Halloween Train Rides in Maryland (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 26 min read

Out in the mountains at Cumberland, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Limited rolls about an hour round trip to Bone Cave, where riders pick a pumpkin and collect stickers in peak foliage season. Maryland has six family rides with dates on or after October 14, and all six are gentle pumpkin and costume rides; none is a haunted train. For other states, our full list of pumpkin trains and haunted rides by state has you covered.

The rides spread across the state. Cumberland's train runs the next two weekends, and some departures are nearly full. Walkersville Southern, near Frederick, runs its Pumpkin Patch Express on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, then a Not So Scary Costume Train on Halloween. Closest to the Beltway, Montgomery Parks puts Halloween Eye Spy cards on its miniature park trains at Wheaton and Cabin John, and the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville hosts Trolleyween on vintage streetcars, though times and prices for that one were not readable in our research.

The short version

  • From Washington, the shortest trips are the miniature park trains: Eye Spy at Cabin John in Bethesda is about 25 minutes away and Eye Spy at Wheaton about 30, every weekend through Nov 1. These are small ride-on park trains, just right for toddlers.
  • Trolleyween in Colesville is about 35 minutes from DC and 45 from Baltimore on Oct 24, 25 and 31. It is a streetcar ride rather than a full size train, and the museum has not posted times or fares, so confirm first.
  • Frederick families are 15 minutes from the Walkersville Southern Pumpkin Patch Express, with pumpkin picking on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, and the same station runs the Not So Scary Costume Train on Halloween. From Baltimore or DC it is about an hour.
  • For a bigger day out with fall color, the Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, but a few departures were down to their last seats on Oct 14. Plan on about 1 hour 30 minutes from Frederick and a little over 2 hours from Baltimore or Washington.

No Maryland ride in our research is billed as a haunted train this year, though Walkersville has not described its Oct 24 Zombie Wild West run.

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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Limited on the Western Maryland Scenic RailroadCumberlandPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $14About 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeSelling out
Pumpkin Patch Express on the Walkersville Southern RailroadWalkersvillePumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $23About 45 minutesAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Not So Scary Costume Train on the Walkersville Southern RailroadWalkersvillePumpkin and costumeSat Oct 31See railroadAbout 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley MuseumColesvillePumpkin and costumeOct 24 to Oct 31 (3 dates)See railroadNot postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Wheaton Regional ParkWheatonPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Nov 1 (6 dates)From $6Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional ParkBethesdaPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Nov 1 (6 dates)From $6Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

The rest of October at a glance

When each Maryland Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Maryland 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.

Cumberland: Pumpkin Patch Limited on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $14About 1 hourDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

This is a festive fall train ride from the Western Maryland Station on Canal Street in downtown Cumberland, about an hour round trip out to Bone Cave, where riders pick a pumpkin and get stickers. The railroad encourages Halloween costumes. Its excursion page listed one $14 fare for every rider earlier this season but showed no price on Oct 14, so confirm the total at checkout.

Seats are going. As of Oct 14 a few departures were down to their last one to three seats, and only some times were offered online. Wheelchairs fit only in the Standard Coach, with no accessible way off the train at the patch. Cumberland is mountain country and runs colder than Baltimore or DC, so the 9:30 AM train calls for real jackets.

Pumpkin Patch Limited on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin patch train, family ride
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
Bookable as of Oct 14, but Oct 17 at 2:00 and 4:00 PM and Oct 18 at noon showed only 1 to 3 seats left; departures not offered online may already be full
Times
Oct 17: 9:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM. Oct 18: 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM. Oct 24: 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM. Oct 25: 9:30 AM, 4:00 PM (times offered online as of Oct 14)
Ride length
About 1 hour round trip to Bone Cave
What's included
Train ride to the pumpkin patch, a pumpkin to pick and stickers
Price
Last listed at $14 for all ages; the excursion page showed no price on Oct 14, so check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; listed as a family fall ride
Costumes
Halloween costumes encouraged No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; wheelchairs ride only in the Standard Coach, and there is no accessible deboarding at the pumpkin patch
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Western Maryland Station, 13 Canal St, Cumberland, MD 21502

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

Walkersville: Pumpkin Patch Express on the Walkersville Southern Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $23About 45 minutesDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

Walkersville Southern's Pumpkin Patch Express leaves the station on West Pennsylvania Avenue, about 15 minutes from Frederick, for roughly 45 minutes of riding plus a 20 minute layover at the pumpkin patch. Trains go at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM, seating starts 15 minutes before departure, and parking is free in the grass lot beside the station.

