Christmas Train Rides in Utah (2026)
Utah’s Christmas train is the Heber Valley Railroad’s North Pole Express, and it is a big one: departures on most days from mid-November to December 30, from the depot in Heber City, about an hour from Salt Lake City and Provo. Hosts, elves and cocoa chefs keep the singing going, and Santa boards at the North Pole with a gift for every child. It is the railroad’s own show, not a licensed Polar Express; for those, see our Polar Express and Christmas train guide.
The short version
- North Pole Express, Heber City: Nov 19 to Dec 30, from $30
- No licensed Polar Express runs in Utah in 2026; the closest options are in the drive-time table
Utah holiday trains at a glance
- Holiday trains
- 1 confirmed for 2026
- Licensed Polar Express
- None in Utah in 2026
- Season
- November 19 to December 30, 2026
- Lowest fare
- From $30 (Heber Valley Railroad)
- After Christmas
- Heber Valley Railroad (to December 30)
- Last checked
Look inside the book
Riding a Utah 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.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
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.
Utah's Holiday Train for 2026
On the map
Where Utah’s Christmas trains leave from
- 1Heber City: North Pole Express
Licensed Polar Express Other holiday trains. Faint dots are Utah towns, for shape.
One railroad, dozens of departures, in the mountains east of Provo.
Heber City: the North Pole Express on the Heber Valley Railroad
Santa trainHeber Valley Railroad · Heber City
- Operator
- Heber Valley Railroad(opens in a new tab)
- Boards at
- Heber Valley Railroad Depot, Heber City
- Season
- Most days from November 19 to December 30, 2026; weekday trains at 5:00 and 7:30 pm, with 11:30 am and 2:00 pm trains added on Saturdays and some holiday-week days; December 28 to 30 at 2:00 and 5:00 pm
- Ride length
- About 90 minutes round trip
- What's included
- Hot cocoa, a chocolate chip cookie and bottled water, singing with hosts, elves and cocoa chefs, and a gift from Santa for every child
- Price
- Coach $50 to $70 for adults and $30 to $40 for children, depending on the car; infants 1 and under $15; observation and parlor seats $100 to $130
- Tickets
- On sale now; selling fast
- Best ages
- All ages; infants 1 and under need a $15 lap ticket
The North Pole Express is a 90-minute round trip from the Heber City depot. Hosts, elves and cocoa chefs lead the singing, everyone gets hot cocoa, a chocolate chip cookie and a bottle of water, and when the train reaches the North Pole, Santa climbs aboard for the ride back and gives every child a gift. Every rider gets the same show no matter which car you choose.
Prices depend on the car: standard coaches run $50 to $70 for adults and $30 to $40 for kids, with tables for four, an observation car and a parlor car above that. Seats are assigned, so buy your group in one order. All coaches are heated with restrooms on board. Car seats and strollers are not allowed, and the historic cars cannot take wheelchairs. There are no refunds, only credit toward another ride. Leave extra time for Provo Canyon or Parleys Canyon, and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early.
Check dates and tickets with Heber Valley Railroad(opens in a new tab)More Holiday Train Fun in Utah
Free train rides at Ogden’s Christmas Village
Ogden’s Christmas Village fills the Municipal Gardens at 2500 Grant Avenue from November 28, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Kids can visit Santa and ride a small train around the village, and it is all free.
The orchard train in Santaquin
Rowley’s Red Barn in Santaquin ran a short Christmas lights train through its orchard last season, about seven minutes for $5 a person with an apple cider donut. Check its site for 2026 dates.
Getting there by Amtrak
The California Zephyr stops in Salt Lake City and Provo, both about an hour from Heber City; see our California Zephyr with kids guide.
How Far Heber City Is From Utah Cities
Typical winter drive times on clear roads.
| Starting from | To | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | Heber City | About 50 minutes |
| Provo | Heber City | About 40 minutes |
| Park City | Heber City | About 20 minutes |
| Ogden | Heber City | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| St. George | Heber City | About 4 hours |
Southern Utah families are closer to the trains on our Nevada page and the Williams Polar Express on our Arizona page. Northern Utah is also within reach of Idaho’s holiday train in Rexburg on our Idaho page.
Free to print
A countdown project
Free printable Rally pages with a red train, a maze and a word search.
Get the free printablesMountains Out the Window
Rally gets up early on the day of his train trip, suitcase packed, toys lined up. For a North Pole Express ticket in Heber, that excitement might start weeks ahead, and that is half the fun.
My mom first imagined Rally’s trip, and I finished the book after she passed; our story page has more. Our free Rally coloring pages are a good countdown project.
A train story for Utah 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 Nevada
- Christmas trains in Arizona
- Christmas trains in Idaho
- 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
- Heber Valley Railroad: North Pole Express(opens in a new tab)
- Ogden City: Christmas Village 2026(opens in a new tab)
- Rowley's Red Barn: Christmas Train(opens in a new tab)
- American-Rails: Utah Christmas Train Rides (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.
Utah Christmas trains: questions parents ask
Is there a Polar Express train ride in Utah?
