Halloween Train Rides in West Virginia (2026)

Trains and TravelHalloween Train Rides
Written By Kelsey Cecil

Updated October 14, 2026 · 14 min read

In Cass, a preserved logging town high in the Allegheny Mountains, a Halloween steam train leaves the depot at 5:00 PM and climbs into the mountains as the light goes, then rolls back down in the dark. That ride, the Cass Halloween Train, is the one Halloween train in West Virginia our research could confirm for 2026. It has two dates left after October 14, Friday Oct 30 and Saturday Oct 31, and because it is an evening ride that returns after dark we list it with the haunted rides, even though the railroad says it is for all ages. To compare with other states, see our state-by-state Halloween train finder.

Cass is remote, which is part of the magic and part of the planning. It is about 2 hours 30 minutes from Morgantown and about 2 hours 45 minutes from Charleston, the trip itself is about two hours, and fares run $75 for adults and $55 for children 4 to 11, with no meal included. Eastern Panhandle families have a closer daytime option in Cumberland, Maryland, and the Potomac Eagle and Durbin trains did not list a separate Halloween ride this year.

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 West Virginia 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 West 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.

RideTypeDates leftTicketsLengthBest forStatus
Halloween Train at Cass Scenic Railroad State ParkCassHauntedOct 30 to Oct 31 (2 dates)From $55About 2 hoursOlder kids who like spookySelling out

The rest of October at a glance

When each West Virginia Halloween train still runs

Oct 14Oct 21Oct 31

Pumpkin and costume ride Haunted ride Halloween night

West 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.

Cass: Halloween Train at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park

Next: Fri Oct 30Best for: Older kids who like spookyFrom $55About 2 hoursDates left: Oct 30 to Oct 31

This is a real steam train out of a preserved logging town, run by Mountain Rail West Virginia at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. It leaves Cass Depot at 5:00 PM, climbs into the mountains at dusk and returns after dark, for about two hours in all.

We file it under haunted because of the dark return, not because the railroad promises scares. Mountain Rail lists it for all ages, encourages costumes and gives children a bag of candy, so think of it as an atmospheric night ride. Fares are $75 for adults and $55 for kids 4 to 11; ages 3 and under ride free but still need a ticket, and the meal is not included. Restrooms are in Cars 3 and 8 and at Whittaker.

Halloween Train at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park at a glance

Type
Haunted ride: Evening Halloween steam train that returns after dark; railroad lists all ages
Dates left
Fri Oct 30 and Sat Oct 31
Tickets
Both nights bookable as of Oct 14, but seats are short: about 6 left for Oct 30 and about 20 for Oct 31
Times
Departs 5:00 PM
Ride length
About 2 hours to Whittaker Station and back, returning after dark
What's included
Evening steam train ride and a bag of candy for children; meal not included
Price
Adults (12 to 64) $75, seniors (65+) $73, military veterans with ID $71, children (4 to 11) $55; ages 3 and under free but need a ticket
Ages and scare level
All ages, per the railroad; the return trip is in the dark
Costumes
Costumes encouraged
Strollers
No stroller policy posted; Car 8 is accessible by advance reservation, so check the operator site
Parking
Not posted; check the operator site
Where
Cass Depot, 12363 Cass Rd, Cass, WV 26241

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.

Halloween Night in the Alleghenies Feels Like Winter

Cass sits high in the Allegheny Mountains, and Halloween evenings there are often in the 30s. Sunset is about 6:35 PM, so a 5:00 PM departure starts in daylight and the second half of the two-hour ride is cold and dark. Dress kids as you would for a winter evening: a warm coat, hats, gloves and something for the lap.

If your child is set on wearing a costume, choose one that fits over a coat, or plan to wear it at the depot for photos and bundle up once the train starts climbing. The Eastern Panhandle around Martinsburg is milder, but that does not help much in Cass, which is a mountain town with mountain weather.

Will the Dark Ride Back to Cass Bother a Four-Year-Old?

