Pioneer Park Railroad in Fairbanks, Alaska
Outdoor rail parkTrain ridesPark train runs in summer; check with Pioneer Park for the current schedule and fares
The Pioneer Park Railroad is the summer train that runs around the perimeter of Fairbanks' 44-acre Pioneer Park, a borough park of historic buildings and museums where railroad history is never far away.
- Train circles the park perimeter
- 44-acre history park
- Free park admission
- Harding Car on the grounds
- Tanana Valley Railroad Museum nearby
Pioneer Park Railroad at a glance
- Hours
- Summer; check with Pioneer Park for current train times
- Admission
- Park admission free; train fare charged
- Train rides
- Summer train around the park perimeter; confirm fares and times locally
- Plan for
- Half a day for the park
- Best for
- Families with young kids visiting Fairbanks in summer
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
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 Pioneer Park Railroad? 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 Fairbanks.
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.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
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.
A history park with a train around the edge
Pioneer Park is a 44-acre city park in Fairbanks run by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Department of Parks and Recreation. It commemorates Alaska's history with museums and historic displays, including a village of original buildings moved from downtown Fairbanks, so visitors can get a sense of the Interior a century ago.
Running around the perimeter of the park is its train, a summer favorite with families. Travel guides list a regular summer park train with fares, while admission to the park itself is free. Rail history runs through the grounds as well: the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum keeps Engine No. 1 and another early locomotive called Old 67, and the Harding Car, a Pullman passenger car also known as Denali and numbered X-336 by the Alaska Railroad, was one of three cars that carried President Warren G. Harding's delegation in 1923 to the Mears Memorial Bridge ceremony.
The park does not post the train's schedule online, so check with Pioneer Park for this summer's times and fares.
What to see from the train and on foot
The ride gives a loop around the park's edge, and on foot you can explore the historic village, the carousel, local shops and rustic cabin restaurants. Rail fans should walk to the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, where Engine No. 1 is fired up for special events, and to the Harding Car, the railroad car tied to the 1923 completion of the Alaska Railroad.
Don’t miss
- The park trainA summer train that runs around the perimeter of Pioneer Park.
- Harding Car (Denali, X-336)The Pullman car that carried President Harding's party in 1923 to mark the Alaska Railroad's completion.
- Tanana Valley Railroad MuseumHome to Engine No. 1, which is still fired up for special events, and the early locomotive Old 67.
A ride, a carousel and room to explore
The park train and carousel make Pioneer Park an easy outing with young kids, and free park admission lets you pay only for what you ride. After the train, walk over to see Engine No. 1 at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum and peek at the Harding Car.
Plan your visit: tips for Pioneer Park Railroad
- Confirm the train schedule and fares with Pioneer Park before you go.
- Park admission is free, so you pay only for rides.
- Combine the ride with Engine No. 1 at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum and the Harding Car.
- Directories give the park address as 2300 Airport Way.
A borough park and its volunteers
Pioneer Park is run by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Department of Parks and Recreation, and volunteer groups such as the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad care for the park's rail history. Riding the train, shopping and dining in the park, and supporting the Friends all help keep these attractions going.
Rail history steps from the train
The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum is right inside Pioneer Park, home to Engine No. 1. For more rail stops across the state, see train museums in Alaska, or browse our national train museum guide.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A little train circling a whole park full of old cabins sounds like a view worth a front seat. In our book, Rally looks out an arched window at the ocean and greets a white bird. Fairbanks has no ocean, but I imagine Rally pressing his nose to the glass here anyway, watching the old buildings slide past and saying hello to whoever waves back.
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 Alaska: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Alaska
- Halloween train rides in Alaska
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Pioneer Park Railroad?
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.
Pioneer Park Railroad in Fairbanks: 20 questions families ask
What is the Pioneer Park Railroad in Fairbanks?
The Pioneer Park Railroad is the train that runs around the perimeter of Pioneer Park, a 44-acre history park in Fairbanks, Alaska. The park is run by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and includes museums, historic buildings, a carousel and rail history such as the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum and the Harding Car.
What is the Pioneer Park train schedule?
The park train's schedule is not posted online. Travel guides describe it as a regular summer train, so plan your visit for the summer season and check with Pioneer Park or the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation department for this year's times.
