Halloween Train Rides in Arizona (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 17 min read

In Scottsdale, a $15 wristband buys unlimited night rides on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad, the park railroad at McCormick-Stillman, as it winds past spooky Halloween displays in the warm desert dark. As of October 14, two Arizona Halloween trains still have dates ahead, and both are pumpkin and costume rides rather than haunted ones: Spook-Track-Ula, which the park calls a little spooky and slightly eerie, and a pair of free Halloween nights on the Maricopa Live Steamers ride-on railroad in Glendale. The rest of the country is mapped out in our Halloween train finder by state.

Both rides sit in the Phoenix area, so Tucson and Flagstaff families are driving about two hours either way. The upside is the schedule: Spook-Track-Ula runs nightly through Halloween, so you can pick the night that suits your kids, and the Glendale rides cost nothing at all on Fri Oct 23 and Sat Oct 24.

The short version

  • East Valley and central Phoenix families have the easier trip to Spook-Track-Ula in Scottsdale, about 25 minutes from downtown Phoenix, and with every night through Oct 31 still on sale as of Oct 14, it is the one to plan around a bedtime.
  • From the West Valley or the I-17 corridor, the free Maricopa Live Steamers Halloween rides in Glendale are closer, but they run only Oct 23 and 24, and every rider must sit on their own seat, which rules out lap babies.

Neither ride is a haunted train; the only intense part of either night is Spook-Track-Ula's optional haunted walkthrough.

Watercolor of a red train car on a cliffside track heading into a dark tunnel
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Look inside the book

A dark tunnel, a brave corgi. Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi rides into a dark tunnel, gets a little scared, and comes out to a big bright light and happy cheers. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to an Arizona pumpkin train.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Compare every Arizona Halloween train side by side

Every ride on this page in one table: type, dates left, the lowest posted ticket price, ride length, who it suits and whether tickets are still on sale. Tap a ride for the full details.

RideTypeDates leftTicketsLengthBest forStatus
Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad ParkScottsdalePumpkin and costumeOct 14 to Oct 31 (18 dates)From $15Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Free Halloween Train Rides at Maricopa Live SteamersGlendalePumpkin and costumeOct 23 to Oct 24 (2 dates)From Kids freeNot postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

The rest of October at a glance

When each Arizona Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Arizona Halloween train calendar: what runs which day

Every remaining date for every ride on this page, from today through Halloween weekend. Green is a gentle pumpkin and costume ride, blue is a haunted ride. Tap a ride to jump to its details.

From Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff to Scottsdale and North Glendale

Approximate drive times without traffic; Valley rush hour can stretch the Phoenix trip on a weeknight.

Drive times, no traffic

Scottsdale
about 25 min from Phoenix; about 1 hr 50 min from Tucson; about 2 hr from Flagstaff
Glendale
about 30 min from Phoenix; about 2 hr from Tucson; about 1 hr 45 min from Flagstaff

Scottsdale: Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Next: Wed Oct 14Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $15Dates left: Oct 14 to Oct 31

This is a city park's ride-on railroad rather than a full-size excursion train: the Paradise & Pacific Railroad, the park's miniature railroad. During Spook-Track-Ula, a wristband covers unlimited rides past spooky displays after dark, plus carousel rides and a haunted train walkthrough. New this year is a kid-friendly Storybook Train Ride aimed at the littlest riders.

The park describes the evening as a little spooky and slightly eerie, which is why we list it with the gentle rides. The haunted train walkthrough is the exception: the park says it is more intense and best for older kids and adults, and you can skip it. You book a timed arrival slot through the city's ActiveNet system, which needs an account.

Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Evening park railroad ride, a little spooky, with a Storybook Train for little kids
Dates left
Every night from Wed Oct 14 through Sat Oct 31
Tickets
All nights Oct 14 through Oct 31 on sale as of Oct 14, none close to full (the busiest, Fri Oct 16, was about half full). Individual arrival slots could not be checked, so a popular slot may still be gone
Times
6:00 to 9:30 PM nightly; timed arrival slots at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 PM; first train at 6:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; the wristband covers unlimited rides during your session
What's included
Wristband with unlimited rides on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad past spooky displays, carousel rides, a haunted train walkthrough and the new Storybook Train Ride
Price
$15 per person; 2 and under free; park members get $5 off
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the park calls it a little spooky and slightly eerie, the Storybook Train is aimed at little kids, and the haunted walkthrough is best for older kids and adults
Costumes
The park has not posted costume rules; check the operator site No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site. Rain or shine, but the park cancels for lightning within 8 miles and emails a transfer to another night
Where
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Glendale: Free Halloween Train Rides at Maricopa Live Steamers

Next: Fri Oct 23Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeKids freeDates left: Oct 23 to Oct 24

Plainly, this is a ride-on scale railroad: volunteers from Maricopa Live Steamers run miniature steam and diesel locomotives pulling small open riding cars through Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park, a Maricopa County park in north Glendale. For two Halloween nights the rides are free, with donations welcome.

