Halloween Train Rides in Florida (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 22 min read

The Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish runs its Pumpkin Patch Express out to a pumpkin patch that belongs to the museum itself, so the patch is the destination of the train rather than a farm you drive to afterward. That ride is the only gentle pumpkin train we found in Florida for 2026. Four rides still have dates on or after October 14: one daytime pumpkin ride and three after-dark rides that land in the haunted group. Families comparing beyond the state line can use our map of Halloween train rides in all 50 states.

The three night rides are very different from each other. In Shady Hills, a volunteer-run miniature railroad pairs a spooky train loop with scary walking trails. In Miami, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum fills its historic railcars with costumed monsters for two nights. Near Williston, Kirby Family Farm runs a scary train past ghostly boxcars, and that one is meant to frighten. Pinellas families may remember the Largo Central Railroad Spooktacular, but it already ran in early October.

The short version

  • Pumpkin and costume rides: Tampa Bay families are in luck: the Pumpkin Patch Express in Parrish is about 40 minutes from Tampa, runs in daylight with departures at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM, and has four weekend days left, Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.
  • From Orlando the same Parrish ride is about 2 hours, and from Miami it is about 3 hours 45 minutes, so for South Florida it works best as part of a weekend on the Gulf side.
  • Haunted rides: The Grand Concourse spooky train in Shady Hills is about 45 minutes from Tampa and 1 hour 40 minutes from Orlando, has family nights on Oct 16, 17, 23 and 24, and sells the $8 miniature train ride separately from the scary trails.
  • Miami families have the Gold Coast Railroad Museum's Monsters Unleashed about 30 minutes away, on Friday Oct 23 and Saturday Oct 24 only.
  • The Lost Railroad Scary Train near Williston is the real fright of the group, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Orlando and 2 hours from Tampa; the farm says it may not suit small children and does not allow costumes.

Orlando sits in the middle of the map, so every ride on this page is at least an hour and a half away from it; decide on gentle or spooky first, then pick the drive.

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 a Florida 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 Florida 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
Pumpkin Patch Express at the Florida Railroad MuseumParrishPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $31About 2.5 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Spooky Train and Scary Trails at the Grand Concourse RailroadShady HillsHauntedOct 16 to Oct 24 (4 dates)From $8Not postedOlder kids who like spookyOn sale
Spooky Adventures: Monsters Unleashed at the Gold Coast Railroad MuseumMiamiHauntedOct 23 to Oct 24 (2 dates)From $15Not postedOlder kids who like spookyOn sale
Lost Railroad Scary Train at Kirby Family FarmWillistonHauntedOct 16 to Oct 30 (7 dates)From $20Not postedOlder kids who like spookyOn sale

The rest of October at a glance

When each Florida Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Florida 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.

Parrish: Pumpkin Patch Express at the Florida Railroad Museum

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $31About 2.5 hoursDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

This is the one Florida Halloween season ride built squarely for little kids. The train leaves the museum's Parrish station and heads out to the museum's own pumpkin patch, so the whole outing happens on railroad property. Trains depart at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM on two weekends, the outing lasts about two and a half hours, and fares started at $31 in earlier listings.

Plan around two rules: strollers and coolers stay off the train, and every child age 1 and up needs a ticket, while babies under 1 ride free on a lap. As of Oct 14 all four days had seats, though First Class on Saturday, Oct 17 at 2:00 PM was nearly gone. Costume rules are not posted, so check the operator site.

