Halloween Train Rides in Ohio (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 37 min read

In Grand Rapids, Ohio, the railway's youth track crew runs a 16-seat motorcar across the Maumee River bridge to a pumpkin patch, and that small, homegrown ride sums up Halloween on Ohio rails pretty well. Eleven family rides still have dates on or after October 14, and every one of them lands in the pumpkin and costume camp: eight run in daylight and three run after dark while staying friendly. If you are comparing across the map, our state-by-state guide to Halloween train rides has the rest.

What Ohio does not have this year is a truly scary train. The Ohio Railway Museum's Ghost Trolley, which ran late at night in 2025 and was billed as not suited for young children, is not on the museum's 2026 calendar. That leaves a lineup built for preschoolers and early elementary kids: a quarter-scale railroad in Findlay where your pumpkin rides home on the flatcar, a bulldog mascot in Dennison, and a 22-mile evening run through the Hocking Valley.

The short version

  • Pumpkin and costume rides in daylight: Columbus families have the shortest trip in the state: the Pumpkin Patch Express in Worthington is about 20 minutes away, costs $15, and every remaining departure was still open as of Oct 13, though its 40-seat trips sold out fast on the first Saturday.
  • Cincinnati and Dayton families should look at Lebanon, about 35 minutes from either city, where the Pumpkin Express runs five more days and the Trick or Treat Train runs Sunday, November 1, the day after Halloween.
  • From Cleveland, the closest pick is Orrville at about an hour, where the October pumpkin rides let kids choose an open air car, a coach or a real caboose.
  • Dennison, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Cleveland, has two Sunday afternoon rides on Oct 18 only: Bing the Bulldog at 3:00 PM for the littlest riders and Sleepy Hollow at 4:30 PM for kids who can handle a Headless Horseman cameo.
  • Toledo families have two short drives: the motorcar hayrides in Grand Rapids are about 30 minutes away and the quarter-scale Pumpkin Train in Findlay is about 50 minutes.
  • Pumpkin and costume rides after dark (still not scary): The Halloween Train in Nelsonville is the big evening ride, about 1 hour 10 minutes from Columbus, leaving at 6:00 PM and coming back after dark. Oct 24 had the fewest seats left.
  • Findlay runs the Halloween Express every Friday and Saturday night through Oct 31, and on Oct 17 and 24 the Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Train adds treat stops. Admission is paid on site, $2 to $3.

No Ohio ride lands in the haunted group for 2026, so if your kids want a real scare, you will not find one on Ohio rails this October.

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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 LM&M RailroadLebanonPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 31 (5 dates)From $10About 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Trick or Treat Train on the LM&M RailroadLebanonPumpkin and costumeSun Nov 1From $101 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Train on the Hocking Valley Scenic RailwayNelsonvillePumpkin and costumeOct 23 to Oct 31 (4 dates)From $23About 2 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Pumpkin Patch Express at the Ohio Railway MuseumWorthingtonPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $15Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Pumpkin Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad PreservationFindlayPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 25 (4 dates)From $2Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Halloween Express at Northwest Ohio Railroad PreservationFindlayPumpkin and costumeOct 16 to Oct 31 (6 dates)From $2Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad PreservationFindlayPumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 24 (2 dates)From $2Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Bing's Not So Scary Halloween Train Ride at the Dennison Railroad Depot MuseumDennisonPumpkin and costumeSun Oct 18From $10About 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Sleepy Hollow Themed Train Ride at the Dennison Railroad Depot MuseumDennisonPumpkin and costumeSun Oct 18From $10About 1 hourAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Pumpkin Hayride Month Train Rides with the Orrville Railroad Heritage SocietyOrrvillePumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Oct 31 (2 dates)From $15About 45 minutesAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale
Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides on the Toledo, Lake Erie & WesternGrand RapidsPumpkin and costumeOct 24 to Oct 31 (3 dates)From $10About 45 minutesAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

Ohio 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.

Lebanon: Pumpkin Express on the LM&M Railroad

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $10About 1 hourDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 31

Pirate Jack "commandeers" the train on this one, so kids get a pirate story before they ever see a pumpkin. The trip is about an hour on the rails, then about 45 minutes at the Lebanon Sports Complex, where the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus perform on the "Ship of Fools" and stay for a meet and greet. There is also balloon twisting, face painting and inflatables, and every ticketed passenger gets a small pumpkin.

