Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Rail preservation groupTrain ridesDaily Amtrak passenger train between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth
The Heartland Flyer is Oklahoma's only passenger train, a daily Amtrak run between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth that brought passenger rail back to the state in 1999.
- Started June 15, 1999
- Oklahoma's only passenger train
- 206 miles to Fort Worth
- Runs daily
Heartland Flyer at a glance
- Hours
- Daily train; check Amtrak for current departure times
- Admission
- Amtrak fares vary; book through Amtrak
- Train rides
- Daily Amtrak service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth
- Plan for
- A full day for a round trip
- Best for
- Families wanting a real train ride and rail history fans
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Heartland Flyer? 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 Oklahoma City.
Rally Takes the Train
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How passenger trains came back to Oklahoma
The Heartland Flyer began on June 15, 1999, as a joint venture between Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. Amtrak operates the train, and the states of Oklahoma and Texas have shared in its funding. Today it is the only passenger rail service in Oklahoma.
The route runs 206 miles between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. Each day's round trip starts in Oklahoma City in the morning and reaches Fort Worth in the early afternoon before heading home. Oklahoma public radio station KGOU has told the train's story in a three-part series on its history, its complicated funding and the future of passenger rail in the state. There is no separate Heartland Flyer museum or exhibit hall posted online; the train itself is the living history.
What a Heartland Flyer trip offers
A ride on the Heartland Flyer is a chance to see Oklahoma and north Texas from a passenger train window on a full day trip. Amtrak points riders toward the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the cattle drives at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. For more help planning, read our guide to Amtrak routes with kids.
Don’t miss
- The morning departure from Oklahoma CityThe daily round trip begins here, so Oklahoma City families can ride down and back in one day.
- Fort Worth StockyardsAmtrak suggests the Stockyards and its cattle drives as a reason to make the trip.
A real train ride for young rail fans
For kids who have climbed on museum cabooses, riding a working passenger train is the next step. The morning start from Oklahoma City and early afternoon arrival in Fort Worth make the trip manageable for families who plan snacks and quiet activities. Check Amtrak's site for current schedules, fares and child pricing.
Plan your visit: tips for Heartland Flyer
- The daily round trip starts in Oklahoma City in the morning.
- Book through Amtrak and check its site for current schedules and fares.
- Pair a ride with the Oklahoma Railway Museum, about 4 miles from the Oklahoma City end.
Who keeps the Flyer running
Amtrak operates the Heartland Flyer, and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation helped launch it in 1999, with funding shared by Oklahoma and Texas. Riding the train is the most direct way to support passenger rail in the state.
Train museums close to the Oklahoma City end of the line
The Oklahoma Railway Museum is only about 4 miles away and runs its own vintage train rides. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie is about 27 miles away, and the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma in Enid is about 66 miles away. Our list of train museums in Oklahoma has more.
- Oklahoma Railway MuseumOklahoma City, OK · about 4 mi
- Oklahoma Territorial Museum railroad exhibitsGuthrie, OK · about 27 mi
- Railroad Museum of OklahomaEnid, OK · about 66 mi
- Oklahoma Steam Threshers & Gas Engine Association railroad collectionPawnee, OK · about 71 mi
- Tulsa Route 66 Historical Village railroad collectionTulsa, OK · about 98 mi
- Wichita Falls Railroad MuseumWichita Falls, TX · about 122 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The train in our book is the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from San Diego, and the Heartland Flyer is its Oklahoma cousin, both real trains that families can ride. In the book, Rally gazes out an arched window at the sea and says hello to a white bird. On a ride to Fort Worth, kids might count fields instead of waves. Our train books for toddlers list is good company for the trip.
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 Oklahoma: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Oklahoma
- Halloween train rides in Oklahoma
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Heartland Flyer?
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.
Heartland Flyer: 20 questions about Oklahoma's passenger train
What is the Heartland Flyer?
The Heartland Flyer is a daily Amtrak passenger train that runs 206 miles between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas. It began on June 15, 1999, as a joint venture between Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and it is the only passenger rail service in Oklahoma today.
Is there a Heartland Flyer museum in Oklahoma City?
No separate Heartland Flyer museum or exhibit hall is posted online. The train itself, running every day since 1999, is the living history. For railroad exhibits in the Oklahoma City area, the Oklahoma Railway Museum is about 4 miles away and has a free walk-in rail yard and train rides in season.
When did the Heartland Flyer start?
The Heartland Flyer started on June 15, 1999. It was launched as a joint venture between Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, bringing passenger rail service back to Oklahoma. KGOU has covered the train's history and funding in a three-part series.
Where does the Heartland Flyer go?
