Halloween Train Rides in Rhode Island (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 14 min read

New for 2026, the Railway of Horrors in Chepachet runs its train straight through a live stage play set in the northwest Rhode Island woods, with actors, special effects and jump scares along the track. It is the only Halloween train ride we found in the Ocean State this year, and the operator rates it PG-13, so the count is simple: one haunted ride still running, zero pumpkin trains. For gentler options across the region, see our nationwide list of pumpkin and haunted train rides.

That leaves parents of preschoolers with a short drive out of state. The Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad listed no Halloween ride for 2026, but two Connecticut trolley museums run daytime pumpkin trolleys within about an hour and a half of Providence, and on Halloween morning a storytelling train leaves Hyannis on Cape Cod. We cover them below so you are not left choosing between a scare and nothing.

The short version

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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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
Railway of HorrorsChepachetHauntedOct 16 to Oct 30 (7 dates)From $25About 45 minutesOlder kids who like spookySelling out

The rest of October at a glance

When each Rhode Island Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Rhode Island 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.

Chepachet: Railway of Horrors

Next: Fri Oct 16Best for: Older kids who like spookyFrom $25About 45 minutesDates left: Oct 16 to Oct 30

This is a haunted train ride through a live play staged in the woods, with live actors, theatrical scenes, special effects and jump scares. The operator rates it PG-13 for horror themes, gore, intense scares and mild adult language, and admits younger kids only at a parent's discretion. Every ride happens in full dark, since the first slot is 7:00 PM and sunset comes around 6:10 PM in mid October.

Tickets are timed, about 45 minutes per slot, at $25 per person, and the visit includes a Creature Courtyard, free carnival games and a souvenir button or sticker. Regular nights end Friday, Oct 30; Halloween shows no times in the booking system, so check the operator site. Rides are weather permitting and there are no refunds.

Railway of Horrors at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Haunted night train, rated PG-13 by the operator
Dates left
Fri Oct 16, Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25 and Fri Oct 30. Oct 31 has no times in the booking system; check the operator site
Tickets
As of Oct 14: Sat Oct 17 at 7:00 PM is sold out and Sun Oct 18 at 7:00 PM is nearly gone (about 12 seats); every other slot on Oct 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 and 30 has tickets
Times
Fridays and Saturdays 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 PM; Sundays 7:00 and 8:00 PM
Ride length
About 45 minutes per timed slot
What's included
Haunted train ride with live actors, theatrical scenes and special effects, plus the Creature Courtyard, free carnival games, photo ops and a souvenir button or sticker
Price
$25 per person
Ages and scare level
Rated PG-13 by the operator (horror themes, gore, intense scares, mild adult language); any age admitted at parents' discretion. Riders must be under 6 ft 5 in and 325 lb
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
Railway of Horrors, 474 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814

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.

Railway of Horrors Is Rated PG-13: What That Means for Your Five-Year-Old

Honestly, there is no Rhode Island Halloween train for a nervous preschooler this year. The Railway of Horrors uses live actors, gore and jump scares in the dark woods, and the operator rates it PG-13, leaving younger riders to their parents' judgment. That rating is worth taking seriously even for a brave nine-year-old.

If a younger sibling is begging to go because the big kids are, the better trade is a daytime pumpkin trolley in East Windsor or East Haven, Connecticut. You can tell them the scary train is a play for teenagers, with grown-ups in costumes acting, and that their ride has pumpkins at the end instead.

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

In our book, the train rolls into a tunnel and Rally cannot see anything at all. He is scared until his big ears catch happy cheers and a bright light appears, and then the train pops out beside cliffs and the sea. For little Rhode Islanders who are too young for the Chepachet woods, that tunnel is plenty of dark for one October. Print a few Rally train pages to color for the drive to Connecticut.

That seaside ending was my mom's idea, and the story behind Rally's book explains why it means so much to me.

Gentle Pumpkin Trolleys Next Door in Connecticut and Massachusetts

For a pumpkin ride, Connecticut is the answer for most Rhode Island families. The Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Providence, and the Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven is about 1 hour 40 minutes; both run daytime pumpkin trolleys. Dates and prices are on our Connecticut pumpkin trolley guide.

Massachusetts has two very different options. The new pumpkin patch train in Adams is out in the Berkshires, nearly three hours even from Boston, so it is a weekend trip rather than a Saturday morning outing. Much closer to Providence, about 1 hour 15 minutes away, Cape Cod Central runs a costumed Myths and Legends storytelling train out of Hyannis on the morning of Oct 31. Both are on our Massachusetts Halloween train page.

How Far Chepachet Is From Providence and Newport

Times are approximate with no traffic, and the last stretch to Chepachet is on dark, wooded roads at night, so give yourself extra time.

Drive times, no traffic

Chepachet
about 25 min from Providence; about 50 min from Newport

Rhode Island Nights in the Woods Get Colder Than the Bay

Rhode Island evenings in October drop into the 40s, and the air near the bay stays damp. Sunset is about 6:10 PM in mid October and keeps creeping earlier, so every Railway of Horrors slot, from 7:00 PM on, is a full-dark ride.

Chepachet sits in the wooded northwest corner of the state and runs a few degrees colder than Providence or Newport. Teens who insist on a costume should wear it over a hoodie, and everyone should wear real shoes, since you are out in the woods after dark. If you drive to Connecticut for a daytime pumpkin trolley instead, a fleece usually does the job.

