Halloween Train Rides in New York (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 28 min read

Only in New York can a pumpkin train cross the Susquehanna River twice on steel-truss bridges, stop at a patch called Pop's Glen, and hand every rider a cup of cider pressed at the Fly Creek Cider Mill down the road. That is the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley line out of Milford, and it is one of seven family Halloween rides still running in the state after Oct 14. If you are planning across state lines, start with our state-by-state pumpkin train roundup.

Six of the seven are pumpkin and costume rides that run in daylight or early evening. The seventh, the Arcade & Attica Haunted Halloween Express in Western New York, is the only one with a scare built in, and even that one runs at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the haunted house at the midpoint left up to you.

The catch in New York is geography. The ride closest to Manhattan is in Kingston, the shortest one for toddlers is outside Rochester, and two of the Adirondack Railroad trips run on a single Saturday each. Plan the drive first, then pick the train.

The short version

  • Pumpkin and costume rides: From the city or the Hudson Valley, the Catskill Mountain Railroad Pumpkin Express is the realistic day trip: roughly 1 hr 45 min to 2 hr from Midtown, with four departures a day across two weekends and walk-up sales if a train has room.
  • For a longer ride with bathrooms on board, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley runs the Pumpkin Patch Express on Oct 17 and 18 and the Trick or Treat Express on Oct 24 and 25, both out of Milford.
  • Up north, the Adirondack Railroad has one date each: the Pumpkin Train from Thendara on Oct 17 and the Family Halloween Train from Holland Patent on Oct 24, the only one here with a hay ride. Neither calendar showed a sold-out departure as of Oct 13, but one day is all you get.
  • Rochester families have the easiest pick: the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush is about 25 minutes away, the rides are 15 minutes each way, and kids 4 and under ride free. Buffalo is about an hour out.
  • Haunted rides: The Haunted Halloween Express in Arcade is about an hour from Buffalo and 1 hr 15 min from Rochester. It is a daytime steam ride, the railroad calls it suitable for most ages, and the booking calendar showed roughly 140 to 240 seats open per departure as of Oct 13.

No night-time haunted train for families was confirmed anywhere in New York for 2026.

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 New York 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 New York 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 Express on the Catskill Mountain RailroadKingstonPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $19About 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Pumpkin Train on the Adirondack RailroadThendaraPumpkin and costumeSat Oct 17From $151 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Family Halloween Train to Remsen DepotHolland PatentPumpkin and costumeSat Oct 24From $151 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Pumpkin Patch Express on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley RailroadMilfordPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 18 (2 dates)See railroadAbout 2 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Trick or Treat Express to Pop's GlenMilfordPumpkin and costumeOct 24 to Oct 25 (2 dates)See railroadAbout 2 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Haunted Halloween Express on the Arcade & Attica RailroadArcadeHauntedOct 24 to Oct 25 (2 dates)From $242 hoursOlder kids who like spookyOn sale
Pumpkin Patch Train Rides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad MuseumRushPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $10Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

New York 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.

Kingston: Pumpkin Express on the Catskill Mountain Railroad

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $19About 1 hourDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

This train leaves Westbrook Lane Station in the Kingston Plaza and follows the old Ulster & Delaware Railroad corridor out across the Hurley Flats. The detail kids notice first: you can sit on an open-air flat car with the wind in your face or stay inside the coaches, your choice, first come first served.

Partway out, the train stops at a pumpkin patch and every passenger, grown-ups included, picks a pumpkin to bring home and decorate. The railroad's FAQ is blunt about the practical stuff: there is no restroom on the train (portable toilets are at the station), no food in the coaches (small snacks are fine in the open cars), all sales are final, and the train runs whatever the weather does.

Pumpkin Express on the Catskill Mountain Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
On sale; the railroad has not posted which departures are sold out, so check the operator site. Online sales close the day before, and the station sells walk-up tickets for trains that are not full
Times
10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm
Ride length
About 1 hour 30 minutes, roughly 8 miles round trip
What's included
Train ride on the former Ulster & Delaware corridor and a pumpkin patch stop where each passenger picks a pumpkin to take home
Price
Adults $25; kids 2 to 12 $19; seniors, military and veterans $23; under 2 free on a lap. A toddler riding in a car seat that takes up a passenger seat needs a pre-booked child ticket
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a daytime pumpkin ride
Costumes
The railroad encourages passengers to dress for the excursion but does not require it; no costume rule specific to the Pumpkin Express
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Free parking at the station
Where
Westbrook Lane Station, Kingston Plaza, 55 Kingston Plaza Road, Kingston, NY 12401 (I-87 Exit 19)

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

Thendara: Pumpkin Train on the Adirondack Railroad

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $151 hourDates left: Oct 17

This one heads north from Thendara Station, near Old Forge, into the Adirondacks and stops at Carter Station, where Wally's pumpkin patch waits. Kids who show up in costume get one free pumpkin, so the costume is worth the effort here.