Pumpkin Patch Express at the Florida Railroad Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin patch train, family fall ride
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
Seats in Coach, Excursion and First Class on all four days as of Oct 14; First Class on Sat Oct 17 at 2:00 PM down to about 8 seats. No exchanges or refunds within 48 hours of the ride
Times
Departures 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM; arrive 45 minutes early
Ride length
About 2.5 hours
What's included
Train trip out to the museum's own pumpkin patch
Price
From $31 in earlier listings; not re-confirmed Oct 14, so check the ticket page
Ages and scare level
No minimum age; every child age 1 and up needs a ticket, and under 1 rides free on a lap
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
Strollers
Strollers and coolers are not allowed on the train
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Parrish station, 12210 83rd St E, Parrish, FL 34219

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

Shady Hills: Halloween Spooky Train and Scary Trails at the Grand Concourse Railroad

Next: Fri Oct 16Best for: Older kids who like spookyFrom $8Dates left: Oct 16 to Oct 24

The Grand Concourse Railroad is a volunteer-run miniature railroad, the ride-on kind where riders sit on small cars close to the track, and on its Halloween nights it runs a spooky loop from 6:00 PM. At 7:30 PM two scary walking trails and a maze open, with live actors and jump scares. The railroad calls the train spooky, not scary, and fine for all ages, so a family with a younger child can buy just the train.

Tickets are cheap and split: $8 for the train, $12 for a trail armband or $18 for both, plus online fees, and kids under 24 months are free. Family nights left are Oct 16, 17, 23 and 24. Oct 30 is a Blackout Night for ages 16 and up, and the railroad is closed on Halloween.

Halloween Spooky Train and Scary Trails at the Grand Concourse Railroad at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Night miniature train, spooky, with separate scary trails
Dates left
Fri Oct 16, Sat Oct 17, Fri Oct 23 and Sat Oct 24
Tickets
Family nights on sale, none listed as sold out as of Oct 14. Fri Oct 30 is a Blackout Night for ages 16 and up only, and the railroad is closed Sat Oct 31
Times
Spooky train 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM; scary trails 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM; ticket sales end 9:30 PM, so be in line by 9:45 PM
Ride length
A miniature ride-on train loop; exact length not posted
What's included
Spooky miniature train ride, two scary walking trails and a maze
Price
Train ride $8; trail armband $12; train and trail combo $18; plus online fees; under 24 months free
Ages and scare level
The railroad says the train is spooky, not scary, for all ages; the trails have live actors and jump scares
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No strollers or wagons on the scary trails; train policy not posted
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
The Concourse, 11919 Alric Pottberg Rd, Shady Hills, FL 34610

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

Miami: Spooky Adventures: Monsters Unleashed at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Next: Fri Oct 23Best for: Older kids who like spookyFrom $15Dates left: Oct 23 to Oct 24

For two nights the Gold Coast Railroad Museum turns its historic railcars into a monster-themed evening, with costumed characters, trunk or treat, a kids zone and character photos from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. The museum encourages costumes but has not posted age guidance, so we put it with the haunted rides: monsters in the dark are a lot for some preschoolers.

Train rides leave about every 45 minutes, but they need a separate train ticket on top of admission, so buy it ahead if a ride is the point for your child. Admission starts at $15 for kids and $20 for adults before fees, and parking on site is free.

Spooky Adventures: Monsters Unleashed at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Monster-themed night at a railroad museum, spooky
Dates left
Fri Oct 23 and Sat Oct 24
Tickets
Fri Oct 23 and Sat Oct 24 on sale; no sell-out notice as of Oct 14
Times
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Historic railcars, costumed characters, trunk or treat, a kids zone and character photos; train rides about every 45 minutes need a separate ticket
Price
From $15 for kids and $20 for adults before fees (the Miami visitors bureau lists $17.59 for kids 3 to 16 and $22.94 for adults with fees); the train ride is a separate ticket
Ages and scare level
Billed as a spooky family night; no age guidance posted, so check the operator site
Costumes
Costumes encouraged
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Free parking on site
Where
Gold Coast Railroad Museum, 12450 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177

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

Williston: Lost Railroad Scary Train at Kirby Family Farm

Next: Fri Oct 16Best for: Older kids who like spookyFrom $20Dates left: Oct 16 to Oct 30

Kirby Family Farm makes no secret of the goal here: the train rolls past ghostly boxcars while riders hear dark stories, and the rest of the night is haunted houses and mazes of frights. The farm says it may not be suitable for small children, and its effects include darkness, gunfire sounds, strobes, fog, fire and live reptiles. This is the one Florida ride on our list plainly meant to scare.

