Official fares · dated source checks
2026 Polar Express ticket prices
22 of 34 public Polar Express programs show a current verified price; price checks: 2026-10-26. Official pages are linked beside each fare. Prices disappear from this comparison seven days after their review.
Compare the class and age bands before choosing a train. A lap-child fare, a seat and a whole table are different purchases. Published dates and prices do not establish remaining seats; confirm your departure and the total with the operator.
Compare 2026 tickets
Programs with a reviewed ticket action and a current price appear first, ordered by the lowest dollar amount shown, including child and lap-child fares. Programs needing price confirmation follow, then sold-out programs and those needing official updates.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Durango, CO
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Read the ride guide →Coach adults ages 12+ $42.12–$66.96; children ages 2–11 $31.32–$56.16
Coach child fares for ages 2–11 are $31.32–$56.16, depending on the Value, Standard or Peak tier. The operator also publishes Deluxe and First Class fares. Confirm the Historic Preservation Fee and complete total.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The official page offers 2026 ticket bookings. No remaining-seat quantity, class availability or date inventory was checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum
Portland, ME
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Read the ride guide →Coach $35–$40; First Class $65–$70; Presidential $105–$110
Lap children age 2 and under who do not need a seat pay $5, in any class. Premium departures cost $5 more than regular departures. All tickets, including lap children, must be booked in advance.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Children $38–$48; adults $48–$58
Children pay $38 on off-peak departures or $48 on peak departures; adults pay $48 or $58. Confirm the complete checkout total and exact departure.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗$40 per person
Children under 2 sitting on a lap do not need a ticket. General-public purchases use a random-selection list and an assigned purchase window; a $250 donation has separate supporter access conditions and does not guarantee a preferred train.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The organizer confirms the 2026 dates; no departure-specific seat availability was checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Coach $40; First Class $90; tables $153 for two or $305 for four
The operator states all excursions include a $5 Heritage Fee. Check whether it is included in the selected fare and compare the complete total. Other lounge and table products have separate fares.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Check departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Standard coach adults $51.75–$56.75, children ages 2–12 $45.50–$48.50; NC tax additional
15% off November 6–8 and 13–15 tickets with code BELIEVE26; offer valid October 26–November 15. One free lap infant under 2 is allowed per paying adult. Handling fees are included; First Class requires purchase of the complete table.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
Public booking and ticket call center opened June 2, 2026
Official booking information ↗$47–$117
The series page lists this range; exact class, performance and checkout total require selection.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Check departure availability with operator
The official 2026 series lists a mixture of ticket links and Sold Out performances as checked October 26, 2026. Check the exact performance; no available seat is promised.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Standard adults $59–$79, children ages 2–12 $49–$69; higher classes available
Infants ages 0–2 may ride as a $10 lap child with a paying adult. The same page lists child fares for ages 2–12; confirm which fare applies to a two-year-old. Prices vary by date and class.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Bronze adults $60–$70, children $50–$60; Silver $80–$95; Gold $105–$125
Bronze member adults $54–$63 and member children $45–$54. Bronze and Gold Individual have child fares; age definitions and fees require the official purchase information. Gold booths and Silver quads require groups of four.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The official page says tickets are now on sale; seat inventory for a selected performance was not checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
Tickets are now on sale
Official booking information ↗Coach adults $62–$76, children ages 2–11 $54–$68; First Class adults $79–$92, children $74–$86
Published child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares. Calendar tiers determine the fare; the operator states ticket fees and taxes are included.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗$55–$85 before ticket fees
Downtime departures list Coach $55, Deluxe $66 and First Class $75; the operator identifies Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. A non-refundable $4 ticket fee applies. All passengers aged one and up need a seat. Other performance tiers cost more.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
Public sales opened August 4, 2026; member sales opened April 7
Official booking information ↗Coach adults $67–$91, children ages 2–11 $59–$82; First Class adults $98–$109, children $90–$101
Published child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares. Value, Standard and Premium calendar tiers apply; the official calendar states ticket fees and taxes are included.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal
New Orleans, LA
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Adults $78–$99.25; children ages 2–11 $69.50–$90.50
Published child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares. Calendar Value and Premium tiers apply. The official calendar states ticket fees are included; confirm the selected performance total.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Coach $80–$85; First Class $100–$110 per passenger
