Ohio Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

Last revised: September 1, 2026

Ohio’s big Christmas train is the North Pole Adventure on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad—90 minutes from Rockside Station in Independence through the national park. Hocking Valley, Lebanon, and Findlay add shorter Santa rides. CVSR dropped its Polar Express license in 2021. Ohio’s licensed Polar Express for 2026 is at Dennison Depot, not here.

The Lebanon Mason & Monroe's North Pole Express with Santa waving from their historic GP30, #901, a former Nicke Plate Road locomotive built in 1962. LMM photo.

On this page: At a glance · Christmas hosts · Planning tips

Ohio Christmas trains at a glance

Host	City	2026 product	Deep dive
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad	Independence (Rockside)	North Pole Adventure™, Nov. 13–Dec. 22, ~90 min, $60–$110. Members Sept. 15 / public Sept. 29	CVSR North Pole 2026
Hocking Valley Scenic Railway	Nelsonville	Santa Train, ~2 hours, from $26 adult as listed. Typical late Nov.–mid-Dec. Thu–Sun. Confirm 2026 grid	Railroad site
Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad	Lebanon	North Pole Express (railroad’s own name). Confirm 2026 dates and classes	Railroad site
Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation	Findlay	North Pole Express on the 1/4-scale railroad plus grounds displays. Confirm 2026 hours	Railroad site

Schedules and fares change. Confirm on each railroad before you book. Information compiled September 1, 2026. These are Christmas trains—not licensed THE POLAR EXPRESS™ events. Dennison Polar is on the Ohio Polar page.

Christmas hosts

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

(Independence): All 2026 North Pole Adventure trains leave Rockside Station (7900 Old Rockside Road). About 90 minutes, 5:00 p.m. and 7:55 p.m. departures, diesel as scheduled. Elves, a letter to the North Pole Postmaster, milk and cookies, then Santa boards with a small gift. Coach, table, and First Class. Fares $60–$110 as published. CVSR hosted licensed Polar through 2020; this is the railroad’s own ride.

2026: November 13–December 22. Members September 15, 9:00 a.m.; public September 29, 9:00 a.m. Book on cvsr.org. Full product page: CVSR North Pole Adventure 2026.

Hocking Valley Scenic Railway

(Nelsonville): The Santa Train is the railroad’s longest-running holiday product—Santa walks the heated, decorated coaches on the round trip to East Logan. About two hours. Children get a candy cane. Adult from $26 / child from $21 as listed on the Santa page. Steam is not the Christmas guarantee; read the ticket. Depot: 33 W. Canal Street.

2026: Confirm the live calendar on hvsry.org. Typical pattern is late November through mid-December, Thursday–Sunday, with extra evening departures. These sell out.

Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad

(Lebanon): LM&M’s own North Pole Express—not Polar Express. Short family ride toward Cincinnati and Dayton: Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, cocoa and cookies, a small gift. Coach and Deluxe when offered. Confirm 2026 dates and fares on lebanonrr.com.

Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc.

(Findlay): A 1/4-scale railroad and a walk-through Christmas display on County Road 99. The holiday product is also called North Pole Express. It is a grounds-and-miniature-train night, not a main-line excursion. Confirm 2026 hours on nworrp.org.

Planning tips

CVSR public sale is September 29. Do not wait for a December walk-up on weekend nights.
If you want licensed Polar Express, book Dennison Depot—eight days only in 2026.
Independence, Nelsonville, and Lebanon are different drives. Pick one railroad per evening with young children.
Pajamas are welcome on CVSR and most Santa trains; bring a coat for the platform.