Gates open at 7:00 PM, trains and attractions start at 7:30 and run about every half hour, and last entry is 9:00 PM. Advance tickets are $20 plus fees, or $25 at the gate if any remain. Costumes and costume makeup are not allowed, it runs rain or shine with no refunds, and there is no Halloween night date.

Lost Railroad Scary Train at Kirby Family Farm at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Haunted night farm train, built to scare
Dates left
Fri Oct 16, Sat Oct 17, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Thu Oct 29 and Fri Oct 30
Tickets
All seven nights on sale and none sold out as of Oct 14; Oct 31 is not offered. The farm's own page lists Oct 29 as to be announced, but the ticket seller has it on sale
Times
Gates 7:00 PM; trains and attractions from 7:30 PM, about every half hour; last entry 9:00 PM; gates close 10:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Scary train ride past ghostly boxcars with dark stories, plus haunted houses and mazes
Price
$20 advance all-inclusive combo plus fees ($23.60 total); $25 at the gate if available; Fast-Pass add-on $10 plus fees
Ages and scare level
No minimum age posted; the farm says it may not be suitable for small children
Costumes
Not allowed: the farm bans costumes and costume makeup
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Kirby Family Farm, 19630 NE 30th St, Williston, FL 32696

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

Already wrapped for 2026

  • Largo Central Railroad Halloween Spooktacular, Largo: Ran Oct 3 and 4, 2026, so it is finished for this year; watch the railroad's site next fall.

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.

Florida in October: Shorts for the Pumpkin Patch, Bug Spray After Dark

October in Florida still feels like summer to visitors. Daytime highs run in the 80s, afternoon storms are possible, and evenings usually sit in the 70s. For the Parrish pumpkin train that means light clothes, water and a plan for a passing shower, and a morning departure is the cooler choice. For the night rides, light layers and bug spray will do more for you than a jacket.

There is one exception. North-central Florida around Williston can dip into the 60s at night by late October, so bring a sweatshirt for the farm's hours, when gates stay open until 10:00 PM. Miami stays humid after dark, which matters if your child's costume is a full-body suit: pick something breathable for the Gold Coast nights.

How Long the Drive Is From Tampa, Orlando and Miami

Times are approximate without traffic, and Florida weekend traffic around Tampa and Orlando can stretch them, so leave a cushion.

Drive times, no traffic

Parrish
about 40 min from Tampa; about 2 hr from Orlando; about 3 hr 45 min from Miami
Shady Hills
about 45 min from Tampa; about 1 hr 40 min from Orlando
Miami
about 30 min from Miami
Williston
about 2 hr from Tampa; about 1 hr 45 min from Orlando

If Your Preschooler Is Unsure About Monsters, Boxcars or the Scary Trails

Start with Parrish. The Pumpkin Patch Express runs in daylight and ends at a pumpkin patch, and nothing about it is billed as spooky. Every other Florida ride on this page happens after dark, so the real question is how much spooky your child wants.

In Shady Hills, the miniature train starts at 6:00 PM and the scary walking trails do not open until 7:30, so a family with a four-year-old can ride the train early and head home before the trails. At the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, the scares come from costumed monster characters, and the museum has not posted age guidance; a quick talk beforehand helps: "These are grown-ups dressed up as monsters, and they work at the train museum." The Kirby Family Farm scary train is a different level, with haunted houses and mazes of frights, and it is not where we would take a preschooler.

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, Rally meets Mr. Conductor, a man in a blue uniform who holds out his hand, and that kind hand is what gets a small corgi up the steps. At Gold Coast the costumed characters will be monsters, not conductors, but I would tell a nervous child the same thing: everyone in costume there is a helper playing a part. Bring a few Rally and Mr. Conductor coloring sheets for the drive.

