Halloween Train Rides in Washington (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 17 min read

In Snoqualmie, kids in costume ride a Halloween train through the valley and then step into the Northwest Railway Museum's Train Shed Exhibit Hall for Halloween activities among the historic engines. Two Washington rides still have dates on or after October 14, and both are gentle pumpkin and costume rides: that Halloween Train and a headless horseman run in Yacolt. There are no haunted ones. To see what other states have, open our nationwide Halloween train guide.

Two other western Washington favorites are out of reach. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad's Family Halloween Train in Elbe, which added a new East Creek Junction stop for 2026, earlier posted that it was sold out, and we could not confirm any open dates since, so check the operator site. The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad's Pumpkin Train ran Oct 10 and 11. That leaves Snoqualmie as the pick for Seattle, Tacoma and the Eastside, now with three weekends left, and the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Yacolt run for families near Vancouver.

The short version

  • Seattle, Tacoma and Eastside families should look at the Snoqualmie Halloween Train, about 35 minutes from Seattle, with three weekends left through Nov 1; the early trains on Oct 17 and the 10:30 AM North Bend train on Oct 18 were almost full as of Oct 14.
  • Families around Vancouver and Portland are closer to the Headless Horseman Halloween Run in Yacolt, one weekend only, Oct 24 and 25, with a horseman riding beside the train and a trip through a rock tunnel.

Neither ride is haunted, so the real decision is distance and which weekend works.

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 Washington 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 Washington 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
Halloween Train at the Northwest Railway MuseumSnoqualmiePumpkin and costumeOct 17 to Nov 1 (6 dates)From $16About 2 hoursAll ages, toddlers welcomeSelling out
Headless Horseman Halloween Run on the Chelatchie Prairie RailroadYacoltPumpkin and costumeOct 24 to Oct 25 (2 dates)From $18Not postedAll ages, toddlers welcomeOn sale

The rest of October at a glance

When each Washington Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

Washington 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.

Snoqualmie: Halloween Train at the Northwest Railway Museum

Next: Sat Oct 17Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $16About 2 hoursDates left: Oct 17 to Nov 1

The museum encourages costumes for all ages, and every child gets a small gift. The train runs through the valley with a 30-minute stop at the museum's Railway History Campus, where Halloween activities happen among historic trains, and the whole round trip takes about 2 hours, which is long for a toddler, so pack snacks. You can board at Snoqualmie Depot or at North Bend Depot.

The season now runs three weekends, through Sunday, Nov 1. Fares are $32 for adults, $28 for seniors and $16 for kids 2 to 12, with under 2 free. As of Oct 14, the early Snoqualmie trains on Oct 17 and the 10:30 AM North Bend train on Oct 18 were nearly full, while later weekends had plenty of seats.

Halloween Train at the Northwest Railway Museum at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime costume train, family friendly
Dates left
Sat Oct 17, Sun Oct 18, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Sat Oct 31 and Sun Nov 1
Tickets
All dates on sale as of Oct 14; Oct 17 at 11 AM (2 seats) and 1 PM (4 seats) from Snoqualmie and Oct 18 at 10:30 AM from North Bend (5 seats) nearly gone; later weekends have plenty of seats
Times
From Snoqualmie Depot: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. From North Bend Depot: 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM
Ride length
About 2 hours round trip, including a 30-minute stop at the Railway History Campus
What's included
A costumed train ride through the valley, Halloween activities at the museum's campus and a small gift for every child
Price
$32 adults (13 to 61), $28 seniors (62+), $16 children 2 to 12, under 2 free; no refunds unless the train does not run
Ages and scare level
No minimum age stated; the museum calls it family friendly
Costumes
Costumes encouraged for all ages; no prop guns No costume? The Rally tunnel tee counts.
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King St, Snoqualmie, WA 98065 (also boards at North Bend Depot)

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

Yacolt: Headless Horseman Halloween Run on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad

Next: Sat Oct 24Best for: All ages, toddlers welcomeFrom $18Dates left: Oct 24 to Oct 25

The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Halloween run is a daytime diesel train out of Yacolt in southwest Washington, and its star is a headless horseman who rides alongside the train. The railroad treats him as a photo op rather than a scare. The route also passes through a 330-foot rock tunnel on the way toward Moulton Station, a short dark stretch worth mentioning to small kids beforehand.

It runs Saturday, Oct 24 and Sunday, Oct 25, with trains at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM; the railroad added the 9 AM train this year because of demand. Fares are $24 for adults, $23 for seniors and $18 for kids 3 to 12. Costumes are welcome. Ride length, strollers and parking were not posted, so check the operator site.

