Christmas Train Rides in Kansas (2026)
The surest Christmas train in Kansas this year leaves from an 1887 Rock Island depot in Abilene, where antique coaches glow with lights and Santa rides along. Wichita has a smaller, cheaper option in a city park, and Baldwin City, near Lawrence, has a holiday train whose 2026 season has not been announced yet. There is no licensed Polar Express in Kansas; our guide to Polar Express and Christmas trains in every state shows the closest ones in Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado.
The short version
- The Cowtown Santa Express, Abilene: Nov 20 to Dec 23, from $35
- Watson's Christmas Express, Wichita: Nov 28 to Dec 20, from $20
- The Santa Rocket, Baldwin City: 2026 not announced, not posted yet
- No licensed Polar Express runs in Kansas in 2026; the closest options are in the drive-time table
Kansas holiday trains at a glance
- Holiday trains
- 3 confirmed for 2026
- Licensed Polar Express
- None in Kansas in 2026
- Season
- November 20 to December 23, 2026
- Lowest fare
- From $20 (Wichita Park and Recreation)
- After Christmas
- No rides found
- Last checked
Plan your date
When each Kansas Christmas train runs
The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene has the longest season, November 20 to December 23. Each bar spans a ride’s season, not every day in it, so check the railroad’s calendar for exact dates.
- The Cowtown Santa ExpressAbilene · Nov 20 to Dec 23
- Watson's Christmas ExpressWichita · Nov 28 to Dec 20
Look inside the book
Riding a Kansas 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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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Kansas Holiday Trains for 2026
On the map
Where Kansas’s Christmas trains leave from
- 1Abilene: The Cowtown Santa Express
- 2Baldwin City: The Santa Rocket
- 3Wichita: Watson's Christmas Express
Licensed Polar Express Other holiday trains. Faint dots are Kansas towns, for shape.
One sure thing in Abilene, one park train in Wichita, and one to watch in Baldwin City.
Kansas's 2026 holiday trains at a glance
| Ride | Town | Season | Price | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene & Smoky Valley | Abilene | Nov 20 to Dec 23 | From $35 | On sale now |
| Wichita Park and Recreation | Wichita | Nov 28 to Dec 20 | From $20 | See city page |
| Ottawa Northern Railroad | Baldwin City | 2026 not announced | Not posted yet | Not on sale yet |
Abilene: the Cowtown Santa Express
Santa trainAbilene & Smoky Valley Railroad · Abilene
- Operator
- Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad(opens in a new tab)
- Boards at
- 1887 Rock Island Depot, Abilene
- Season
- Selected Friday to Sunday departures November 20 to December 20, 2026, then daily December 21 to 23; mostly at 2, 4 and 6 pm
- Ride length
- Not published by the railroad
- What's included
- Antique coaches lit for the holidays, cookies, hot chocolate, seasonal music and Santa
- Price
- From $35; the Eveland Creek car sells tables of four, and the Chicago and Enterprise cars sell individual seats
- Tickets
- On sale now
- Best ages
- All ages
The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad calls the Cowtown Santa Express its annual Christmas tradition, and it is the most complete holiday train in Kansas. Antique passenger coaches are strung with lights, there are cookies and hot chocolate and the music of the season, and Santa makes his holiday debut on board. The train leaves from the 1887 Rock Island Depot at the north end of Old Abilene Town.
Tickets are sold by car: the Eveland Creek car by the table of four, and the Chicago and Enterprise cars by the seat, so a family of four may want a table. Come early and walk through the free Fred Schmidt Railroad Museum inside the depot, which has a G-scale model railroad and a working telegraph. The trains run daily in the three days before Christmas, a help if school is already out.
Check dates and tickets with Abilene & Smoky Valley(opens in a new tab)Wichita: Watson's Christmas Express at O.J. Watson Park
Park train with SantaCity of Wichita Park and Recreation · Wichita
- Operator
- City of Wichita Park and Recreation(opens in a new tab)
- Boards at
- O.J. Watson Park, Wichita
- Season
- Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 28 to December 20, 2026
- Ride length
- A short park train ride
- What's included
- A train ride to the North Pole in the park, Santa sightings and cocoa
- Price
- $20 per person for Wichita residents; nonresidents pay more
- Tickets
- Check the city's event page
- Best ages
- Ages 2 and older
Wichita’s holiday train runs in O.J. Watson Park, where the park’s small train becomes Watson’s Christmas Express on weekends from Thanksgiving to just before Christmas. The city bills it as a Polar Express style trip to the North Pole for children 2 and older, with Santa sightings and hot cocoa along the way.
