Christmas Train Rides in Alaska (2026)
Alaska has one Christmas train, and it might have the best view of any in the country: the Alaska Railroad’s Holiday Train runs out of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm, with the Chugach Mountains on one side and the water on the other, in the short December daylight. There is no licensed Polar Express in Alaska, and this year’s Holiday Train is already sold out, but here is what it includes and how families plan for it. The licensed rides in the lower 48 are on our state-by-state Christmas train guide.
The short version
- The Holiday Train, Anchorage: Dec 5 to Dec 21, $46 to $92 (sold out)
- No licensed Polar Express runs in Alaska in 2026; the closest options are in the drive-time table
Alaska holiday trains at a glance
- Holiday trains
- 1 confirmed for 2026
- Licensed Polar Express
- None in Alaska in 2026
- Season
- December 5 to December 21, 2026
- Lowest fare
- $46 to $92 (Alaska Railroad)
- After Christmas
- No rides found
- Sold out
- Alaska Railroad
- Last checked
Look inside the book
Riding a Alaska Christmas train? Read Rally first.
Rally Takes the Train is a corgi’s first train ride, from the early wake-up to the dark tunnel to the sunshine on the other side. It takes about five minutes to read, so it fits in the car on the way to the station. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The Alaska Railroad Holiday Train for 2026
On the map
Where Alaska’s Christmas trains leave from
- 1Anchorage: The Holiday Train
Licensed Polar Express Other holiday trains. Faint dots are Alaska towns, for shape.
One train, four dates, two departures a day, and every seat sold for this year.
Anchorage: the Alaska Railroad Holiday Train along Turnagain Arm Sold out
Santa trainAlaska Railroad · Anchorage
- Operator
- Alaska Railroad(opens in a new tab)
- Boards at
- Anchorage Depot, Anchorage
- Season
- Saturdays December 5, 12 and 19, and Monday December 21, 2026; morning train 10:00 am to 12:30 pm, afternoon train 3:00 to 5:30 pm
- Ride length
- About 2 hours 30 minutes round trip
- What's included
- Santa on board, a magician and balloon artists, crafts, a coloring contest and a raffle for a free train ride
- Price
- Adults $92, children 2 to 11 $46, infants with a seat $46, lap infants free, plus a service fee
- Tickets
- Sold out for 2026
- Best ages
- All ages; lap infants under 2 ride free
The Holiday Train is the Alaska Railroad’s December family event, a round trip of about two and a half hours out of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm. Santa rides along, and the railroad fills the cars with things to do: a magician, balloon artists, crafts, a coloring contest and a raffle for a free train ride. There is a morning train and an afternoon train on each of the four dates.
The railroad’s Holiday Train page does not name the boarding point, so confirm it when you book; the railroad’s main Anchorage depot is on West 1st Avenue downtown. The afternoon train runs into the early December dark, and the morning train has the most daylight for watching the water and mountains.
Fares are $92 for adults and $46 for children 2 to 11 and for infants who want their own seat; infants on a lap ride free. Tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable except for name changes, which cost 10 percent, and they cannot be combined with other offers. For 2026 the railroad lists every departure as sold out.
Check dates and tickets with Alaska Railroad(opens in a new tab)What to Do if the Holiday Train Is Sold Out
The Holiday Train sells out every year, and 2026 is already gone. A few things families do instead:
Sign up for the railroad's event train reminders
The Alaska Railroad sends reminders about special event train sales to its email list. That is the surest way to hear when next year’s Holiday Train opens, so you can book on the first day.
Ride a regular winter train
The railroad runs the Aurora Winter Train between Anchorage and Fairbanks through the winter. It is not a Santa train, but a snowy daytime train ride is still a holiday treat for a small train fan.
Watch the railroad's other event trains
The same team runs a Ski Train, an Easter Train and a Kids’ Halloween Train through the year, which are often easier to get than the December train.
Morning or Afternoon Train: Which One to Book Next Time
Toddlers and nappers
The 10:00 am train, back by 12:30, leaves the afternoon for a nap.
Kids who want the lights
The 3:00 pm train returns around 5:30, after an Anchorage December sunset, so the last part of the ride is in the dark.
Babies
Lap infants ride free; a separate seat for an infant costs the child fare.
Getting to the Holiday Train From Around Southcentral Alaska
Typical winter drive times; allow extra time when the Glenn or Seward highways are icy.
| Starting from | To | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Wasilla | Anchorage Depot | About 50 minutes |
| Palmer | Anchorage Depot | About 50 minutes |
| Eagle River | Anchorage Depot | About 25 minutes |
| Girdwood | Anchorage Depot | About 45 minutes |
If your family flies south for the holidays, Seattle is about three and a half hours away by air, and the Santa trains near Seattle and the licensed Polar Express in Chehalis are on our Washington page. Portland’s Holiday Express and the Mt. Hood Polar Express are on our Oregon page.
Free to print
Practice for the coloring contest
Free printable Rally pages with a red train, a maze and a word search. Print them before the ride.
Get the free printablesAlaska Details Worth Knowing
No Polar Express in Alaska
There is no licensed Polar Express ride in Alaska. The Holiday Train is the Alaska Railroad’s own event, with Santa, entertainers and crafts rather than the book’s script.
Booking terms
Payment is due when you book, a service fee is added at checkout, and tickets are non-refundable. Book by phone at 800.544.0552 or online.
Kids in the Aisle, Corgi in the Middle
In our book, Rally trots down the aisle and every kid on the train reaches out to pet him, which is about how a car full of children reacts when Santa or a balloon artist comes through. Two and a half hours is a long ride, and the aisle visitors are what keep it moving.
