Holiday train rides in Southern California 2026

Irvine Park Railroad · Orange · Santa train · ~33 mi from downtown LA

November 27 to December 23, 2026. Weekdays 4 to 9pm, weekends 10am to 9pm, and daily 10am to 9pm from December 14 to 23.

The train leaves the station at Santa's Village, rides through Irvine Regional Park and drops families at the North Pole to tell Santa their wish list and take a photo. The ride back passes Christmas lights and decorations, including a Tunnel of Lights. Santa's Village next to the station has carnival rides, cookie decorating, crafts and ice fishing.

Booking: 2026 tickets go on sale November 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM, online only and in advance. The railroad states plainly that the Christmas Train will sell out; local press reports weekend slots go within minutes. Signing up for the railroad's newsletter is the usual way to hear first.

Tip: Irvine Regional Park charges a vehicle entry fee ($3 to $7 depending on the day), but parking is free after 6pm, so evening slots save on entry. You can bring your own camera for Santa photos at no charge.

Irvine Park Railroad · Orange · Train of lights · ~33 mi from downtown LA

December 26 to 30, 2026, daily 5 to 9pm.

A post-Christmas evening ride around the 1-mile loop in Irvine Park past thousands of holiday lights and festive scenes. There is no Santa stop, which makes it cheaper and shorter than the Christmas Train and a good fallback if the Christmas Train sold out.

Booking: 2026 tickets go on sale December 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM, online only. The railroad says the Train of Lights will sell out and no extra tickets are released once a time slot is gone.

How long: One nonstop trip around the railroad's 1-mile loop.

Tip: Later time slots are the cheapest. Park entry is free after 6pm.

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad (Griffith Park Train Rides) · Los Angeles · Train of lights · ~5 mi from downtown LA

Typical pattern: nightly from the day after Thanksgiving into the second week of January. 2025-26 ran Nov 28, 2025 to Jan 11, 2026 (closed Dec 24, 25 and 31), Mon-Thu 5-8pm and Fri-Sun 5-9pm, trains about every 20 minutes. 2026 dates not yet posted.

A small park train loops a mile of track lined with thousands of lights and festive scenes after dark. Open-air photo areas and a holiday gift kiosk are included. In 2025 the operator said Santa would not be on site, only possible surprise guests.

Booking: Tickets are sold online through FareHarbor or at the ticket window (10am-3:30pm daily); no phone sales. The operator says most nights sell out, especially weekends and December dates. Walk-up tickets are sold first come, first served if a night is not sold out. Rain cancels.

Ages: Gentle, short open-air ride that works for toddlers; babies 18 months and under ride free on a lap. It is dark and chilly after sunset. How long: About 10 minutes around a one-mile track.

Tip: Free parking in the adjacent lot plus an overflow area, with accessible spaces. Buy online for a weekend or December night, and bring jackets since the cars are open.

Southern California Live Steamers · Torrance · Train of lights · ~16 mi from downtown LA

Typical pattern: two evenings, a Friday and Saturday in mid to late December. 2025 was Dec 19-20, 5:15-8pm. Dec 18-19, 2026 is expected but not yet confirmed by the club.

A volunteer club runs its ride-on miniature trains at night through a track decorated with holiday lights and displays in Wilson Park. It doubles as a fundraiser for the club.

Booking: No advance tickets; buy at the depot on the night. Only two nights a year, so expect lines.

Ages: Riders must be at least 32 inches tall and able to walk unassisted. The ride sits on small ride-on live steam trains, so babies and young toddlers cannot ride. How long: Regular rides on this track run about 15 minutes.

Tip: Free public parking at Wilson Park. Dress warm since the ride is outdoors on open cars.

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum · Campo · Santa train · ~143 mi from downtown LA

Fridays and Saturdays November 27 to December 19, 2026 at 5pm and 7pm; Sundays November 29 to December 20, 2026 at 3pm and 5pm.

A vintage train ride from Campo Depot into the East County backcountry with an elf crew leading sing-alongs and stories and serving hot chocolate and cookies. The train stops at the North Pole to pick up Santa and Mrs. Claus, who visit every passenger on the ride back.

Booking: 2026 tickets went on sale September 1, 2026. The museum calls it its most popular event and says the best seats sell out quickly. Online sales close 30 minutes before departure, and a few tickets may be sold in person at Campo Depot if any are left.

How long: 90 minutes.

Tip: Classic Coach seats are in restored 1920s commuter cars and are the cheapest and most plentiful. Departures are at 3pm or later, so later trains return after dark.

North County Transit District (NCTD) · Oceanside · Santa train · ~77 mi from downtown LA

Two consecutive December weekends. 2025 ran December 6 to 7 and 13 to 14 with departures at 10:15am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm, plus a 5pm evening departure on some dates (none on December 14). 2026 dates not yet announced.

A decorated COASTER commuter train runs a nonstop round trip down the coast from the Oceanside Transit Center. On board, kids write a letter to Santa and meet Santa, his helpers and snow princesses.

Booking: In 2025 NCTD announced ticket sales on November 21, about two weeks before the first ride. NCTD has described past runs as sold out. There is a 6-ticket limit per transaction, seats are assigned at booking, and tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.