It is a short ride on a park train, not a full railroad excursion, which makes it a good fit for preschoolers and for families who want a holiday outing without a long drive. Wichita residents pay $20 a person, and nonresidents pay a higher fee. In past years the city also let families arrive between 5 and 6:30 pm without buying ahead, so check its page for how 2026 tickets work.
Check dates and tickets with Wichita Park and Recreation(opens in a new tab)Baldwin City: the Santa Rocket, if it returns
Santa trainOttawa Northern Railroad and Rock Island Rail · Baldwin City
- Operator
- Ottawa Northern Railroad and Rock Island Rail(opens in a new tab)
- Boards at
- Holiday platform on the Midland Railway tracks, Baldwin City
- Season
- 2026 dates not announced; the 2025 season ran from late November with departures at 2:30, 5:00 and 7:30 pm
- Ride length
- About 1 hour
- What's included
- A train ride from Baldwin City to Santa at the North Pole
- Price
- Not posted for 2026
- Tickets
- Ticket link still shows the 2025 season
- Best ages
- All ages
Baldwin City has had a Christmas train for years on the historic Midland Railway track. The Midland’s own Snowglobe Express is gone, and since 2024 the Ottawa Northern Railroad and Rock Island Rail have run the Santa Rocket instead: a one-hour ride from a holiday platform on High Street to visit Santa at the North Pole, with departures at 2:30, 5:00 and 7:30 pm last season.
As of mid-October the railroad’s booking button still pointed to its 2025 season, and we could not confirm 2026 dates. If you live in Lawrence, Olathe or Kansas City, keep an eye on the railroad’s site; Baldwin City is about 50 minutes from Kansas City, much closer than Abilene.
Check dates and tickets with Ottawa Northern Railroad(opens in a new tab)Which Kansas Christmas Train Fits Your Family
You want a real railroad and Santa on board
The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene.
Wichita families with toddlers
Watson’s Christmas Express. It is short, nearby and in a city park.
Kansas City and Lawrence families
Watch for Santa Rocket dates in Baldwin City, or cross into Missouri for the Polar Express at Union Station.
Southeast Kansas
The free CPKC Holiday Train stop in Pittsburg on November 28.
How Far Kansas Holiday Trains Are From Major Cities
Typical drive times without holiday traffic.
| Starting from | To | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | Abilene | About 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Topeka | Abilene | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Kansas City | Abilene | About 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Kansas City | Baldwin City | About 50 minutes |
| Salina | Abilene | About 25 minutes |
| Kansas City, KS | St. Louis Union Station Polar Express | About 3 hours 45 minutes |
The closest licensed Polar Express rides are in Branson and St. Louis on our Missouri page, and the Oklahoma Railway Museum’s Polar Express is on our Oklahoma page, about two and a half hours south of Wichita. Western Kansas families are closer to Colorado; see our Colorado page.
Free to print
For the drive across Kansas
Free printable Rally pages with a red train, a maze and a word search.
Get the free printablesKansas Holiday Train Details Worth Knowing
The Snowglobe Express is gone
Older articles still mention the Midland Railway’s Snowglobe Express in Baldwin City. It no longer runs; the Santa Rocket replaced it on the same track.
CPKC Holiday Train in Pittsburg
The lit-up CPKC Holiday Train stops in Pittsburg on Saturday, November 28, from 11:00 to 11:30 am, along North Michigan Avenue between East 7th and East 10th Streets, with a free concert by Magic! and MARIS. There is no ride; bring a food bank donation.
Getting there by Amtrak
The Southwest Chief stops in Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City; see our Southwest Chief with kids guide.
Grandmommy and Papa at the Platform
The last pages of our book are Rally pulling into the station and seeing Grandmommy and Papa waiting. Kansas is a state where a lot of families drive a long way to see grandparents at the holidays, and a short train ride can be the part of the trip kids remember.
My mom dreamed up Rally’s story, and I finished it after she died; read more on our story page. For the drive across the plains, print our free Rally coloring pages.