My mom dreamed up Rally and his grand-paw-rents, and how I finished her story is the reason this book exists.

Florida Railroad Notes Worth Knowing Before You Load the Car

  • The Florida Railroad Museum takes Pumpkin Patch Express reservations online, by phone or at the Parrish ticket office. Strollers and coolers are not allowed on the train, and every child age 1 and up needs a ticket.
  • Grand Concourse tickets are sold online, everyone in your group must be on the liability waiver, and strollers and wagons are not allowed on the scary trails. Ticket sales stop at 9:30 PM.
  • Gold Coast Railroad Museum parking is free on site, Spooky Adventures runs only Oct 23 and 24, and the train ride is a separate ticket from admission.
  • Kirby Family Farm does not allow costumes or costume makeup, sells advance tickets at $20 plus fees ($25 at the gate if any remain), and runs rain or shine with no refunds.
  • None of the Florida rides on this page runs on Halloween night: Grand Concourse is closed Oct 31, and Kirby Family Farm's last night is Oct 30.
  • Afternoon storms are possible in October, which matters most for the time you spend outdoors at the Parrish pumpkin patch; keep ponchos in the car.

North Florida's Closest Pumpkin Trains Are in Alabama and Georgia

From Pensacola, the nearest pumpkin train is not in Florida at all: Wales West Light Railway in Silverhill, Alabama is about 50 minutes away and runs a kiddie-friendly Pumpkin Patch Express on Oct 16, 17 and 18 and every night from Oct 23 through 30. Details are in our Alabama pumpkin train guide.

Families near the Georgia line can also look at the SAM Shortline Halloween Express in Cordele, a pumpkin and costume ride on Oct 31, listed on our Georgia Halloween train page. Drive times from North Florida vary a lot, so map it from your town.

A train book for the ride

If your kids want a long ride on a full-size train instead of a pumpkin trip, our guides to the Silver Meteor with young kids and the Palmetto as a family cover a very different kind of train day out of Florida.

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 Parrish
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.

Florida Halloween Train Questions From Tampa, Orlando and Miami Parents

What Halloween events are there for kids in Parrish, Florida?

One family Halloween event in Parrish is the Florida Railroad Museum's Pumpkin Patch Express, a gentle daytime pumpkin train. It runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 with departures at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM, and the outing lasts about two and a half hours. The standout detail is that the train rides out to a pumpkin patch owned by the museum itself. Fares started at $31 in earlier listings.

Is there anything to do for Halloween in Shady Hills, Florida with kids?

Yes. The Grand Concourse Railroad in Shady Hills runs a Halloween Spooky Train on a miniature ride-on track from 6:00 to 10:00 PM, with two scary walking trails and a maze opening at 7:30 PM. Family nights left are Oct 16, 17, 23 and 24. The train costs $8 and the railroad calls it spooky, not scary, while the trails have live actors and jump scares.

What Halloween events for families are in Miami, Florida this October?

One Halloween event for Miami families is Spooky Adventures: Monsters Unleashed at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum on Oct 23 and 24, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. Historic railcars fill with costumed monster characters, plus trunk or treat and a kids zone. Admission starts at $15 for kids and $20 for adults before fees, and the train rides, about every 45 minutes, need a separate ticket.

Are there Halloween events in Williston, Florida for older kids?

Yes. Kirby Family Farm near Williston runs the Lost Railroad Scary Train, a haunted ride past ghostly boxcars with dark stories, plus haunted houses and mazes. It runs Oct 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 29 and 30, with gates at 7:00 PM, and advance tickets are $20 plus fees. The farm says it may not be suitable for small children, and there is no Halloween night date.

Is there a pumpkin patch train in Parrish, Florida?