Honest caveats from the railroad's booking notes: treats and merchandise at the stop cost extra, the historic cars are not handicapped accessible, and riders may be around peanuts and latex balloons.

Pumpkin Express on the LM&M Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin train, all ages
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
All 12 remaining departures were bookable as of Oct 13; none listed as sold out
Times
Saturdays 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM; Sundays 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM
Ride length
About 1 hour 45 minutes total: roughly 1 hour on the train plus about 45 minutes at the Lebanon Sports Complex
What's included
A small pumpkin for every ticketed passenger, the Pirate Jack ride, balloon twisting, face painting, inflatables, and the Sanderson Sisters show and meet and greet
Price
From $24 in the Open Window Coach and $29 in the Deluxe Coach; infants under 2 are $10; a $2 per-ticket rail preservation fee applies. Adult, child and senior prices are split in the booking system but not published on the page
Ages and scare level
All ages, per the railroad
Costumes
The railroad has not posted costume rules; check the operator site
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Free public lot at Mechanic Street and Main Street, a short walk from the station; a second public lot at Main and Sycamore; limited street parking on South Street; two handicap spaces on South Street by the ticket office
Where
Lebanon Station (LM&M ticket office), 16 E South St, Lebanon, OH 45036

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

Lebanon: Trick or Treat Train on the LM&M Railroad

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $101 hourDates left: Nov 1

This is the ride for families who cannot let Halloween end. It runs Sunday, November 1, the day after Halloween, so kids get one more wear out of the costume. The railroad's instructions are simple: come dressed up and holler "Trick or Treat" on board to collect treats. After the 1 hour 15 minute round trip there is a character meet and greet, with Anna, Elsa, Jack and Sally Skellington, Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider listed (the railroad says characters are subject to change), plus Halloween tattoos.

Seating is general admission inside an assigned car, so if you booked separately from friends, call the railroad to be seated together.

Trick or Treat Train on the LM&M Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime costume and treats train, all ages
Dates left
Sun Nov 1 only
Tickets
Neither departure was sold out as of Oct 13
Times
10:00 AM and 12:30 PM
Ride length
1 hour 15 minutes round trip, then the character meet and greet
What's included
Treats collected on the ride, character meet and greet after the ride (subject to change), Halloween themed tattoos
Price
Coach: adults (18 to 61) $25, children (2 to 17) $20, seniors (62+) $20. Deluxe: adults $35, children and seniors $30. Infants under 2 ride on a lap for $10. The booking system also lists BOGO 50% off fare types
Ages and scare level
All ages, per the railroad
Costumes
Encouraged: the railroad says to come dressed in your favorite costume. No restrictions stated
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Free public lot at Mechanic Street and Main Street, a short walk from the station
Where
Lebanon Station (LM&M ticket office), 16 E South St, Lebanon, OH 45036

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

Nelsonville: Halloween Train on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $23About 2 hoursDates left: Oct 23 to Oct 31

The train leaves the Nelsonville Depot at 6:00 PM, so it starts in daylight and comes home in the dark, roughly two hours and 22 miles later. The railway's current page describes a stop at Robbins Crossing, Hocking College's 1800s-style village, lit and decorated for Halloween, a walk through a Haunted Train Car, and treats for kids back at the depot. Those two extras are on the operator page but not in the booking description, so confirm them before you promise anything.

We kept this in the pumpkin group because the railway bills it as a family Halloween ride, not a scary one. The Haunted Train Car is the one spot to plan around with a jumpy preschooler. Costumes are highly recommended for everyone.

Halloween Train on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Evening family Halloween train, not billed as scary
Dates left
Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Fri Oct 30 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
No departures sold out as of Oct 13; Sat Oct 24 had the fewest seats left, about 100
Times
6:00 PM departure each date; the booking calendar shows a return around 8:00 to 8:15 PM
Ride length
About 2 hours, a 22-mile round trip
What's included
Ride toward Haydenville and Robbins Crossing, a stop at the decorated village, a walk through the Haunted Train Car, treats for kids at the depot; soft drinks and food are allowed on board
Price
Adults (13+) $27, children (3 to 12) $23, seniors and military (60+) $25; under 3 free on a lap
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the railway calls it a family Halloween ride, and the Haunted Train Car is the spookiest part
Costumes
Highly recommended for everyone, per the railway, as long as they are appropriate for all ages
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Two depot lots: one entered off Canal Street and a gravel lot with two handicap spots
Where
Nelsonville Depot, 33 W Canal St, Nelsonville, OH 45764

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

Worthington: Pumpkin Patch Express at the Ohio Railway Museum

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $15Dates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

A vintage coach takes you on a 45-minute round trip to a pumpkin patch you can only reach by the museum's train, and every child 2 to 13 picks a free pumpkin there. Back at the museum there is trick-or-treating, a pumpkin decorating coloring station, games, seasonal food and costumed volunteers. For train-obsessed kids, the museum sells a $30 locomotive cab ride add-on.