A train story for Kansas 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 Missouri
- Christmas trains in Oklahoma
- Christmas trains in Colorado
- 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
- Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad: 2026 Cowtown Santa Express(opens in a new tab)
- Visit Wichita: Watson's Christmas Express(opens in a new tab)
- City of Wichita: Watson's Christmas Express(opens in a new tab)
- Ottawa Northern Railroad: The Santa Rocket(opens in a new tab)
- American-Rails: Kansas Christmas Train Rides (2026)(opens in a new tab)
- CPKC: U.S. Holiday Train schedule 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.
Kansas Christmas trains: questions parents ask
Is there a Polar Express train ride in Kansas?
No. Kansas has no licensed Polar Express ride in 2026. Its biggest holiday train is the Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene. For a licensed Polar Express, Kansas families usually drive to St. Louis Union Station or Branson in Missouri, or to the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City.
What Christmas train rides are in Kansas in 2026?
We confirmed three holiday train rides in Kansas for 2026: The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene; Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita; The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City. None of them is a licensed Polar Express ride, which Kansas does not have in 2026. The season starts November 20 with The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene and ends December 23.
What Christmas events are happening in Abilene, Kansas, in 2026?
For families, Abilene has The Cowtown Santa Express from Abilene & Smoky Valley (November 20 to December 23, from $35). It includes antique coaches lit for the holidays, cookies, hot chocolate, seasonal music and Santa. The 1887 depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses a free railroad museum with a G-scale layout and a working telegraph. For other Abilene, Kansas, events like parades and tree lightings, check the town or chamber of commerce calendar.
What Christmas events are there in Wichita, Kansas, this year?
For families, Wichita has Watson's Christmas Express from Wichita Park and Recreation (November 28 to December 20, from $20). It includes a train ride to the North Pole in the park, Santa sightings and cocoa. Plan on a short park train ride. The park's own small train makes the trip, and the city describes it as a Polar Express style ride to the North Pole. For other Wichita, Kansas, events like parades and tree lightings, check the town or chamber of commerce calendar.
What holiday events for kids are in Baldwin City, Kansas, in 2026?
For families, Baldwin City has The Santa Rocket from Ottawa Northern Railroad (2026 not announced, not posted yet). It includes a train ride from Baldwin City to Santa at the North Pole. Plan on about 1 hour. It runs on the old Midland Railway track, about 50 minutes southwest of Kansas City. For other Baldwin City, Kansas, events like parades and tree lightings, check the town or chamber of commerce calendar.
Where can families near Topeka, Kansas find a Christmas train ride?
From Topeka, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Abilene, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Each Kansas ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Topeka families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Kansas City, Kansas find a Christmas train ride?
From Kansas City, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Abilene, about 2 hours 30 minutes; Baldwin City, about 50 minutes. Each Kansas ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Kansas City families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Salina, Kansas find a Christmas train ride?
From Salina, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Abilene, about 25 minutes. Each Kansas ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Salina families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Kansas City, KS find a Christmas train ride?
From Kansas City, KS, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: St. Louis Union Station Polar Express, about 3 hours 45 minutes. Each Kansas ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Kansas City, KS families can compare before they drive.
How much is the Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene?
Tickets for the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad's Cowtown Santa Express start at $35 for 2026. The Eveland Creek car is sold by the table of four, and the Chicago and Enterprise cars are sold by the seat. Trains run on selected weekends from November 20 and daily December 21 to 23.
Is the Santa Rocket running in Baldwin City in 2026?
As of mid-October 2026 the Ottawa Northern Railroad had not posted 2026 dates for the Santa Rocket, and its ticket link still showed the 2025 season. Last year it ran one-hour trips at 2:30, 5:00 and 7:30 pm from a holiday platform on High Street.
When does the CPKC Holiday Train stop in Kansas?
The CPKC Holiday Train makes one Kansas stop in 2026, in Pittsburg on Saturday, November 28, from 11:00 to 11:30 am, along North Michigan Avenue between East 7th and East 10th Streets. The concert is free, and visitors are asked to bring food bank donations.
Do any Kansas Christmas trains run after Christmas?
