By rail · USA TRAIN TOURS

The 15 Best Train Rides in the USA

30 rail days  ·  from $21 a seat

Canyon lines, preserved branches and the sightseeing services that still run daily. These 15 cover the routes worth a whole day, priced by class with running times and boarding towns.

Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure Package - Inside the vintage cars
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Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure Package

1.Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure Package

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,821 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $186Our pick

You’ll ride a vintage train 20 miles along the Verde River near Sedona, with indoor seating, open-air viewing cars, lunch at the depot, appetizers, and a champagne toast. Guides such as Chris, Eric, and Neal add history and local stories, while the route reveals bridges, tunnels, mining sites, and cliff dwellings.

“Incredible scenery, wonderful hosts and just an unbelievable journey! well worth the time and money!”

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Key West Conch Tour Train - From Flagler’s railroad to the Conch identity
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Key West Conch Tour Train

2.Key West Conch Tour Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 792 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45

You’ll ride a covered Conch Tour Train through Key West with a local guide, hearing stories about Flagler, Hemingway, Truman, Audubon, and the island’s Conch residents. The route includes views of the Southernmost Point, Mallory Square, and historic districts, plus free admission to the Sails to Rails Museum.

“You get a lot of information about the area. They show where all the top spots are located so you can later go back. So you kind of get to know the area a bit. At check in they offer discounts for other activities so you may want to check with them before booking other things to see if you could save some money. All of the staff were very friendly.”

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Jackson Hole: Aerial Tram and Gondolas Sightseeing - Starting at Teton Village
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Jackson Hole: Aerial Tram and Gondolas Sightseeing

3.Jackson Hole: Aerial Tram and Gondolas Sightseeing

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 632 reviews · 3 - 5 days · from $55

Take a 12-minute tram ride 4,139 feet above Jackson Hole to Rendezvous Mountain. At the summit, walk the Grand Teton Skywalk, eat waffles at Corbet’s Cabin, and use the Bridger and Sweetwater Gondolas in peak season. English commentary, wheelchair access, and weather-dependent operation are included.

“Fantastic and awesome view ! Highly recommend! Waffles were delicious”

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Washington DC: Arlington Nat. Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour - Entering through the Welcome Center
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Washington DC: Arlington Nat. Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour

4.Washington DC: Arlington Nat. Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 544 reviews · 1 day · from $21Best value

Ride a blue trolley with a yellow roof through Arlington National Cemetery on a narrated 45-minute loop. Hop off at three locations, including JFK’s gravesite, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Arlington House. English-speaking guides, accessible trolleys, and flexible cancellation make this a practical choice for first-time visitors.

“Really enjoyed it. You learn a lot of history in your visit. I would say that the tour is short, unless you fully walk around.”

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New York City Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour - Starting at the Alexander Hamilton Custom House
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New York City Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour

5.New York City Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 411 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $49Top rated

Join a guide such as Ludie, Maia, Sean, or Maya for a 2.5-hour walk through Lower Manhattan’s African-American Freedom Trail. Learn how slavery shaped New York, visit the African Burial Ground, and connect city streets with stories of abolition, escape, and resistance.

“The Well and the African burial site And your terrific and very knowledgeable and kind your guide And I can’t remember her name It was this past wed 9/27 at 11”

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Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round-Trip Same Day Return - Meals, snacks, and the question of upgrades
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Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round-Trip Same Day Return

6.Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round-Trip Same Day Return

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 371 reviews · 14 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $226

You’ll ride the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward and back in one long, scenic day. Reserved seating, onboard narration, picture windows, open vestibules, and food for purchase make the journey easy. In Seward, choose your own walk, museum visit, meal, or separately booked excursion.

“Not given enough information about the return trip and missed the train coming back. The information was not on my itinerary.”

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Colorado: All Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad! - What the 110-minute train ride feels like
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Colorado: All Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad!

7.Colorado: All Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 296 reviews · 1h 50m · from $148

Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad for 110 minutes beside the Arkansas River, with access to an open-air car, fresh onboard meals, and English commentary. Guides such as Dylan, Bryson, Huber, and Ashley B have helped make the ride lively, though seating and canyon-side views are not always equal.

“Was Wonderful best train I ever go niece really nice the view off everything I’m in love I want to bring my Grandkids to this train”

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Mendenhall Glacier Express - The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
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Mendenhall Glacier Express

8.Mendenhall Glacier Express

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 266 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $83

Ride a comfortable, narrated coach from Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier, then explore independently for two hours. Walk forest trails, visit the glacier center, or hike to Nugget Falls. Drivers such as Archie, Alicia, Kenny, and other local guides add commentary during the ride, but no guide accompanies you at the glacier.