The coaches are climate controlled, but the patch is outdoors at elevation and the railroad says to dress warmly. Only one 2026 date is left, Saturday Oct 17. The ride description lists four departure times, but the booking calendar for that day shows just noon and 2 p.m., so trust the calendar. The railroad notes the trip is not wheelchair accessible, bags are searched before boarding, and no alcohol is allowed.

Pumpkin Train on the Adirondack Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17 only
Tickets
On sale; no departures flagged sold out on the booking calendar as of Oct 13
Times
12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on the Oct 17 booking calendar (the event description also lists 10 am and 4 pm, which do not appear for that date)
Ride length
1 hour 30 minutes round trip, Thendara Station to Carter Station and back
What's included
Visit to Wally's pumpkin patch at Carter Station, one free pumpkin for each child in costume, climate controlled train
Price
Adults 13 to 61 $20; kids 2 to 12 $15; seniors 62+ and military $18. Under-2 pricing is not posted, so check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a daytime pumpkin ride
Costumes
Children in costume receive one free pumpkin
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Thendara Station, 2568 State Route 28, Thendara, NY 13472

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

Holland Patent: Family Halloween Train to Remsen Depot

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $151 hourDates left: Oct 24

The Adirondack Railroad decorates a train for Halloween and runs it from Holland Patent Station to the historic Remsen Depot, where there is a pumpkin patch, a hay ride and other activities waiting. It is the only New York ride we found that pairs the train with a hay ride, and the railroad's own invitation is simply "come in costume": kids who do get one free pumpkin.

It runs on a single Saturday, Oct 24, and a Mohawk Valley Living listing shows it was also a one-Saturday event in 2025, so book ahead. The railroad has not published a street address for Holland Patent Station, and the trip is not wheelchair accessible.

Family Halloween Train to Remsen Depot at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime Halloween train with hay ride, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 24 only
Tickets
On sale; no departures flagged sold out on the booking calendar as of Oct 13
Times
12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm on the Oct 24 booking calendar (the event description also lists 10 am)
Ride length
1 hour 30 minutes round trip, Holland Patent Station to Remsen Depot and back
What's included
Decorated Halloween train, pumpkin patch, hay ride and other activities at Remsen Depot, one free pumpkin for each child in costume
Price
Adults 13 to 61 $20; kids 2 to 12 $15; seniors 62+ and military $18. Under-2 pricing is not posted, so check the operator site
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a daytime family ride
Costumes
The railroad says come in costume; children in costume receive one free pumpkin
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Holland Patent Station, Holland Patent, NY (street address not posted; check the operator site)

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

Milford: Pumpkin Patch Express on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 2 hoursDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 18

Leaving Milford Depot just south of Cooperstown, this is the longest family pumpkin ride in the state at about two hours. The line crosses the Susquehanna twice on steel-truss bridges before stopping at Pop's Glen, where each Child and Toddler ticket comes with one pumpkin from the patch. Everyone gets Fly Creek Cider Mill cider and cookies.

Two things make it easier with small kids: there are restrooms on board, and food is sold on the train. Two caveats: getting off at Pop's Glen means going down stairs, so tell the railroad about mobility needs when you book, and ticket prices were not published in the research for this page, so check the operator site before you budget.