Things Rhode Island Parents Should Know Before Buying Railway of Horrors Tickets

  • Tickets are timed, about 45 minutes each. Fridays and Saturdays have 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 PM slots; Sundays have 7:00 and 8:00 PM.
  • As of Oct 14, Saturday, Oct 17 at 7:00 PM was sold out and Sunday, Oct 18 at 7:00 PM had only about 12 seats, so aim for a later slot this weekend.
  • The operator rates the ride PG-13 for horror themes, gore, intense scares and mild adult language. Younger kids are admitted at a parent's discretion, so plan ahead if you have little siblings.
  • Price is a flat $25 per person with no refunds, and rides are weather permitting, so check the event's Facebook or Instagram before you drive out.
  • Regular nights end Friday, Oct 30. Halloween showed no times in the booking system, and Nov 1 is a separate, more intense night for guests 17 and older, so it is not a family option.
  • For a gentle daytime ride, the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Providence and runs Fridays through Sundays until Nov 1.

A train book for the ride

For a big train day without any actors in the woods, our guide to riding the Acela with kids through Providence is a different kind of adventure.

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 Chepachet
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.

Rhode Island Parents Ask About Halloween Trains, From Chepachet to Newport

What Halloween events are there in Chepachet, Rhode Island?

One Halloween event in Chepachet is the Railway of Horrors, a haunted night train that rolls through a live stage play staged in the woods, new for 2026. It runs Fridays through Sundays until Friday, Oct 30, with timed slots at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 PM (Sundays 7:00 and 8:00 PM). Tickets are $25 per person, and the operator rates it PG-13.

Is there a pumpkin train near Providence, RI for little kids?

Not in Rhode Island this year, based on our research, but two Connecticut pumpkin trolleys are within reach. The Pumpkin Patch Trolley at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Providence and gives each child a free sugar pumpkin. The Shore Line Trolley Museum's pumpkin trolley in East Haven is about 1 hour 40 minutes away and runs Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25.

What Halloween train rides are near Providence, Rhode Island?

The closest is the Railway of Horrors in Chepachet, about 25 minutes from Providence, a haunted night ride with live actors and jump scares that the operator rates PG-13. It runs Fridays to Sundays through Oct 30 at $25 per person. For younger kids, the nearest gentle option on most weekends is the daytime Pumpkin Patch Trolley in East Windsor, Connecticut, about 1 hour 25 minutes away.

Is there a Halloween train in Newport, Rhode Island this year?

No Newport train turned up in our research. The Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad listed no Halloween ride for 2026. The closest Halloween train to Newport is the Railway of Horrors in Chepachet, about 50 minutes away, a PG-13 haunted night ride that runs Fridays through Sundays until Oct 30. Newport families with small kids will need to head into Connecticut or out to Cape Cod for a gentle ride.

Can you wear a costume to the Railway of Horrors in Chepachet?

The organizers had not posted a costume rule in our research, so check the operator site before you dress up. Keep in mind that the ride runs through the woods after dark on chilly nights in the 40s, so any costume should fit over a warm layer, and masks that block vision are a bad idea when you are walking to and from a train at night.

Is the Railway of Horrors too scary for a toddler?

Yes. The Railway of Horrors is built to scare, with live actors, gore, special effects and jump scares in the dark woods, and the operator rates it PG-13. Younger kids are allowed only at a parent's discretion, and a toddler would likely find it frightening rather than fun. For little kids, a daytime pumpkin trolley in East Windsor or East Haven, Connecticut is the better fit this October.

Can I still get Railway of Horrors tickets for this weekend?

Yes, but not every slot. As of October 14, the 7:00 PM ride on Saturday, Oct 17 was sold out and the 7:00 PM ride on Sunday, Oct 18 was down to about 12 seats. Every slot on Friday, Oct 16, the later Saturday slots and the 8:00 PM Sunday slot still had tickets. Each ticket is $25, with no refunds, so check the weather first.

Is the Chepachet Railway of Horrors okay for a 10-year-old?

The operator rates it PG-13 and admits any age at a parent's discretion, so it is your call. Know what the rating covers: horror themes, gore, intense scares and mild adult language, delivered by live actors in dark woods, not a lighthearted costume ride. If your 10-year-old loves haunted houses and has done them before, read the ticket page closely before buying.

Is there a Rhode Island Halloween train ride that isn't scary?

Not this year, as far as our research found. Rhode Island's only Halloween train for 2026 is the Railway of Horrors, a haunted ride rated PG-13. The gentlest options nearby are out of state: the Connecticut Trolley Museum's Pumpkin Patch Trolley in East Windsor, the Shore Line Trolley Museum's pumpkin trolley in East Haven, and a Halloween morning storytelling train in Hyannis on Cape Cod.

Where is the closest kid-friendly Halloween train to Rhode Island?

On most weekends, it is the Pumpkin Patch Trolley at the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, about 1 hour 25 minutes from Providence, where each child picks a free sugar pumpkin; it runs Fridays to Sundays through Nov 1. On Oct 31 only, Cape Cod Central's family storytelling train leaves Hyannis at 11:30 AM, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Providence.

Is the Railway of Horrors open on Halloween night in Rhode Island?

Not as far as the booking system shows. As of October 14, Oct 31 had no ride times listed and the regular ticket run ends Friday, Oct 30, though no notice says Halloween was cancelled, so check the operator site. Sunday, Nov 1 is a separate, more intense night limited to guests 17 and older. For a Halloween week ride, Friday, Oct 30 is the last regular date.

What should teens wear to a night train ride in Chepachet in late October?

Warm layers and sturdy shoes. Rhode Island evenings in October drop into the 40s, and Chepachet sits in the wooded northwest corner of the state, a few degrees colder than Providence or Newport. Every Railway of Horrors ride starts after dark, at 7:00 PM or later, so bring a hat, and put any costume over a hoodie rather than skipping the jacket.

Kelsey Cecil
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