$26 buys you 65 minutes and a turntable demonstration in Chattanooga. $90 buys you nine hours of steam power through the Georgia countryside.
Tennessee has eight different scenic train rides, and the price doesn’t always tell you what you’re getting. A longer ride might mean a town stop. A higher fare might just mean a nicer seat on the same route. We priced out every one of them, for a family of four, so you can pick the ride that actually fits your day and your budget.
All of these rides board in Tennessee, though the Chickamauga and Summerville excursions travel into Georgia.
Tennessee train rides at a glance
Times include stops and activities. Fares below are advertised starting prices unless tied to a specific event. All exclude taxes and fees. Information was reviewed November 6, 2026.
| Ride and boarding city | Route and scenery | Total experience | Adult base fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missionary Ridge Local — Chattanooga | Tunnel, bridges, rail yards | About 65 minutes | $26 |
| Hiwassee Loop — Delano | River gorge, wooded slopes, Loop | About 4½ hours | From $55; fall $65 |
| Copperhill Special — Delano | Gorge and Loop, continuing to Copperhill | 8–9 hours, including town stop | From $80; fall $90 |
| Chickamauga Turn — Chattanooga | North Georgia communities; Chickamauga stop | About 6¼ hours | From $60; fall $65 |
| Summerville Steam Special — Chattanooga | North Georgia foothills, farms, towns | About 9 hours | From $90; fall $95 |
| Nashville–Watertown excursions | Rolling Middle Tennessee terrain and town visit | About 7 hours for October 17 event | $80 for October 17 event |
Departures run on selected dates, so check the schedule for availability and the fare for your date. Chickamauga’s 2026 season ended November 1; the October 17 Watertown trip is a past example.
Missionary Ridge Local — Chattanooga
The Missionary Ridge Local pairs a short train ride with a working turntable and restoration-shop visit.
This Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum excursion leaves Grand Junction Station for East Chattanooga, crossing four bridges and passing through the pre–Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel. Rail yards, neighborhoods, and industrial surroundings share the route.
The 65-minute experience includes about 30 minutes of moving train travel. The rest covers boarding, the turntable demonstration, and guided shop visit. You can remain onboard during the shop tour.
Tickets are $26 for adults ages 13 and older and $17 for children ages 2–12. The $76 two-adult, two-child package saves $10 over separate tickets. Children under 2 ride free on a lap without a seat.
Arrive 30–45 minutes early and allow about two hours altogether. Wheelchairs cannot be used inside these historic cars; passengers must board and occupy standard seats. Contact the railroad about boarding needs before buying.
For another Chattanooga rail outing, see our family visit to the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway.
Hiwassee Loop — Delano
The Hiwassee Loop is the strongest starting point here for river-and-mountain scenery.
The 50-mile round trip follows the lower Hiwassee River Gorge through wooded slopes to the Loop near Farner, where the track crosses over itself to gain elevation. There’s no destination layover or lunch stop.
Allow about 4½ hours. Climate-controlled coaches and onboard toilets help with the longer outing, though several hours aboard may suit adults and older children better than toddlers needing frequent breaks. Snacks and drinks are sold onboard.
Coach starts at $55 for adults ages 13 and older and $40 for children ages 2–12. Fall fares are $65 and $50. A $170 family four-pack applies only to selected non-fall departures.
Board at 9406 Highway 411 in Delano, near Etowah, and arrive at least 30 minutes early. Ground-level seats may still require climbing steps to board; discuss mobility devices and transfer needs with the railroad.
A dome upgrade adds elevated glass views along the same route. Passengers switch sides midway so both sides get river and mountain views.
Copperhill Special — Delano
The Copperhill Special extends the Hiwassee outing to 94 miles round trip, eight to nine hours, and about 90 minutes in town.
It shares the gorge and Loop with the shorter excursion, then continues through Turtletown and Ducktown to Copperhill. The extra fare buys more distance and a town visit.
Copperhill is in Tennessee; neighboring McCaysville is in Georgia. The stop gives you time for lunch, shops, and a walk across the state line. Meals are not included in standard coach.
Coach starts at $80 for adults ages 13 and older and $50 for children ages 2–12; fall fares are $90 and $60. A $220 family four-pack is offered only on selected non-fall departures.
Choose Copperhill for the town visit as well as the gorge. If river scenery is enough, the shorter Loop leaves more of your day free.
Chickamauga Turn — Chattanooga to Georgia
The Chickamauga Turn pairs a train ride through North Georgia with time to explore downtown Chickamauga.
Leaving Grand Junction Station, it passes neighborhoods, rail yards, industrial areas, and North Georgia communities. Expect a town-and-train day rather than uninterrupted mountain scenery.
The published schedule runs 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including time in town for cafés, shopping, or Crawfish Springs. Town purchases and attraction admissions cost extra, and a battlefield tour isn’t included.
Coach without a meal starts at $60 for adults ages 13 and older and $50 for children ages 2–12, rising to $65 and $55 on fall departures. Dining tickets add onboard meals; Golden Sand Premium includes breakfast and lunch.
The published 2026 season ended November 1. Ask about boarding at both stations if steps are difficult.
Summerville Steam Special — Chattanooga to Georgia
The Summerville Steam Special combines steam power, North Georgia countryside, and a downtown Summerville stop.
The route passes towns, foothills, and farmland. Southern Railway locomotives 4501 or 630 typically provide the steam power, although equipment can change.