The Heartland Flyer runs between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas, a route of 206 miles. The daily round trip begins in Oklahoma City in the morning, arrives in Fort Worth in the early afternoon, and then returns. Check Amtrak for the full list of stops along the way.
How long is the Heartland Flyer trip?
The route covers 206 miles. The train leaves Oklahoma City in the morning and reaches Fort Worth in the early afternoon, so a one-way trip takes much of the morning. Check Amtrak's current timetable before you book, since schedules can change.
How much does the Heartland Flyer cost?
Fares are set by Amtrak and change with the date and how early you book. Amtrak runs a page with savings on Heartland Flyer travel, so look there for current deals. Check child fares too if you are traveling with kids, and book through Amtrak's website or app.
Does the Heartland Flyer run every day?
Yes. The Heartland Flyer is a daily train, with a round trip that starts in Oklahoma City each morning and comes back from Fort Worth later in the day. Check Amtrak for the current timetable and any service alerts before you travel.
Is the Heartland Flyer the only passenger train in Oklahoma?
Yes. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation describes the Heartland Flyer as the only passenger rail service currently available in Oklahoma. That makes it the one way to ride a regular intercity passenger train in the state. For families, that makes it the easiest way to give kids a real long-distance train ride without leaving the state.
Who runs the Heartland Flyer?
Amtrak operates the Heartland Flyer. It began as a joint venture between Amtrak and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and the states of Oklahoma and Texas have jointly funded it. Questions about tickets and schedules go to Amtrak. Amtrak's website is the place for timetables, fares and service alerts.
Is the Heartland Flyer good for kids?
It can be a great first real train ride. The morning departure and early afternoon arrival keep the trip within a day, and kids get to watch the countryside roll by from a passenger seat. Bring snacks, books and quiet activities, and check Amtrak for child fares and onboard amenities.
Can you do a Heartland Flyer day trip from Oklahoma City?
Yes. Because the round trip starts in Oklahoma City in the morning, reaches Fort Worth in the early afternoon and then returns, families can ride down, explore for a while and come back the same day. Check Amtrak's timetable so you know your return departure time.
What can you do in Fort Worth on a Heartland Flyer trip?
Amtrak suggests watching real cowboys lead cattle drives at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Check the timing against the return train before you plan your day, and leave room for getting from the station to your stop. Families often like having one big plan for the day rather than trying to squeeze in several.
What can visitors from Texas do in Oklahoma City?
Amtrak points riders coming north toward rodeos and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Rail fans can add the Oklahoma Railway Museum, about 4 miles from the Oklahoma City end of the route, which offers free walk-in visits and seasonal train rides.
Who pays for the Heartland Flyer?
The Heartland Flyer has been jointly funded by the states of Oklahoma and Texas, with Amtrak operating the service. Its funding has a long and complicated history, which KGOU explored in a three-part series on the train's past, present and future.
Where can I learn the history of the Heartland Flyer?
KGOU, an Oklahoma public radio station, produced a three-part series on how passenger rail came back to Oklahoma with the Heartland Flyer, including its funding and future. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Wikipedia also cover the train's start in 1999 and its route.
How do I book Heartland Flyer tickets?
Book Heartland Flyer tickets through Amtrak. Amtrak's Heartland Flyer page lists the route and stops, and it also has a separate page of savings on Heartland Flyer travel. Booking early usually gives you more choice of fares, especially for weekend and holiday trips, so plan ahead if your dates are fixed.
Is there a Heartland Flyer exhibit at the Oklahoma Railway Museum?
The Oklahoma Railway Museum does not list a Heartland Flyer exhibit. It does show locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, cabooses and track equipment, and runs vintage diesel train rides on select Saturdays. It sits about 4 miles from the Oklahoma City end of the Heartland Flyer route.
Can you ride a vintage train near the Heartland Flyer station?
Yes. The Oklahoma Railway Museum, about 4 miles away, runs historic passenger coaches behind vintage diesels on the first and third Saturdays in season, plus a Halloween Train and The Polar Express. Pairing the two gives kids a modern Amtrak ride and a vintage train in one trip.
Does the Heartland Flyer stop in Tulsa?
One Amtrak summary mentions Tulsa, but the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Wikipedia describe the route as running between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth. Check Amtrak's official station list before you plan a trip around a specific stop. Stops can change over time, so a quick check saves surprises.
What train museums are near Oklahoma City?
The Oklahoma Railway Museum is about 4 miles from the Heartland Flyer's Oklahoma City end. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie is about 27 miles away, the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma in Enid about 66 miles, and the Oklahoma Steam Threshers and Gas Engine Association grounds in Pawnee about 71 miles.
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