Headless Horseman Halloween Run on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad at a glance

Type
Pumpkin and costume ride: Daytime Halloween train with a headless horseman photo op, not scary
Dates left
Sat Oct 24 and Sun Oct 25
Tickets
On sale as of Oct 14; the 11:00 AM train on Oct 24 had 19 seats left and every other departure showed space
Times
9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM each day
Ride length
Not posted; check the operator site
What's included
A diesel train ride through a 330-foot rock tunnel toward Moulton Station, plus a photo op with the Headless Horseman
Price
$24 adults, $23 seniors 60+, $18 youth 3 to 12
Ages and scare level
Family ride; the horseman is there for photos, not scares
Costumes
Costumes welcome
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Yacolt station, 207 N Railroad Ave, Yacolt, WA 98675

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

Already wrapped for 2026

  • Family Halloween Train (Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad), Elbe: The railroad earlier posted that its 2026 trains were sold out, including the new East Creek Junction stop (fares were $40 for adults and $20 for youth); no open dates could be confirmed as of Oct 14, so check the operator site.
  • Pumpkin Train (Chehalis-Centralia Railroad), Chehalis: Ran Oct 10 and 11 and has wrapped for this year.

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.

Snoqualmie Halloween Train Tips for Washington Families

  • Snoqualmie now runs three weekends: Oct 17 and 18, Oct 24 and 25, and Oct 31 and Nov 1. As of Oct 14, the 11 AM and 1 PM Snoqualmie trains on Oct 17 and the 10:30 AM North Bend train on Oct 18 had only a handful of seats left.
  • Snoqualmie fares are $32 for adults, $28 for seniors and $16 for kids 2 to 12; under 2 ride free, and there are no refunds unless the train does not run.
  • Each Snoqualmie trip is about 2 hours round trip with a 30-minute stop at the Railway History Campus. Bring snacks and plan around nap time.
  • Costumes are encouraged at Snoqualmie and every child gets a small gift, but prop guns are not allowed.
  • Yacolt's Headless Horseman run is one weekend only, Oct 24 and 25, and the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad added a 9:00 AM train this year because of demand.
  • Costumes are encouraged, but bring a rain jacket that fits over them; Snoqualmie is usually wetter than Seattle.
  • Do not plan around Elbe or Chehalis: the Mt. Rainier Family Halloween Train earlier posted that it was sold out and no open dates could be confirmed, and the Chehalis Pumpkin Train has already run.

From Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane to Snoqualmie and Yacolt

Rough drive times with no traffic; I-90 on a fall weekend can add a good chunk to the Seattle trip.

Drive times, no traffic

Snoqualmie
about 35 min from Seattle; about 50 min from Tacoma; about 4 hr 15 min from Spokane
Yacolt
about 2 hr 45 min from Seattle; about 2 hr 15 min from Tacoma; about 5 hr 30 min from Spokane

Snoqualmie's Halloween Train Is Built for Costumes, Not Frights

Washington has no haunted train on the list this year. The museum describes the Snoqualmie ride as family friendly, and in Yacolt the Headless Horseman is there for photos, not scares. Plan instead for Snoqualmie's length, about 2 hours, and for Yacolt's 330-foot rock tunnel, a short dark stretch, plus a crowd of other kids in costume, which can be a lot for a shy toddler.

If your child is wary of masks, tell them ahead of time that everyone on the train is dressed up, grown-ups included, and that a mask is just a costume with a person inside. Let them choose whether to wear their own costume on the train or save it for the Train Shed.

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, Rally meets Mr. Conductor, who wears a blue uniform and holds out his hand. That small moment is what helps a nervous little dog step onto a big train. On a costume train like Snoqualmie's, your child will be surrounded by superheroes and pumpkins, and a calm hello from the crew at the door can do the same job.

Print a few of our Rally and Mr. Conductor coloring pages for the drive. The book is my mom's story, and here is how it came to be.

Rain Jackets Over the Costumes in the Cascade Foothills

Western Washington in October means temperatures in the 50s and drizzle, and Snoqualmie sits in the Cascade foothills, where it is usually wetter than Seattle. Plan on rain jackets over costumes, and pick costumes that still work with a hood up.

Because the event runs about 2 hours, bring a dry layer or a spare pair of socks for small kids. Spokane families driving over the pass should check road conditions before leaving.

Oregon and Idaho Options for Washington Families

Southeast Washington families have a gentle option across the line: the Sumpter Valley Railroad's Halloween Express in Sumpter, Oregon, is about 2 hours 30 minutes from Walla Walla and runs Oct 31 and Nov 1 behind a jack-o'-lantern-faced diesel. It is on our Oregon Halloween train page.

Idaho has no confirmed Halloween railroad this year, and Coeur d'Alene families are about 5 hours from Snoqualmie, as our Idaho guide notes.

A train book for the ride

For a long train day from Seattle without costumes, our guides to the Coast Starlight with toddlers and the Empire Builder with kids cover two big Amtrak routes out of Seattle.

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 Snoqualmie
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.

Seattle, Snoqualmie and Yacolt Parents Ask About Washington Halloween Trains

What Halloween events are there for kids in Snoqualmie, Washington?

One family Halloween event in Snoqualmie is the Northwest Railway Museum's Halloween Train, a gentle costume ride on Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and Nov 1. Trains leave Snoqualmie Depot at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, and the trip is about 2 hours with a 30-minute stop at the Railway History Campus. Fares are $32 for adults, $28 for seniors and $16 for kids 2 to 12, and every child gets a small gift.

Are there Halloween events for kids in Yacolt, Washington?