No Kansas holiday train we could confirm runs after Christmas in 2026. The last one on this page is The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene, which runs until December 23. For a ride after the 25th, look at the states near Kansas in the drive-time table above. The 1887 depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses a free railroad museum with a G-scale layout and a working telegraph.
What is the cheapest Christmas train in Kansas?
The lowest posted 2026 fare we found in Kansas is for Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita: from $20. At the top end is The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene: from $35. Prices come from each Kansas railroad's own listing and can change, so confirm at checkout. For Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita: $20 per person for Wichita residents; nonresidents pay more.
When do Kansas Christmas train tickets go on sale?
On sale now: The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene. Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita: check the city's event page. The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City: ticket link still shows the 2025 season. Popular Kansas dates go first, so buy as soon as your ride opens.
Which Kansas Christmas trains have Santa?
All 3 Kansas rides on this page include Santa. The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene: antique coaches lit for the holidays, cookies, hot chocolate, seasonal music and Santa. Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita: a train ride to the North Pole in the park, Santa sightings and cocoa. The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City: a train ride from Baldwin City to Santa at the North Pole.
Can you take Amtrak to a Christmas train in Kansas?
The Southwest Chief stops in Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City; see our Southwest Chief with kids guide.
What is included with The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene?
The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene includes antique coaches lit for the holidays, cookies, hot chocolate, seasonal music and Santa. Abilene & Smoky Valley ride length: not published by the railroad. The 1887 depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses a free railroad museum with a G-scale layout and a working telegraph.
How much are tickets for Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita?
Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita costs $20 per person for Wichita residents; nonresidents pay more. Watson's Christmas Express runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 28 to December 20, 2026. Wichita Park and Recreation tickets: check the city's event page. Wichita Park and Recreation age rules: ages 2 and older. The park's own small train makes the trip, and the city describes it as a Polar Express style ride to the North Pole.
How much are tickets for The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City?
Fares for The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City: Not posted for 2026. The Santa Rocket runs 2026 dates not announced; the 2025 season ran from late November with departures at 2:30, 5:00 and 7:30 pm. Ticket link still shows the 2025 season. Ottawa Northern Railroad age rules: all ages. It runs on the old Midland Railway track, about 50 minutes southwest of Kansas City.
Where does The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene leave from?
The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene boards at 1887 Rock Island Depot, 200 SE 5th Street, in Abilene. Come early and walk through the free Fred Schmidt Railroad Museum inside the depot, which has a G-scale model railroad and a working telegraph. The trains run daily in the three days before Christmas, a help if school is already out.
What is included with Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita?
Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita includes a train ride to the North Pole in the park, Santa sightings and cocoa. Wichita Park and Recreation ride length: a short park train ride. The park's own small train makes the trip, and the city describes it as a Polar Express style ride to the North Pole.
What happens on The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City?
The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City includes a train ride from Baldwin City to Santa at the North Pole. For the Baldwin City ride, plan on about 1 hour. It runs on the old Midland Railway track, about 50 minutes southwest of Kansas City.
Any tips for The Cowtown Santa Express in Abilene with young kids?
Tickets are sold by car: the Eveland Creek car by the table of four, and the Chicago and Enterprise cars by the seat, so a family of four may want a table. Come early and walk through the free Fred Schmidt Railroad Museum inside the depot, which has a G-scale model railroad and a working telegraph.
Where does Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita leave from?
Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita boards at O.J. Watson Park, 3022 S McLean Blvd, in Wichita. It is a short ride on a park train, not a full railroad excursion, which makes it a good fit for preschoolers and for families who want a holiday outing without a long drive. In past years the city also let families arrive between 5 and 6:30 pm without buying ahead, so check its page for how 2026 tickets work.
Where does The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City leave from?
The Santa Rocket in Baldwin City boards at Holiday platform on the Midland Railway tracks, 1515 1/2 High Street, in Baldwin City. Ticket link still shows the 2025 season. It runs on the old Midland Railway track, about 50 minutes southwest of Kansas City.
Any tips for Watson's Christmas Express in Wichita with young kids?
It is a short ride on a park train, not a full railroad excursion, which makes it a good fit for preschoolers and for families who want a holiday outing without a long drive. Wichita residents pay $20 a person, and nonresidents pay a higher fee. In past years the city also let families arrive between 5 and 6:30 pm without buying ahead, so check its page for how 2026 tickets work.