Champlain Valley Dinner Train in Burlington, Vermont
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesScheduled departures from Burlington; check the booking calendar
The Champlain Valley Dinner Train is Vermont Rail System's three-hour dining excursion from Burlington to Middlebury, serving a three-course meal cooked on board while the Champlain Valley passes outside the windows of 1930s dining cars.
- Three-hour Burlington to Middlebury trip
- 1930s dining cars
- Three-course meal cooked on board
- Ages 5 and up
- Run by Vermont Rail System
Champlain Valley Dinner Train at a glance
- Hours
- Scheduled departures; phone line Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm
- Admission
- Dinner train from $220; Cocktails on the Rails from $75; Independence Day Flyer from $25
- Train rides
- Three-hour dinner train, Burlington to Middlebury round trip; lounge car cocktail rides; July 3 fireworks train
- Seasonal events
- Independence Day Flyer, Cocktails on the Rails
- Plan for
- About 3 hours on board
- Best for
- Anniversaries, date nights and families with kids 5 and up
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
- Parking
- Burlington parking information is linked from the railroad's planning page
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- AddressRailway Lane, Burlington, VT 05401(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(800) 707-3530
- Emailpassenger@vrs.us.com
- Websiterails-vt.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Champlain Valley Dinner Train
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Champlain Valley Dinner Train? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Burlington.
Rally Takes the Train
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From a 44-tonner in 1964 to dinner in a 1930s diner
The railroad behind the dinner train began small. On January 6, 1964, the Vermont Railway started its first day of operations in Burlington with a single GE 44-ton locomotive and a caboose, painted in the bright red that is still its signature. By the end of that first day, its owners could see it had a future.
That start grew into Vermont Rail System, which today runs more than 400 miles of railroad in three states with over 160 employees and hauls more than 25,000 freight cars a year, nearly 90 percent of it for Vermont businesses. The system also hosts Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express between Burlington and New York City.
Passenger trips are the public face of all that freight work. Vermont Rail System runs seasonal and charter passenger service under the name of its Green Mountain Railroad, using classic equipment configured as coaches, parlor cars, lounge cars and dining cars. The Champlain Valley Dinner Train is the flagship of those trips, pairing a meal cooked in an on-board kitchen car with a three-hour trip through farm country between Burlington and Middlebury, with historic narration along the way. The railroad's equipment has also appeared on screen, in films including Me, Myself and Irene, Cider House Rules and Hallmark's Moonlight and Mistletoe.
Three hours, three courses and a lot of Vermont out the window
Passengers board in Burlington and take their seats in 1930s dining cars. Over a three-hour round trip toward Middlebury, the crew serves a three-course dinner prepared in the kitchen car, while narration covers the history of the line. Riders describe views of Lake Champlain, mountains, farms and sunsets, and fall trips are a favorite for foliage.
Adults who want something lighter can book Cocktails on the Rails, a three-hour evening in the lounge car with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and cocktails for up to nineteen guests. For families, the Independence Day Flyer runs from Vergennes to Burlington for the July 3 fireworks on the Burlington waterfront, with return service after the show.
Don’t miss
- The 1930s dining carsThe setting is half the experience: classic cars with table seating, the way railroad dining used to feel.
- The on-board kitchen carEach three-course dinner is prepared aboard the train in its own kitchen car while you ride.
- Cocktails on the RailsAn adults-only lounge car evening limited to nineteen guests, with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.
- The Independence Day FlyerAn all-ages train from Vergennes to Burlington's July 3 fireworks, a way to skip the traffic.
- Historic narrationStories of the railroad and the valley are shared along the route between Burlington and Middlebury.
Better for older kids and special occasions
The dinner train is for riders age 5 and older, and with a three-hour run and a sit-down meal it suits school-age children who can stay at the table. Cocktails on the Rails is for adults 21 and over.
For families with younger children, the all-ages Independence Day Flyer is the easier pick: a round trip from Vergennes to Burlington for the July 3 fireworks, with fares starting at $25.