There are no tickets, but every person entering the park needs an online liability waiver, so fill those out at home. The one rule that matters for little kids: everyone, children included, must climb aboard without help and sit on their own seat, with no laps. Ride length, costume rules and parking are not posted, so check the operator site.

Free Halloween Train Rides at Maricopa Live Steamers at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Free evening ride-on scale railroad, family Halloween nights
Dates left
Fri Oct 23 and Sat Oct 24
Tickets
Free with no tickets; an online liability waiver is required for each person entering the park
Times
6:00 to 9:00 PM both nights
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Halloween night rides on the live steam miniature railroad
Price
Free; donations welcome
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated, but every rider must board without help and sit on their own seat (no lap riders)
Costumes
Not posted; check the operator site
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park, 22822 N 43rd Ave, Glendale, AZ 85310

Tickets on the railroad’s site (opens in a new tab)

Rally’s Spooky Train Ride: Halloween shirts

The tunnel page from the book, Rally on his red seat in the dark, is printed on black shirts in sizes for the whole family, from baby to 5XL. Skip the costume hassle: no masks to fog up, no capes caught in the train door, just a shirt that already says Halloween and layers under a coat on a cold platform. A matching set makes for easy pumpkin train photos. See everything in the Rally shop.

Is Spook-Track-Ula Too Spooky for a Three-Year-Old

Spook-Track-Ula is set up so you can choose the scare level as you go. The train loop past Halloween displays is what the park calls a little spooky, the carousel is not spooky at all, and the new Storybook Train Ride is made for small kids. The haunted train walkthrough is the one part the park itself calls more intense, best for older kids and adults.

For a nervous preschooler, take the 6:00 PM arrival slot, start with the Storybook Train and the carousel, then try one ride on the Paradise & Pacific. If the displays are too much, you can stop there: the wristband is unlimited, so no one has to ride again. Send an older sibling through the walkthrough with the other parent. The Glendale nights are a different worry: nothing there is billed as spooky, but a child who will not sit alone on a small open car cannot ride, so practice the idea first.

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, Rally rides into a dark tunnel and can't see anything at all. Then his big ears pick up happy cheers, a bright light shows up, and the train comes out by the cliffs and the sea. A night ride on the Paradise & Pacific past spooky displays, followed by a spin on the carousel, has that same shape, and it helps to tell a little one where the bright part is before the dark part starts.

Print a few of our Rally train coloring pages for the wait between rides. The book began as my mom's story, and this is how it got written.

Warm Desert Evenings in Scottsdale, Freezing Nights Up North

Spook-Track-Ula is an evening event, and Phoenix-area October evenings are often 75 to 85 degrees at dusk. That is perfect costume weather, though a fleece dragon suit can get warm on a crowded platform, so bring water and dress light underneath.

Families driving down from Flagstaff or Williams are leaving country that is near freezing at night. Dress for the valley once you arrive, but pack warm layers in the car for the drive home.

Notes for Valley Parents Before Halloween Train Night

  • Spook-Track-Ula sells timed arrival slots from 6:00 to 8:00 PM every night through Oct 31 through Scottsdale's ActiveNet system, so set up an account before the night you plan to go. Weeknights are the easy way to dodge weekend crowds.
  • Everyone 2 and under gets into Spook-Track-Ula free; everyone else is $15, or $5 less for park members, and the wristband covers unlimited train rides plus the carousel.
  • Lightning within 8 miles shuts Spook-Track-Ula down for the night, and the park emails a transfer to another night, so watch your inbox on a stormy evening.
  • The Maricopa Live Steamers rides in Glendale are free, but each person entering the park needs an online waiver, and lap riders are not allowed, so a baby or a toddler who cannot sit alone will watch from the ground.
  • The Grand Canyon Railway lists a Pumpkin Patch Train on select October dates, but we could not confirm the 2026 dates from the railway itself, so check the operator site before planning a Williams trip around it.
  • Neither operator has posted stroller or parking rules in our research, so check the operator site. Bring water: Valley evenings in October are often in the upper 70s or 80s.

Halloween Trains Over the Line in California, Nevada and New Mexico

Southern California has a long list of pumpkin trains and a few haunted night rides, though from Phoenix it is a long road trip, better saved for a family visit; the full rundown is on our California pumpkin and ghost train list.

Northwest Arizona families are closer to Nevada than to the Valley: from Kingman, the Boulder City Halloween Express at the Nevada State Railroad Museum is about 1 hour 20 minutes away, a non-scary costume train on Saturday, Oct 17 only, so check the operator site or our Nevada pumpkin and ghost train guide. As our New Mexico page explains, New Mexico's one Halloween ride we found is for adults only, so it is not an option with kids.

A train book for the ride

If your kids would rather ride a full-size train across the desert, our guides to the Southwest Chief from Flagstaff with kids and the Sunset Limited through Tucson are a very different kind of train day.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the line at the depot or the drive home.

Get the free coloring pages for Scottsdale
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents, including one dark tunnel he is brave enough to ride through. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Sources

Checked against each railroad’s own pages and ticket calendars on October 14, 2026. Dates, prices and policies change, so confirm with the railroad before you go.

