Green Bay, WI
National Railroad Museum
4.7· 2,016 Google reviews
National Railroad Museum — THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
2026 dates published
Source recheck due. The details below describe the dated source review; confirm current plans with the operator.
Fridays–Sundays November 20–December 13, 2026
Sold out when checked. The official museum page reports 2026 tickets sold out as checked October 26, 2026. No available seats or live monitoring is claimed.
Current ticket availability has not been rechecked today.
Source checked 2026-10-30 · Ticket status checked 2026-10-26
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-15- TypeCongressionally designated railroad museum with seasonal 25-minute diesel train rides on the Green Bay grounds
- LocationGreen Bay, WI
- Rating4.7 ★2,016 Google reviews
- Typical rideApproximately 25 minutes and two miles total
- Tickets & fares$15 age 13+, $12 college students and seniors 62+, $10 children 2–12, and free under age 2
About National Railroad Museum
The National Railroad Museum is a privately funded nonprofit railroad museum on 33 acres beside the Fox River in Green Bay. Its seasonal public train is a separately ticketed, diesel-powered 25-minute ride covering two loops of a one-mile circuit through wooded museum grounds and along the river. The broader collection includes more than 70 pieces of rolling stock and more than 100,000 smaller artifacts, with major indoor and outdoor exhibits, interpretive programs, restoration work, and changing special events. A train ticket is available only with paid museum admission, so plan the ride as one part of a substantial museum day rather than as a stand-alone excursion.
Ride First, Then Explore the Collection
Choose the visit that fits your groupFamilies, first-time visitors, diesel-train riders, museum travelers, and anyone wanting an accessible-length ride
Take the regular museum train
Choose a current departure through Sept 30 or on an October weekend, add the $6 ride to museum admission, and report to the Children's Discovery Depot 10 minutes early.
Rail historians, exhibit-focused visitors, photographers, school-age travelers, and multigenerational groups
Use the collection as the main event
Allow time for Big Boy No. 4017, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the GG1, Aerotrain, drumheads, Pullman Porter interpretation, and the current 2026 photo exhibit.
Food travelers, families, holiday planners, repeat visitors, and guests who need exact event-car accessibility details
Check specialty-event schedules
The published September 10 and 17, 2026 Dinner Train dates have passed. Check the museum’s current event pages for upcoming outings; its 2026 Polar Express was marked sold out when checked September 30.
Wheelchair and walker users, caregivers, service-animal handlers, and visitors who benefit from climate-controlled breaks
Plan around historic access limits
Use the museum's accessibility map, request a complimentary wheelchair if useful, and call about the exact train coach because historic interiors and event cars differ.
Upcoming Events
Other ticketed events are not currently listed in this section. Holiday planning is presented separately above.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs.
Plan Your Visit
- ArriveBe at the Children's Discovery Depot at least 10 minutes before the selected departure
- ParkingFree on-site parking with five marked accessible stalls near the entrance
- AccessibilityBuildings are generally accessible and complimentary wheelchairs are available, but many historic car interiors retain narrow, pre-ADA dimensions; call to confirm the exact ride coach and boarding plan
- WeatherIndoor halls are climate-controlled, while significant exhibits, paths, and the train are outdoors; dress for conditions and recheck the selected date
- RouteTwo loops of the museum's one-mile circuit through wooded grounds, along the Fox River shoreline, and past museum property
- Ride LengthApproximately 25 minutes and two miles total
- Ride SeasonDaily May–Sept 30 and weekends in October; no regular rides November–April
- Departures10 a.m. except Sundays, noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. Tuesdays only
- Ride Fare$6 per person in addition to paid museum admission; every passenger needs a ride ticket
- Admission$15 age 13+, $12 college students and seniors 62+, $10 children 2–12, and free under age 2
- HoursApr–Dec: Mon and Wed–Sat 9–5, Tue 9–8, Sun 11–5; Jan–Mar: Mon closed, Tue 9–8, Wed–Sat 9–4, Sun 11–4
- AnimalsTrained service animals are welcome; pets and emotional-support animals are not permitted
- FoodCarry-in food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed for outdoor picnic use, but food is not permitted inside exhibit areas
Find the Depot
The Trains
The regular public train is officially described as diesel-powered. Historical photographs show museum locomotives and prior consists but do not establish the exact locomotive, coach, or accessible boarding configuration for a selected 2026 departure. The permanent collection separately includes Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017, British A4 Dwight D. Eisenhower, Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 No. 4890, General Motors Aerotrain No. 2, passenger cars, freight equipment, and the Bauer Drumhead Gallery. Union Pacific dome diner No. 8003 is the current restoration project. Treat collection highlights as exhibits unless the operator identifies a vehicle as part of the booked ride.
History
Local preservation advocates established the museum around the goal of saving steam locomotives and other rolling stock.
The museum marked its 70th anniversary with a year-long historical photography exhibit, Family Days, seasonal rides, and continuing restoration work.
See full history
The museum began in 1956 when Green Bay preservation advocates organized to save steam locomotives and other railroad equipment. Congressional designation made it the only congressionally designated railroad museum in the United States, while the institution remained a privately funded 501(c)(3) without federal, state, or local operating tax support. Over seven decades the campus expanded across 33 acres, added indoor display halls and operating track, built a collection of more than 70 rolling-stock pieces and more than 100,000 smaller artifacts, and developed seasonal rides and education programs. The 2026 anniversary program marks 70 years with a year-long photography exhibit and Family Days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does museum admission include the train ride?
No. The regular ride costs $6 per person and is sold only in addition to paid museum admission. Every passenger needs a ride ticket.
When do regular train rides operate?
The official schedule lists daily rides May through Sept 30 and weekend rides in October, with no regular rides November through April. Special events use separate tickets and schedules.
How long is the ride?
About 25 minutes. The train makes two loops of a one-mile museum circuit for approximately two miles total.
What time should I arrive?
Plan to reach the museum with time for admission and be at the Children's Discovery Depot at least 10 minutes before departure.
Is the regular train wheelchair-accessible?
The museum documents broad site access and specific accessible cars for some events, but does not make a complete regular-train promise on the general page. Call 920-437-7623 to confirm the exact coach, lift, transfer, and boarding plan.
Are all historic train interiors accessible?
No. Some exhibits have ramps or stairs for level look-ins, but many cars retain narrow pre-ADA interiors. Most educational programming is kept outside the cars.
Are pets allowed?
Trained service animals are welcome. Pets and emotional-support animals are not permitted on museum grounds.
Are the September Dinner Train dates still upcoming?
No. The official Dinner Train page lists September 10 and 17, 2026; those dates have passed. Check the museum for any future announcements.
Sources & Verification
Sources checked August 15, 2026. The operator has not confirmed this profile.
- Official current homepage, collection scale, 2026 events, and contact
- Official hours, admission prices, closures, and ticket planning
- Official regular train season, route, duration, departures, fare, and arrival point
- Official parking, wheelchair, building, historic-car, and climate-control accessibility
- Official history, nonprofit status, collection scale, congressional designation, and funding context
- Official 70th anniversary, 2026 exhibit, and Family Day details
- Official 2026 Dinner Train schedule and format
- Official Great Pumpkin dates, pricing, and ride inclusion
- Official Polar Express dates, sold-out status, duration, cars, and access
- Official pet and service-animal policy