The thing to prepare for on this ride is darkness, not monsters. Mountain Rail lists the Cass Halloween Train for all ages, and our research found no mention of scare actors or haunted cars. But the train leaves at 5:00 PM, the sun sets around 6:35 PM, and the trip back down the mountain happens in real country dark, far from any city.

For a four-year-old who is uneasy in the dark, talk about it before you board: "It will get dark outside while we ride, and we will be right here together the whole time." A small flashlight or glow stick can help, and so can a favorite stuffed animal. For toddlers who melt down after supper, a two-hour evening ride is a lot, and that is worth weighing before you spend $55 to $75 a seat.

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 slides into a tunnel and Rally cannot see a single thing, and he is scared. Then a big bright light shows up and his big ears pick up happy cheers. I think about that page when I picture the Cass train coming back down the mountain after dark: the dark part is real, and so is the end of it. Pack some Rally the corgi coloring pages for the trip to Cass for the long drive in.

My mom dreamed up Rally and his grand-paw-rents before she passed, and how her idea became a book is the reason I wrote it.

West Virginia Planning Notes for the Cass Halloween Train

  • There are only two dates, Oct 30 and Oct 31, with one 5:00 PM departure, and as of Oct 14 only about 6 seats were left for Friday and about 20 for Saturday. Book before you commit to the drive.
  • Fares are $75 for adults, $73 for seniors, $71 for veterans with ID and $55 for kids 4 to 11. Children 3 and under ride free but still need a ticket, and the meal is not included.
  • Cass is a long drive from everywhere: about 2 hours 30 minutes from Morgantown and 2 hours 45 minutes from Charleston, and you will be driving home after a ride that ends in the dark.
  • Dress for the 30s. The return trip is cold and dark, so layers matter more than the costume.
  • Mountain Rail encourages costumes and has restrooms in Cars 3 and 8. It has not posted stroller or parking details, so check the operator site and bring a carrier for babies.
  • Eastern Panhandle families may find the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's daytime Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland, about 1 hour 10 minutes from Martinsburg, an easier fit for little kids.

The Long Road to Cass From Charleston and Morgantown

These are approximate times without traffic, and you will be making the return drive after a ride that ends in the dark.

Drive times, no traffic

Cass
about 2 hr 30 min from Morgantown; about 2 hr 45 min from Charleston

Gentler Halloween Trains Just Outside West Virginia

Eastern Panhandle families have the easiest daytime alternative: the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland, a gentle pumpkin ride about 1 hour 10 minutes from Martinsburg and 1 hour 45 minutes from Morgantown, at $14 for every rider. Our Maryland Halloween trains page covers it alongside Trolleyween and Walkersville.

Families near the Virginia line can look at Burke Lake Park's Ghost Town in Fairfax Station, a not-so-spooky daytime festival with a miniature train, about 35 minutes from Washington, on our Virginia Halloween train guide. Southern West Virginia is a longer drive from Kentucky's pumpkin trains in Versailles and New Haven, so map it from your town first; they are on our Kentucky Halloween train list.

A train book for the ride

For a train day without the dark, West Virginia families can ride the Cardinal with the kids through the mountains, a very different kind of trip from the Cass steam train.

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 Cass
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.

West Virginia Families' Questions About the Cass Halloween Train

What Halloween events are there for families in Cass, West Virginia?

One Halloween event for families in Cass is the Cass Halloween Train at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, an evening steam train on Oct 30 and 31. It leaves Cass Depot at 5:00 PM, climbs to Whittaker Station at dusk and returns after dark, for about two hours. Fares are $75 for adults and $55 for kids 4 to 11, and children get a bag of candy. Seats were scarce as of October 14.

Is there a Halloween train in West Virginia this year?

Yes, the Cass Halloween Train runs on Oct 30 and 31 from Cass Depot in the preserved logging town of Cass. It is a two-hour evening steam train that comes back in the dark. Our research found no separate 2026 Halloween ride on the Potomac Eagle or the Durbin trains, so Cass is the one West Virginia option we could confirm.

What are Halloween things to do with kids near Charleston, West Virginia?

