All Aboard! The South's Best Train Rides for Fall Foliage

Take in the change of seasons in a whole new way this fall with a rollicking train ride through some of the South's most beautiful landscapes. There's really no better way to see trees shift from green to burnished gold and glowing red than from the window of a train. Many Southern states are home to daily or weekly train rides ideal for seeing fall foliage—as well as autumn specials to get you and your family on the rails and making memories together this season.

Peak foliage dates will vary depending on where you are traveling, so be sure to check the Smoky Mountains' Fall Foliage Prediction Map to help you plan your leaf-spotting train trip. If you're able to book a ride during the height of the color change, you're in for a vibrant autumnal journey on the tracks. We've rounded up a few of the best train rides for spotting the South's changing leaves, so browse the list and make a reservation in advance—these trips are popular and can book up quickly!

Virginia Scenic Railway

Location: Staunton, Virginia

Take in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia on the Virginia Scenic Railway. There are two excursions available, the Alleghany Special and the Blue Ridge Flyer. Rides includes a meal and dessert selection, plus a drink served in a souvenir glass.

Big South Fork Scenic Railway

Location: Stearns, Kentucky

Explore the great outdoors from the comfort of a railcar with a trip on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, which is owned and run by the McCreary County Heritage Foundation. The Fall Color Run excursion, which runs throughout November, is a three hour roundtrip ride to the Barthell Coal Camp, with many scenic views of mountain streams and fall leaves along the way.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Location: Blue Ridge, Georgia

Hop aboard and ride the rails on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, a journey leaving from Blue Ridge, Georgia's charming historic depot. You'll pass the changing colors of the Chattahoochee National Forest and the serene waters of the Toccoa River in your choice of open-air rail cars or climate-controlled ones. The 26-mile round trip makes a two hour lunch/shopping/sightseeing stop before returning to Blue Ridge. The Fall Foliage tours run from the end of September to the beginning of November.

Dollywood Express

Location: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

One of the highlights of a trip to Dollywood is a 20-minute ride on the Queen of Country's namesake train. The 110-ton coal-fired steam engine takes riders on a five mile excursion through the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum

Location: Versailles, Kentucky

Enjoy a one-hour, seven-mile train ride through Kentucky's Woodford County, from Versailles to Tyrone along the Kentucky River, with the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum. These rides are rain or shine thanks to the comfortable, beautiful (and enclosed) antique coaches. Each October, Pumpkin Patch trains are a must-ride family favorite.

Branson Scenic Railway

Location: Branson, Missouri

Take a picturesque 40-mile trip through the Ozark Mountains on the Branson Scenic Railway. Travel across the foothills, through tunnels, and over trestles as you crisscross the landscape. There are multiple departures each day; check the calendar for details and to make reservations.

Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad

Location: Durbin and Cass, West Virginia

Secure train tickets for the fall edition of the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad's Cass Scenic Bald Knob Trip (departing from Cass Depot) to travel through Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Or choose from a variety of other excursions (of varying trip lengths and amenities), including the Cass Scenic Whittaker Trip and the newest offering, the Greenbrier Express, which follows the Greenbrier River to the small mountain village of Durbin, and back.

Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway

Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Hop aboard the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway, and take an Excursion Train Ride, which is narrated by the conductor and travels an hour along the scenic Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad. The railway also hosts a Lunch Train and Dinner Train experience in an elegant dining car from May through October.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Location: Bryson City, North Carolina

You and yours will find endless fun on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, with fall foliage train tours leaving from Bryson City, North Carolina. (Be sure to check out their peak fall color map to find the best dates for your trip.) You'll traverse the rolling hills of Western North Carolina, and have your pick of riding in their open-air gondola or a dine-in first-class car. The Nantahala Gorge and Tuckasegee River excursions are popular, so book ahead.

Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee

This might be one of the shortest train rides—just 1 mile—but it's also one of the most exciting. Board The Incline Railway to make your way up to Chattanooga's Lookout Mountain. The views get better and better the higher the train climbs (at a steep 72.7 grade), and of course, there's plenty to do once you reach the top (Ruby Falls, anyone?).

My Old Kentucky Dinner Train

Location: Bardstown, Kentucky

Enjoy your dinner with a side of gorgeous views from the windows of My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. You'll have dinner while riding the rails through the Kentucky countryside. Check the train's calendar for details and ticket prices—and book early!

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

Location: Romney, West Virginia

Pick one of two excursions (a three-hour trip or an eight-hour trip) on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad to take in the sights and sounds of autumn in West Virginia. As you ride past the Potomac River, you may catch glimpses of bald eagles as you enter the Trough, a gorge near the river.

Tennessee Valley Railroad

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee

The Tennessee Valley Railroad ride—a.k.a. the daily Missionary Ridge Local—offers memorable trips of varying times that the whole family will enjoy. Dinner trains and even tea-time train rides are available. Don't miss the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, which has an impressive collection of vintage cars.

Three Rivers Rambler

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

If you find yourself near Knoxville, hop aboard the Three Rivers Rambler for a steam-train ride through the changing leaves of the Tennessee countryside. The depot, which is located near the University of Tennessee campus, offers classic rides and The Christmas Lantern Express during the holiday season.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Location: Cumberland, Maryland

If you're looking to take a scenic excursion via steam train, this Maryland locomotive adventure is for you. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has year-round offerings, but the train rides are most popular in autumn when the fall foliage arrives in full force. The route begins in Cumberland, moving west through the Allegheny Mountains. Keep an eye out for the iron truss bridge, Helmstetter's Horseshoe Curve, and the Brush Tunnel under Piney Mountain.

Wilmington and Western Railroad

Location: Wilmington, Delaware

The Wilmington & Western Railroad has an Autumn Leaf Special running in October with two picturesque, round-trip train rides to Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove and Hockessin. Choose enclosed or open-air seating to enjoy the vibrant Delaware foliage in the crisp autumn air.

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