Pumpkin Patch Express on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17 and Sun Oct 18
Tickets
Reservations required; no departures flagged sold out on the booking calendar as of Oct 13
Times
Oct 17 at 3:00 pm; Oct 18 at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm
Ride length
About 2 hours, 6 miles round trip with a stop at Pop's Glen
What's included
Fly Creek Cider Mill cider and cookies for all passengers, one pumpkin per Child and Toddler ticket from the Pop's Glen patch, onboard restrooms, food for sale
Price
Not confirmed; check the operator site. Ticket types are Adult 13+, Senior 62+, Kid 2 to 12 and Infant under 2 on a lap
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a daytime pumpkin ride
Costumes
No costume rule posted; check the operator site
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Milford Depot, 136 East Main St, Milford, NY 13807

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

Milford: Trick or Treat Express to Pop's Glen

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeAbout 2 hoursDates left: Oct 24 to Oct 25

Same railroad, same two-hour run to Pop's Glen, but the following weekend the stop turns into trick-or-treating. Each child gets a trick-or-treat bag, and the railroad says it is stuffed with non-candy train goodies, with candy handed out along the way too. Cider and cookies come with every ticket.

The railroad asks everyone, adults included, to wear a costume and keep it family friendly. The Saturday 6:30 p.m. departure comes back after dark, but nothing about this ride is meant to be scary; if your child is wary of the dark, take a 3 p.m. or 11 a.m. train instead. Seating is open on walk-over benches, there are restrooms on board, and you can bring your own food or buy hot dogs and popcorn in the dining car. Prices were not confirmed, so check the operator site.

Trick or Treat Express to Pop's Glen at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Family trick-or-treat train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
Reservations required; no departures flagged sold out on the booking calendar as of Oct 13
Times
Oct 24 at 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm; Oct 25 at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm
Ride length
About 2 hours, 6 miles round trip with a stop at Pop's Glen
What's included
Trick-or-treating at Pop's Glen, a trick-or-treat bag of non-candy train goodies for each child, candy throughout the trip, Fly Creek Cider Mill cider and cookies, onboard restrooms
Price
Not confirmed; check the operator site. Ticket types are Adult 13+, Senior 62+, Kid 2 to 12 and Infant under 2 on a lap
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a family trick-or-treat ride, not scary
Costumes
Everyone of all ages is encouraged to wear a costume, family friendly please
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Milford Depot, 136 East Main St, Milford, NY 13807

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

Arcade: Haunted Halloween Express on the Arcade & Attica Railroad

Best for: Older kids who like spookyFrom $242 hoursDates left: Oct 24 to Oct 25

This is a steam-pulled train that leaves Arcade, runs to Curriers Station and stops there so riders can decide whether to walk through the A&A Haunted House. That optional haunted house is the only scare element on any New York family ride this year, and it is why we list this one as haunted even though it runs in daylight and the railroad calls it suitable for most ages.

Riders are invited to come in costume, every child goes home with a treat bag, and cider and homemade doughnuts are for sale (outside food and drinks are not allowed). The railroad's booking notes say to arrive 30 minutes early, the person who bought the tickets has to pick them up, and the train leaves on time in rain or snow. This ride does not appear on the railroad's main website; details come from its official booking page.

Haunted Halloween Express on the Arcade & Attica Railroad at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Daytime steam train with optional haunted house, all ages per the railroad
Dates left
Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
On sale; none sold out as of Oct 13, with roughly 140 to 240 seats open per departure on the booking calendar
Times
11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Ride length
2 hours 20 minutes round trip with a midpoint stop at Curriers Station
What's included
Round-trip steam train ride, optional A&A Haunted House at Curriers Station, a treat or goody bag for each child; cider and doughnuts sold separately
Price
Prices start at $24; adult, child and senior prices are not broken out, so check the operator site. Under 2 rides free on a lap with an adult ticket. Military discount offered
Ages and scare level
All ages on the booking page; the railroad says suitable for most ages, and going into the haunted house is optional
Costumes
Riders are invited to ride in costume; no other rules stated
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Arcade & Attica Railroad station, 278 Main Street, Arcade, NY 14009

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

Rush: Pumpkin Patch Train Rides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $10Dates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

If you have a toddler who will not sit still for 90 minutes, this is the New York ride built for them. It is two 15-minute trips, out to the museum's hilltop restoration yard and back, and your child gets to choose between riding in a caboose or an open air car. Trains leave every half hour, so there is no single departure to race for.

Kids pick a pumpkin at the patch, there are juice boxes and cookies, and a working Lionel layout run by the Flower City Tinplate Trackers tends to hold small kids longer than the real trains. The museum says it has the largest collection of preserved railroad equipment in New York State, and the restoration shop is open to explore. Kettle corn and hot cider are sold on site.

