Chugga chugga, choo choo! Trains have long been part of Cincinnati’s fabric. Entertrainment Junction, which has celebrated all things trains since 2008, recently announced it will close permanently in January. This news inspired us to put a list together of train attractions in the Cincinnati area – so you can keep your family's passion on the rails, chugging into the future.
Behringer-Crawford Museum
1600 Montague Road, Covington, bcmuseum.org.
Behringer-Crawford Museum is a museum that celebrates the history of Northern Kentucky from the lens of transportation: railroads, roads, rivers and runways. Level 1, the first floor, is “Riding the Rails” and is dedicated to railroads. The floor features artifacts from railroads, the last streetcar to run in Northern Kentucky and the Ray Faragher Garden Railway display.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Cost: $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens ages 60 and up, and $5 for children ages three to 17.
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Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.
The Cincinnati History Museum at Union Terminal features “Cincinnati in Motion,” a 1/64 scale, full-motion urban layout of downtown Cincinnati of the 1940s. The display features miniature railroads and landmarks such as the Roebling Bridge, City Hall and Carew Tower. The museum also has “Shaping Our City,” a display that explores how rails, rivers, and roads shaped the Cincinnati region throughout the centuries.
- Hours: Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: Tickets to the Museum Center’s Cincinnati History Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science, and The Children’s Museum costs $22.50 for ages 13 to 59 and $15.50 for ages 3 to 12 and 60 and older.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St., Avondale, cincinnatizoo.org.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden features the Safari Train, a green electric train on tracks, that provides riders with a tour of the zoo.
- Hours: The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden typically opens at 10 a.m. and closes anywhere between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
- Cost: Tickets range from $17 to $25 for ages 13 to 61 and $11 to $19 for ages three to 12 and 62 and up. The Safari Train costs $5 per ride but is free for Gold and Platinum members.
Cincinnati Dinner Train
2172 E. Seymour Ave., Roselawn, cincinnatidinnertrain.com.
Cincinnati Dinner Train hosts three-hour train rides with four-course dinners. The dinner tables seat four people. Cincinnati Dinner Train offers public dinner trains, locomotive cab rides and private dinner trains.
- Hours: The dinner train rides typically take place on Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Cost: Ticket prices are $120, $129.36 after Ohio sales tax, for ages 12 and up. The price does not include either gratuity or bar car purchases.
EnterTrainment Junction (closing in 2025)
7379 Squire Court, West Chester, entertrainmentjunction.com.
EnterTrainment Junction is a train-themed entertainment venue with two areas, Train Journey and A-Maze-N Funhouse. Train Journey features six displays: American Railroad Museum, Coney Island Display, Great Train Expo, Imagination Junction, Marble Display and World’s Largest Train Display.
- Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
- Cost: Admission starts at $9.95. Season passes are now available for $40, which grants access to both attractions until the venue closes permanently.
Kings Island
6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.
Kings Island is home to the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad, a recreation of a late 1800s railroad. The railroad features two locomotives, Blue No. 12 and Green No. 19. Both engines pull six coaches. Propane, rather than coal, is the power source for their engines. The locomotives run from Rivertown Station to Soak City Station and back. During the journey, the trains pass through an old Western town populated by cowboy mannequins.
- Hours: They vary. Visit the website for more info.
- Cost: Daily ticket prices start at $44.99.
Lebanon, Mason & Montgomery Railroad
16 E. South St., Lebanon, lebanonrr.com.
Lebanon, Mason & Montgomery Railroad is a railroad that hosts scenic train rides from Lebanon through its surrounding areas. The train rides have different themes including Murder Mystery Train, Pizza & Beer Train, Princess Express, Summer Steam Train, Wine & Cheese Train and more. Some train rides are just rides, and others feature costumed entertainers and/or food and beverages.
- Hours: They vary greatly. They can be as early as 9 a.m. or as late as 6 p.m.
- Cost: Train ticket prices vary greatly. Depending upon the train ride and its offerings, it can range from $15 to $100.
Liberty Center Express
7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township, liberty-center.com.
Liberty Center is a mall that houses the Liberty Center Express Train, an electric, trackless train that takes passengers on a journey through the mall. The train features authentic train sounds, bells and train whistles.
- Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
- Cost: $6 per ride. Free for children under age 1.
Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati
315 W. Southern Ave., Covington, cincirailmuseum.org.
The Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati is an outdoor museum in a railroad yard. The four-acre site features 80 historic railroad artifacts.
- Hours: The first Saturday of the month from May to October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cost: Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for children ages 10 and under.
The Station on the Levee
One Levee Way, Newport, newportonthelevee.com.
Newport on the Levee features The Station on the Levee. It is a trackless, electric train that moves through parts of Newport on the Levee.
- Hours: Vary. They are typically Friday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
- Cost: $5.
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