Yes, Yacolt's Halloween train is the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Headless Horseman Halloween Run on Saturday, Oct 24 and Sunday, Oct 25, with trains at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. A headless horseman rides beside the train for photos, and the route goes through a 330-foot rock tunnel. Fares are $24 for adults, $23 for seniors and $18 for kids 3 to 12.

Is there a Halloween train from North Bend, Washington?

Yes, the Northwest Railway Museum's Halloween Train also boards at North Bend Depot, with departures at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM on Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and Nov 1. It is the same gentle costume ride as the Snoqualmie trains. As of October 14, the 10:30 AM North Bend train on Oct 18 had only a few seats left.

Is there a Halloween train near Seattle for little kids?

Yes, the Northwest Railway Museum's Halloween Train in Snoqualmie is about 35 minutes from Seattle. It is a family-friendly costume ride with a stop at the museum's Railway History Campus, running weekends through Nov 1, and kids 2 to 12 ride for $16. The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Headless Horseman run in Yacolt is about 2 hours 45 minutes south, on Oct 24 and 25.

What are Halloween things to do with kids near Tacoma?

One option is the Northwest Railway Museum's Halloween Train in Snoqualmie, about 50 minutes from Tacoma, a gentle costume ride on Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and Nov 1 that takes about 2 hours round trip. Yacolt's Headless Horseman Halloween Run is about 2 hours 15 minutes south on Oct 24 and 25, if your kids would rather ride through a tunnel with a horseman alongside.

Is there a Halloween train ride near Spokane?

Not close by. Our research found no Halloween train ride in eastern Washington this year, and the Northwest Railway Museum's Halloween Train in Snoqualmie is about 4 hours 15 minutes from Spokane. It runs Oct 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 and Nov 1 and lasts about 2 hours. Check pass conditions on I-90 before making the drive.

Is there a pumpkin train in Washington this October?

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad's Pumpkin Train ran Oct 10 and 11 and has wrapped for this year. The Halloween rides still running are the Northwest Railway Museum's costume train in Snoqualmie, on weekends through Nov 1, and the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Headless Horseman run in Yacolt on Oct 24 and 25. Neither railroad has posted a pumpkin patch as part of its ride.

Can kids wear costumes on the Northwest Railway Museum Halloween Train?

Yes, the Northwest Railway Museum encourages costumes for all ages on its Halloween Train, and every child gets a small gift. Prop guns are not allowed. Snoqualmie sits in the Cascade foothills and is usually wetter than Seattle, with October temperatures in the 50s, so pick a costume that works under or over a rain jacket.

Is the Snoqualmie Halloween Train too scary for a toddler?

No, the Northwest Railway Museum calls it family friendly, and it is a costume ride rather than a haunted one. The bigger challenge for a toddler is length: the trip is about 2 hours round trip, including a 30-minute stop. Children under 2 ride free. Bring snacks, and if masks on other riders bother your child, talk about them before you go.

Is the Chelatchie Prairie Headless Horseman train scary for little kids?

It is not billed as a scare event. The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's headless horseman rides alongside the train out of Yacolt and poses for photos. The one dark moment is the 330-foot rock tunnel, so tell a toddler ahead of time that the train goes into a tunnel and comes back out. Costumes are welcome, and youth fares cover kids 3 to 12.

Can we still get Snoqualmie Halloween Train tickets for this weekend?

Some, but act fast. As of October 14, the Snoqualmie Halloween Train was on sale for Oct 17 and 18, but the 11:00 AM Snoqualmie train on Oct 17 was down to 2 seats, the 1:00 PM train to 4, and the 10:30 AM North Bend train on Oct 18 to 5. The other departures that weekend were not flagged as nearly full, and later weekends had plenty of seats.

Is the Mt. Rainier Family Halloween Train sold out?

It may be. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad earlier posted that its 2026 Family Halloween Train, with a new East Creek Junction stop and fares of $40 for adults and $20 for youth, was sold out. As of October 14 that notice was gone, but no dates or open seats could be confirmed, so check the operator site. Snoqualmie and Yacolt both had confirmed seats.

How long is the Halloween Train at the Northwest Railway Museum?

Plan on about 2 hours round trip, including a 30-minute stop at the museum's Railway History Campus. Trains leave Snoqualmie Depot at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM and North Bend Depot at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM, so pick a slot that leaves room for lunch and a nap afterward.

What should kids wear to a Halloween train in Snoqualmie?

Rain gear over the costume. Western Washington in October usually means temperatures in the 50s and drizzle, and Snoqualmie in the Cascade foothills is usually wetter than Seattle. A costume that works with a hood up, waterproof shoes and a spare pair of socks will keep small kids happy through a 2-hour outing.

Did the Chehalis-Centralia Pumpkin Train run this year?

Yes, but it is already over. The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad's Pumpkin Train ran Oct 10 and 11 and has wrapped for the season. Southwest Washington families who still want a Halloween ride can look at the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Headless Horseman run in Yacolt on Oct 24 and 25, or the Northwest Railway Museum's Halloween Train in Snoqualmie through Nov 1.

Kelsey Cecil
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