Trips hold only 40 riders, and four of the six departures on the first Saturday sold out, so book weekends ahead. The museum recommends sturdy closed-toe shoes because the grounds and train steps are uneven, and there is no dedicated accessible car.

Pumpkin Patch Express at the Ohio Railway Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime pumpkin patch train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
No remaining departures sold out as of Oct 13 (four Oct 10 trips did sell out)
Times
Gates open 10:45 AM; departures at 11:15 AM, 12:15, 1:15, 2:15, 3:15 and 4:15 PM; everything wraps by 5:00 PM
Ride length
45-minute round trip
What's included
Free pumpkin for each child 2 to 13, trick-or-treating through the museum, photo ops, coloring station, games, seasonal food, costumed volunteers
Price
$15 per person, ages 2 and up. Pumpkin for an under-2 is a $5 add-on; locomotive cab ride $30 per person
Ages and scare level
Tickets required from age 2; no minimum age. The museum points families here rather than to its adults-oriented Ghost Trolley
Costumes
Encouraged: the museum says to wear your best costume. No restrictions stated
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Ohio Railway Museum, 990 Proprietors Rd, Worthington, OH 43085

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

Findlay: Pumpkin Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $2Dates left: Oct 17 to Oct 25

This is a quarter-scale railroad, the ride-on miniature kind where kids sit low and close to the track, not a full-size passenger train. The train runs out to a pumpkin patch, your child picks one, and the pumpkin rides back to the station on the flatcar, which is the detail toddlers will remember. There are games, decorations and family activities on the grounds.

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under, and the volunteer group found no online booking, so plan to pay on site. Pumpkins cost extra and the price is not posted. The group warns that weather changes are likely, so check its website or Facebook page the morning you go.

Pumpkin Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime quarter-scale pumpkin train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
Walk-up admission; no sell-out information published
Times
Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Ride to the pumpkin patch (pumpkin rides back on the flatcar), games, decorations, family activities
Price
Adults $3, children 12 and under $2; pumpkins extra, price not listed
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated
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
NWORRP Museum grounds, 12505 County Road 99, Findlay, OH 45840

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

Findlay: Halloween Express at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $2Dates left: Oct 16 to Oct 31

Same quarter-scale ride-on railroad as the Findlay Pumpkin Train, but after dark: the little train loops the museum tracks past Halloween decorations. It runs at night, yet the operator calls it a "non-scary Halloween train ride for the whole family," so it sits in our pumpkin group. It is also one of the few Ohio rides running on Halloween night itself, Saturday, October 31.

At $2 to $3 a person, paid on site, it is an easy add-on to a Findlay day. The volunteer group says to check Facebook for weather updates, and ride length is not posted.

Halloween Express at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Night quarter-scale Halloween train, operator says non-scary
Dates left
Fri Oct 16, Sat Oct 17, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Fri Oct 30 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
Walk-up admission; no sell-out information published
Times
Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
After-dark ride around the museum tracks past Halloween decorations
Price
Adults $3, children 12 and under $2
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the operator calls it non-scary and for the whole family
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
NWORRP Museum grounds, 12505 County Road 99, Findlay, OH 45840

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

Findlay: Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $2Dates left: Oct 17 to Oct 24

On two Saturday nights the Findlay quarter-scale train adds "treat stops" along the track, so kids trick-or-treat right from their seats without walking a single driveway. The operator's own line is "No scary sites, just fun and treats for all!" The route passes the same Halloween displays as the Halloween Express.

The group's pages do not say whether this is a separate train or the Saturday Halloween Express with treat stops added, so if your child is counting on candy, confirm on the operator's website or Facebook page before you drive. Admission is paid on site.

Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Evening quarter-scale trick-or-treat train, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 17 and Sat Oct 24
Tickets
Walk-up admission; no sell-out information published
Times
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
Halloween Express ride past the displays, with treat stops along the track
Price
Adults $3, children 12 and under $2
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the operator says there are no scary sights
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
NWORRP Museum grounds, 12505 County Road 99, Findlay, OH 45840

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

Dennison: Bing's Not So Scary Halloween Train Ride at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $10About 1 hourDates left: Oct 18

Bing is the museum's bulldog mascot, and this hour-long Sunday afternoon ride is built around him: a Bing story, Bing games, photos with Bing and museum friends, and a Bing Halloween candy treat bag. The title says "not so scary," which is exactly the pitch for a three or four year old.

It runs once, Sunday, October 18, at 3:00 PM. Plan on an early arrival: the Eventbrite listing says to arrive about an hour ahead, boarding starts 30 minutes before, and the gates close 5 minutes before departure. The vintage cars have no seat belts and are not ADA compliant, and a baby carrier needs its own ticket to sit on a seat.

Bing's Not So Scary Halloween Train Ride at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime not-so-scary Halloween train
Dates left
Sun Oct 18 only
Tickets
Not listed as sold out as of Oct 13; availability by seating class was not visible
Times
3:00 PM, back about 4:00 PM
Ride length
About 1 hour round trip
What's included
Photos with Bing and museum friends, Bing's story, Bing games, Bing Halloween candy treat bag; First Class adds table seating, extra snacks, a drawstring bag for kids and 15% off in the gift shop
Price
Coach: adults $35, children (4 to 17) $10. Deluxe: $40 for adults and children. First Class: $45 for adults and children. Children 3 and under free on a lap
Ages and scare level
Billed as "not so scary"; children 3 and under ride free on a lap
Costumes
Guests are invited to wear a Halloween costume. No restrictions stated
Strollers
Baby carriers need an extra ticket to sit on a seat; strollers are not addressed
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, 400 Center St, Dennison, OH 44621

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

Dennison: Sleepy Hollow Themed Train Ride at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $10About 1 hourDates left: Oct 18

Ninety minutes after Bing's ride, the same depot runs a storyteller train. Performers tell a version of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow mixed with local history and folklore, and the Headless Horseman makes an appearance. The museum calls it "perfect for all ages," and it leaves at 4:30 PM in daylight, so we list it as a pumpkin and costume ride.

Still, a headless rider showing up is a real moment for a sensitive toddler. Kids who loved the story at school will probably love this; kids who hide from costumed characters may do better with Bing. Seats are first come, first served, your party has to buy in one order, and no refunds or changes are allowed.

Sleepy Hollow Themed Train Ride at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Late afternoon storyteller train, operator says all ages
Dates left
Sun Oct 18 only
Tickets
Not listed as sold out as of Oct 13; availability by seating class was not visible
Times
4:30 PM, back about 5:30 PM
Ride length
About 1 hour round trip
What's included
Storytellers performing a Sleepy Hollow tale blended with local folklore, an appearance by the Headless Horseman; First Class adds table seating, water, an extra snack and 15% off in the gift shop
Price
Coach: adults $35, children (4 to 17) $10. Deluxe: $40 for adults and children. First Class: $45 for adults and children. Children 3 and under free on a lap
Ages and scare level
The museum says "perfect for all ages"; the Headless Horseman appearance is the part to prepare little ones for
Costumes
No costume rules posted; check the operator site
Strollers
Baby carriers need an extra ticket; strollers are not addressed
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, 400 Center St, Dennison, OH 44621

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

Orrville: Pumpkin Hayride Month Train Rides with the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $15About 45 minutesDates left: Oct 17 to Oct 31

These are the society's regular rail yard rides with a fall twist: kids get a free small pumpkin, and October is billed as Pumpkin Hayride Month. The fun part is the seat choice. You can book open air car #501, coach #208 or caboose #21032, and for $25 one rider can take the locomotive jump seat.

Two things to know. The rail yard is on South Crown Hill Road between Scotts Miracle-Gro and Catrone Trucking, not at the downtown Union Depot. And the Oct 31 date appears on the events page but not on the printed 2026 schedule, so confirm it before planning Halloween around it. Rides run rain or shine.

