Top Train Rides and Railroad Adventures in Northern California, Ranked

If you love trains, turns out California is a great state to be. We have a pretty insane number of railroad attractions, and that couldn’t be any more true of Northern California. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Railtown 1897 – State Park

This one makes the top of our list because it’s got it all – the longest running roundhouse in the United States, historic train cars you can explore, a train ride on vintage coach cars pulled by historic steam engines and diesels, and a stellar gift shop featuring Thomas and Friends Wooden Railroad, Brio and beyond.

Visiting this rail town and embarking from a train there makes you feel a part of a unique aspect of California’s history that is all too often forgotten now, and is also a great spot for movie fans excited to see their favorite trains from the silver screen.

2. California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento

Although Railtown 1987 may have it all, Sacramento is a more posh, refined experience. Here you will see historic engines and rail cars in pristine condition, and be able to board trains and poke around them to an extent you wouldn’t be able to just about anywhere else. There’s a reason this museum is usually considered not only the top railroad museum in California but also in the whole United States – it has 20 engines all restored to their original, pristine condition.

Not to mention that nearby you have the station for the museum’s own excursion trains. The legendary Polar Express holiday train experience launches from here. All of this combined makes the California State Railroad Museum a must-see for any railroad enthusiast.

And, if that weren’t enough, there’s also a large exhibit on model trains, and a play area for littler ones to burn off some energy playing with wooden trains after seeing their bigger counterparts first hand.

3. Roaring Camp

Roaring Camp is located in Felton, CA. It lacks the strong historic draw that Railtown 1897 capitalized on, and doesn’t have a world class railroad museum, or too many historic cars and engines lying around for you to explore. But it does offer increidlby scenic views from vintage cars, as well as a gorgeous steam powered locamotive that takes you for a ride through the forest.

If forests aren’t your thing, you might be interested in the Santa Cruz beach train, which takes you right into the heart of the action at the Santa Cruz Beach Board Walk.

Roaring camp also offers a ton of fun events for train lovers of all ages, and this one may just boast the best riding experience of them all.

4. Coast Starlight

As if it weren’t enough to have all of these historic options, California also happens to be home to one of the greatest train routes of all – the Coast Starlight.

Technically, this isn’t a Northern California only destination, as the train makes it’s way up and down the coast, making the incredible trip from Los Angeles, CA, and finally finishing in Seattle, WA. But boarding in Nor Cal for the ride up to WA is easy enough to do in Sacramento, and the trip is well worth it for the adventurous.

We recommend getting a sleeper car. It’s pricey, but well worth it, giving you a comfortable vantage point to enjoy everything this indelibly scenic ride has to offer. Unlike the other adventures on this list, the Coast Starlight has a multitude of draws to it beyond the immediacy of railway enthusiasm. It can serve as an event of its own, a romantic getaway, a daring adventure for the young and old alike, or even a beautiful yet convenient mode of travel for students looking to slow down and enjoy the finer things rail life has to offer.

5. Pixie Express Train Adventure

Lacking the historicity but none of the fun for little ones is the Pixie Express Train Adventure. Hop onboard this miniature train during a day of play and imagination in a theme park nearly as old as Disneyland itself. Pixie woods is a hidden gem located in Stockton California, and one of its best features by far is the Pixie Express Train. It’s also incredibly cheap – only two dollars per ticket! (children under two-year’s-old ride free.

Pixie Woods also boasts a boat ride, a carousel, and plenty of parks and even a splash pad. If you’re looking for a very small child friendly train option, you can’t go wrong with Pixie Woods!