No. Utah has no licensed Polar Express ride in 2026. Its holiday train is the Heber Valley Railroad's North Pole Express, a 90-minute round trip from Heber City with cocoa, cookies, carols and a gift from Santa for every child.
Are there any Utah Christmas trains after Christmas?
Yes. The North Pole Express in Heber City runs until December 30. All 1 Utah rides on this page keep going after December 25. The North Pole Express in Heber City: most days from November 19 to December 30, 2026; weekday trains at 5:00 and 7:30 pm, with 11:30 am and 2:00 pm trains added on Saturdays and some holiday-week days; December 28 to 30 at 2:00 and 5:00 pm.
What Christmas events are happening in Heber City, Utah, in 2026?
For families, Heber City has North Pole Express from Heber Valley Railroad (November 19 to December 30, from $30). It includes hot cocoa, a chocolate chip cookie and bottled water, singing with hosts, elves and cocoa chefs, and a gift from Santa for every child. For other Heber City, Utah, events like parades and tree lightings, check the town or chamber of commerce calendar.
Where can families near Salt Lake City, Utah find a Christmas train ride?
From Salt Lake City, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Heber City, about 50 minutes. Each Utah ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Salt Lake City families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Provo, Utah find a Christmas train ride?
From Provo, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Heber City, about 40 minutes. Each Utah ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Provo families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Park City, Utah find a Christmas train ride?
From Park City, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Heber City, about 20 minutes. Each Utah ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Park City families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near Ogden, Utah find a Christmas train ride?
From Ogden, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Heber City, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Each Utah ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so Ogden families can compare before they drive.
Where can families near St. George, Utah find a Christmas train ride?
From St. George, typical winter drive times on clear roads are: Heber City, about 4 hours. Each Utah ride on this page lists dates, prices and the booking link, so St. George families can compare before they drive.
How much is the Heber Valley North Pole Express?
Standard coach tickets cost $50 to $70 for adults and $30 to $40 for children, depending on the car. Infants 1 and under need a $15 lap ticket. Observation and parlor car seats cost $100 to $130, and tables for four cost $320.
Can you bring a stroller on the North Pole Express?
No. Car seats and strollers are not allowed on the train, and because the cars are historic, wheelchairs and walkers cannot be brought on board; they are stored at the ticket office. Every coach is heated and has restrooms, and the railroad asks families to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early.
When does the North Pole Express run in 2026?
The North Pole Express runs on most days from November 19 to December 30, 2026. Weekday trains leave at 5:00 and 7:30 pm, Saturdays and some holiday-week days add 11:30 am and 2:00 pm, and the last three days run at 2:00 and 5:00 pm.
Is Santa on the Utah holiday train?
Yes. The North Pole Express in Heber City includes hot cocoa, a chocolate chip cookie and bottled water, singing with hosts, elves and cocoa chefs, and a gift from Santa for every child. Even the $15 infant ticket comes with cocoa, a cookie, a souvenir mug and a gift from Santa.
Where can kids ride a free Christmas train in Utah?
Ogden’s Christmas Village fills the Municipal Gardens at 2500 Grant Avenue from November 28, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Kids can visit Santa and ride a small train around the village, and it is all free.
Is there a Christmas lights train in Santaquin, Utah?
Rowley’s Red Barn in Santaquin ran a short Christmas lights train through its orchard last season, about seven minutes for $5 a person with an apple cider donut. Check its site for 2026 dates.
Can you take Amtrak to a Christmas train in Utah?
The California Zephyr stops in Salt Lake City and Provo, both about an hour from Heber City; see our California Zephyr with kids guide.
What happens on the North Pole Express in Heber City?
The North Pole Express in Heber City includes hot cocoa, a chocolate chip cookie and bottled water, singing with hosts, elves and cocoa chefs, and a gift from Santa for every child. For the Heber City ride, plan on about 90 minutes round trip. Even the $15 infant ticket comes with cocoa, a cookie, a souvenir mug and a gift from Santa.
Where does the North Pole Express in Heber City leave from?
The North Pole Express in Heber City boards at Heber Valley Railroad Depot, 450 South 600 West, in Heber City. All coaches are heated with restrooms on board. Leave extra time for Provo Canyon or Parleys Canyon, and arrive 30 to 45 minutes early. Heber Valley Railroad tickets: on sale now; selling fast. Even the $15 infant ticket comes with cocoa, a cookie, a souvenir mug and a gift from Santa.
Any tips for the North Pole Express in Heber City with young kids?
Prices depend on the car: standard coaches run $50 to $70 for adults and $30 to $40 for kids, with tables for four, an observation car and a parlor car above that. Seats are assigned, so buy your group in one order. All coaches are heated with restrooms on board. Car seats and strollers are not allowed, and the historic cars cannot take wheelchairs.
Do babies need a ticket for the North Pole Express in Heber City?
Heber Valley Railroad lists ages as: all ages; infants 1 and under need a $15 lap ticket. On fares: infants 1 and under $15. For the Heber City ride, plan on about 90 minutes round trip. Even the $15 infant ticket comes with cocoa, a cookie, a souvenir mug and a gift from Santa.