Pumpkin Patch Train Rides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
On sale; the museum has not posted sold-out dates, so check the operator site
Times
Trains every half hour from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; the last return train leaves the hilltop at 3:45 pm
Ride length
Two 15-minute rides; plan at least an hour for the whole visit
What's included
Two rides in a caboose or open air car, a pumpkin from the patch, juice boxes and cookies, Lionel train exhibit, museum exhibits and restoration shop
Price
Adults 18+ $25; youth 5 to 17 $10; seniors 65+ $15; age 4 and under free with no ticket needed. Refunds up to 7 days before
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; a daytime pumpkin ride
Costumes
No costume rule posted; check the operator site
Strollers
Not posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Industry Depot, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, 282 Rush Scottsville Road, Rush, NY 14543

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

Hudson Valley Sweater or Adirondack Parka: Dressing for Late October

October in New York depends on where the tracks are and how high they climb. Around Kingston and Rochester, mid to late October usually means highs in the 50s to low 60s F and lows in the 30s and 40s. Thendara sits around 1,700 feet in the Adirondacks, and the hills around Arcade run cold too: highs in the 40s to low 50s by late October, frost is common, and early flurries are possible. These are climate patterns, not a forecast.

Two things change the math for kids. Open cars, like the flat cars out of Kingston and the open air car at the Rochester museum, feel far colder than a closed coach, so hats and gloves belong in the bag even on a sunny morning. And the sun is down around 6 p.m. by late October, so the 6:30 p.m. Trick or Treat Express out of Milford on Oct 24 calls for winter-weight layers over the costume.

Drive Times to Each Train From Midtown, Buffalo and Rochester

These are rough estimates without traffic, so pad them on a peak leaf-season Saturday.

Drive times, no traffic

Kingston
about 1 hr 45 min to 2 hr from New York City (Midtown); about 5 hr from Buffalo; about 4 hr 15 min from Rochester
Thendara
about 5 hr to 5 hr 30 min from New York City (Midtown); about 4 hr 15 min from Buffalo; about 3 hr 30 min from Rochester
Holland Patent
about 4 hr to 4 hr 30 min from New York City (Midtown); about 3 hr 15 min from Buffalo; about 2 hr 30 min from Rochester
Milford
about 3 hr 30 min to 4 hr from New York City (Midtown); about 3 hr 45 min to 4 hr from Buffalo; about 3 hr 15 min to 3 hr 30 min from Rochester
Milford
about 3 hr 30 min to 4 hr from New York City (Midtown); about 3 hr 45 min to 4 hr from Buffalo; about 3 hr 15 min to 3 hr 30 min from Rochester
Arcade
about 6 hr from New York City (Midtown); about 1 hr from Buffalo; about 1 hr 15 min from Rochester
Rush
about 5 hr 30 min from New York City (Midtown); about 1 hr from Buffalo; about 25 min from Rochester

What New York Railroads Want You to Know Before You Go

  • The two Adirondack Railroad trips each run on one Saturday only (Thendara on Oct 17, Holland Patent on Oct 24), and a local listing shows Holland Patent was a single-Saturday event in 2025 too. Book those before anything else.
  • Bathrooms differ a lot. The Catskill Mountain Railroad has no restroom on the train, only portable toilets at the station, while both Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley trains have restrooms on board.
  • A costume can earn a pumpkin. On both Adirondack Railroad trips, children in costume get one free pumpkin. On the Milford Pumpkin Patch Express, the pumpkin comes with every Child and Toddler ticket either way.
  • Food rules are all over the map: no food in the Kingston coaches (small snacks are fine in the open cars), no outside food or drinks at all in Arcade, and bring-your-own plus a dining car in Milford.
  • Arrive early. The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley starts check-in an hour before departure and suggests arriving 45 minutes to an hour ahead; Arcade asks for 30 minutes, and the ticket buyer has to be the one who picks them up.
  • Mobility and strollers: the Adirondack Railroad says both trips are not wheelchair accessible, Pop's Glen is reached by stairs, and none of the seven operators posted a stroller policy, so check the operator site.
  • You may also see the Adirondack Railroad's Halloween Beer & Wine Train advertised; it is 21 and over, so it is not on this list.

If Your Four-Year-Old Hears the Word Haunted and Freezes

Good news first: six of New York's seven rides have nothing scary in them at all. Kingston, Thendara, Holland Patent, both Milford trains and the Rush museum are pumpkin patches, cider and candy in daylight or early evening. The Trick or Treat Express does have one after-dark departure, but it is still a trick-or-treat ride, and the afternoon trains avoid the dark completely.