The story was my mom’s idea, and I finished it for her after she was gone; our story page tells it. For the next train trip, print some of our free Rally activity pages for the train; the Holiday Train even has a coloring contest.
A train story for Alaska kidsRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi on his first train ride, hand-painted in watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon
More for holiday train families
- Find a Christmas train near you: type your town and see every ride in the country sorted by distance
- Christmas train guide by state: licensed rides, costs and booking tips
- Christmas trains in Washington
- Christmas trains in Oregon
- Every Amtrak route with kids, for a real train trip after the holidays
- Free Rally activity pack and coloring pages to print before the ride
Sources
- Alaska Railroad: The Holiday Train(opens in a new tab)
- Spotatrain: The Holiday Train, Alaska Railroad 2026(opens in a new tab)
Checked against each railroad’s own pages on . THE POLAR EXPRESS is a trademark of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Each ride is run by the railroad or museum named above; Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Rail Events or any railroad listed here. Book only through the operator’s own site, and confirm dates and prices there before you go.
Alaska Christmas trains: questions parents ask
Is there a Polar Express train in Alaska?
No. Alaska has no licensed Polar Express ride. The state's Christmas train is the Alaska Railroad's Holiday Train, which runs from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm with Santa, a magician, balloon artists and crafts. In 2026 it runs on December 5, 12, 19 and 21, and every departure is sold out.
Do any Alaska Christmas trains run after Christmas?
No Alaska holiday train we could confirm runs after Christmas in 2026. The last one on this page is The Holiday Train in Anchorage, which runs until December 21. For a ride after the 25th, look at the states near Alaska in the drive-time table above. The ride runs along Turnagain Arm, one of the most dramatic stretches of track in the country, and there is a coloring contest on board.
What holiday events for kids are in Anchorage, Alaska, in 2026?
For families, Anchorage has The Holiday Train from Alaska Railroad (December 5 to December 21, $46 to $92). It includes Santa on board, a magician and balloon artists, crafts, a coloring contest and a raffle for a free train ride. Plan on about 2 hours 30 minutes round trip. For other Anchorage, Alaska, events like parades and tree lightings, check the town or chamber of commerce calendar.
Where can families near Wasilla, Alaska find a Christmas train ride?
From Wasilla, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Anchorage Depot, about 50 minutes. Each Alaska ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Wasilla families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Palmer, Alaska find a Christmas train ride?
From Palmer, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Anchorage Depot, about 50 minutes. Each Alaska ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Palmer families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Eagle River, Alaska find a Christmas train ride?
From Eagle River, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Anchorage Depot, about 25 minutes. Each Alaska ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Eagle River families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Girdwood, Alaska find a Christmas train ride?
From Girdwood, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Anchorage Depot, about 45 minutes. Each Alaska ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Girdwood families can compare before they drive.
How much are Alaska Railroad Holiday Train tickets?
For 2026 the Alaska Railroad lists the Holiday Train at $92 for adults and $46 for children ages 2 to 11. An infant under 2 with their own seat is $46, and infants on a lap ride free. A service fee is added at checkout, and tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable except for name changes.
How long is the Alaska Railroad Holiday Train?
About two and a half hours. The morning train runs from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and the afternoon train from 3:00 to 5:30 pm on each operating day. The route follows Turnagain Arm, and Santa, entertainers and a coloring contest keep children busy for the whole ride.
Is the afternoon Holiday Train good for young kids?
It can be, if your child does well after dark. The 3:00 pm train returns at about 5:30 pm, after the early December sunset in Anchorage, so the last stretch is in the dark. Families with toddlers who nap often choose the 10:00 am train, which is back by 12:30 pm.
Is Santa on the Alaska holiday train?
Yes. The Holiday Train in Anchorage includes Santa on board, a magician and balloon artists, crafts, a coloring contest and a raffle for a free train ride. The ride runs along Turnagain Arm, one of the most dramatic stretches of track in the country, and there is a coloring contest on board.
How do I find out when Alaska Railroad Holiday Train tickets go on sale?
The Alaska Railroad sends reminders about special event train sales to its email list. That is the surest way to hear when next year’s Holiday Train opens, so you can book on the first day.
What can we ride in Alaska if the Holiday Train is sold out?
The railroad runs the Aurora Winter Train between Anchorage and Fairbanks through the winter. It is not a Santa train, but a snowy daytime train ride is still a holiday treat for a small train fan.
What other event trains does the Alaska Railroad run?
The same team runs a Ski Train, an Easter Train and a Kids’ Halloween Train through the year, which are often easier to get than the December train.
Which Alaska Railroad Holiday Train departure rides in the dark?
The 3:00 pm train returns around 5:30, after an Anchorage December sunset, so the last part of the ride is in the dark.
What should parents know before riding The Holiday Train in Anchorage?
The railroad’s Holiday Train page does not name the boarding point, so confirm it when you book; the railroad’s main Anchorage depot is on West 1st Avenue downtown. The afternoon train runs into the early December dark, and the morning train has the most daylight for watching the water and mountains. Santa rides along, and the railroad fills the cars with things to do: a magician, balloon artists, crafts, a coloring contest and a raffle for a free train ride.
Do babies need a ticket for The Holiday Train in Anchorage?
Alaska Railroad lists ages as: all ages; lap infants under 2 ride free. On fares: adults $92, children 2 to 11 $46, infants with a seat $46, lap infants free, plus a service fee. For the Anchorage ride, plan on about 2 hours 30 minutes round trip. The ride runs along Turnagain Arm, one of the most dramatic stretches of track in the country, and there is a coloring contest on board.