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- Every holiday season, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado transforms into “The Polar Express” train for a special themed excursion inspired by the beloved book.
- During the two-hour outing, passengers are treated to hot cocoa, cookies, festive lights, and visits from Santa.
- You can choose from different seating tiers and packages, some of which come with perks like souvenir mugs.
Deep in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, a train rumbles down a rugged valley. A steam engine leads the way, pulling train cars filled with children anxious to see Santa and get “the first gift of Christmas,” first popularized by “The Polar Express” book by Chris Van Allsburg.
There is perhaps no better setting for a recreation of “The Polar Express” story than Durango, Coloradoa mountain town home to a vintage steam train. The steam locomotive, which was built in the early 1920s, makes the journey over the mountains between Durango and Silverton year-round. But, during the holidays, it transforms into The Polar Express for a special seasonal experiencetransporting passengers to the “North Pole.” This year, it’s running on most days between Nov. 21, 2025, through Jan. 3, 2026.
The magical journey begins at nightfall at the Durango Depot, where travelers anxiously wait for the powerful steam engine to chug around the corner. Tickets are collected, train cars are boarded, and the fun begins.
As the train departs the depot for the North Pole to pick up Santa, onboard chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies, while dancing and acting out a reading from “The Polar Express” book. Upon arrival at the North Pole, a village of lights welcomes the train, with glimpses of Santa and Mrs. Claus and dancing elves. On the return trip, holiday music sets the mood for Santa’s visit to each train car, where he gives the first gift of Christmas to each passenger.
After returning to the depot with Santa, everyone makes their way to the adjacent railroad museum, where Santa listens to Christmas wishes and takes photos.
The experience, while aimed at children, is really for anyone looking for a bit of magic and theatrics. The hugely popular seasonal excursion draws families and railroad enthusiasts year after year.
The Polar Express train journey clocks in at just over an hour, but the entire experience, including photos with Santa, takes around two hours. The train cars are all heated and have bathrooms, and every guest is treated to hot chocolate, cookies, and a small gift from Santa.
The Polar Express’ three seating tiers—coach, deluxe, and first-class—are mainly distinguished by seat type. The standard coach class fare includes padded, forward-facing seating, while the deluxe class cars have roomy, overstuffed seats and face-to-face seating. Travelers booking in the first-class car enjoy padded seating at a table and a vintage interior enhanced with Christmas decor. Those traveling in deluxe or first-class get a souvenir mug and tote.
Rates for the winter journey to the North Pole start at approximately $42 for adults (and kids ages 12 and over) and just over $31 for children ages two to 11. Pricing varies by tier and schedule, with higher fares for weekends and dates closer to Christmas.