The best winter train rides in the USA

Trip length: 12 hours

Trains aren’t necessarily the quickest way from point A to point B, but the scenic route certainly has its perks regarding views. This 12-hour train between Anchorage and Fairbanks is the most picturesque way to see the winter landscape of the Alaskan backcountry while staying warm inside the train car. If the weather is clear, you’ll see Denali, the tallest mountain in North America (and maybe, if you’re lucky, a moose along the route). For an even better view, Alaska Railroad also offers Denali in a Day—it’s a weekly excursion from Fairbanks that allows you to spend the day in the park and catch the train back.

Trip length: 2 hours

Recreate the classic Polar Express tale and hop on the Adirondack Railroad, where they’ll serve you hot cocoa and cookies on this two-hour trip. Cruise past the greenery of New York’s north country until you get to the "North Pole." Upon arrival, Santa commandeers the train to meet with every family and grants each child a silver bell—just like in the movie. Kids are encouraged to wear their PJs for extra dreaminess. In the 19th century, the Adirondack Railroad was used by loggers, trappers, hunters, and wealthy families who had "great camps" in the mountains. Now, it is used by families looking to learn about the past… and to meet Santa, of course.

Trip length: 51 hours and 30 minutes

If you’ve got a cool 51.5 hours to kill, why not hop aboard the California Zephyr, Amtrak’s longest daily train, which runs from Chicago to San Francisco? Ride the entire length, or stop at any station in Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. If you’re traveling in the winter months, you’ll see a winter wonderland; book a sleeper car and wake up to stunning views in Denver or the Great Salt Lake and watch snow sweep across the Illinois prairies or the majestic Ruby Mountains in Nevada. The journey, which travels through the heart of the Rockies and runs along the Sierra Nevada, is what Amtrak calls "one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America" and we happen to agree.

Trip length: 35 hours

If you don’t like your winter train rides quite so wintry, the Coast Starlight is probably for you. Watch the snow disappear from giant windows in the observation car as you travel south from Seattle. Book a sleeper and do the whole ride at once, or take your time and explore stops in Portland and Oakland before arriving in Los Angeles. Or, head north from LA if you’re craving a winter escape. Catch views of Olympic National Park, the Cascades, the San Francisco Bay, and much more on your West Coast journey.

Trip length: 5 hours and 15 minutes

The best train trips take you to places you can’t reach by car and The Cascade Canyon Winter Train does precisely that—the journey glides through areas of the San Juan National Forest that are completely inaccessible by roads. Departing the historic town of Durango, Colorado, the train follows the Animas River through the forest to Cascade Canyon. At the end of the 26-mile scenic ride, there’s a 60-minute layover for lunch by the fire or walks by the river before the return trip. If there’s a railway enthusiast in your crew, check the calendar: you can choose between diesel-powered and vintage steam train trips for your Rocky Mountain adventure.

Trip length: 3 hours

The views from Pikes Peak are too good to be limited to a few adventurers who’ve climbed to the top. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which made its first summit of "America’s Mountain" in 1891, aims to keep those views accessible to the masses. It’s the longest and highest cog railway in the world—and the highest railroad of any kind in the Northern Hemisphere—but even without the accolades, it would still be worth the trip. The nine-mile trek up the 14,000ft Colorado peak offers breathtaking sights year-round, especially during winter when snow blankets the landscape.

Trip length: 1 hour and 30 minutes

There’s no better way to take in the beauty of the Northern Pocono Mountains than to see them by train. Get comfy sitting in the train’s heated cars as you gaze out the window, eyes peeled for wildlife—passengers have been known to spot bald eagles soaring over the Lackawaxen River. Beyond the beautiful, wintry scenery, there’s something really special about the Stourbridge Line: it was the first commercial railroad. In 1829, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company performed the first trial run of a steam engine (named the Stourbridge Lion) in front of a crowd of wide-eyed, skeptical onlookers...and the rest is history.

Trip length: 2 hours and 30 minutes

Feeling outdoorsy? The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway will deposit you right into a snowy paradise. Bring snowshoes or cross-country skis for self-guided exploration of the fields and forest around Alna Center, and catch one of their hourly trains back. Take the train a bit further to Top of Mountain where you’ll then board a sleigh or wagon for a trip to SeaLyon Farm. Once you’re there, shop around (their famous lavender products are divine), get toasty by a bonfire, and indulge in hot beverages and tasty food from local vendors.

Trip length: 5 hours and 30 minutes

Escape the Big Apple and explore the small-town charm of New York’s Hudson Valley and Vermont’s Green Mountains. Depart Penn Station and enjoy the scenic Hudson River views between Manhattan and Albany while chatting with your travel buddies over a steamy cup of tea from the train’s Café Car. Look for wildlife along the riverbanks and take in the quiet calm of the snow-covered towns along the way. Oh, and don’t forgert to pack your skis—you can hop on the shuttle to Killington Ski Resort when you get to Rutland.