The Halloween train closest to Charleston in our research is the Cass Halloween Train, about 2 hours 45 minutes away. It runs Oct 30 and 31, departs at 5:00 PM and lasts about two hours, finishing after dark, so plan for a late drive home. Fares are $75 for adults and $55 for children 4 to 11. It is a steam train in a preserved logging town that the railroad lists for all ages.

Is there a Halloween train ride near Morgantown, WV for kids?

Two options are within reach of Morgantown. The Cass Halloween Train is about 2 hours 30 minutes away, an evening steam ride on Oct 30 and 31 that returns after dark. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's daytime Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland, Maryland, is about 1 hour 45 minutes away on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25 at $14 a rider, and it suits younger kids better.

Is there a pumpkin train near Martinsburg, West Virginia?

Yes, the closest is across the line in Maryland. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Limited in Cumberland is about 1 hour 10 minutes from Martinsburg, a gentle daytime ride out to a pumpkin patch on Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25. The railroad lists one $14 fare for all ages. It is a better fit for preschoolers than the evening Cass ride.

Can kids wear Halloween costumes on the Cass Halloween Train?

Yes, Mountain Rail West Virginia encourages costumes on the Cass Halloween Train, and children get a bag of candy. Plan the costume around the cold, though. Halloween evenings in Cass are often in the 30s and the ride returns after dark, so a costume that fits over a winter coat works better than a thin one, or wear it for photos at the depot and bundle up once aboard.

Is the Cass Halloween Train too scary for a toddler?

It is more dark than scary. The railroad lists the ride for all ages, and our research found no scare actors or haunted cars. The harder parts for a toddler are the timing and the cold: it leaves at 5:00 PM, lasts about two hours and comes back after dark, when it is often in the 30s. Toddlers who fade after dinner may struggle.

Are there still Cass Halloween Train tickets for this weekend?

The Cass Halloween Train does not run this weekend; its only dates are Friday Oct 30 and Saturday Oct 31. As of October 14 both nights were still bookable, but the booking system showed only about 6 seats left for Friday and about 20 for Saturday. With one 5:00 PM departure each night, book on the railroad's ticket page now if you want to go.

How much is the Cass Halloween Train in 2026?

Adults ages 12 to 64 pay $75, seniors 65 and up $73, military veterans with ID $71 and children 4 to 11 $55. Kids 3 and under ride free but still need a ticket, and the meal is not included. The ride lasts about two hours, leaving Cass Depot at 5:00 PM on Oct 30 and 31 and returning after dark.

What should kids wear on the Cass Halloween Train at night?

Dress them for winter. Cass sits high in the Allegheny Mountains, Halloween evenings there are often in the 30s, and sunset is about 6:35 PM, so the second half of the ride is cold and dark. A warm coat, hat, gloves and a blanket for the lap are sensible. Put costumes over the coat or save them for photos at the depot.

How long is the Halloween train ride at Cass Scenic Railroad?

The Cass Halloween Train lasts about two hours. It leaves Cass Depot at 5:00 PM, climbs into the mountains at dusk and returns after dark. Add the drive, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Morgantown or 2 hours 45 minutes from Charleston, and it becomes a long evening for small children, so bring snacks and plan the trip around naps.

Is dinner included on the Cass Halloween Train?

No, the meal is not included in the fare, according to the railroad. The $75 adult and $55 child fares cover the train ride, and kids get a bag of candy. Since the train leaves at 5:00 PM and returns after dark, plan dinner around it. The railroad has not posted whether you can bring food on board, so check the operator site before packing a picnic supper.

Do the Potomac Eagle or Durbin trains run a Halloween ride in 2026?

Our research did not find a separate 2026 Halloween ride on the Potomac Eagle or the Durbin trains, so check the operators directly if you are hoping for one. The West Virginia Halloween train we could confirm is the Cass Halloween Train on Oct 30 and 31. For a daytime pumpkin ride, Eastern Panhandle families can look at Cumberland, Maryland.

Kelsey Cecil
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