Saturday, Oct 24 runs as the Pumpkin Patch Express Zombie Wild West, and the railroad has not said what changes, so pick another date if zombies would undo your child. Oct 17 lines up with the town's Pop Up on Penn street event. Fares were last listed at $25 for adults, $23 for children and $24 for seniors; confirm on the operator site.

Pumpkin Patch Express on the Walkersville Southern Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin picking train, family ride
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 (Zombie Wild West version) and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
Every 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM train on the four remaining dates could still be booked as of Oct 14; nothing sold out
Times
11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM; seating begins 15 minutes before departure
Ride length
About 45 minutes plus a 20 minute layover at the pumpkin patch
What's included
Train ride with pumpkin picking; Oct 17 also has the town's Pop Up on Penn event
Price
Last listed at adults $25, children $23, seniors $24; not reconfirmed Oct 14, so check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the railroad has not described the Oct 24 Zombie Wild West version, so check the operator site
Costumes
The railroad has not posted costume rules; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Free parking in the grass lot by the station
Where
Walkersville Station, 34 W Pennsylvania Ave, Walkersville, MD 21793

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

Walkersville: Not So Scary Costume Train on the Walkersville Southern Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 31Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 1 hourDates left: Oct 31

On Halloween itself, Walkersville Southern runs a costume train that it bills as not so scary, on the same line as its pumpkin patch trains. The ride lasts about 1 hour 10 minutes through woods and farm country, with departures at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, so it fits around evening trick-or-treating. The railroad lists it only on its booking system and has not posted a fare or what is included, so check the operator site before you promise treats. Parking is free in the grassy lot next to the station.

Not So Scary Costume Train on the Walkersville Southern Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime Halloween costume train, billed as not so scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 31
Tickets
Both departures bookable as of Oct 14
Times
11:00 AM and 2:00 PM
Ride length
About 1 hour 10 minutes through woods and farm country
What's included
A Halloween costume train ride; other extras not posted, so check the operator site
Price
Not posted; check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the railroad bills it as not so scary
Costumes
It is a costume train, so costumes are expected; specific rules not posted
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Free parking in the grassy lot next to the station
Where
Walkersville Station, 34 W Pennsylvania Ave, Walkersville, MD 21793

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

Colesville: Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum

Next: Sat Oct 24Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeDates left: Oct 24 to Oct 31

Trolleyween is Halloween on vintage streetcars rather than a full size train, at the National Capital Trolley Museum on Bonifant Road, about 35 minutes outside Washington. The museum bills it as a family Halloween event with Halloween-themed trolley rides, and it is one of four Maryland rides on this page with a date on October 31 itself.

That is about all that was confirmed. Times, fares, ride length and ticket status were not readable in our research, so check the museum's site before you go.

Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime Halloween streetcar rides, family event
Dates left
Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
Ticket status not posted; confirm your date on the museum's site
Times
Not posted; check the operator site
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Halloween-themed trolley rides
Price
Not posted; check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the museum calls it a family Halloween event
Costumes
The museum has not posted costume rules; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
National Capital Trolley Museum, 1313 Bonifant Rd, Colesville, MD 20905

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

Wheaton: Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Wheaton Regional Park

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $6Dates left: Oct 17 to Nov 1

This is a miniature park train, not a full size railroad, and one of the easiest Halloween outings for toddlers in the DC suburbs. Each rider gets an Eye Spy card and hunts for pumpkins, ghosts and black cats set out along the track during the short loop through Wheaton Regional Park.

The $9 combo adds a spin on the carousel, a $6 train-only ticket is sold at the walk-up window only, and children under 2 ride free with a paying adult. Montgomery Parks sells timed tickets online, and the trains do not run when the tracks are wet, so check the sky before you go.

Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Wheaton Regional Park at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime miniature park train with a Halloween Eye Spy hunt, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1
Tickets
On sale online with limited walk-up tickets; per-slot availability was not readable as of Oct 14, and trains do not run when tracks are wet
Times
Sat and Sun 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, timed tickets
Ride length
Short miniature train loop through the park
What's included
Miniature train ride with an Eye Spy card of Halloween items to find; carousel ride with the combo ticket
Price
$9 train and carousel combo; $6 train only (walk-up only); $4 carousel only; under 2 free with a paying adult
Ages and scare level
All ages; not scary
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Wheaton Miniature Train, Wheaton Regional Park, 2002 Shorefield Rd, Wheaton, MD 20902

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

Bethesda: Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional Park

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $6Dates left: Oct 17 to Nov 1

Cabin John Regional Park runs its own miniature train, a scale copy of the 1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive, and for Halloween it hands riders an Eye Spy card of things to spot along the track. It is a short, gentle loop for little kids rather than a real railroad trip, at $6 a ticket, with children under 2 free alongside a paying adult. Montgomery Parks says weekends in October plus Nov 1 without listing each date, so confirm your day on the ticket page.

Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional Park at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime miniature park train with a Halloween Eye Spy hunt, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1 (the park says weekends in October plus Nov 1)
Tickets
On sale since Sept 14; availability was not readable as of Oct 14, so confirm your date on the ticket page
Times
Sat and Sun 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Ride length
Short miniature train loop through the park
What's included
Miniature train ride with an Eye Spy card of Halloween items to spot
Price
$6 per train ticket; under 2 free with a paying adult
Ages and scare level
All ages; not scary
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Cabin John Miniature Train, Cabin John Regional Park, 7410 Tuckerman Ln, Bethesda, MD 20817

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.

Drive Times From Baltimore, Washington and Frederick to Each Maryland Ride

All times are approximate without traffic, so give yourself extra room on a busy fall Saturday.

Drive times, no traffic

Cumberland
about 2 hr 20 min from Baltimore; about 2 hr 15 min from Washington, DC; about 1 hr 30 min from Frederick
Walkersville
about 1 hr from Baltimore; about 1 hr from Washington, DC; about 15 min from Frederick
Walkersville
about 1 hr from Baltimore; about 1 hr from Washington, DC; about 15 min from Frederick
Colesville
about 45 min from Baltimore; about 35 min from Washington, DC
Wheaton
about 45 min from Baltimore; about 30 min from Washington, DC; about 45 min from Frederick
Bethesda
about 50 min from Baltimore; about 25 min from Washington, DC; about 40 min from Frederick

Small Maryland Details That Make the Day Easier

  • Book Cumberland first: on Oct 14 a few departures (Oct 17 at 2:00 and 4:00 PM, Oct 18 at noon) were down to one to three seats, and only some times were sold online.
  • The Western Maryland Scenic fare was last listed at $14 for every rider, but the excursion page showed no price on Oct 14, so check the total at checkout.
  • Walkersville seating begins 15 minutes before each departure, and parking is free in the grass lot beside the station. Skip Oct 24 if zombies are a dealbreaker; that run is the Zombie Wild West version.
  • Four rides run on Oct 31: Trolleyween, both Eye Spy park trains and Walkersville's Not So Scary Costume Train at 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM, which leaves the evening free for trick-or-treating.
  • The Eye Spy trains at Wheaton and Cabin John do not run when the tracks are wet, and Wheaton's $6 train-only ticket is walk-up only, so buy the $9 timed combo online if you want a set time.
  • Cumberland has no accessible deboarding at the pumpkin patch, and wheelchairs fit only in the Standard Coach. No Maryland operator posted a stroller policy, so bring a carrier for babies.
  • Pack an extra layer for Cumberland, which runs 5 to 10 degrees colder than Baltimore and DC.

Mountain Cold in Cumberland, Milder Days Near the Bay

Late October days around Baltimore and Washington usually sit in the 60s, which makes the Eye Spy park trains, Trolleyween and the Walkersville trips comfortable in a light jacket. Sunset is about 6:20 PM in mid October, and nearly every Maryland ride runs in daylight; the exception is a 7:00 PM Cumberland departure on Oct 24, which leaves after sunset.

Cumberland is the exception. Western Maryland is mountain country and runs 5 to 10 degrees colder than central Maryland, so a 9:30 AM pumpkin train there can feel like a different month from a sunny afternoon in Frederick. The upside is the view: mid October is peak foliage in the mountains around Cumberland, and the next two weekends are right in that window.