How long: 60-minute nonstop round trip.

Tip: The train runs rain or shine. Seats are assigned when you book, so families can choose to sit together.

City of Poway with the Poway-Midland Railroad · Poway · Holiday park train · ~102 mi from downtown LA

One evening in mid-December. 2025 was Friday, December 12, 3:30 to 8:30pm, with the tree lighting and Santa's arrival by train at 6pm. 2026 date not yet confirmed on an official page.

A community holiday night at Old Poway Park with live music, a craft boutique and holiday treats. Families can ride the Poway-Midland Railroad around the park after dark, and Santa arrives by train for the 6pm tree lighting.

Tip: In 2025 free shuttles ran from the Poway City Hall lot (13325 Civic Center Dr) and the Poway Adult School lot (13626 Twin Peaks Rd). Get a Santa return-time ticket at the booth outside Templars Hall when you arrive, since slots are timed.

Chabad of Poway/Rancho Bernardo, at Old Poway Park · Poway · Holiday park train · ~102 mi from downtown LA

One afternoon during Hanukkah. 2025 was Sunday, December 14 at 4pm (first train 4:10pm). 2026 date not yet announced.

The Poway-Midland Railroad's 1907 Baldwin No. 3 steam locomotive is dressed up as a Chanukah Train for free rides. The celebration around it has latkes and donuts, crafts, gelt and dreidels, live music and a menorah lighting.

Booking: Free train tickets are claimed by advance registration with the organizer.

Balboa Park Miniature Railroad (at the City of San Diego's December Nights festival) · San Diego · Holiday park train · ~111 mi from downtown LA

December Nights 2026 is Friday, December 4 (4 to 10pm) and Saturday, December 5 (noon to 10pm), per the City. In 2025 the train ran 3 to 10pm Friday and 11am to 10pm Saturday; 2026 train hours are not yet posted.

The small train next to the Balboa Park Carousel near the zoo entrance runs late into the evening during December Nights, the city's big free holiday festival. It is a short loop ride, a good add-on for toddlers rather than a destination on its own.

Tip: December Nights draws over 350,000 people over two days. Check the City's Getting There page for shuttle and parking options before you go.

Southern California Railway Museum (tickets through Rail Events) · Perris · Polar Express ride · ~61 mi from downtown LA

Select dates in November and December 2026 (the museum has announced the 2026 run; check its calendar for exact dates). Prior seasons ran from mid-November through late December.

A licensed retelling of the book on a vintage train: car hosts punch golden tickets, dancing chefs serve hot chocolate and a cookie, and passengers read along with the story to the movie soundtrack. Santa and his helpers board to hand each child the first gift of Christmas, a keepsake silver sleigh bell.

Booking: 2026 tickets are already on sale on the official ticket site (as of October 2026). Value-priced weekday dates go first and late-December Premium dates are the high-demand slots, so book early. Tickets are non-refundable, but passenger names can be changed.

Ages: Pajamas are encouraged, plus warm layers for the unheated outdoor platform. Children under 2 ride free on a lap; they get a sleigh bell from Santa but no cocoa or cookie. How long: About 1 hour on the train; about 2 hours total at the museum. Guests must arrive about 60 minutes before showtime, and late arrivals cannot board.

Tip: The museum and train are wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair seating is limited and is in Car 4. Accessible restrooms are on the grounds, not on the train, so plan a bathroom stop before boarding.

Live Oak Canyon · Yucaipa (Redlands mailing address) · Train of lights · ~65 mi from downtown LA

Holiday-season evenings at the farm (it ran in 2025). Check the farm's calendar for 2026 dates.

A pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm that becomes a holiday lights event with over 50,000 lights, a train ride through the lights, Santa's Village with a Santa appearance, an ice rink and s'mores by the fire.

SkyPark at Santa's Village · Skyforest · Holiday park train · ~63 mi from downtown LA

Holiday season Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 (official page). The park is generally open Thursday to Sunday; check the calendar for added holiday days.

Not a standalone train event: the Northwoods Express is one of the rides inside this mountain Christmas village, included with admission alongside Santa's House, skating, shows and holiday lights. Worth listing as a train-plus-Santa day, not as a dedicated holiday train ride.

Booking: The park says to buy tickets online in advance because same-day sales are not guaranteed in the busy holiday season. Santa visits are booked in person at Santa's House on the day (no online or phone reservations) and are not guaranteed at peak times.

Tip: Check mountain weather and chain controls on Highway 18 before driving up; the park can close for weather.

South Coast Railroad Museum (Goleta Depot) · Goleta · Holiday park train · ~96 mi from downtown LA

Typical pattern: Saturdays and Sundays from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through December, 12-4pm. 2025 ran weekends including Dec 7, 21 and 28. 2026 dates not yet posted.

A small daytime ride on the museum's miniature Goleta Short Line train, decorated for the holidays, at the historic 1901 Goleta Depot. Each child gets a candy cane. There is no Santa or lights show; it is a low-key add-on to a museum visit.

Booking: Walk-up daytime ride; no advance booking or sell-out reported.

Ages: Best for preschool and early elementary kids; it is a short daytime ride.