Kids of all ages have long been fascinated with trains and railways. Despite advances in transportation technology, Sacramento train rides continue to captivate the interests of kids to this day. This curiosity extends beyond the trains themselves and encompasses all aspects of railroading, including rail construction, train operation, and maintenance of rail cars. The best way for kids to experience rail adventures is through actual train travel and, luckily we have many options for train rides for kids in Sacramento.
Train travel offers a unique and exciting experience for kids. Once aboard, children marvel at the sights and sounds emanating from these huge, incredible machines. If you’re looking for Sacramento train rides for kids, you’re in luck! Sacramento has many great train operators offering short excursions in the area. We’ve put together the best bets for one-day train travel opportunities for kids:
Sacramento Southern Railroad
This railroad is an excellent option for parents looking for short Sacramento train rides for kids. The railroad runs from April through September and offers six tours per day on weekends. Each ride is 45-minutes long and departs hourly between 11 am and 4 pm. Departures leave from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento (on Front Street between J and K Streets).
This railroad has been in operation for more than three decades and is sure to delight both young and old alike. This popular railroad uses two types of locomotives, their Granite Rock No. 10 steam locomotive, and one of the vintage diesel locomotives from the California State Railroad Museum’s collection. The trains pull closed-coach cars, open-air gondolas, and an observation car. To learn more or to book your tickets, visit the Sacramento Southern Railroad website.
Sacramento River Train
For a slightly longer train ride for kids, this railroad lets kids combine their fondness for adventure with their interest in trains. Designed with young riders in mind, many of these unique rail adventures give children the opportunity to embark on an exciting adventure right from their own backyards. Riders board the train in West Sacramento and enjoy a three-hour ride while taking part in the themed experience.
Riders can choose from adventures such as the “Great Train Robbery” or the “Wild West Dinner Train”, or families can choose a holiday-themed ride for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and many more. The Sacramento River Trains run on weekends throughout the year. To see the calendar or to book your adventure, visit the railroad’s website.
While Sacramento offers exciting options for train travel with kids, several other train tours operate in nearby communities. If your kids have already experienced the fabulous trains in the Sacramento area, or if you’re looking for some kind of different rail adventures for your family, check out these other short rail tours:
Oakdale Sierra Railroad
Just over an hour south of Sacramento, you will find this popular rail operator in Oakdale. This family-friendly railroad offers kids a historic and picturesque destination for their next train adventure. The railroad is one of the top five oldest railroads on our continent and has been used in many movie productions.
The tours offer fun and entertainment rail adventures for all ages and, depending on the tour, can include food and interactive shows. Their themed train experiences include specialty excursions such as Sunday Brunch trains, Sunset Dinner trains, Wild West trains, and an assortment of holiday-themed trains. To view the calendar or to book your trip, visit the Sierra Railroad website.
Kids will love this fun trip behind one of the historic steam or diesel locomotives as they chug along the railways through scenic byways. Departing from the Depot Platform at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, this 45-minute round-trip excursion takes into the rugged hillsides of California’s historic gold country. Tickets are available for purchase on-site at the depot. For more information, visit the Rail Town website or call (209) 984-3953.
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
Kids can take a ride into history with this exciting train travel that winds through the woods of the Sierra National Forest. Trains depart from the depot in Fish Creek on Highway 41. This excursion is modeled after the powerful steam locomotives that once ran through the area to haul timber to California’s central valley.
The railroad also offers special family-friendly trips throughout the year, such as the Moonlight Special BBQ Dinner Train, a three-hour program that includes a campfire, entertainment, and a BBQ dinner. For schedules, general information or to purchase tickets online visit the railroad’s website.
Skunk Train
Families with a more adventurous spirit may opt to take the drive to Willits in Mendocino County to experience the untamed, natural beauty of California’s Coast Range onboard the famous Skunk Train. This railroad offers several tours ranging from one-hour to half-day excursions. All of the rail adventures offer themed, scenic views upon fully restored rail cars that have been returned to their original 1800’s glory. To learn more or to book your trip, visit their website.
Train tours are a fun excursion for families, but our railways can also be used as a means of travel rather than a destination. Northern California has plenty of options for fitting train rides for kids into your family’s travel needs:
Capitol Corridor
Touted as the best way to get around northern California, Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor lets families skip the traffic and parking hassles and use the train instead. Taking the train between Sacramento and the Bay Area (and beyond) is convenient and affordable, and service is frequent enough to meet any travel itinerary. For complete information, including discounts and booking, visit the Capitol Corridor website.
Bay Area Rapid Transit Train
Families traveling in Northern California can also take advantage of regional rail options and save themselves from the hassles of parking, congestion, and tolls. Next time you’re planning a day trip rail adventures to the San Francisco bay area, consider using the rails and take Bay Area Rapid Transit trains for part of your trip. BART trains use electricity instead of locomotives, but these trains offer children a new and exciting travel experience.
Instead of driving to your bay area location, park at one of the BART stations and take the train. We recommend making the short drive to the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station and using their onsite parking lot. Then, hop aboard BART and use their trains for your family adventure. BART is easy-to-use, affordable and reliable. To learn more about this option, visit the BART website.
Families seeking to add a bit of education to their kids’ interest in trains and railroading have many options for interactive learning and observation:
California State Railroad Museum
Sacramento is home to the renowned California State Railroad Museum, a must-visit park for train enthusiasts of any age. The museum is located in Old Sacramento and is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visitors learn about engineering, industry, history, and design of trains and railroads. Kids love the hands-on experiences and activities of the exhibits, which are displayed in the 225,000 square museums.
The facility features beautifully restored railroad cars and locomotives, which illustrate the rich railroad history in California and the West. To plan your visit to this museum, go to the California State Railroad Museum website.
A quick drive southwest of Sacramento, visitors will find the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City near Fairfield. Kids will love visiting the 50 historic cars and other interesting exhibits on display at this 22-acre site. The museum features historic railway exhibits, a vintage streetcar and interurban train rides, a large shaded picnic area, a museum gift shop, and a café. To schedule your visit, visit the Western Railway Museum website.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
Another wonderful option is the museum at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in historic Jamestown. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the park and roundhouse, or opt for a guided tour led by a park volunteer. The park also offers a “Junior Ranger” program that provides education for kids aged 7-12. To learn more about the park, download their brochure or visit the park website.
SF Railway Museum
Families of junior train enthusiasts looking for train rides for kids should also consider a visit to the San Francisco Railway Museum. This site features a museum and offers rides on vintage rail transit cars on Market Street. Kids of all ages take delight in the rumbling, swaying streetcars and enjoy learning about trains and railways history. In the museum, they’ll see the positive impacts that the railways have made on the quality of city life.
The museum also features a full-sized exact replica of the motorman’s platform which lets kids experience what it was like to be at the controls. Exhibits also include historic artifacts, informative displays, and rare photos of rail technology development. To plan your visit, go to the San Francisco Railway Museum website.
Kids of all ages and interests will enjoy visiting any one of these railroads or museums. Parents looking for train rides for kids have a variety of options and can choose from one of the quick family excursions in Sacramento, or venture to one of the other northern California sites or museums to experience and learn about the historic railways of California. One thing is certain… a good time will be had by all!
Looking for longer train adventures with kids in Sacramento and beyond? Visit our posting on Traveling on Trains with Kids — Adventures, Trips, and Vacations. Or, if you’re looking for additional things to do, check out our listing of Places to Go in Sacramento with Kids.
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