The operator states all fees are included. Some cars require purchase of a table of four; compare the selected car and complete reservation.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Check departure availability with operator
The operator offers ticket purchases for the published 2026 season; no departure-specific seat inventory was checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
Public sales opened September 18, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Official booking information ↗Standard $80 ages 2–15, $100 ages 16+; First Class tables $475–$505
Performances before Thanksgiving are 10% off the published rates. Lap riders under 2 are free; First Class includes up to two lap riders per table. First Class is sold only as a table of four.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving conditionCheck departure availability with operator
The official page says tickets are on sale; prior years selling out does not mean the 2026 season is sold out.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Coach $85 per person, fees included
Confirm the selected car and any table-purchase conditions. The current page contains an old 2025 sale-date FAQ; the dated 2026 notice is used.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Check departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
Public sales opened September 18, 2026 at 9 a.m., per the dated 2026 notice
Official booking information ↗Price not published — check operator
Check departure availability with operator
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Price not published — check operator
Check departure availability with operator
The official public page offers 2026 booking. Remaining seats were not checked. The previously observed January 2027 calendar bounds are retained without a new booking-widget check.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Price not published — check operator
Check departure availability with operator
The organizer offers ticket purchases for the 2026 event; no departure-specific seat inventory was checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official booking information ↗Coach $48; Special Coach $60; Deluxe table of four $340
Sold-out advertised fares retained for planning context. Private rooms and lounges are different products; no seats are offered.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Sold out — no bookable departures shown
The official operator page reports 2026 tickets sold out as checked October 26, 2026. Follow official updates; no live seat monitoring is claimed.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official sold-out notice ↗Northern Lights $35; Glacier Gulch $50; Arctic Circle $70; Spirit of the Season $70–$75
Advertised 2026 fares for planning context; the operator states the season is sold out. Spirit of the Season has different table and lounge fares; no seats are offered.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Sold out — no bookable departures shown
The official museum page reports 2026 tickets sold out as checked October 26, 2026. No available seats or live monitoring is claimed.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
Public sales opened July 25, 2026 at 10 a.m.; 2026 tickets now sold out
Official sold-out notice ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-12.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator offers 2026 tickets; remaining seats for any particular departure were not checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 dates awaiting verification
The current page does not publish a dated 2026 performance schedule. Ticket-sale status and remaining seats were not verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗$39–$94 before tax; lap infants $8
Child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares in each published class and tier; lap infants 23 months and under pay $8. State and local taxes are additional. Value, Standard and Peak departures have different prices.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving condition2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator says 2026 tickets are available. Exact departure dates and remaining seats require the official calendar; no widget was scraped.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
Not operating in 2026
No operating departures are established for this season. Follow official updates.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-12.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Coach from $50.85 adult or $33.52 child
Coach children ages 2–12 start at $33.52; infants ages 0–23 months are listed at $0 but need their own seat. Ages 13+ use adult fares. Published starting prices include Historic Preservation and Ticket fees; peak, steam and Christmas Eve can cost more.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving condition2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator says 2026 tickets are on sale; exact departure inventory has not been checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Coach from $49; First Class from $65, plus fees
Lap infants under two are listed as free. Starting fares only; check the selected performance and complete total.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving condition2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator offers 2026 bookings; no particular departure inventory was checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
Not operating in 2026
No operating departures are established for this season. Follow official updates.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-12.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 program listed — confirm departures
The museum links official 2026 booking; exact performance dates and seat inventory were not checked.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗St. Louis Union Station (The Polar Express)
St. Louis, MO
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
Read the ride guide →Holiday Saver from $19.99; Coach from $35; First Class from $45
The operator describes Holiday Saver as its lowest-priced seating, starting at $19.99, with inward-facing seats in rows of five. Other tables on the same page list different date-specific ranges; confirm the exact performance and complete total.
