier to get.

Dress for Open Cars

The Kingsland Santa Special rides in open-air cars, and the train runs rain or shine. Even in coach cars, platforms are cold after dark. Bring layers and a blanket for little ones.

Arrive Early

Trains leave on time. The SAM Shortline says its 10 a.m. Candy Cane Express will not wait, and you need time to pick up tickets and park.

Make a Day of It

Pair a train with a light show or a tree farm. See our Christmas lights in Georgia guide, Christmas tree farms and the holiday events calendar.

Common Questions

Is there a Polar Express or Santa train in Georgia?

Yes. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs a one-hour Holiday Express with Santa on select dates from November 27 to December 23, 2026. The Georgia Coastal Railway in Kingsland runs a Santa Special from November 27 to December 24. The SAM Shortline runs the Candy Cane Express with Santa from Cordele to Plains on December 4 and 5. The Azalea Sprinter in Nashville, Georgia, runs a two-hour Santa Train.

How much is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express?

Fannin County's tourism listing gives $56.99 for ages 13 and up and $46.99 for ages 2 to 12, with infants free. Check the railroad's website for the current price and open dates.

What is the cheapest Santa train in Georgia?

The Georgia Coastal Railway's Santa Special in Kingsland is $24.50 for ages 13 and up and $12.50 for ages 3 to 12, plus tax and fees, with lap children 2 and under free.

Is the Stone Mountain train running at Christmas in 2026?

As of October 2026, Stone Mountain Park lists its Scenic Railroad as closed for scheduled maintenance, so plan on Stone Mountain Christmas without the sing-along train unless the park announces otherwise.

Does the Atlanta Botanical Garden have holiday trains?

Yes. Model trains run from November 14, 2026, to January 10, 2027, and are included with Garden admission during the day and during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. They do not run in the rain.

More Holiday Guides

Sources we checked

Dates, times and prices in this guide were checked on October 12, 2026, against each railroad’s own website or its official tourism listing. Holiday train schedules can change and many sell out, so confirm before you go:

Spot something out of date? Email Contact@n-georgia.com and we’ll check it against the official source. Read how we research our guides.

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