Fall foliage train rides are an affordable way to witness the glorious colours of fall. Whether you are a budget traveller, leaf-peeping fanatic, or a family looking for an affordable seasonal family journey, these lovely train rides provide terrific views at an affordable price.
There is something truly magical about being able to sit back and watch as Mother Nature performs her stunning colour show from the comfort of the window. We are going to look at and explore 7 of the best-priced fall foliage train rides in the country. We will provide information on locations, rates, and reasons to take each excursion. Let’s go!
Why Fall Foliage Train Rides Are the Perfect Escape
The Perfect Blend of Comfort and Scenery
Think about taking your seat in a comfy train chair, while nature is serving her best shows right outside your window. Fall foliage train rides offer a stunning experience like no other when witnessing the unbelievable transformation of fall. You get to enjoy the vibrance of the reds, golds, and oranges that make up the fall painter’s palette.
When you take scenic autumn train rides, your journey becomes part of your destination. You’ll find yourself naturally relaxed as you have removed all the pressures of navigating traffic and parking that are generally part of the experience of an autumn road trip.
Weather-Proof Adventure
Unlike hiking or outdoor tours, rain, wind, or a sudden temperature drop will not spoil your fall foliage train tours, since you’ll be snug inside a heated train car. You can sip hot beverages and snack while you watch and admire the dramatic backdrops of the colourful landscape.
Affordable Best Fall Foliage Train Rides
1. New England’s Classic Fall Leaf Train Rides
Your inspired autumn voyage begins with Conway Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire. Do not miss this brilliant fall foliage for just $25-45 per adult. The Notch Train traverses Crawford Notch State Park, and indeed, these colourful forests and mountains are worth visiting. You’ll travel through solid granite tunnels with maple, birch, and oak trees, creating incredible red, orange, and yellow fall colour landscapes.
The Cape Cod Central Railroad is another affordable train ride option at $29-39 per adult. This train ride takes you through cranberry bogs and coastal forest, where the fall leaf colours contrast vividly against the blue of the Atlantic. During your two hours, you find comfortable seating with large windows that highlight the many stunning views of New England’s famous foliage.
2. Smoky Mountains Fall Colours Train Ride
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in North Carolina is one of the best fall foliage train rides at any price. Tickets in peak leaf season range from $55 and upward for adults. Starting from Bryson City, your four-hour round trip will take you deep into the Nantahala Gorge. Here, more than 100 species of trees provide the best fall foliage colour change to the mountainsides across the Nantahala River.
You have the option of open-air cars for the full experience or one of the climate-controlled cabins for comfort. The train crosses historic trestles and runs beside the Tuckasegee River, giving numerous chances to see the varied diversity of the Smokies.
3. Pacific Northwest Fall Foliage Train Tours
Don’t forget about Washington State’s Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad. This fall train excursion costs $28-35 for adults. This 88-minute train ride through Pierce County gives you a different fall palette of gold, red, and green, lending to some dramatic contrast. You can join the train to find all the colours along the route.
In southwest Washington, the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad also offers a very affordable way to fall train rides for $22-28 per person. In the 13-mile round-trip crisscrosses second-growth forest, with bigleaf maples and red alders creating a canopy just low enough to leave you feeling surrounded by the Pacific Northwest’s distinctive experience of autumn colours.
4. Midwest Charm – Fall Leaves Train Ride Across Countryside
If we want to talk exceptional value for seasonal train rides with fall foliage, head to the Illinois Railway Museum, where adult tickets start at only $16. The train ride travels through McHenry County’s agricultural and wooded landscapes, while presenting a beautiful view of the Midwestern countryside and its stunning autumn colours.
Be ready, the train ride goes through rich golden corn fields and amber oak groves, navigating some patches of crimson sumac, all nicely sewn together across the land and all the way to the horizon.
Wisconsin’s East Troy Electric Railroad offers fall train rides that are pleasantly affordable at $20-25/adult. This journey through the Kettle Moraine region takes you through glacial hills that turn into mixed hardwood forests (yes, it has lots of sugar maple trees). Plus, you will be riding in some awesome electric streetcars for a little history in your fall colours ride.
5. Colorado’s Scenic Fall Train Rides in the Rockies
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad provides one of America’s most economical high-altitude fall foliage experiences priced between $89-109 for the full-day excursion. You will climb to 10015 feet through aspen groves where the entire mountainside is gold during the peak season in late September to early October.
If you would like budget-friendly fall train rides nearer to Denver, try the Georgetown Loop Railroad, which costs $29-34/adult. This 70-minute round trip gives you a chance to appreciate Colorado’s famous aspen forests along Clear Creek Canyon.