Plan your visit: tips for Champlain Valley Dinner Train
- Riders must be at least 5 for the dinner train and 21 for Cocktails on the Rails.
- Book through rails-vt.com or call (800) 707-3530 on a weekday.
- Fall trips are popular for foliage, so book early.
- Ask about the romance package if you are celebrating.
- Charters are available year-round for private events.
The railroad's big summer night is the Independence Day Flyer, which carries families from Vergennes to Burlington for the July 3 fireworks on the waterfront and back again, so nobody has to fight for parking. It is the one trip in the lineup open to all ages, with fares starting at $25 as of October 2026. For more family train ideas around the state, see our guide to Vermont train museums and rides.
The railroaders who run the dining cars
The dinner train is run by Vermont Rail System Passenger Services, part of a working freight railroad with more than 160 employees. Riders support it by booking trips, sharing reviews, and choosing its charters for weddings, parties and corporate events, which run year-round on coach, parlor, lounge and dining cars.
Pair dinner with rail history around Burlington
Before an evening ride, spend the afternoon at the Shelburne Museum railroad station, about 7 miles south, where Shelburne's 1890 depot is preserved. History fans can read up on the Vermont Rail System that runs the train, and the Rutland Railway Museum is about 61 miles south. See every train museum in Vermont for more.
- Vermont Rail System historic operationsBurlington / Rutland area, VT · same town
- Vermont Railway Museum / Shelburne Museum railroad collectionShelburne, VT · about 7 mi
- Montpelier & Wells River Railroad historic exhibitscentral Vermont, VT · about 37 mi
- Adirondack RailroadUtica / Thendara / Tupper Lake, NY · about 48 mi
- Rutland Railroad MuseumRutland, VT · about 61 mi
- North Creek Depot MuseumNorth Creek, NY · about 66 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Dinner beside a window while the countryside slides by sounds like the grown-up version of our book. Rally spends his ride pressed against an arched window, watching the ocean and greeting a white bird. Here it would be Lake Champlain and the mountains instead of the Pacific, and a three-course meal instead of corgi snacks. My mom dreamed up Rally's trip; you can read about her on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
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. 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
- Train museums in Vermont: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Vermont
- Halloween train rides in Vermont
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Champlain Valley Dinner Train?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train official website(opens in a new tab)
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train on X(opens in a new tab)
- Champlain Valley Dinner Train on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Champlain Valley Dinner Train: 20 questions riders ask
What is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train?
The Champlain Valley Dinner Train is a three-hour dining excursion from Burlington, Vermont, run by Vermont Rail System. Passengers ride in 1930s dining cars and are served a three-course meal cooked on board while the train travels through the Champlain Valley between Burlington and Middlebury, with historic narration.
How much are Champlain Valley Dinner Train tickets?
As of October 2026, Champlain Valley Dinner Train tickets start at $220, which includes the three-hour ride and the three-course meal. Prices can vary by date and package, such as the romance package. Check rails-vt.com for the current fare on your chosen date before you book.
How do I buy Champlain Valley Dinner Train tickets?
Book online through Vermont Rail System Passenger Services at rails-vt.com. You can also call (800) 707-3530, Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, or email passenger@vrs.us.com. Booking ahead is wise for fall foliage dates and special occasions.
Where does the Champlain Valley Dinner Train leave from in Burlington, VT?
The train departs from Burlington, Vermont, and the railroad lists its passenger services address as Railway Lane, Burlington, VT 05401. Your confirmation will show the exact boarding location. The railroad's planning page also links to Burlington parking information to help you find a spot.
What is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train route?
The official route is a three-hour round trip between Burlington and Middlebury through the Champlain Valley. Some third-party listings describe a turnaround at Vergennes, so check the trip details for your departure. Riders describe views of Lake Champlain, the mountains, farms and sunsets along the way.
How long is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train ride?