Taking a Shy Four-Year-Old on Trolleyween or the Cumberland Pumpkin Train

Maryland is about as low-stress as Halloween trains get. The Cumberland and Walkersville pumpkin rides run in daylight with picking a pumpkin as the big moment, the Eye Spy park trains turn the ride into a hunt for cartoon pumpkins and black cats, and Walkersville bills its Halloween costume train as not so scary. None of the operators mentions actors, haunted cars or dark tunnels in our research. Two unknowns: the museum has not described Trolleyween's decorations, and Walkersville has not said what its Oct 24 Zombie Wild West run adds, so if your child is very sensitive, pick another date or call ahead.

For a nervous preschooler, the strangeness is often the vehicle itself. A streetcar or a full size train can be loud up close, so let them watch from a few steps back while it pulls in, and frame it as "the train is saying hello." Picking out a pumpkin is a good thing to promise as the reward at the end.

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Rally wakes up early in our book, sees the suitcase and packs his turtle toy, green bone and yellow ball before anyone else is out of bed. That is the mood for the 9:30 AM Cumberland train, where the mountains run colder than home. Pack the night before, hats and all, and add our free Rally coloring pages for little train fans for the long drive west.

Rally began as my mom's bedtime idea, and the story behind Rally Takes the Train is hers as much as mine.

Pumpkin Trains Over the Line in Pennsylvania and Virginia

Baltimore families who want more choices can head north into Pennsylvania, which has a long list of daytime pumpkin trains, a haunted show in Lancaster County and a ghost story night at Kutztown. Stewartstown, the closest railroad over the line, has not posted a 2026 Halloween train, so map the drive to the others before you pick. Our Pennsylvania Halloween train guide sorts them by type.

On the DC side, Burke Lake Park's Ghost Town in Fairfax Station, Virginia, is about 35 minutes from Washington on Oct 24 and 25. It is a not-so-spooky festival with a ride-on park train rather than a heritage railroad, and the details are on our Virginia Halloween train page. Western Maryland families can also look at the Cass Halloween Train in West Virginia, an evening steam ride on Oct 30 and 31.

A train book for the ride

If the kids would rather ride a real intercity train than visit a pumpkin patch, Baltimore and Washington are both on the Northeast Regional, which we cover for families, 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 Cumberland
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.

Maryland Halloween Questions From Parents, From Cumberland to Colesville

What Halloween events are there for kids in Cumberland, Maryland?

One family Halloween event in Cumberland is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Limited, a gentle round trip of about an hour to Bone Cave, where riders pick a pumpkin and get stickers. It runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 from the Western Maryland Station on Canal Street, with a 9:30 AM train each day and later times that vary by date. As of October 14 a few trains had only one to three seats left.

Halloween events in Walkersville, MD for families: what is left this October?

Walkersville Southern Railroad runs two. Its Pumpkin Patch Express, a gentle ride with a 20 minute stop at a pumpkin patch, leaves at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, with Oct 24 billed as a Zombie Wild West version. On Halloween, the Not So Scary Costume Train runs at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM for about 1 hour 10 minutes. Parking is free beside the station.

Are there any Halloween events in Colesville, Maryland for young kids?

One family Halloween event in Colesville is Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum on Bonifant Road, with Halloween-themed rides on vintage streetcars on Oct 24, 25 and 31. It is a gentle family event rather than a haunted one. Times, fares and ticket status were not readable in our research, so check the museum's site before you go.

What Halloween events are there for toddlers in Wheaton, Maryland?

One toddler-friendly Halloween event in Wheaton is the Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Wheaton Regional Park, a miniature park train where riders hunt for pumpkins, ghosts and black cats along the track. It runs Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM through Nov 1. A $9 combo adds the carousel, and a $6 train-only ticket is sold at the walk-up window. Children under 2 ride free with a paying adult.

Are there Halloween activities for little kids in Bethesda, MD this fall?

One gentle Halloween activity in Bethesda is the Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional Park, where a miniature train modeled on the 1863 C.P. Huntington locomotive loops the park and riders spot Halloween items from an Eye Spy card. Montgomery Parks lists weekends in October plus Nov 1, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Tickets are $6, and children under 2 ride free with a paying adult.

Is there a pumpkin picking train ride in Maryland this fall?