Pumpkin Hayride Month Train Rides with the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime fall pumpkin train, lightly themed
Dates left
Sat Oct 17 and Sat Oct 31 (Oct 31 is on the events page but missing from the printed schedule, so it is unconfirmed)
Tickets
Ticket availability not checked; no sell-out notice on the operator page
Times
11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM; boarding starts 10 minutes before
Ride length
About 45 minutes per the events page (other society pages say about 40)
What's included
Free small pumpkin for kids; choice of open air car, coach or caboose
Price
Open air car $15, coach or caboose $20, locomotive jump seat $25, per seat plus online ticketing fees
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated
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
ORHS Rail Yard, 2174 S Crown Hill Rd, Orrville, OH 44667

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

Grand Rapids: Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides on the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western

Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $10About 45 minutesDates left: Oct 24 to Oct 31

This is not a passenger train. It is a small rail motorcar that seats 16, run by the railway's youth maintenance-of-way crew, and it crosses the Maumee River bridge on the way to pick a pumpkin. Rides take about 45 minutes and leave every hour from noon to 6:00 PM.

The railway teases that you "never know what you'll find lurking in the woods," and the 6:00 PM run comes back near dusk, so choose an earlier run for a timid preschooler. Reserve online, then pay $10 a person at the Front St. ticket counter by cash or card. The railway does not say whether the pumpkin is included in the $10.

Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides on the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime rail motorcar pumpkin ride, 16 seats
Dates left
Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
No runs full as of Oct 13; the reservation page showed 10 to 16 of 16 seats left per run
Times
Hourly departures from noon through 6:00 PM; back by 7:00 PM
Ride length
About 45 minutes
What's included
Pick a pumpkin and photo opportunities (whether the pumpkin is covered by the fare is not stated)
Price
$10 per person, paid at the Front St. ticket counter, cash or card (not online)
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated
Costumes
The railway says children may come in a family-friendly costume
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Front St. ticket counter at the south end of the Maumee River bridge crossing, Front St, Grand Rapids, OH 43522

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

Drive Times to Each Ohio Halloween Train From Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Dayton

These are approximate drive times in normal traffic, so add a cushion on Saturday afternoons and for the check-in time each railroad asks for.

Drive times, no traffic

Lebanon
about 1 hr 20 min from Columbus; about 3 hr 45 min from Cleveland; about 35 min from Cincinnati; about 35 min from Dayton
Lebanon
about 1 hr 20 min from Columbus; about 3 hr 45 min from Cleveland; about 35 min from Cincinnati; about 35 min from Dayton
Nelsonville
about 1 hr 10 min from Columbus; about 3 hr 15 min from Cleveland; about 2 hr 50 min from Cincinnati
Worthington
about 20 min from Columbus; about 2 hr 10 min from Cleveland; about 1 hr 50 min from Cincinnati
Findlay
about 1 hr 35 min from Columbus; about 2 hr from Cleveland; about 2 hr 40 min from Cincinnati; about 50 min from Toledo
Findlay
about 1 hr 35 min from Columbus; about 2 hr from Cleveland; about 2 hr 40 min from Cincinnati; about 50 min from Toledo
Findlay
about 1 hr 35 min from Columbus; about 2 hr from Cleveland; about 2 hr 40 min from Cincinnati; about 50 min from Toledo
Dennison
about 1 hr 50 min from Columbus; about 1 hr 45 min from Cleveland; about 3 hr 30 min from Cincinnati
Dennison
about 1 hr 50 min from Columbus; about 1 hr 45 min from Cleveland; about 3 hr 30 min from Cincinnati
Orrville
about 1 hr 50 min from Columbus; about 1 hr from Cleveland; about 3 hr 30 min from Cincinnati
Grand Rapids
about 2 hr 15 min from Columbus; about 2 hr from Cleveland; about 3 hr from Cincinnati; about 30 min from Toledo

If Your Four-Year-Old Is Worried About the Haunted Train Car or the Headless Horseman

Good news first: nothing on Ohio rails this year is designed to frighten kids. The gentlest picks are the daytime Pumpkin Patch Express in Worthington, the Findlay quarter-scale trains (the operator says there are "no scary sites" on the trick-or-treat nights), the Orrville pumpkin rides and Bing's Not So Scary ride in Dennison. Those are the ones to start with for a first Halloween train.

