Halloween Train Rides in Virginia (2026)
This October, Fairfax County turns the activity area at Burke Lake Park into a friendly ghost town, and the park's ride-on train keeps circling the lake through it, which makes a miniature park railway the only Halloween train in Virginia that our research could confirm for 2026. That is one family ride still running after October 14, a gentle pumpkin and costume style event rather than a haunted one, on Saturday Oct 24 and Sunday Oct 25. For other states, our roundup of Halloween trains for kids nationwide lists every ride we found.
It is worth being clear about what this is. Burke Lake's train is a small ride-on park train, not a heritage railroad with full size coaches, and the ticket covers a whole festival: the train, the carousel, mini golf, crafts and trick-or-treat houses, with costumes encouraged. Our research turned up no heritage railroad Halloween train anywhere in Virginia this year, so families who want a bigger train should look across the Potomac to Maryland or west to the mountains of West Virginia.
The short version
- Fairfax Station: Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park is the one Halloween train running in Virginia this year.
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 Virginia pumpkin train.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Compare every Virginia 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.
| Ride | Type | Dates left | Tickets | Length | Best for | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Town at Burke Lake ParkFairfax Station | Pumpkin and costume | Oct 24 to Oct 25 (2 dates) | From $20 | Not posted | All ages, toddlers welcome | On sale |
The rest of October at a glance
When each Virginia Halloween train still runs
Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night
Virginia 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.
- Sat, Oct 24
- Sun, Oct 25
Fairfax Station: Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park
Ghost Town is a festival with a train in it. The Fairfax County Park Authority calls it a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration, and from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days the park's activity area is themed as a friendly ghost town. The ticket covers a ride on the park's miniature train, which loops around Burke Lake, plus the carousel, mini golf, crafts and trick-or-treat houses.
Kids are encouraged to come in costume. The park's own page now confirms the prices: $20 in the online presale and $25 at the door, with children under 2 free alongside a paying adult. Presale closes at 11:59 PM two days before each date, so Oct 22 for Saturday and Oct 23 for Sunday. Online registration sold out in 2025, so do not count on door tickets.
Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park at a glance
- Type
- Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime not-so-spooky festival with a park miniature train
- Dates left
- Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
- Tickets
- Online presale open as of Oct 14 and closes 11:59 PM two days before each date (Oct 22 for Oct 24, Oct 23 for Oct 25); sold-out status not posted, and online registration sold out in 2025
- Times
- 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM both days
- Ride length
- A loop on the park's miniature train plus time at the festival activities
- What's included
- Miniature train ride, carousel, mini golf, crafts, trick-or-treat houses and other family activities
- Price
- $20 online presale, $25 at the door; under 2 free with a paying adult
- Ages and scare level
- No minimum age stated; the park calls it a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration
- Costumes
- Costumes encouraged No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
- Strollers
- No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
- Parking
- Not posted; check the operator site
- Where
- Burke Lake Park train station, 7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Tickets on the railroad’s site
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.
Adult tee
Sizes XS to 5XL, black, printed with the tunnel page from the book.
Kids tee
Sizes S to XL, black, printed with the tunnel page from the book.
Toddler tee
Sizes 2T to 5T, black, printed with the tunnel page from the book.
Baby bodysuit
Sizes 3 to 18 months, black, printed with the tunnel page from the book.
How Far Burke Lake Is From Northern Virginia, DC and Richmond
Times are approximate and assume no traffic, which is optimistic on a fall weekend in Northern Virginia.
Drive times, no traffic
- Fairfax Station
- about 35 min from Northern Virginia and Washington, DC; about 1 hr 40 min from Richmond
Is a Place Called Ghost Town Too Much for a Nervous Three-Year-Old?
The name sounds scarier than the event. Fairfax County describes Ghost Town as a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration, it runs entirely in daylight, and the train is a small open ride-on train looping the lake, with no tunnels, haunted cars or scare actors in our research. For most toddlers and preschoolers, the carousel and the costumes will be the highlight.
If your child gets nervous about the word ghost, try reframing it before you go: these are friendly cartoon ghosts, the kind that say boo and then giggle. Let them pick one activity area to skip if it looks too dark or loud, and save the train ride for when they are calm, since a lap around the water is a soothing way to reset.
