2026 Christmas & holiday train guide

Christmas & holiday trains in Missouri

Compare 2 reviewed holiday programs in Missouri, including their boarding towns, departure announcements and ticket status.

Compare the departures ↓Explore Polar Express rides →

Illustrative stock photo: Grand Canyon Railway locomotive 237 decorated with a Christmas wreath — Illustrative stock photograph. Grand Canyon Railway locomotive 237 with a Christmas wreath on November 18, 2013. Historical holiday decoration; the source does not identify this departure as the Polar Express. The Commons file was cropped vertically by 5% in 2024. Display crop. Bill Morrow / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
2026 program listed — confirm departures
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.

Choose a departure in Missouri

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 train programs, boarding locations and schedule status in Missouri
Holiday ride	Where to board	Schedule & tickets
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideBranson Scenic Railway	206 E Main St, Branson, MO 65616	2026 ticket information published; select departure dates in the official calendar2026 program listed — confirm departures
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train RideSt. Louis Union Station (The Polar Express)	201 S 18th St, St. Louis, MO 63103	2026 operation announced; exact dates require the official booking calendar2026 program listed — confirm departures

Explore all railways in Missouri →

Your holiday departure

Compare rides in this state

Search rides or townsHoliday experienceRailway typeBooking and schedule status

2 rides match your filters

See these rides on a map

All 2 selected rides at 2 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.

Branson, MO · Heritage railroad

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

Branson Scenic Railway

2026 program listed — confirm departures

2026 ticket information published; select departure dates in the official calendar

Choose a seating class and departure for Branson’s Polar Express holiday train. The operator sets price tiers by date; compare your specific 2026 performance.

Ticket status and source check

The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

Plan this ride →

St. Louis, MO · Heritage railroad

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride

St. Louis Union Station (The Polar Express)

2026 program listed — confirm departures

2026 operation announced; exact dates require the official booking calendar

St. Louis Union Station announces the return of its real Polar Express trains for 2026.

Ticket status and source check

The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.

Source reviewed 2026-10-26

Plan this ride →

How we check the holiday guide

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.