Holiday Trains in New Jersey: All Aboard the Polar Express!

Ok, so you can’t quite make it to the North Pole this year. Good thing in New Jersey the North Pole can come to you—on wheels, no less. Check out these holiday train rides with Santa and book your tickets as soon as possible to ensure your spot on these special train rides--they sell out incredibly fast. Because who doesn't want to ride the Polar Express??

The Christmas Express (Daytime--Allaire State Park)
Sponsored by The New Jersey Museum of Transportation, the Christmas Express is a wonderful tradition! Santa rides the Christmas Express and talks to all the children, and the train leaves every half-hour from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (You need to pick a specific time slot when purchasing tickets, which are $6.00 each) Visa, MasterCard, cash and checks are accepted for payment. Dates: December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 & 23. Note: All tickets must be purchased in person.

Christmas Express Nights with Santa Claus (Allair State Park)
Also held at Allaire State Park, Christmas Express Nights is so popular that more trains have been added to the schedule this year. Santa rides the Christmas Express and talks to all the children in the evenings. Train leaves every half hour from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. You are purchasing for a trip on a SET day and time. Each person planning to ride the train requires a paid ticket for this event. Dates: December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22. Price: $6.00 each.

Santa Train Rides (Statewide)
Available throughout New Jersey, these Santa Train Rides offer kids and their parents a chance to meet Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, his helper elves & others cartoon characters. Note: Some rides have been cancelled this year due to Hurricane Sandy.

Whippany Railway Museum—Santa Claus Special
Santa Claus visits trains that depart rain or shine from the Whippany Railway Museum grounds in Morris County, New Jersey. The ticket office opens at 11:30am on the day of the event. Trains Depart at 1pm , 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm on each day on the following Saturdays in December: 2, 8, 9, 15 and Sunday the 16th. The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland and return allows riders time to enjoy the Spirit of the Season and the merriment on the train.

Strasburg Rail Road
If you want to cross the border into Lancaster County, PA, check out the Strasburg Rail Road where Santa himself will climb aboard and visit with families as they travel down the tracks to Paradise, PA and back. As a special treat, children ages 3 to 11 will receive a gift from Santa and his helper. In addition, children are treated to storybook readings of holiday classics. Visitors of all ages can also enjoy a ride aboard the Tinsel Trolley, a self-propelled motor car. Trains leave every 30 minutes from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dates: December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16. Purchase tickets here or at the box office. Note: There’s also a “Night Before Christmas” train (December 7 and 14)