Yes, two Maryland railroads stop at pumpkin patches. Walkersville Southern's Pumpkin Patch Express includes a 20 minute layover at the patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, with fares last listed at $23 to $25. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland runs to Bone Cave on the same four dates, and riders pick a pumpkin. Some Cumberland trains were nearly full as of October 14.

What are Halloween things to do with kids near Baltimore this month?

The closest Halloween rides to Baltimore are about 45 minutes away: Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville on Oct 24, 25 and 31, and the Halloween Eye Spy miniature train at Wheaton Regional Park on weekends through Nov 1. Walkersville Southern's pumpkin patch trains are about an hour away on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. All are gentle family rides, and none is a haunted train.

Is there a Halloween train near Washington, DC for little kids?

Yes, and the closest are miniature park trains. The Halloween Eye Spy Trains at Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda are about 25 minutes from DC, and the Wheaton Regional Park version about 30, both on weekends through Nov 1. Trolleyween in Colesville is about 35 minutes away on Oct 24, 25 and 31. On the Virginia side, Burke Lake Park's Ghost Town runs Oct 24 and 25. All of them are gentle.

Is there a pumpkin train near Frederick, Maryland?

Yes, Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 15 minutes from Frederick. Its Pumpkin Patch Express runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM, with a 20 minute stop at the pumpkin patch, and its Not So Scary Costume Train runs on Halloween. For a longer day, the Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland is about 1 hour 30 minutes west on the same four weekend dates.

Can kids wear costumes on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Pumpkin Patch Limited?

Yes, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad encourages Halloween costumes on the Pumpkin Patch Limited. Pick one that fits over a warm layer, because Cumberland runs 5 to 10 degrees colder than central Maryland and the first train leaves at 9:30 AM. Keep it easy to move in, too, since riders step off at the patch near Bone Cave to pick a pumpkin.

Is Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum too scary for a toddler?

Nothing in our research suggests it is scary. The museum describes Trolleyween as a family Halloween event with Halloween-themed trolley rides, and it runs in daylight on Oct 24, 25 and 31. The museum has not described its decorations or whether anyone is in costume, so if your toddler is very sensitive, check the operator site or call ahead and ask.

Can we still get tickets for a Maryland pumpkin train this weekend?

Mostly yes. As of October 14, Walkersville Southern's Pumpkin Patch Express had seats at all three times on Oct 17 and 18, and Cumberland's Pumpkin Patch Limited was still bookable, though its Oct 17 2:00 and 4:00 PM trains and Oct 18 noon train were down to one to three seats. The Eye Spy park trains in Wheaton and Bethesda run both days, but their ticket counts were not readable, and they do not run on wet tracks.

How much is the Western Maryland Scenic Pumpkin Patch Limited?

The railroad's excursion page listed $14 per rider, all ages, earlier this season, but it showed no price when checked on October 14, so confirm the fare at checkout. If the flat fare holds, a family of four is $56 before fees. The ride is about an hour round trip to Bone Cave, with a pumpkin and stickers, on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

Which Maryland Halloween trains run on October 31?

Four Maryland rides in our research run on Halloween itself. Walkersville Southern's Not So Scary Costume Train leaves at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, both Montgomery Parks Eye Spy miniature trains run from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and Trolleyween in Colesville is on as well, though its times and prices were not posted. The three with posted hours all finish by late afternoon, leaving the evening free for trick-or-treating.

Is the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore running a Halloween train this year?

Our research could not confirm a 2026 Halloween train at the B&O Railroad Museum, so check the operator site directly. The confirmed Halloween rides closest to Baltimore are Trolleyween in Colesville and the Eye Spy miniature train at Wheaton Regional Park, each about 45 minutes away, then Walkersville Southern's pumpkin patch trains, about an hour away, on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

What should kids wear on the Cumberland pumpkin train in late October?

Dress them warmer than you would for Baltimore or DC. Cumberland sits in the mountains and runs 5 to 10 degrees colder, so a morning train can feel brisk even when central Maryland is in the 60s. A fleece, a hat and a jacket that fits over a costume are a safe plan. The trade-off is the scenery, since mid October is peak foliage there.

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Halloween Train Rides in Massachusetts (2026)
Next

Halloween Train Rides in Maine (2026)