What are the Pioneer Park train hours?
Train hours are not posted online. The train runs in summer, and nearby attractions such as the Harding Car are open 10 am to 6 pm from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, which gives a rough idea of the park's season. Confirm the train's daily times with Pioneer Park.
How much is the Pioneer Park train ride?
Travel guides list current fares for the summer park train, but the park does not post the amount in its online listings. Admission to Pioneer Park itself is free, so you pay only for the ride. Ask at the park for the current fare when you arrive.
Is Pioneer Park free?
Yes. Travel guides note free park admission at Pioneer Park. Some attractions inside, such as the train, charge their own fares, while others, such as the Harding Car and the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, have been listed as free in summer.
Where does the Pioneer Park train go?
The train runs around the perimeter of Pioneer Park. It is a loop ride around the grounds rather than a trip to another town, which makes it a good length for young children. You can get off and explore the village, museums and carousel afterward.
What is Pioneer Park Railroad Days?
No Railroad Days event is described in Pioneer Park's online listings. If you have heard of one, check with Pioneer Park or the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad, who fire up Engine No. 1 for special events, for dates and details.
Is there a train museum in Pioneer Park?
Yes. The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum is in Pioneer Park. It displays Engine No. 1, which is still fired up for special events, along with another early locomotive dubbed Old 67, and it tells how the Tanana Valley Railroad served Fairbanks' first industry.
Where is the Pioneer Park train in Fairbanks?
Pioneer Park is in Fairbanks, Alaska, and directories give its address as 2300 Airport Way. The train runs around the edge of the park. Once you arrive, ask at the park for where to board.
What is Pioneer Park in Fairbanks?
Pioneer Park is a 44-acre city park run by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Department of Parks and Recreation. It commemorates Alaskan history with multiple museums and historic displays, a village of original buildings moved from downtown Fairbanks, a carousel, a train, local shops and rustic cabin restaurants.
What is the Harding Car at Pioneer Park?
The Harding Car is a Pullman passenger car, also called Denali, that the Alaska Railroad designated X-336. It was one of three cars that carried a delegation including President Warren G. Harding in 1923 to the Mears Memorial Bridge for a ceremony marking the railroad's completion.
Is the Pioneer Park train good for toddlers?
Yes. A loop around the park is a manageable ride for small children, and the carousel and open grounds give them more to enjoy. Free park admission makes it easy to keep the visit short if little ones get tired.
How long is the Pioneer Park train ride?
The ride length is not posted online. Because it is a loop around the perimeter of the 44-acre park rather than a trip to another town, expect a fairly short ride that suits young children. Ask at the park when you buy your ticket for the current running time.
Is the Pioneer Park train open in winter?
Travel guides describe the train as a summer attraction, so do not count on it running in winter. Check with Pioneer Park or the borough's Parks and Recreation department for any off-season events, and plan a June, July or August visit if the ride is the main goal.
How long should I spend at Pioneer Park?
Plan about half a day to ride the train, try the carousel, visit the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum and the Harding Car, and walk through the historic village. Add a meal at one of the park's cabin restaurants if you want to stay longer.
Who runs the Pioneer Park Railroad?
Pioneer Park is run by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Department of Parks and Recreation. Pioneer Park does not publicly name a separate operator for the park train, so ask the park directly with questions about the ride.
Is Pioneer Park wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility details for the park and train are not posted online. Contact the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation department before your visit to ask about paths around the grounds, boarding the train with a wheelchair or stroller, and access to the museums inside the park.
Is there parking at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks?
Parking details are not posted online. The park is at 2300 Airport Way, and the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum inside it is described as reached via Airport Way and Peger Road. Ask the park about parking for larger vehicles.
Can you see a steam train at Pioneer Park?
Yes. The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Pioneer Park is home to Engine No. 1, which is still fired up for special events, and to another early locomotive called Old 67. Check with the museum's volunteers for steam-up dates.
What train attractions are near the Pioneer Park Railroad?
The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum is right inside Pioneer Park, and the Harding Car is on the grounds too. Together with the park train, they make Pioneer Park the main stop for rail history in Fairbanks.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.