Santa Train in Carson City

Santa Train in Carson City, a Local’s Review

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Thank you to Nevada State Railroad Museum for hosting us. As always all opinions are honest and our own. Read our disclosure.

The Santa Train in Carson City is back for the holiday season! This affordable holiday activity is a great way to get into the holiday spirit at an affordable price.

Recently, our team was able to check out the Santa Train in Carson City to give you the in’s and out’s of this train ride and if it’s worth the trip.


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Santa Train in Carson City

Take a ride on the Santa Train featuring historic equipment from the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. Visit Santa Claus and receive a candy cane aboard the train.

Write a letter to Santa at the “Letters to Santa” table. Hot beverages will be available from Bon Fire Coffee Collective. Raffle prizes and more!

Santa Train in Carson City

Location

Nevada State Railroad Museum
2180 South Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701

Dates & Hours

December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 from 10am – 3pm

Train runs every 30 minutes.

Cost

  • $5/person
  • Free for Ages 2 and under – lap sitting only

*Please note: A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase in advance at the admission desk for each weekend (when available). As always, walk-up tickets will be available for purchase for each train.

Santa Train in Carson City

Tips For Your Visit

Arrive Early

The “Boarding Time” is fifteen (15) minutes before “Departure Time” for the Santa Train in Carson City. So give yourself enough time to park and get to the train. The actual train ride is not very busy, but something to keep in mind as it can sell out.

Dress Warm

Definitely dress warmly. They do have little fireplaces inside the train but still dress in a few layers.

Great For Younger Children

I think it’s great for the younger age kids. Maybe until about 10ish. Only because there wasn’t a whole lot to do, I think older kids may get a little bored. But I think it was perfect for the price we paid.

Not Stroller-Friendly

Strollers can’t fit in the train so babywearing would be best option. We did and it was perfect.

Where to Sit

There are 3 parts to the train that you can sit in. The front was the best with the nicest (most comfortable) chairs. Santa does visit all the parts of the train though, so wherever you sit, you’ll get a visit with him!

Santa Letter

Make sure to write and leave a return address on your letter to Santa! Last year we got a letter back from him!

Santa Train in Carson City

Have You Been?

Have you been to the Santa Train in Carson City? This was our first year going and we definitely would come back, especially for the price. It is very affordable for families and while there may not be a ton to do, it was perfect for the price and for the little ones. After all, their attention span drifts quickly.

Let us know if you’ve been to the Santa Train in Carson City and what you thought of it below in the comments.

Leanna Carson is an expecting mama via IVF and a serial entrepreneur.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, she loves sharing all things family-friendly as well as local spots most don’t even know about! She co-founded Nevada Moms in 2018 and it has become the #1 Family Guide to Nevada experiences, activities, happenings, and more.

Connect with her on social media or IRL @mrsleannacarson on Instagram.

Candice is a new mom to a little boy born in April of 2022. She moved from Los Angeles to Gardnerville in the summer of 2019 and loves exploring everything Northern Nevada has to offer. Candice has run 2 marathons, enjoys hiking and backpacking with her family and their two dogs, and loves heading out to watch a good movie for date night.