The Arcade & Attica Haunted Halloween Express is the one to think through. The ride itself is a daytime steam train, and the haunted house at Curriers Station is optional, so a nervous preschooler can simply skip it. Before you go, tell your child plainly that some grown-ups like to be spooked on purpose, that you will decide together at the stop, and that saying no thank you is allowed.

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

When Rally spots a suitcase in our book, he packs his own right away: his turtle toy, his green bone, his yellow ball. That is how I would have kids pack for a cold Adirondack train like the one up to Wally's pumpkin patch. Let them choose one favorite thing each, then slip in the mittens and an extra layer yourself, because the railroad says to dress warmly for that outdoor patch. My mom dreamed Rally up long before I wrote him down, and the story of how the book came to be is hers as much as mine. For the long drive north, tuck in a few printable Rally train pages and some crayons.

Worth the Drive Across the Delaware or Down I-90

From the city, Orange County or the Southern Tier, Pennsylvania is often closer than upstate New York. Honesdale's Pumpkin Patch Express, a daytime pumpkin ride, is roughly two and a half hours from Midtown, and Lancaster County, about three hours out, has a true night-time haunted ride, The Haunting of Pumpkin Junction, which its operator recommends for ages 8 and up. Western New York families can reach the Halloween Train in Titusville, a family ride its operator says is not haunted, in a little over two hours from Buffalo. Dates for all three are in our Pennsylvania pumpkin and haunted train guide.

If your Buffalo crew misses every New York date, Ohio still has a pumpkin hayride train in Orrville on Oct 31, a week after New York's last ride, about four hours away; Ohio's Halloween train lineup has the details.

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. A matching set makes for easy pumpkin train photos and an easy costume under a jacket. See everything in the Rally shop.

A train book for the ride

For a different kind of train day once the pumpkins are carved, kids can watch the Hudson slide by from a real passenger train on the Empire Service between New York City and Albany, or ride farther north on the Adirondack with children.

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 Kingston
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.

Halloween Events for Kids in New York Towns, Answered

What Halloween events are there for kids in Kingston, New York?

One family Halloween event in Kingston is the Catskill Mountain Railroad's Pumpkin Express, a gentle daytime pumpkin ride. As of October 14 it still runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, with departures at 10 am, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. Adults pay $25 and kids 2 to 12 pay $19. Partway through the 90 minute trip the train pauses at a pumpkin patch, and every rider chooses one to carry home. Kids can sit in open-air flat cars or inside the coaches.

Is there anything to do for Halloween with kids in Thendara, New York, near Old Forge?

Yes. Thendara's Halloween train is the Adirondack Railroad Pumpkin Train, a gentle daytime pumpkin ride with one date left as of October 14: Saturday Oct 17, at noon and 2 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids 2 to 12. The 90 minute round trip heads north to Wally's pumpkin patch at Carter Station, and every child who rides in costume gets a free pumpkin. The coaches are climate controlled, but the patch is outdoors.

Are there any Halloween events in Holland Patent, New York this October?

Yes. One family Halloween event in Holland Patent is the Adirondack Railroad Family Halloween Train, a gentle pumpkin ride on Saturday Oct 24 only, with noon, 2 pm and 4 pm departures as of October 14. Adults pay $20 and kids 2 to 12 pay $15. The decorated train makes a 90 minute round trip to historic Remsen Depot, where families find a pumpkin patch and a hay ride, and children in costume get a free pumpkin. With just one date, booking early is wise.

What is there to do for Halloween in Milford, New York with kids?

Milford has two Halloween trains on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad, both gentle family rides from Milford Depot. The Pumpkin Patch Express runs Oct 17 and 18, with a pumpkin for each child ticket at Pop's Glen. The Trick or Treat Express runs Oct 24 and 25 and adds trick-or-treating, candy and a goody bag for every child. Both last about two hours and include cider and cookies. The railroad has not posted prices, so check the operator site.

Are there Halloween events in Arcade, New York for families?

Yes. Arcade's Halloween train is the Arcade & Attica Railroad Haunted Halloween Express, a daytime haunted ride on Oct 24 and 25 at 11 am and 2 pm. Prices start at $24, and kids under 2 ride free on a lap. The steam-pulled trip lasts 2 hours 20 minutes and stops at Curriers Station, where entering the haunted house is optional, so cautious kids can stay out. Each child takes home a treat bag. As of October 14 no departure was sold out.

