2026 Christmas & holiday train guide
Compare 1 reviewed holiday programs in Iowa, including their boarding towns, departure announcements and ticket status.
Ticket sale still ahead
Plan this holiday ride →Start with the train tickets. Check the exact date and seating class before booking a hotel or planning a long drive. Reviewed schedules and sold-out notices help you compare; they do not promise remaining seats.
The boarding location matters: holiday services can use a different station from a railway’s regular trains. Compare the stops below before choosing a ride.
| Holiday ride | Where to board | Schedule & tickets |
|---|---|---|
| North Pole ExpressMidwest Central Railroad | Midwest Central Railroad, 403 East Thresher Road, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 | December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20, 2026Ticket sale still ahead |
Your holiday departure
1 ride matches your filters
All 1 selected rides at 1 mapped locations, including results on the other pages. Shared depots list every selected program. Pins mark stations or event campuses; route references and inactive events are labeled in the pin details.
Mount Pleasant, IA · Museum train
Midwest Central Railroad
Ticket sale still ahead
December 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20, 2026
Midwest Central’s North Pole Express offers Santa train rides on three December weekends.
The published November 1, 2026 at 9 a.m. sale opening is still ahead of the October 26 check. No seats are claimed.
Source reviewed 2026-10-26
Official operator pages support each source review. Licensed Polar Express status and actual rail operation are checked separately. A season window is not a daily timetable, and older fares are not current prices.
We are an independent planning guide. Optional affiliate travel offers appear separately from official train tickets, with a commission disclosure. Historical photographs are captioned with their date; they do not guarantee this season’s train or decorations.