Official price source · checked 2026-10-26Published saving condition2026 program listed — confirm departures
The operator supplies ticket information; date-specific remaining seats have not been verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 dates awaiting verification
The public Polar page gives month/day bounds without a season year. 2026 sale status and seat inventory are not verified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗Price not published — check operator
2026 dates awaiting verification
An undated ticket-sale banner does not confirm the 2026 season. Departure dates and 2026 inventory remain unverified.
Availability notice checked: 2026-10-26.
On-sale date: check operator
Official operator updates ↗
How to save
These conditions come from the operators’ current price pages. Check the age band, date, membership or promotion requirements before purchasing.
- Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Coach child fares for ages 2–11 are $31.32–$56.16, depending on the Value, Standard or Peak tier. The operator also publishes Deluxe and First Class fares. Confirm the Historic Preservation Fee and complete total.
- Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum
Lap children age 2 and under who do not need a seat pay $5, in any class. Premium departures cost $5 more than regular departures. All tickets, including lap children, must be booked in advance.
- Catskill Mountain Railroad
Children pay $38 on off-peak departures or $48 on peak departures; adults pay $48 or $58. Confirm the complete checkout total and exact departure.
- Vermont Children's Trust Foundation
Children under 2 sitting on a lap do not need a ticket. General-public purchases use a random-selection list and an assigned purchase window; a $250 donation has separate supporter access conditions and does not guarantee a preferred train.
- North Carolina Transportation Museum
15% off November 6–8 and 13–15 tickets with code BELIEVE26; offer valid October 26–November 15. One free lap infant under 2 is allowed per paying adult. Handling fees are included; First Class requires purchase of the complete table.
- Mt. Hood Railroad
Infants ages 0–2 may ride as a $10 lap child with a paying adult. The same page lists child fares for ages 2–12; confirm which fare applies to a two-year-old. Prices vary by date and class.
- B&O Railroad Museum
Bronze member adults $54–$63 and member children $45–$54. Bronze and Gold Individual have child fares; age definitions and fees require the official purchase information. Gold booths and Silver quads require groups of four.
- Oklahoma Railway Museum
Published child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares. Calendar tiers determine the fare; the operator states ticket fees and taxes are included.
- Dennison Railroad Depot Museum
Downtime departures list Coach $55, Deluxe $66 and First Class $75; the operator identifies Thursdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. A non-refundable $4 ticket fee applies. All passengers aged one and up need a seat. Other performance tiers cost more.
- Morristown & Erie Railway
Published child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares. Value, Standard and Premium calendar tiers apply; the official calendar states ticket fees and taxes are included.
- New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal
Published child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares. Calendar Value and Premium tiers apply. The official calendar states ticket fees are included; confirm the selected performance total.
- Colorado Railroad Museum
Performances before Thanksgiving are 10% off the published rates. Lap riders under 2 are free; First Class includes up to two lap riders per table. First Class is sold only as a table of four.
- Branson Scenic Railway
Child fares for ages 2–11 are lower than adult fares in each published class and tier; lap infants 23 months and under pay $8. State and local taxes are additional. Value, Standard and Peak departures have different prices.
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Coach children ages 2–12 start at $33.52; infants ages 0–23 months are listed at $0 but need their own seat. Ages 13+ use adult fares. Published starting prices include Historic Preservation and Ticket fees; peak, steam and Christmas Eve can cost more.
- Medina Railroad Museum
Lap infants under two are listed as free. Starting fares only; check the selected performance and complete total.
- St. Louis Union Station (The Polar Express)
The operator describes Holiday Saver as its lowest-priced seating, starting at $19.99, with inward-facing seats in rows of five. Other tables on the same page list different date-specific ranges; confirm the exact performance and complete total.
Sold out?
A different holiday train may have departures in the same state. Our guides show verified programs; confirm remaining seats before making travel plans.
- Monticello Railway Museum (Illinois): Compare 2 other reviewed holiday programs in Illinois →
- National Railroad Museum (Wisconsin): Compare 2 other reviewed holiday programs in Wisconsin →
USA Train Rides is an independent planning guide. Buy train tickets from the official operator. Browse all holiday trains →