“Amazing experience and magical place and visiting this place was possible for this tour, I would not change my choice, punctuality, professionalism and exactly the perfect amount of time needed to see the glacier visit center and take a light hike to reach Nugget Falls, highly recommend anyone to take this tour with this company ✅❄️🙏🏽”

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Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg - Picking Your Seat Inside the Historic Railcars
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Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg

9.Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 260 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $53

Ride the historic Skunk Train 7 miles round trip from Fort Bragg beside Pudding Creek Estuary. Expect a narrated 75-minute trip, original railcars, an open-air car, snacks, and a short stop at Glen Blair Junction for a forest walk.

“Riding a train was lit. I had a crush no the kind lady running the snack bar. The puddin creek was puttin a smile a smile on my face.”

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Skunk Train: Wolf Tree Turn from Willits - Music, songs, and the social side of the trip
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Skunk Train: Wolf Tree Turn from Willits

10.Skunk Train: Wolf Tree Turn from Willits

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 258 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $70

From Willits, you’ll ride the historic Skunk Train through redwood country for about two hours. Expect live on-board commentary, possible guitar-led sing-alongs, an open-air car, and a 30-minute stop at Crowley. Wheelchairs, strollers, and service animals are welcome.

“It was a great experience. We really love the train and the staff that works on it. We’re all great. We do it again and recommend to others.”

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Ride, Dine and Unwind Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad! - Open-air cars versus Vista Dome seating
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Ride, Dine and Unwind Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad!

11.Ride, Dine and Unwind Aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad!

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 236 reviews · 1 hour 50 minutes (approx.) · from $139

Ride for about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Cañon City through the Royal Gorge beside the Arkansas River. You can move to an open-air car for photos, spot the suspension bridge, and order breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drinks from the 403 Grill. Food is extra.

“Amazing experience for family fun! We loved the #lasertrain. We had dinner, danced and watched the 45+ min laser show projected on the beautiful Royal Gorge! What an unforgettable evening shared with family and friends 🧡 We are hoping to return very soon, especially for the Polar Express!”

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Key West Conch Train Tour - What you see during the Old Town loop
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Key West Conch Train Tour

12.Key West Conch Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 234 reviews · 1 day · from $45

Spend a day using the Conch Train to see Old Town Key West, with a 60-minute narrated loop, a short break, and hop-on, hop-off flexibility. Hear tales of Mel Fisher, visit the included Sails to Rails Museum, and use the map and coupons to plan Duval Street stops.

“Julie was very knowledgeable! It was fun riding through the streets of Key West in an open-air vehicle, being shown interesting places and learning about the history of Key West. Thank you again1”

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Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Ride with Narration - Steam power is part of the appeal, but not guaranteed
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Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Ride with Narration

13.Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Ride with Narration

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 234 reviews · 1 hour · from $31

Ride the Logger Steam Train for one hour along historic logging tracks near Yosemite. Choose a covered or open-air car, hear stories about lumberjacks and the Madera area, and listen for guides such as Shawn, Sean, or Will, whose humor and clear storytelling add life to the trip.

“Shawn was very well educated and had very good sense of humor made the experience much better I would highly recommend a bit pricey due to commute time and gas”

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Fairbanks: Gold Dredge 8 Historic Train Tour - The Tanana Valley Railroad ride begins the story
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Fairbanks: Gold Dredge 8 Historic Train Tour

14.Fairbanks: Gold Dredge 8 Historic Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 219 reviews · 2 hours · from $89

At Gold Dredge 8, ride the narrow-gauge Tanana Valley Railroad, hear stories from guides such as Tim, see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and historic dredge, then try gold panning. The two-hour tour suits families, history fans, and anyone wanting a hands-on Fairbanks activity.

“Absolutely Amazing .. Learned alot and had a fabulous time !!!Shall return”

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Alaska Native Tour and Tram Combo - Riding the Goldbelt Tram to Mount Roberts
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Alaska Native Tour and Tram Combo

15.Alaska Native Tour and Tram Combo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 179 reviews · 1 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $145

Meet your guide near Juneau’s cruise docks for a small-group walk among Native totems, stories, and local traditions, then ride the Goldbelt Tram to 1,800 feet on Mount Roberts. Guides such as Nicholas and Damon add local history and personal stories. Allow one to four hours, depending on your pace.

“by Melissa_T -"We had a great time- our guide-Nicholas was awesome , he was very informative , had lots of local stories and history to share - answered all our questions- went on the tram- views were amazing, and the weather was beautiful! Saw no local wildlife( it was probably too many people!!- but we did not have to wait in any lines long! )”

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New in USA Train Tours

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★ 4.7NYC: History of Slavery & Underground Railroad Walking TourFrom $4987 reviews
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