Spook-Track-Ula and Beyond: Arizona Parents' Halloween Train Questions

What Halloween events are there for kids in Scottsdale, Arizona?

One family Halloween event in Scottsdale is Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, running every night through Oct 31. A $15 wristband covers unlimited evening rides on the park's Paradise & Pacific Railroad past spooky displays, plus carousel rides and a haunted train walkthrough. Kids 2 and under are free, and a new Storybook Train Ride is aimed at little ones.

What is there to do for Halloween in Glendale, Arizona with kids?

One family Halloween event in Glendale is the free Halloween train night at Maricopa Live Steamers, a gentle ride on volunteer-run, ride-on scale steam and diesel trains at Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park. It runs Friday Oct 23 and Saturday Oct 24 from 6 to 9 PM. Each person needs an online waiver, and riders must sit on their own seat.

Is there a Halloween train in Phoenix for families?

Two family Halloween trains are within about 30 minutes of Phoenix, and both are gentle. Spook-Track-Ula at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, about 25 minutes away, runs nightly through Oct 31 at $15 a person. Maricopa Live Steamers in Glendale, about 30 minutes north, offers free ride-on scale train rides on Oct 23 and 24 from 6 to 9 PM.

What are Halloween things to do with kids near Tucson?

Our research found no Halloween train running in Tucson this year, so the nearest is Scottsdale's Spook-Track-Ula, about 1 hour 50 minutes away, open every night through Oct 31 for $15 per person. The free Maricopa Live Steamers rides in Glendale are about 2 hours away, but they run only Oct 23 and 24, so Spook-Track-Ula gives Tucson families more nights to choose from.

Is there a Halloween train ride near Flagstaff, Arizona?

The closest one we could confirm is the free Maricopa Live Steamers Halloween ride in north Glendale, about 1 hour 45 minutes down I-17, on Oct 23 and 24 from 6 to 9 PM. Spook-Track-Ula in Scottsdale, about 2 hours away, runs nightly through Oct 31 for $15. Flagstaff nights are near freezing, while Valley evenings are often 75 to 85 degrees.

Are the Maricopa Live Steamers Halloween train rides in Glendale really free?

Yes. Maricopa Live Steamers runs its Halloween rides free on Friday Oct 23 and Saturday Oct 24 from 6 to 9 PM, and donations are welcome. There are no tickets, but every person entering Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park must sign an online liability waiver first. Riders must board on their own and sit in their own seat, so lap babies cannot ride.

Can kids wear costumes to Spook-Track-Ula?

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park has not posted costume rules in our research, and neither has Maricopa Live Steamers, so check the operator site before you plan around a mask or a large prop. Weather will not get in the way: Scottsdale evenings in October are often 75 to 85 degrees, so a light costume with water on hand is the comfortable choice.

Is Spook-Track-Ula too scary for a toddler?

Mostly no, as long as you steer. The park calls Spook-Track-Ula a little spooky and slightly eerie, and it added a Storybook Train Ride for the littlest riders. The haunted train walkthrough is the part to skip, since the park says it is more intense and best for older kids and adults. Toddlers 2 and under get in free, so trying a single ride costs nothing for them.

Are Spook-Track-Ula tickets still available this weekend?

As of October 14, yes. Every night through Oct 31 was on sale, and none was close to full; Friday Oct 16 was the busiest at about half capacity. For Saturday Oct 17 and Sunday Oct 18, arrival slots run from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Individual slots could not be checked, so book yours on the park's ticket page before you drive over.

How much is Spook-Track-Ula in Scottsdale?

Spook-Track-Ula costs $15 per person, park members get $5 off, and children 2 and under get in free. That price covers a wristband with unlimited rides on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad, plus carousel rides, the haunted train walkthrough and the new Storybook Train Ride. Tickets are sold through Scottsdale's ActiveNet system, which needs an account. Parking details were not posted, so check the operator site.

What nights does Spook-Track-Ula run?

Spook-Track-Ula runs every night in October, through Halloween night on Saturday, Oct 31. Hours are 6:00 to 9:30 PM, with arrival slots every half hour from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. That leaves every evening from Oct 14 onward, including weeknights, which tend to be calmer for small kids. Lightning within 8 miles cancels a night, with a transfer emailed.

Is the Spook-Track-Ula train a real train?

It is a miniature park railroad, not a full-size excursion train. The Paradise & Pacific Railroad runs at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, and during Spook-Track-Ula it carries riders past Halloween displays after dark. The Glendale Halloween rides are smaller still, ride-on scale trains with small open riding cars. For little kids the size is part of the appeal.

What should kids wear to an evening Halloween train in Scottsdale?

Dress for warm weather. Phoenix-area evenings in October are often 75 to 85 degrees at dusk, so a light costume beats a fleece one, and water is worth carrying. If you are driving down from Flagstaff or Williams, where nights are near freezing, keep warm layers in the car for the ride home.

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Halloween Train Rides Near Arkansas (2026)
Next

Halloween Train Rides in Alaska (2026)