Three spots deserve a heads-up. On the Nelsonville Halloween Train, the railway lists a walk through a Haunted Train Car, and you come back in the dark. In Dennison, the Headless Horseman shows up during the 4:30 PM Sleepy Hollow ride. In Lebanon, the Pumpkin Express stop features a live Sanderson Sisters show from Hocus Pocus. For a nervous four-year-old, say it plainly ahead of time: "These are grown-ups in costumes, they are playing pretend, and you can hold my hand or we can skip that part." In Nelsonville you can simply stay out of the Haunted Train Car, and in Grand Rapids an early motorcar run avoids the dusky 6:00 PM trip past the woods.

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

In our book, Rally wakes up early, spots the suitcase, and packs his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball before anyone else is up. Every time I look at the 6:00 PM Nelsonville departure I think about that scene, because the Hocking Valley turns cold and foggy after dark and you will want a bag packed like Rally would, plus hats and mittens. Toss in a few of our printable Rally train coloring sheets for the ride home.

My mom dreamed up Rally and his grand-paw-rents long before I wrote them down, and the story of how this book came to be is really hers.

Ohio in Late October: Light Jackets by Day, Real Coats After Sunset

Ohio October days usually start in the 60s and slide into the 50s by Halloween, while nights fall into the 40s and can reach the 30s late in the month. A light jacket covers the daytime pumpkin rides in Worthington, Lebanon, Orrville and Dennison. The evening rides are a different story: the Nelsonville train leaves at 6:00 PM and Findlay runs from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, and both get cold fast once the sun drops, especially if you are in an open-window or open-air car.

Sunset is around 7:00 PM in mid October and about 6:35 to 6:45 PM by Oct 31 (Daylight Saving Time ends Nov 1), so a 6:00 PM departure starts in daylight and finishes in the dark. Region matters too. Findlay and Grand Rapids sit in flat, windy northwest Ohio and feel colder at night. Orrville and Dennison run a few degrees cooler with more cloud and drizzle. Cold air and fog settle in the Hocking Valley after dark, so Nelsonville feels chillier than Columbus. The Lebanon area is usually the mildest. Orrville runs rain or shine, while TLE&W and NWORRP run weather permitting, so check their social pages that morning.

Ohio Railroad Details Parents Find Out the Hard Way

  • Worthington trips hold only 40 riders, and four of the six departures on the museum's first Saturday sold out, so book Ohio Railway Museum weekends ahead rather than walking up.
  • Hocking Valley says your email confirmation is not a ticket: pick up paper tickets inside the Nelsonville depot and arrive at least 30 minutes early. Restrooms are in the depot, and you can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks.
  • The Findlay rides have no online booking that the research found. Bring small bills for $2 and $3 admission, and check the group's Facebook page for weather calls.
  • In Grand Rapids, each motorcar run holds 16 and closes when full. Reserve online first, then pay at the Front St. counter, cash or card.
  • The LM&M in Lebanon will not hold the train for late passengers, asks for check-in 30 minutes early, and all sales are final. Riders may be exposed to peanuts and latex balloons.
  • Dennison's Eventbrite listings say to arrive about an hour early, and gates close 5 minutes before departure. A baby carrier needs its own ticket to go on a seat.
  • No Ohio operator in our research posts a stroller policy, so plan on carrying little ones up the steps of the historic cars.

Just Over the Line: Pumpkin Trains in Michigan and Pennsylvania

From Toledo, the closest pumpkin train across the state line is the Little River Railroad's steam Pumpkin Train in Coldwater, about 1.5 to 2 hours away, but its 2026 runs are sold out. A better Michigan backup for northwest Ohio is the Nite Lites night train inside Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, less than an hour from the state line, a lighted ride the operator says has no scary actors. Both are covered in our guide to Michigan's Halloween trains.

Eastern Ohio families heading toward Pittsburgh have two Pennsylvania pumpkin rides to consider: the Magic Pumpkin Trolley and Trick or Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, about 40 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, and the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad's Halloween Train, about 2 hours north of Pittsburgh, which the railroad says is not a haunted ride. Dates and prices are on our Pennsylvania Halloween train page.

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

If your kids just want a long ride on a big train with no costumes involved, our guides to riding the Lake Shore Limited with little ones and the Cardinal as a family cover 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 Lebanon
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.

Ohio Halloween Events for Kids: Parent Questions, Town by Town

What Halloween events are there for kids in Lebanon, Ohio?

