Experience the magic this holiday season! Join us for a truly unforgettable immersive theatrical re-creation of the classic holiday story, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. Climb aboard a vintage steam train as it departs our Durango Depot for the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus himself. You’ll be immersed in the story as our chefs serve you hot chocolate and a sweet treat while you listen to a reading from the Polar Express book. After arriving at the North Pole, you’ll enjoy an incredible light show set to holiday music. On the return trip to Durango, Santa will visit each coach and hand out the first gift of Christmas to each passenger.
First told in the award-winning book by Chris Van Allsburg, this is the story of a child’s Christmas Eve journey. It was adapted to the big screen in 2004. And now it comes alive each year with THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride! All ages can enjoy the experience, warmth, and fun of the Christmas season on a special steam train trip to the North Pole! Certain dates and car types will sell quickly so you’ll want to book soon to reserve your preferred seating!
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride is our most popular event of the year and is an annual holiday tradition for many riders. While the train excursion is roughly 65 minutes in duration, we recommend allowing 2 hours for the entire adventure so you can enjoy the full experience! The weather can be cold at the North Pole, so we recommend layering properly, even though all the cabins are heated aboard the train. As always, we recommend wearing pajamas to capture the Christmas spirit! Click below for more frequently asked questions about THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train.
Your journey in an authentic vintage enclosed standard class coach features forward-facing padded style seating with two people per seat. A cookie and warm cocoa is served to each guest by the car’s friendly Polar Express™ chefs. Coaches are heated during the event and all trains are equipped with restrooms. Make your reservations now!
Relax and enjoy traveling in comfort aboard the plush deluxe class cars which all feature extra roomy overstuffed seating. Deluxe cars offer face-to-face seating (flippable to forward-facing on the San Juan). Deluxe class cars are perfect for families and those who prefer extra roomy padded seating.
All guests will receive a cookie and warm cocoa served in a THE POLAR EXPRESS™ souvenir mug. Guests will also receive one souvenir tote per reservation. Deluxe coaches are heated during the event and all trains are equipped with restrooms. Reserve now!
Be transported to a bygone era of luxury onboard our first-class cars with table and padded chair seating surrounded by specialty-themed Christmas decor.
The whole family will enjoy the upgraded amenities including a cookie and warm cocoa served in a souvenir mug and a take-home tote (one per reservation.) First class coaches are heated during the event and all trains are equipped with restrooms. Book your reservation now!
Make sure to bring the experience home and keep a reminder for years to come.
Our exclusive line of THE POLAR EXPRESS ™ products has been meticulously developed to insure the highest quality. These products are only available through our official THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride hosts or on www.raileventsretail.com.
Exclusive Pre-Sale Blanket! Only available through purchase online during ticket reservation process.
100% Polyester, Blanket Size: 50″ x 60″
Pick up your very own copy of the classic novel that started it all, THE POLAR EXPRESS™. Your special gift will be gift wrapped and signed by Santa Claus.
The Polar Bear Plush will delight all ages and comes wrapped up in their very own scarf and beanie set. 12” of pure cuddliness.
This bundle includes our POLAR EXPRESS™ blanket and the softest little blue bear to cuddle up with.
100% Polyester, Blanket Size: 50″ x 60″
This bundle comes with an exclusive blanket only available when purchased in advance. This bundle also includes a 7” Snowman Plush and an 8oz souvenir tumbler that can be filled with FREE COCOA at our café located on the depot deck on the day of your ride!
Grab hold of your ticket and don’t let go! This fun souvenir will be a reminder all year long of the kid in all of us and the power of belief.
Christmas spirit is the gift that keeps on giving! Share your holiday cheer by tagging us with #mydurangotrainmoment and @dsngrr on your favorite social media channels for a chance to be featured on our page.
To get the full experience, we recommend allowing 2 hours for the entire event. The round-trip train time to the North Pole and back is 60 minutes. You’ll want to be at the Durango Depot 20 minutes before actual departure time in order to experience the performance that occurs as the train STEAMS into the station! Final boarding is 10 minutes before departure. After the train arrives at the North Pole, you will see a spectacular light show and pick up Santa and his elves for the return trip.
This is a family-friendly, kid-focused, alcohol-free event. We will not offer any alcoholic beverages and passengers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol onboard the train.
Yes. Restrooms in most coaches will be available. There are family-size portable restrooms next to the museum.
For best seating we recommend you book your seats as soon as you are able to finalize your date. Certain departure times and certain cars book quickly! If you are in town during THE POLAR EXPRESS™ and HAVEN’T made a reservation, please check to see what we have available. We often have seats available even on the same day!