There is a page in our book where the train goes into a tunnel, Rally cannot see a thing, and he is scared. Then a big bright light appears and his big ears catch happy cheers. A place called Ghost Town can feel like that tunnel to a little one before you arrive, and then it turns out to be sunshine, a carousel and a train around the lake. Print a few Rally coloring pages to bring to Burke Lake for the picnic table.
My mom dreamed up that brave little corgi, and I wrote our family's story of the book down for her.
Burke Lake Ghost Town Notes Virginia Parents Should Read First
- Book online early. Presale closes at 11:59 PM two days before each date (Oct 22 for Saturday, Oct 23 for Sunday), online registration sold out in 2025, and the $25 door tickets depend on what is left.
- The presale price is $20 and children under 2 get in free with a paying adult, per the Burke Lake Park page. One ticket covers the train, the carousel, mini golf, crafts and the trick-or-treat houses.
- Hours are 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Oct 24 and Oct 25, so a toddler can go in the morning and still be home for a nap.
- The train is a park miniature train, open air, circling Burke Lake. Set expectations for kids who are picturing a big steam locomotive.
- Costumes are encouraged. The park has not posted a stroller or parking policy for Ghost Town, so check the operator site.
- Our research found no heritage railroad Halloween train in Virginia for 2026, so the nearest full size options are in Maryland and West Virginia.
Late October in Virginia: Sweater Weather at the Lake, Colder in the Mountains
In Northern Virginia, late October days usually reach the 60s and nights fall into the 40s. Ghost Town runs from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, so most families will be there in the warmest part of the day, but the Burke Lake train is open air and a ride along the water can feel cooler than the parking lot.
A costume that fits over a long-sleeve shirt is the sweet spot. If you stay until close, bring a jacket for the walk back to the car. Western Virginia's mountains run colder, and families out that way are actually closer to West Virginia's Cass Halloween Train, where the evening ride calls for winter layers.
Bigger Trains a Short Drive From Virginia: Maryland and West Virginia
Northern Virginia families have the most options over the river. Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville, Maryland, is a gentle streetcar ride about 40 minutes from Arlington, and from Winchester the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's daytime pumpkin train in Cumberland is about 1 hour 15 minutes away at $14 a seat. Our Maryland pumpkin train guide has all six of that state's rides.
For western and southwest Virginia, the Cass Halloween Train in West Virginia is about 2 hours 45 minutes from Roanoke. It is an evening steam ride that comes back after dark, which we file with the haunted rides even though the railroad lists it for all ages. Read our West Virginia Halloween train page before you decide if it suits your kids.
A train book for the ride
For a full size train day with no ghosts at all, Virginia families can ride the Northeast Regional with kids or try the mountain scenery on the Cardinal as a family trip.
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 Fairfax Station
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 AmazonMore for train families
- Halloween train rides in every state: pumpkin trains and haunted rides by state
- Northeast Regional with kids: a different kind of train day
- Cardinal with kids: a different kind of train day
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Halloween books for toddlers for the drive home
Sources
- Fairfax County Park Authority, Burke Lake Park: Ghost Town
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.
Virginia Parents Ask About Ghost Town at Burke Lake and Nearby Halloween Trains
What is there to do for Halloween in Fairfax Station, Virginia with kids?
One family Halloween event in Fairfax Station is Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park, a not-so-spooky festival on Saturday Oct 24 and Sunday Oct 25 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets include a ride on the park's miniature train around the lake, the carousel, mini golf, crafts and trick-or-treat houses. Presale tickets are $20, and costumes are encouraged.
Is there a Halloween train in Virginia this October?
Yes, but it is a park miniature train rather than a heritage railroad. Burke Lake Park's Ghost Town in Fairfax Station runs Oct 24 and 25, and the ticket includes a ride-on train loop around Burke Lake. Our research found no full size Virginia railroad running a Halloween train in 2026. The closest heritage options are across the line in Maryland and West Virginia.
What Halloween train rides are there near Northern Virginia for little kids?