What Halloween activities are there for toddlers in Rush, New York?

One family Halloween event in Rush is Pumpkin Patch Train Rides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, a gentle pumpkin outing on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. Trains leave every half hour from 10 am to 3 pm, and a visit includes two 15 minute rides in a caboose or open air car plus a pumpkin for the kids. Adults pay $25, youth 5 to 17 pay $10, and children 4 and under ride free with no ticket needed.

Is there a pumpkin patch train near Cooperstown, New York?

Yes. The Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad Pumpkin Patch Express departs Milford Depot near Cooperstown on Oct 17 at 3 pm and Oct 18 at 11 am and 3 pm. Riders stop at the Pop's Glen pumpkin patch, where each Child and Toddler ticket earns one pumpkin, and everyone gets Fly Creek Cider Mill cider and cookies. The trip takes about two hours and crosses the Susquehanna River twice. Prices are not posted, so check the operator site.

What Halloween train rides for kids are near New York City?

The nearest ride in our New York guide is the Catskill Mountain Railroad Pumpkin Express in Kingston, about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Midtown without traffic. It is a gentle pumpkin ride on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 with four departures a day. Next are the two Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley rides in Milford, about 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours away: the Pumpkin Patch Express on Oct 17 and 18 and the Trick or Treat Express on Oct 24 and 25.

What are Halloween things to do with kids near Buffalo, New York?

Two Halloween train outings sit about 1 hour from Buffalo. The Arcade & Attica Railroad Haunted Halloween Express in Arcade is a daytime steam ride on Oct 24 and 25 with an optional haunted house at the midpoint stop. The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush runs gentle Pumpkin Patch Train Rides on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, with short rides and a pumpkin for the kids. Every other ride in our guide is more than 3 hours away.

Where can kids ride a Halloween train near Rochester, New York?

The closest is about 25 minutes away: Pumpkin Patch Train Rides at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush, a gentle pumpkin outing on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 with trains every half hour from 10 am. For something spookier, the Arcade & Attica Haunted Halloween Express is about 1 hour 15 minutes away, running Oct 24 and 25 in daylight with an optional haunted house. The Holland Patent Family Halloween Train is about 2 hours 30 minutes away on Oct 24.

Can kids wear costumes on the Adirondack Railroad pumpkin train?

Yes, and on this railroad it pays off. The Adirondack Railroad gives one free pumpkin to each child in costume on both the Thendara Pumpkin Train and the Holland Patent Family Halloween Train. The coaches are climate controlled, but the pumpkin patches are outdoors, so pick a costume that fits over a warm layer or under a coat. The railroad does not list any other costume rules.

Is the Haunted Halloween Express in Arcade too scary for a 3 year old?

For most three-year-olds the train itself is fine, and the scary part is optional. The Arcade & Attica runs the Haunted Halloween Express in daylight at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the railroad calls it suitable for most ages. The scare is a haunted house at the Curriers Station stop, and going inside is your choice. A cautious toddler can skip it and still get the steam ride and a treat bag.

Are there still pumpkin train tickets in New York for this weekend, Oct 17 and 18?

As of our Oct 14 update, yes, several rides still had seats. The Adirondack Railroad's Thendara Pumpkin Train and both Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley departures that weekend showed nothing sold out on their booking calendars. Kingston and the Rush museum have not posted sold-out status, and Kingston sells walk-up tickets for trains with room. Use the ticket link in each ride's listing to see live availability before you drive.

Is there a bathroom on the Catskill Mountain Railroad Pumpkin Express?

No, there is no restroom on the train itself. The Catskill Mountain Railroad's FAQ says portable restrooms are set up at Westbrook Lane Station, so plan a stop right before boarding. The ride lasts about an hour and a half with a pumpkin patch stop in the middle. If a bathroom on board matters for your potty-training child, the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley trains out of Milford have one.

Does my 18 month old need a ticket for the Kingston pumpkin train?

Not if they ride on your lap. The Catskill Mountain Railroad lets children under two ride free on an adult's lap. The exception is a car seat: if your toddler will sit in their own car seat in a passenger seat, the railroad's FAQ says you need to pre-book a child ticket, which is $19. Seating is first come, first served, so board early if you want seats together.

Kelsey Cecil
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