Yes. The Florida Railroad Museum's Pumpkin Patch Express carries families from the Parrish station out to the museum's very own pumpkin patch. It runs on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 with departures at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM, and the trip takes about two and a half hours. The museum has not posted whether a pumpkin is included in the fare, so check the operator site before promising your child one.

What are Halloween events for kids near Tampa, Florida?

The closest Halloween train to Tampa is the Pumpkin Patch Express in Parrish, about 40 minutes away, a gentle daytime pumpkin ride on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. About 45 minutes north, the Grand Concourse Railroad in Shady Hills runs a spooky miniature train on family nights Oct 16, 17, 23 and 24. Kirby Family Farm's scary train near Williston is about 2 hours away and is meant for older kids.

Halloween things to do with kids near Orlando: is there a Halloween train?

No Halloween train in our research is close to Orlando, but three are within about two hours. The Grand Concourse spooky miniature train in Shady Hills is about 1 hour 40 minutes away, and the Kirby Family Farm scary train near Williston is about 1 hour 45 minutes. For a gentle pumpkin ride, the Parrish Pumpkin Patch Express is about 2 hours away on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

Is there a pumpkin train anywhere near Miami?

Not close by. The nearest pumpkin train in our research is the Florida Railroad Museum's Pumpkin Patch Express in Parrish, about 3 hours 45 minutes from Miami, running Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. Closer to home, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum's Monsters Unleashed is about 30 minutes away on Oct 23 and 24, but it is a spooky after-dark night with costumed monsters, not a pumpkin ride.

Can kids wear costumes to the Kirby Family Farm scary train in Williston?

No. Kirby Family Farm does not allow costumes or costume makeup at the Lost Railroad Scary Train, so dress kids in regular clothes and a sweatshirt for the cooler Williston nights. If dressing up is the point, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum encourages costumes at Spooky Adventures in Miami on Oct 23 and 24. The Florida Railroad Museum has not posted costume rules for Parrish, so check the operator site.

Is the Lost Railroad Scary Train at Kirby Family Farm too scary for a toddler?

Yes, for most toddlers it is. Kirby Family Farm says the night may not be suitable for small children, and its effects include darkness, gunfire sounds, strobes, fog, fire and live reptiles, alongside haunted houses and mazes of frights. The train itself passes ghostly boxcars while riders hear dark stories. For a toddler, the daytime Pumpkin Patch Express in Parrish is the gentle Florida option this October.

Can I still get tickets for a Florida Halloween train this weekend?

Yes. As of October 14, the Parrish Pumpkin Patch Express had seats on Oct 17 and 18, though First Class on Saturday at 2:00 PM was down to about 8 seats. The Grand Concourse spooky train in Shady Hills had family nights on sale for Oct 16 and 17, and Kirby Family Farm near Williston showed no sold-out nights for Oct 16 or 17. The Gold Coast nights in Miami are the following weekend.

Can little kids ride the Grand Concourse spooky train without doing the scary trails?

Yes, and the tickets are sold separately. The spooky miniature train at the Grand Concourse Railroad costs $8 and starts at 6:00 PM, while the scary walking trails, with live actors and jump scares, need a $12 armband and do not open until 7:30 PM. Families with young kids can ride early and leave before the trails begin. Kids under 24 months are free.

What should kids wear to a Halloween train in Florida in late October?

Think summer, not fall. Florida October days usually reach the 80s with possible afternoon storms, and evenings stay in the 70s, so light clothes and bug spray matter more than coats. The one exception is north-central Florida near Williston, where nights can dip into the 60s by late October. In humid Miami, a breathable costume beats a full-body suit.

How much is Spooky Adventures at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami?

Admission for Spooky Adventures: Monsters Unleashed starts at $15 for kids and $20 for adults before fees; the Miami visitors bureau lists $17.59 for kids 3 to 16 and $22.94 for adults with fees. The train rides, which leave about every 45 minutes, need a separate ticket, so buy it ahead. Parking on site is free, and the event runs only Oct 23 and 24.

Kelsey Cecil
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