One family Halloween event in Lebanon is the LM&M Railroad's Pumpkin Express, a gentle pumpkin ride on Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31. Pirate Jack takes over the train, every ticketed rider gets a small pumpkin, and the stop at the Lebanon Sports Complex includes a Sanderson Sisters show. Fares start at $24 plus a $2 preservation fee. The same railroad runs a Trick or Treat Train on Nov 1, with coach seats at $25 for adults and $20 for kids 2 to 17.

What is there to do for Halloween in Nelsonville, Ohio with kids?

Nelsonville's Halloween train is the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Halloween Train, an evening family ride leaving the depot at 6:00 PM on Oct 23, 24, 30 and 31. The roughly two-hour, 22-mile trip stops at the lit Robbins Crossing village, offers an optional Haunted Train Car walk-through, and ends with treats for kids. Tickets are $27 for adults and $23 for ages 3 to 12, and under 3 ride free on a lap. As of October 14, Oct 24 had the fewest seats left.

Are there any Halloween events in Worthington, Ohio this October for families?

Yes. One family pick in Worthington is the Pumpkin Patch Express at the Ohio Railway Museum, a gentle 45-minute vintage coach ride out to a pumpkin patch and back. It runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, with departures every hour from 11:15 AM to 4:15 PM. Tickets are $15 for everyone 2 and up, each child 2 to 13 picks a free pumpkin, and kids can trick-or-treat through the museum. Each trip holds only 40 riders, so book ahead.

Halloween events in Findlay, Ohio for families: what is running this month?

Findlay has three gentle quarter-scale train rides at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, all paid on site at $3 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under. The daytime Pumpkin Train runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The non-scary Halloween Express rolls past decorations on Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 to 9:00 PM through Oct 31. On Oct 17 and 24, the Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Train adds treat stops along the track.

What Halloween events are there for kids in Dennison, Ohio?

The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum runs two Halloween train rides, both on Sunday, Oct 18. Bing's Not So Scary Halloween Train Ride leaves at 3:00 PM with photos, games and a candy treat bag from Bing the Bulldog, the museum mascot. The Sleepy Hollow Themed Train Ride follows at 4:30 PM, with storytellers and a Headless Horseman appearance. Each lasts about an hour. Coach seats are $35 for adults and $10 for kids 4 to 17, and children 3 and under ride free on a lap.

Is there anything to do for Halloween in Orrville, Ohio with young kids?

One family option in Orrville is the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society's Pumpkin Hayride Month train rides at its Crown Hill Road rail yard. The lightly themed rides last about 45 minutes, run Oct 17 and Oct 31 at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, and give kids a free small pumpkin. Seats are $15 in the open air car, $20 in the coach or caboose, and $25 in the locomotive jump seat, plus fees. The Oct 31 date is missing from the printed schedule, so check the operator site.

Are there Halloween events for kids in Grand Rapids, Ohio?

One family Halloween outing in Grand Rapids is the Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Pumpkin Patch Motorcar Hayrides. A 16-seat rail motorcar crosses the Maumee River bridge on a 45-minute trip where kids pick a pumpkin, with runs every hour from noon through 6:00 PM on Oct 24, 25 and 31. The fare is $10 per person at the Front St. ticket counter. Reserve ahead, since each run closes when full. The railroad has not posted whether the pumpkin is included, so check the operator site.

Is there a pumpkin patch train in Worthington, Ohio?

Yes. The Ohio Railway Museum's Pumpkin Patch Express takes families on a vintage coach to a pumpkin patch that only the museum's train reaches, and each ticketed child 2 to 13 chooses a free pumpkin there. Kids under 2 do not need a ticket, and a pumpkin for them is a $5 add-on. The remaining dates are Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. For an extra $30 per person, a rider can also add a locomotive cab ride.

Is there a pumpkin patch train in Findlay, Ohio?

Yes. The Pumpkin Train at Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation rides out to a pumpkin patch, and the pumpkin your child picks travels back to the station on the train's flatcar. It is a quarter-scale, ride-on railroad, so expect a small open train rather than full-size coaches. It runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under; pumpkins cost extra, and the railroad has not posted that price.

What are Halloween events for kids near Columbus, Ohio?

The closest Halloween train to Columbus is the Pumpkin Patch Express at the Ohio Railway Museum in Worthington, about 20 minutes away, a gentle daytime pumpkin ride on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. About 1 hour 10 minutes southeast, the Hocking Valley Halloween Train leaves Nelsonville at 6:00 PM on Oct 23, 24, 30 and 31 for an evening family ride. Lebanon's Pumpkin Express, about 1 hour 20 minutes away, runs daytime dates from Oct 17 through Oct 31.

