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10 best fall foliage train rides in the US for 2024
By Allison Tibaldi,
5 hours ago
Getting there is part of the fun with a fall train ride. Instead of navigating busy highways on a family road trip , you can sit back and take in the autumn colors on a relaxing journey through scenic countryside. An ideal multigenerational adventure , fall foliage train rides give the whole family time for togetherness without anyone having to get behind the wheel.
Mount Washington Cog Railway. Visit White Mountains
The world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, New Hampshire's historic Mount Washington Cog Railway uses both steam and bio-diesel-powered locomotives to carry passengers to the summit of the tallest peak in the northeast. The three-hour round-trip fall foliage train ride departs and returns from Bretton Woods in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, close to the popular family vacation destination of North Conway .
While the coaches are mechanically state-of-the-art, a retro aesthetic replicates what travelers would have experienced in the early 1900s, making it a fun idea to incorporate as part of a multigenerational vacation with grandparents . Cold weather comes early at Mount Washington's high altitude, with leaves usually starting to blush by mid-September. During the one-hour layover atop the summit, you can explore the Mount Washington Observatory and enjoy views that stretch to five states, Canada, and the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express
New York to Vermont
The Ethan Allen Express is one of the most scenic train rides in North America. Amtrak
With daily service between New York City and Vermont, Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express fall foliage train ride takes you on a journey through storybook New England villages and upstate New York landscapes. Soak in snippets of cute farms and idyllic towns in the Hudson River Valley along with the glorious Green Mountains of Vermont.
The Green Mountain State is known for its autumn displays with oak, maple, and ash trees exploding in rainbow pops of crimson, tangerine, and saffron. The scenic train ride ends in the classic New England fall getaway spot of Burlington, a charming pedestrian-friendly city on the shores of Lake Champlain.
This three-hour Amtrak ride through portions of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine combines stops in some of New England’s most beloved cities with magnificent glimpses of seasonal colors. Running between Boston's North Station and Brunswick, Maine, the Downeaster is a leaf-peeper's delight in the fall. Blazes of color are punctuated by historic towns, New England beaches , and flocks of migratory birds flying overhead.
Along the way, you'll stop in the culinary sweet spot of Portland and feast on creamy clam chowder or the lobster roll of your dreams. The final stop on this foliage ride is Brunswick, where you can snap postcard-perfect photos from the top of Androscoggin Swinging Bridge, a suspension bridge built in 1892.
4. Rocky Mountaineer Rockies to the Red Rocks
Denver to Moab
The Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Red Rocks route comes with an air of old-time elegance. Rocky Mountaineer
The Rockies are a fairytale in autumn, and there’s no better way to appreciate their sublime beauty than fall foliage train rides onboard a luxury train. The Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rocks route is a two-day trip traveling between Denver and Moab. It runs until October, a good time to immerse yourself in a canopy of yellow created by countless Aspen trees.
With an air of yesteryear elegance, all of the Rocky Mountaineer routes are first-class all the way. At night, you’re escorted off the train to sleep in a fine hotel. Stellar service and top-notch dining on board are gravy on top.
5. Amtrak's Coast Starlight
Seattle to Los Angeles
Widely regarded as the most dazzling West Coast train route in the U.S., Amtrak's Coast Starlight links Seattle to Los Angeles. Lush forests, fertile valleys, and rambling stretches of Pacific shoreline await passengers.
As the weather cools, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California's expanse of evergreens, including Douglas fir and Western hemlock, are punctuated by broad-leaved maple, poplar, and alder trees in bold autumn shades. The peaks of the Cascade Range are ignited with splashes of yellow, red, and orange for a kaleidoscope of color.
6. Amtrak's Cardinal
New York to Chicago
Revel in a panorama of autumn tones as you traverse the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and the West Virginia countryside on Amtrak’s Cardinal , a route that meanders from New York to Chicago. Tall peaks, big cities, and small towns present scenery to suit a variety of tastes. Departing three days a week, this scenic train route delivers an eyeful of fall color over the course of its 26-hour journey.
7. Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's Frostburg Flyer
Cumberland to Frostburg
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is a heritage rail company that utilizes both steam and diesel locomotives. Passengers on the Frostburg Flyer ride in vintage rail cars from Cumberland to Frostburg as the train ascends an impressive swath of the Allegheny Mountains.
You'll cross hardwood forests brushed with a rainbow swirl of sunny yellows, brilliant oranges, and bold reds. Live commentary enhances the experience of the fall foliage train ride. The round-trip takes about four and a half hours, including a 90-minute stop in Frostburg.
8. Grand Canyon Railway
Williams, Arizona, to the Grand Canyon South Rim
The Grand Canyon Railway is a fun and car-free way to reach the Grand Canyon. Xanterra Travel Collection
The Grand Canyon is one of the country's natural wonders that every kid should see , but why drive there when you can ride a vintage train straight to the South Rim instead? The Grand Canyon Railway departs from Williams, Arizona, in the morning and returns in the afternoon. During the two-hour and 15-minute ride, you’ll enjoy live Wild West entertainment including strolling musicians and a hilarious mock train robbery.
Color changes on this route are more subtle than other fall foliage train rides, yet as you travel through Arizona’s high desert of red buttes, scrub brush, and pinyon pines, you'll be rewarded with crisp temperatures and a deep blue sky that combine to make it a fabulous way to soak in the changing landscape.
9. East Broad Top Railroad
Rockhill Furnace to Colgate Grove
Pennsylvania’s East Broad Top Railway offers quick one-hour fall foliage scenic train rides. East Broad Top
Located in Central Pennsylvania, the East Broad Top Railroad offers nostalgic one-hour fall foliage train excursions that are the perfect length if you're vacationing with toddlers or grade-school-aged kids. Constructed in 1872, East Broad Top Railroad is the oldest narrow-gauge railroad in the United States. The historical integrity of the railroad has been meticulously preserved, so a ride feels like a moving museum.
There’s no shortage of spectacular leaf peeping in the dense woodlands, too. Each October, the Great Pumpkin Patch Express invites kids to wear their Halloween costumes, meet Snoopy, and pick a pumpkin from the patch.
10. Amtrak's California Zephyr
Chicago to Emeryville
Amtrak’s California Zephyr weaves through the Rockies on its journey between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area Amtrak
Amtrak's California Zephyr travels daily between Chicago and Emeryville, California, with a connecting bus service to San Francisco. You don’t need to ride the 51-hour route in its entirety to make it a worthy fall trip. From the buttery hues of Colorado’s Aspen trees to the brilliant oranges and fiery reds of dogwoods and maples in the Sierra Nevada, expect a painter’s palate.
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