8 scenic autumn train rides in & around Virginia
For the best fall foliage views in and around Virginia, hop on one of these scenic train rides.
There are plenty of ways to view Virginia’s fall foliage—from hiking through the woods to taking a road trip—but a scenic train ride is arguably one of the best options. You don’t have to focus on the road like you do when you’re driving, or get your heart rate up as you would on a hike. After boarding the train, all you have to do is sit back, relax, and marvel at the vibrant colors and lush landscapes as you cruise past them.
Virginia has multiple railroad companies offering excursions through the mountains and woods. If you’re willing to travel a bit further, there are some excellent options in neighboring states like West Virginia and Maryland, too.
For some of the best leaf peeping in Old Dominion, check out the following scenic train rides in and around Virginia.
Virginia Scenic Railway
1. Shenandoah Valley Limited
Virginia Scenic Railway offers several train ride experiences, including one specifically designed for leaf peeping. The company’s Shenandoah Valley Limited will operate several special fall foliage excursions over the course of five consecutive weekends beginning on September 26. The rides take place on a historic Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive and span approximately 50 miles, lasting between three and a half to four hours.
Passengers will ride through parts of the Shenandoah Valley—known for its natural beauty—including the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, and experience a wide variety of fall colors before turning around in historic Staunton.
Ticket prices range from $128 per person for Standard Coach, which features a four-person pod seating layout, to $318 for Upper Dome seats, which offer unobstructed fall foliage views. Booth, table, and lounge seating options are also available. Complimentary beverages and snacks are provided during the trip.
2. Alleghany Special
If you can’t manage to score tickets on the Shenandoah Valley Limited excursion, Virginia Scenic Railway offers a few other options. The Alleghany Special also travels through the scenic Shenandoah Valley. The three-hour, round-trip ride begins in Staunton and goes west to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, providing views of the Alleghany (also spelled Allegheny) Mountains and rural landscapes.
Coach tickets start at $60 per person, with prices increasing up to $120 for Dining Car seats.
Note: The Alleghany Special doesn’t run from September 25 to October 26.
3. Blue Ridge Flyer
The Blue Ridge Flyer is another excellent excursion for leaf peepers. During the three-hour round-trip journey, riders are treated to spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The train also passes through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, which was carved out of rock and spans nearly one mile.
Tickets range in price from $60 to $120 per person, depending on your preferred class.
Amtrak
4. Cardinal
Amtrak offers train rides through some of the country’s best fall foliage destinations, including Virginia. Its Cardinal line runs a U-shaped route from New York City to Chicago, making several stops along the way. In Virginia, the train stops in Alexandria, Clifton Forge, Culpeper, Charlottesville, Manassas, and Staunton. The train also makes eight stops in West Virginia for those who are interested in extending their trip outside of Old Dominion’s borders.
The Charlottesville stop is a highlight for those wanting to feast their eyes on plenty of fall foliage. Nestled amid the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville is known for its natural beauty, as well as several historical sites, including Thomas Jefferson’s mountain-top plantation, Monticello, James Madison’s plantation house, Montpelier, and James Monroe’s Highland estate.
Cozy Coach seats are available, or you can upgrade to Business Class for extra legroom, footrests, a complimentary beverage, and other perks. Ticket prices vary widely depending on your departure and arrival station, preferred class, and date of travel.
Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad
5. Greenbrier Express
In West Virginia, Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad’s Greenbrier Express excursion is a fantastic option for fall foliage lovers. The five-and-a-half-hour trip begins in the charming small town of Cass and follows the Greenbrier River to the mountain village of Durbin. Along the way, passengers can take in beautiful scenes of forested mountains as they travel through a secluded part of Monongahela National Forest, home to vibrant maples, red spruce, and yellow birch. It’s also common to spot wildlife, such as deer, black bears, river otters, and a variety of birds.
Once in Durbin, travelers are served lunch on the train, in the depot, or at a nearby restaurant. Adult ticket prices start at $83 and increase to $93 beginning September 17 through late November. Discounted rates are available for seniors, military members, and children.
Potomac Eagle
6. Trough Canyon
Experience West Virginia’s Trough Canyon and its fall foliage on Potomac Eagle’s Trough Canyon train ride. The river canyon is six miles long and has heavily forested walls with a mixture of evergreen trees and hardwood species, such as oak and hickory. The round-trip journey, which lasts about three hours and spans 35 miles, takes ticketholders south through the canyon to Sycamore Bridge—where the views are particularly stunning—and back.
Along the way, passengers are bound to witness an array of wildlife, from deer and black bears to turtles and turkeys.
Ticket prices range from $74 for Standard Coach to $154 for Club Service, which gets you a spot in a restored 1950s club car with cozy loveseats, booths, and tables where you can enjoy a five-course meal.
Walkersville Southern Railroad
7. Autumn Excursion
Maryland’s Walkersville Southern Railroad offers a number of themed train rides, but leaf peepers will most likely be interested in the Autumn Excursion. This ride takes passengers through the woods and into farm country. If the weather is clear, it’s possible to see the Catoctin Mountains, which are heavily forested and full of color in the fall. The train also crosses over the Monocacy River on a bridge that boasts the best views of the trip. (Pro tip: Choose the open-air flat car for unobstructed views—just remember to bring a jacket.)
The leisurely ride lasts about one hour and 10 minutes, and the train’s speed is capped at about 10 miles per hour. Adult tickets cost $22, with discounted rates available for seniors and children.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
8. Frostburg Flyer
Hop aboard the Frostburg Flyer for fantastic mountain views and plenty of colorful fall foliage. This ride, one of several offered by Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, explores the Mountain Maryland region, departing from Cumberland (near Winchester, Virginia) and rolling through the Allegheny Mountains before reaching Frostburg. Along the way, riders will see scenic streams and creeks, cross over multiple bridges, and ride through a 916-foot tunnel. In Frostburg, there is a 90-minute layover during which passengers can visit local shops and restaurants.
All ticketholders can access the open-air car, where passengers can enjoy the fresh mountain air and take in the exceptional views. Other unique seating options include Dome Class, which allows riders to take in the mountain views from an enclosed glass-dome car, and 1309 Cab Ride, which puts riders in the locomotive cab alongside the engineer and fireman.
Adult Coach Class tickets start at $45 per person, with prices increasing up to $500 for the 1309 Cab Ride experience.
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