Eureka Springs, AR
Photo by Doug Wertman, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
About Eureka Springs & North Arkansas
The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway runs a 2.5‑mile (4.0 km) restored line through the Ozark foothills outside Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Hour‑long excursion trains depart April through October, offering standard passenger rides, catered luncheon trips and dinner trips that each exceed one hour. The route follows former Arkansas & Ozarks Railway right‑of‑way, passing rebuilt trestles over Leatherwood Creek and a functional 75‑foot turntable.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- Eureka Springs, AR
- Rating
- 4.4 ★ 1,452 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Eureka Springs & North Arkansas. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- Parking
- Free lot · street parking
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Hours
- Monday: ClosedTuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: ClosedFriday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 3:00 PMSunday: Closed
Find the Depot
The Trains
The Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway runs a 2.5‑mile (4.0 km) stretch of restored standard‑gauge track between its historic depot in Eureka Springs and the turn‑around wye at “Junction, Arkansas.” Its motive power includes EMD SW‑1 diesel‑electric switcher No. 4742 (built 1942) and GE 25‑ton switcher No. 700 “Oscar” (built 1950, upgraded in 2006); a 0‑4‑0 narrow‑gauge (24‑inch) Buescher switcher sits atop a promotional sign, while the display engine No. 226, a 1927 Baldwin 2‑8‑2 Mikado, remains on static exhibit. Passenger equipment comprises six former Rock Island P‑70 arch‑roof coaches—two serving as a snack bar (No. 2515) and office (No. 2523), two Kelly‑green dining cars (No. 1 “The Eurekan” and No. 2), and two excursion coaches (maroon No. 2560 and Kelly‑green No. 2585)—plus a Tuscan‑red combine car for storage, three wooden cabooses, a cage car, tank, flat, coal‑hopper and box cars, and several motorized yellow speeder maintenance cars.
History
See full history
The line that the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway runs on was first chartered in 1882 as the Eureka Springs Railway, later becoming the St. Louis & North Arkansas Railroad Co. in 1899, the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad Co. in 1906, the Missouri & North Arkansas Railway Co. in 1922, the Missouri & Arkansas Railway Co. in 1935, and finally the Arkansas & Ozarks in 1949 before closing in 1961. In 1981 the late Robert Dortch, Jr. and his wife Mary Jane founded the for‑profit tourist operation in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, after moving steam locomotives and rolling stock from the Scott and Bearskin Lake Railroad that Robert Sr. had created in the 1960s and which ceased operation following his death in 1978. The railway’s trackage was renamed the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas line in 2011, a designation that has remained the longest‑used road name for the corridor.
Around the Depot
Eureka Springs & North Arkansas riders can extend the trip to the Arkansas Missouri Railroad about 27 mi off, the Branson Scenic Railway roughly 33 mi away, and the Ozark Mountain Railcar about 37 mi out.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
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Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Tours & Activities near Eureka Springs
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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