The closest is Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station, about 35 minutes from the DC area, on Oct 24 and 25. Across the Potomac, Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville, Maryland, is about 40 minutes from Arlington on Oct 24, 25 and 31. Walkersville Southern's pumpkin train in Maryland is about 1 hour 10 minutes away. All are gentle family rides.
Is there a Halloween or pumpkin train near Richmond, Virginia?
The nearest one in our research is Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station, about 1 hour 40 minutes from Richmond. It runs Oct 24 and 25 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and includes a ride on the park's miniature train, a carousel and themed activity areas. Our research did not find a Halloween train closer to Richmond for 2026.
What Halloween trains are closest to Roanoke, Virginia?
The closest in our research is the Cass Halloween Train in Cass, West Virginia, about 2 hours 45 minutes from Roanoke. It is an evening steam train ride of about two hours, leaving at 5:00 PM on Oct 30 and 31 and returning after dark. Fares are $75 for adults and $55 for kids 4 to 11, and seats were running low as of October 14. Burke Lake's Ghost Town in Northern Virginia is the in-state option, but it is much farther from Roanoke.
Is there a pumpkin patch train near Winchester, Virginia?
Yes, the closest is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland, Maryland, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Winchester. It is a gentle daytime ride of about an hour out to a pumpkin patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, and riders pick a pumpkin. As of October 14 a few departures were down to their last seats, so book before you drive.
Can kids wear costumes to Ghost Town at Burke Lake Park?
Yes, costumes are encouraged at Ghost Town, and costume fun is part of what the park advertises. Since the event runs in daylight from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and the train is open air, a costume that fits over a long-sleeve shirt works well. The park has not posted rules about masks or props, so check the operator site if your child's costume has accessories.
Is Burke Lake Ghost Town too scary for a toddler?
No, it is built for young kids. Fairfax County calls Ghost Town a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration, and it runs in daylight with a carousel, a small ride-on train and themed activity areas. Our research mentions no scare actors or dark tunnels. If the word ghost worries your toddler, describe it as friendly cartoon ghosts and let them skip any area that feels too busy.
Can I still get Burke Lake Ghost Town tickets this weekend?
Ghost Town is not this weekend; it runs Saturday Oct 24 and Sunday Oct 25. As of October 14 the $20 online presale was open, and it closes at 11:59 PM on Oct 22 for Saturday and Oct 23 for Sunday. No sold out notice was posted, but online registration sold out in 2025, so book soon rather than counting on $25 door tickets.
How much are Burke Lake Ghost Town tickets in 2026?
Tickets are $20 in the online presale and $25 at the door, according to the Burke Lake Park page, and children under 2 get in free with a paying adult. The price covers the miniature train ride, the carousel, mini golf, crafts and trick-or-treat houses. Presale ends at 11:59 PM two days before each date, and online sales sold out last year.
What kind of train is the Burke Lake Park train?
It is a small ride-on park train, a miniature railway rather than a full size heritage train with coaches. During Ghost Town it loops around Burke Lake as part of the festival. Kids who love trains still enjoy it, but if yours is expecting a big locomotive, set expectations ahead of time.
Is there a Halloween train on October 31 near Arlington, Virginia?
Yes, but it is in Maryland. Trolleyween at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville runs Oct 24, 25 and 31 and is about 40 minutes from Arlington. It is a family Halloween event with themed rides on vintage streetcars. Times and prices were not posted where our research could read them, so check the operator site. Burke Lake's Ghost Town ends Oct 25.
What should kids wear to Ghost Town at Burke Lake in late October?
Plan for a mild day with a cool breeze. Northern Virginia afternoons in late October usually reach the 60s, and the Burke Lake train is open air beside the water. A costume over a long-sleeve layer covers the middle of the day, and a jacket is smart if you stay until the 5:00 PM close, since evenings drop toward the 40s.
Rally’s Spooky Train RideThe no-fuss Halloween costume
Skip the costume hassle. Wear Rally.
No itchy masks, no last-minute store run, no meltdown on the platform. Pull on the tunnel tee from the book and you are dressed for a Virginia pumpkin train, warm under a jacket, and matching in every photo.
Who is riding?
Shop the kids tee
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