Allow approximately nine hours, with a published schedule of 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and about an hour in Summerville. Turntable activity adds to the railroad interest. This suits passengers comfortable with a full day of rail travel.
Coach starts at $90 per guest ages 2 and older, with a fall fare of $95. Basic coach has no meal; dining upgrades add meals, and Golden Sand Premium includes breakfast and lunch.
Summerville has no platform ramp. Passengers unable to use the unloading stairs may remain onboard during the stop. Arrive at Grand Junction by 8:30 a.m. for the published 9 a.m. departure.
Nashville–Watertown excursions
Tennessee Central Railway Museum’s Watertown excursions combine rolling Middle Tennessee terrain with a town stop for lunch and browsing.
Trains leave 220 Willow Street in Nashville. The yard-sale journey covers 90 miles round trip, while shorter special events follow their own schedules.
For the completed October 17, 2026 Fall Foliage trip, the official flyer scheduled departure at 10 a.m. and return around 5 p.m.: about seven hours, with boarding from 9 a.m. Coach was $80, or $40 for children under 12.
The February 13, 2027 wine excursion is a different outing: all riders must be 21 or older, with tastings and a glass included. It was listed as coming soon when reviewed.
Cars are climate-controlled, and seats are reserved. Food is sold onboard; outside food and drinks are prohibited. Dining-car seating alone does not include a meal.
Boarding involves five steps, and passengers must leave the train during destination layovers. Discuss these requirements before booking if mobility is limited.
Seasonal train rides in Nashville and Knoxville
For more holiday options, compare our Christmas train rides in Tennessee.
Nashville’s Santa Express is a 90-minute round trip focused on Santa and the elves, without a town layover. Coach or dining-seat tickets are $70 for adults and $38 for children under 12, before convenience fees. Boarding begins 30 minutes before departure.
Knoxville’s Three Rivers Rambler Christmas Lantern Express combines stories, treats, and Santa with city and industrial surroundings, farmland, and the point where the French Broad and Holston rivers form the Tennessee River.
Allow about two hours, with boarding 20 minutes early at 2560 University Commons Way. The operator’s 2026 pricing page lists adults at $60, children ages 5–14 at $40, toddlers ages 2–4 at $20, and infants free with an adult ticket.
Steam and diesel departures differ. Seating is generally first come, with open-air car access. A wheelchair lift is available, but enclosed-car doorways require standard wheelchairs under 25 inches wide. Train toilets have limited accessibility.
Dollywood Express — Pigeon Forge
The Dollywood Express adds a 20-minute, five-mile steam excursion through the foothills to a Dollywood visit, without a separate train ticket.
You still need park admission. Buying admission solely for the train creates a different budget decision from purchasing a standalone excursion.
For a base-price comparison, Dollywood’s published Christmas ticket guide lists one-day Pick-A-Day admission at $94.99 for adults and $84.99 for children ages 4–9 for November 6–25, before tax. The 10-year-old in the family example pays the adult rate. Promotions may offer different prices; parking costs extra.
Board at The Village depot at least 20 minutes early. Seating is first come. Expect loud steam operation and outdoor exposure. Riders using motorized wheelchairs or scooters must transfer to a Dollywood wheelchair or train bench; ask a Train Host about arrangements and review Dollywood’s accessibility guide.
If your Pigeon Forge trip also includes the national park, our Smokies crowd guide by month can help you choose when to visit.
My Picks
For pure scenery, start with the Hiwassee Loop. Four and a half hours of river gorge is hard to beat, and you don’t pay extra for a town stop you might not want.
If you’ve only got an hour and kids who like trains, the Missionary Ridge Local is the easiest yes on this list. Short, cheap, and the turntable demonstration is genuinely cool to watch.
If you want the full day out, Copperhill is worth the extra fare over the plain Hiwassee Loop. Walking across the Georgia line for lunch makes it feel like a real trip, not just a train ride.
Already headed to Dollywood? Don’t skip the Dollywood Express. It’s included in your park ticket, so there’s no reason not to ride it.
What couples and families would pay
The family means two adults and children ages 6 and 10. These are base-fare totals before taxes and fees. Seasonal prices and upgrades may cost more.
| Ride and price basis | Two adults | Family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Missionary Ridge Local, published coach fares | $52 | $76 with family bundle |
| Hiwassee Loop, standard starting coach | $110 | $190 separately; $170 eligible bundle |
| Hiwassee Loop, published fall coach | $130 | $230 |
| Copperhill Special, standard starting coach | $160 | $260 separately; $220 eligible bundle |
| Chickamauga Turn, standard starting coach | $120 | $220 |
| Summerville, standard starting coach | $180 | $360 |
| Watertown Fall Foliage, October 17, 2026 — past event | $160 | $240 |
Hiwassee and Copperhill bundles apply only to selected non-fall departures.
Seasonal rides and theme-park admission
| Ride and price basis | Two adults | Family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville Santa Express, seasonal coach | $140 | $216 |
| Knoxville Christmas Lantern Express, published 2026 fares | $120 | $200 |
| Dollywood Pick-A-Day admission, published November 6–25 base prices | $189.98 | $369.96 |
Dollywood’s figures buy park admission, with the train included; parking is additional. A family bundle, meal upgrade, or child crossing an age boundary can change the comparison more than the headline adult fare suggests.
Start with Hiwassee for river-and-mountain scenery, Missionary Ridge for a short railroad-history outing, or Copperhill for scenery with a town stop. If you’re already visiting Dollywood, its included steam ride is an easy addition.