Halloween things to do with kids near Cleveland, Ohio?

The nearest Halloween train to Cleveland is the Pumpkin Hayride Month ride in Orrville, about 1 hour away, a gentle daytime trip where kids get a free small pumpkin on Oct 17 and Oct 31. About 1 hour 45 minutes south, Dennison runs Bing's Not So Scary ride and the Sleepy Hollow ride on Oct 18. Findlay's quarter-scale trains and the Grand Rapids motorcar hayrides are each about 2 hours west, with daytime and evening options through Oct 31.

What Halloween events for kids are near Cincinnati, Ohio?

The closest Halloween trains to Cincinnati leave from Lebanon, about 35 minutes north. The LM&M Railroad's Pumpkin Express is a gentle daytime ride with a pumpkin for every ticketed rider on Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31, and its Trick or Treat Train runs Nov 1 for kids in costume. The next closest is the Pumpkin Patch Express in Worthington, about 1 hour 50 minutes away, on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. From Dayton, Lebanon is about 35 minutes.

Can kids wear costumes on the Hocking Valley Halloween Train?

Yes, and the railway goes further than allowing them. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway says costumes are highly recommended for everyone, adults included, as long as they are appropriate for all ages. Because the train leaves Nelsonville at 6:00 PM and returns after dark, pick a costume that fits over a warm layer. The LM&M Trick or Treat Train in Lebanon on Nov 1 also asks kids to come dressed up.

Is the Sleepy Hollow train ride in Dennison too scary for a toddler?

For most toddlers it should be fine, but there is one moment to plan for. The museum calls it perfect for all ages, and it leaves at 4:30 PM in daylight on Oct 18. Storytellers tell a version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and the Headless Horseman makes an appearance. If your child is wary of costumed characters, Bing's Not So Scary ride at 3:00 PM the same day is the gentler choice.

Are there still tickets for an Ohio pumpkin train this weekend?

Yes, as of October 14 several Ohio rides had seats for Oct 17 and 18. Every Lebanon Pumpkin Express departure was bookable, no remaining Worthington trips were sold out, and Dennison's Oct 18 rides were not listed as sold out. Findlay's quarter-scale trains take walk-up admission. Worthington trips hold only 40 people, so book those through the museum's ticket page before you go.

Do you get a free pumpkin on Ohio pumpkin trains, or is it extra?

It depends on the railroad. Lebanon's Pumpkin Express gives a small pumpkin to every ticketed passenger, Worthington gives a free pumpkin to each child 2 to 13, and Orrville gives kids a free small pumpkin. In Findlay the pumpkins cost extra, and the price is not posted. At the Grand Rapids motorcar rides you pick a pumpkin, but the railway does not say whether it is included in the $10 fare.

Is there any train ride on Halloween night in Ohio?

Yes, a few Ohio rides run on Saturday, Oct 31. The Nelsonville Halloween Train leaves at 6:00 PM and the Findlay Halloween Express runs from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, both after dark and both family friendly. In the daytime, the Lebanon Pumpkin Express and the Grand Rapids motorcar hayrides run that day. Orrville lists Oct 31 on its events page, but not on its printed schedule.

Do babies need a ticket on Ohio Halloween trains like the Pumpkin Express or Hocking Valley?

It depends on the railroad. On the Hocking Valley Halloween Train, children under 3 ride free on a lap. At Dennison, kids 3 and under also ride free on a lap, but a baby carrier needs its own ticket to sit on a seat. The Ohio Railway Museum requires tickets from age 2, and the LM&M Railroad in Lebanon charges $10 for infants under 2. Only Dennison has posted anything close to a stroller rule, so check the operator site.

What should kids wear on an evening Halloween train in Nelsonville or Findlay, Ohio?

Dress them warmer than the afternoon suggests. Ohio nights in late October fall into the 40s F and can reach the 30s F, and sunset comes around 6:35 to 6:45 PM by Oct 31, so the 6:00 PM Nelsonville train returns in the dark. Nelsonville sits in a river valley where cold air and fog settle, and Findlay is flat, open and windy. Pick a costume that fits over a jacket, and bring hats and gloves.

Kelsey Cecil
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