California Christmas Trains

FORT BRAGG-WILLITS: Mr. Skunk and his Magic Christmas Tree! 

INDIO: Coachella Valley Magic of Lights Drive Thru November 10-December 31, 2025 at Empire Polo Club. Holiday scenes and characters of the season using the latest LED technology and digital animations. Location: 81800 Avenue 51, Indio, CA. $, magicoflights.com

299 E. Commercial St.
Willits, CA
Seat $68.35
Infant on Lap Free
Dog $12.49
VIP Ticket: $100.65,  skunktrain.com 

 2 hour train with time options. Magical Christmas Train from Willits includes a ride through a storybook wonderland with cookies, hot chocolate and Santa Claus. The train makes a stop at the "World's Largest Living Christmas Tree" which is the home of Mr. Skunk's Workshop. Enjoy Christmas music, reindeer games, Santa, and the spectacular redwood forests on the historic train which makes for a super old-fashioned holiday adventure.

ORANGE: Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train & Santa's Village
Free admission, fee parking and $tickets, irvineparkrailroad.com
 Come with family and friends and take this enchanting ride through historic Irvine Regional Park. Although you must have reserved Christmas Train tickets to board the train to see Santa, you may still enjoy thousands of lights and festive decorations throughout Santa’s Village without any reservation.

WEST SACRAMENTO: Magical Christmas Train
 $, riverfoxtrain.com
 18095 County Road 117
West Sacramento, CA 95691
Step aboard and ride this magical train to be transported on a holiday wonderland complete with hot cocoa and a treat. Each ticket includes a 1-hour train ride, hot cocoa, a souvenir mug, and a cookie. Each car will have their very own Elf who will guide them in Christmas sing-a-longs, elf games, and fun elf activities. Santa Claus visits  each family. Kids of all ages will enjoy this enchanting holiday tradition and children will have fond memories that last a lifetime.

OCEANSIDE/SAN DIEGO: Coaster Holiday Express  Oceanside Transit Center
235 S Tremont St.
Oceanside, CA 92054
gonctd.com/holidayexpress/

PERRIS Southern California Railway Museum Polar Express 
THE POLAR EXPRESS 
Train Ride is coming to Southern California Railway Museum for the Holiday season
2201 South A Street
Perris, CA
$68, socalrailway.org

SACRAMENTO: Polar Express Train  $80-100, californiarailroad.museum

SANTA CRUZ - FELTON: Holiday Lights Train
roaringcamp.com
Departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk  with vintage excursion cars adorned with thousands of colorful lights. Ticketed guests climb aboard and roll through the streets of Santa Cruz singing holiday carols, sipping hot spiced cider and listening to musical entertainment while Santa visits the little ones, or the young at heart!  Also enjoy the daytime holiday walk and Chanukah train.

SUNOL & NILES Train of Lights 
ncry.org 

BAY AREA: Caltrain Holiday Train 

COSTA MESA: Goat Hill Junction, Orange County Model Engineers Miniature Train Ride & Santa Photos 
Fairview Park
2501 Placentia Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA
Free, ocmetrains.org

PORTOLA  Christmas Train 

LOS ANGELES: Travel Town Museum 
 Griffith Park
5200 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, California 90027
Free admission, traveltown.org

POWAY: Christmas in the Park 
Old Poway Park
14134 Midland Road
Poway, CA 92064
858-668-4576
FREE admission, poway.org
Steam locomotive train rides and model trains at Christmas in the Park. Includes Christmas tree lighting, Santa, Horse-drawn hay and pony rides, petting zoo, and face painting and live entertainment.

JAMESTOWN: Railtown's The Polar Express    railtown1897.org
Railtown 1897 SHP and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation are pleased to welcome guests aboard the historic Sierra Railway for evening holiday themed train rides. Guests on these special excursions will delight in the decorated coaches, an appearance by the big man in the red suit, a sweet treat, a reading of the famed poem The Night Before Christmas, and lots of holiday cheer.

All events are subject to change. Check with the train company or museum before going -- always check first!