The romantic photos of the mining ruins with splashes of bright-yellow aspen leaves and the granite peaks backdrop will make this trip worthwhile for your Instagram page.
6. Pennsylvania’s Historic Fall Foliage Train Tours
Strasburg Rail Road offers a charming trip while blending history and the timeless beauty of autumn, for only $20-25/adult. You will take a 45-minute fall foliage tour through the great Amish farmland in Lancaster County, and enjoy panoramic views of rolling hills covered in mixed hardwood forests that show off some of the classic Pennsylvania fall colours.
The Stourbridge Line, located in Delaware Water Gap, offers scenic autumn train rides for $45-55/adult. The ride goes through nature’s unparalleled scenery along the idyllic Lackawaxen River, through pristine forests where the oak, hickory, and maple trees provide spectacular views and reflections in the calm waters below.
7. Vermont’s Affordable Fall Foliage Train Rides
Green Mountain Railroad provides quintessential Vermont fall experiences for a modest $29-39/adult. The journey will take you from Bellows Falls along the Connecticut River through valleys with sugar maple trees, with scenery that is some of the most photographed New England fall landscapes.
Mad River Valley has scenic trains that provide fall leaf peeping excursions at unbelievably reasonable prices that offer the best value for a Vermont fall foliage experience. You can enjoy the world-famous fall colours without paying the tourist-inspired premium prices associated with the destination with higher fall foliage traffic.
How to Save Money on Fall Foliage Train Tours
Book Your Fall Foliage Train Tours During Off-Peak Times
Fall foliage peak season runs from late September until early November. The popular fall foliage train rides will fill up quickly, so if you want to buy tickets, you should start searching 6-8 weeks in advance, especially for weekend departures.
Many scenic autumn train rides sell early bird tickets for early booking discounts, this can generate double discounts. If weekday departures are an alternative, your costs can be drastically reduced, too. If you can take a day trip on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the prices typically run 30-40% less than weekend prices.
Take Advantage of Early Bird and Group Discounts
Smart planners book their scenic autumn train rides months in advance to lock in early-bird prices. Most operators post their fall foliage train schedules by spring, so booking your fall leaf peeping trains before summer, you will typically save 15-25%.
Group rates are another great way to get cheap autumn train rides. You just need to collect your family, friends or neighbours to put together a group of ten or more. Most fall foliage tours have a significant group rate, sometimes saving on individual ticket prices up to 30%.
Choose Shorter Routes and Regional Options
While the most popular fall train rides are usually the most expensive and therefore newsworthy. Numerous regional, shorter, affordable fall train travel experiences offer equally beautiful vistas, sometimes at a fraction of the price. Instead of booking one of the premium luxury excursions, start by looking for local fall train rides that will take you on a 2-3 hour journey instead of one all-day ride.
Many destinations offer programs at a special price in the fall for train services, which can save you a lot of money compared to what you would pay for private tour companies. These programs focus on the scenery and the experience, not the premium extras, and they bring together the best fall train ride experiences.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Fall Train Rides
Choose the Right Time of Day
If you want your pictures of all the colourful changes to look their best, the morning departures, especially early morning, usually have the best light. Early morning light is the reason your pictures of all the fall colours can really pop, because the magic period of light called golden hour.
That being said, in the middle of the fall, a magical afternoon train trip experience could be quite enjoyable too, with sunset being a bonus. Most of the weekdays provide a more enjoyable experience as their vehicles are less crowded and even cheaper than weekend fall-leaf train rides.
Pack Smart for Your Journey
Depending upon where or what train you are riding, the temperature sometimes can vary in your train car and when you step outside, so it is best to layer your clothing. Always pack a light jacket regardless of the summer-like conditions.
You also want to consider packing snacks and water. Do not leave home your camera and binoculars with extra batteries and memory cards.
Select the Best Seats
You will want a window seat, but consider where you will get the better view of the scenery. Always check your route or ask your healing company, as this is common practice for fall-colours train rides.
Most companies will spread their seating in different locations throughout the trip. Some train services may have dome cars or observation deck cars, so when checking if there is an upgrade, it could cost only $10.
Conclusion
Taking a fall foliage train ride can be one of the best opportunities to enjoy the incredible scenery of fall at a budget-friendly price. There are many valuables to be had all across the country, and if you get a good itinerary, you may find ways to save a little money that you could put toward other adventures.
Start planning by looking up your favourite routes and comparing prices, and then simply book before all of the good deals are too tempting to resist. Your autumn adventure is waiting for you to enjoy your views, sit back and relax!