We have Standard, Deluxe, and Premium-class seating to choose from every night. All cars are heated. ALL children receive a bell. ALL cars are decorated for Christmas.
Standard-class: Seating: Forward-facing; two people per seat.
Deluxe-class: Seating: ‘Flip-over’ seating enables parties to face each other. Upgraded amenities include your own take-home souvenir ceramic THE POLAR EXPRESS™ mug.
Premium First-class: Seating: Table and chair seating in historic, first-class style as the whole family enjoys the upgraded amenities including your own take-home souvenir ceramic THE POLAR EXPRESS™ mug. Special ‘theme’ Christmas decor!
Yes, our wheelchair-friendly coach has a hydraulic lift to load a passenger in their wheelchair into the coach to ride right along with family and friends. It also features an ADA restroom.
As in the story, we encourage everyone to wear their pajamas on this special journey, but be sure your pockets don’t have any holes! Layer your clothing so that you’ll be warm outside while waiting for the train and be able to shed a coat while riding to the North Pole and put it back on after the train ride! Snow boots are recommended.
If you need downtown parking, it is available in the D&SNGRR Parking Lot on College Drive (next to McDonald’s) for $6.00 per vehicle. There is also public parking and City of Durango transit.
We ask that you arrive no earlier than 1/2 hour before your departure time. Don’t miss the pre-boarding show!
Enjoy the thousands of lights and wave to Santa and his elves as you observe the North Pole from the comfort of heated coaches.
Special and Licensed events (such as Polar Express) are non-refundable if canceled within 60 days of departure.
If change is requested MORE THAN 60 DAYS before the trip date, the fee is waived. If a request is made LESS THAN 60 DAYS from the trip date, we will apply a service/change fee. If you UPGRADE to a more expensive car or trip date, the fee will be waived!
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Train equipment and event elements vary by location. Inquire at your local venue for full details.
THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WB SHIELD: TM & © WBEI. (s23)
Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters © & ™ 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Ticket fares subject to 8% Historic Preservation Fee. Schedules, fares, motive power, equipment, seat selection, and meals are subject to change without notice. We guarantee the class of service you select. You will be notified if a change in schedule or motive power affects your reservation. Payment in full at booking by major credit card is required to finalize a reservation. You may cancel your reservation in full or in part and receive a refund less a $14.00 fee per adult ticket and $7.00 fee per child ticket as late as 60 days before departure. Within 60 days of the departure the reservation becomes nonrefundable. You may reschedule any time prior to your originally scheduled departure with a $7.00 fee per ticket for another date within the same calendar year. You may not reschedule a reservation after the scheduled departure. No exceptions are made for weather, illness, or road closures.
Whipped Topping Ingredients – Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Palm, Palm Kernel, Coconut, and/or Cottonseed) Contains less than 2% of the following; Sodium Caseinate (A milk derivative, not a source of lactose) Destrose, Artificial Flavor, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Monosterate, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Colored with Turmeric and Annatoo Extract. CONTAINS: MILK.
Hot Cocoa Mix Ingredients: Sugar, Whey, Corn Syrup Solids, Non-Dairy Creamer [Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Coconut and/or Soybean Oils), Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium Caseinate (a Milk Derivataive), Dipotassium Phosphate, Sugar, Mono-and Diglycerides, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Steroyl Lactylate, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavors, Colored with (Annatto, Turmeric)]. Cocoa processed with Alkali, Maltodextrin, Creamer [Whey, Nonfat Dry Milk, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Dipotassium Phosphate, Monoglycerides], Cocoa Salt, Sodium Aluminosilicate (to prevent caking). Tri Calcium Phosphate, Cellulose Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, CONTAINS: Milk and Soy
Based on THE POLAR EXPRESS book and characters trademarked and copyright 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.(s20)
You agree that THE POLAR EXPRESS™ event (the “Event”) for which you purchased tickets and/or attended is a public event, that your appearance and actions inside and outside the venue where the Event occurs are public in nature, and that you have no expectation of privacy with regard to your actions or conduct at the Event. You hereby irrevocably grant permission to the Event’s host railroad, licensor, sponsor(s) and/or their assigns to use, copy, display, distribute, exhibit and utilize your name, image, digital image, likeness, acts, poses, voice, appearance, movements and statements in any live or recorded audio, video or photographic display or other transmission, exhibition, publication or reproduction of same, including at the Event (regardless of whether before, during or after the Event) for any purpose, in any manner, in any medium or context now known or hereafter developed without further authorization from or any compensation to you or anyone acting or entitled to act on your behalf.
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