The Champlain Valley Dinner Train ride lasts about three hours, round trip from Burlington. Plan to arrive a little early for boarding, and allow for parking in Burlington. The Cocktails on the Rails trip is also three hours long.
What is on the Champlain Valley Dinner Train menu?
The train serves a three-course meal prepared in the on-board kitchen car. The specific menu is not posted with the trip summary and may change by season. Check the trip page on rails-vt.com or call (800) 707-3530 for the current menu and to ask about dietary needs.
Does the Champlain Valley Dinner Train post a menu with prices?
The dinner train is priced as a package, starting at $220 as of October 2026, which covers the ride and three-course meal. Drink prices and any add-ons are not listed in the trip summary. Call passenger services at (800) 707-3530 for drink pricing and the latest menu.
What is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train schedule?
Departure dates are posted on the rails-vt.com booking calendar and vary through the year. The railroad's phone line is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, at (800) 707-3530. Fall dates are popular for foliage, so check the calendar early.
Can kids ride the Champlain Valley Dinner Train?
Yes, if they are at least 5 years old; the dinner train is listed for ages 5 and up. With a three-hour ride and a seated meal, it suits children who can sit at a table for a while. For younger kids, the Independence Day Flyer is open to all ages.
What are the Champlain Valley Dinner Train reviews like?
Riders on Tripadvisor praise the service, the food and the scenery along Lake Champlain, and several mention anniversaries and the romance package. Fall riders note the foliage views. Reviews reflect past trips, so check the current details on the booking page.
Where can I see Champlain Valley Dinner Train photos?
The train's Instagram account and Vermont Rail System Passenger Services' Facebook page share photos of the cars, meals and scenery. The railroad's website also has a fleet section showing its Silver Fleet and specialty cars. Tripadvisor reviewers post their own pictures too.
What kind of cars does the Champlain Valley Dinner Train use?
The dinner train uses 1930s dining cars with comfortable table seating, plus a kitchen car where meals are cooked. Vermont Rail System's wider fleet includes coaches, parlor cars, lounge cars and dining cars, and its fleet page shows its Silver Fleet and specialty cars.
What is Cocktails on the Rails?
Cocktails on the Rails is a three-hour evening ride from Burlington in the lounge car, with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. It is for ages 21 and up and holds up to nineteen passengers per night. As of October 2026, fares start at $75.
What is the Independence Day Flyer?
The Independence Day Flyer is a round-trip train from Vergennes to Burlington for the July 3 fireworks on the Burlington waterfront, so riders can skip the traffic. It is open to all ages, and as of October 2026 fares start at $25. The outing takes about six hours in total.
Can I charter the Champlain Valley Dinner Train for a private event?
Yes. Vermont Rail System offers charters year-round for special events and filming, with coach, parlor, lounge and dining car options. Fill out the charter request form on rails-vt.com and send it in; an agent will discuss options and pricing, then send a contract.
Has the Vermont dinner train been in movies?
Yes. The railroad's equipment has appeared in productions including Me, Myself and Irene, Cider House Rules and Hallmark's Moonlight and Mistletoe. Film and commercial photography requests go through passenger services, while personal photography follows the railroad's posted policy.
Who runs the Champlain Valley Dinner Train?
The train is run by Vermont Rail System, which began on January 6, 1964 as the Vermont Railway with one GE 44-ton locomotive and a caboose. Today it runs over 400 miles of railroad in three states and operates passenger service under its Green Mountain Railroad name.
Is the Champlain Valley Dinner Train good for an anniversary?
It is a popular choice. The railroad offers a romance package, and past riders have described staff marking anniversaries with special touches. Mention your celebration when you book by calling (800) 707-3530 or noting it in your online reservation.
What train attractions are near the Champlain Valley Dinner Train?
Shelburne Museum, about 7 miles south of Burlington, preserves Shelburne's 1890 railroad station. The Rutland Railway Museum in Center Rutland, about 61 miles south, opens Saturdays, and the Adirondack Railroad in New York is about 48 miles away.
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