Trains are almost mystical in their magic. They come rolling through the billowing fog, spewing steam like an iron dragon, and preparing to pick up their next load of passengers. They’re a great way to visit a new place for a day without committing to a hotel, or worrying about driving (especially driving at night!). If you find yourself Googling “day trips near me in Texas,” why not consider a train trip? These five train day trips in Texas allow you to sit back, relax, and let someone else take the wheel while you escape reality for a little while.
- Fort Worth Stockyards (Grapevine Vintage Railroad)
Facebook/VisitGrapevineTX
Flickr/stevenm_61 The Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Cotton Belt Route is a unique experience that will take you to the historic Stockyards District in Fort Worth. There, you can go back in time to the Old West. There’s so much to enjoy there: the world’s largest Honky Tonk, saloons, and a daily cattle drive. There’s also plenty of amazing restaurants like Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, and shops like the delightful The Candy Barrel. The train will take you from Grapevine to Fort Worth in a little over 2.5 hours, then you’ll have about 90 minutes to independently explore the Stockyards District. You’ll ride in a historic 1920s Victorian coach. Grapevine Vintage Railroad offers a few other, shorter routes as well. You can get additional information or purchase tickets on their website. It’s a rootin’ tootin’ good time!
- San Antonio (Texas Eagle)
Flickr/Clay Gilliand
Flickr/memoriesbymike
Flickr/nanpalmero The Texas Eagle is a branch of Amtrak, the most well-known passenger train in America. It travels between Chicago and San Antonio, but you can hop on at stations all throughout the state to travel here. This hill country city has more attractions to enjoy than we could ever list here. Between the Alamo, the River Walk ablaze with the vibrant Mexican culture, the Tower of the Americas, and more, you could day trip here every year and never run out of things to do. If you want one of the best train rides in Texas, take the whole 32.5 hour trip between San Antonio and Chicago! You’ll get to see so many incredible sights. You can get more information about the routes on the Amtrak website.
- East Texas (Texas State Railroad)
Flickr/royluck Looking for the best train day trips in Texas? How about a Piney Woods Excursion ride that will take you through all the beautiful east Texas countryside. Onboard the Texas State Railroad, you’ll see towering pines, open pastures, and get a taste of what slow living feels like. It’s the perfect way to escape all of life’s troubles for a few blissful hours. This 4-hour journey will take you through 25 miles of some of the most stunning scenery in the Lone Star State. For additional information or to purchase tickets, check out the Texas State Railroad website.
- Jazz Wine Trail (Grapevine)
TripAdvisor/Texas_Hummer We already mentioned the Grapevine Vintage Railroad: here’s another experience through them! This wine-tasting trip is like no other. You’ll get to visit some of Grapevine’s finest wineries while listening to relaxing jazz music. Does it get any better than that? The Jazz Wine Train is one of Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s many seasonal offerings. Check out the full list of seasonal special event trains on their website.
- Historic Jefferson Railway (Diamond Don Empire)
Diamond Don Empire This old-fashioned locomotive will take you on a special guided tour train ride that will tell you all about the history of the area. On special days, weather permitting, you even get to watch the alligator feedings at the Diamond Don Gator Pit! The railway hosts numerous holiday events, like a Friday the 13th train, ghost trains for Halloween, and Christmas lights trains. This is great fun for the whole family no matter the time of year. Check out their schedule on their website.
Have you ever taken any of these train rides in Texas? Share your experiences in the comments!
Facebook/VisitGrapevineTX
Flickr/stevenm_61
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Cotton Belt Route is a unique experience that will take you to the historic Stockyards District in Fort Worth. There, you can go back in time to the Old West. There’s so much to enjoy there: the world’s largest Honky Tonk, saloons, and a daily cattle drive. There’s also plenty of amazing restaurants like Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, and shops like the delightful The Candy Barrel. The train will take you from Grapevine to Fort Worth in a little over 2.5 hours, then you’ll have about 90 minutes to independently explore the Stockyards District. You’ll ride in a historic 1920s Victorian coach. Grapevine Vintage Railroad offers a few other, shorter routes as well. You can get additional information or purchase tickets on their website. It’s a rootin’ tootin’ good time!
Flickr/Clay Gilliand
Flickr/memoriesbymike
Flickr/nanpalmero
The Texas Eagle is a branch of Amtrak, the most well-known passenger train in America. It travels between Chicago and San Antonio, but you can hop on at stations all throughout the state to travel here. This hill country city has more attractions to enjoy than we could ever list here. Between the Alamo, the River Walk ablaze with the vibrant Mexican culture, the Tower of the Americas, and more, you could day trip here every year and never run out of things to do. If you want one of the best train rides in Texas, take the whole 32.5 hour trip between San Antonio and Chicago! You’ll get to see so many incredible sights. You can get more information about the routes on the Amtrak website.
Flickr/royluck
Looking for the best train day trips in Texas? How about a Piney Woods Excursion ride that will take you through all the beautiful east Texas countryside. Onboard the Texas State Railroad, you’ll see towering pines, open pastures, and get a taste of what slow living feels like. It’s the perfect way to escape all of life’s troubles for a few blissful hours. This 4-hour journey will take you through 25 miles of some of the most stunning scenery in the Lone Star State. For additional information or to purchase tickets, check out the Texas State Railroad website.
TripAdvisor/Texas_Hummer
We already mentioned the Grapevine Vintage Railroad: here’s another experience through them! This wine-tasting trip is like no other. You’ll get to visit some of Grapevine’s finest wineries while listening to relaxing jazz music. Does it get any better than that? The Jazz Wine Train is one of Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s many seasonal offerings. Check out the full list of seasonal special event trains on their website.
Diamond Don Empire
This old-fashioned locomotive will take you on a special guided tour train ride that will tell you all about the history of the area. On special days, weather permitting, you even get to watch the alligator feedings at the Diamond Don Gator Pit! The railway hosts numerous holiday events, like a Friday the 13th train, ghost trains for Halloween, and Christmas lights trains. This is great fun for the whole family no matter the time of year. Check out their schedule on their website.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Grapevine Vintage Railroad, 705 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051, USAAddress: San Antonio, 350 Hoefgen Ave, San Antonio, TX 78205, USAAddress: Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot, 789 Park Rd 70, Palestine, TX 75801, USAAddress: Texas State Railroad - Rusk Depot, 535 Park Rd 76, Rusk, TX 75785, USAAddress: Historic Jefferson Railway, 400 E Austin St, Jefferson, TX 75657, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Day Trips Near Me In Texas August 11, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some of the best day trips in Texas? How about exploring the Sonora Caves? And of course, The Alamo is one of the most historic sites in the entire country. You’ll be enthralled by Monahans Sandhills State Park: it looks like you got thrown into the Arabian desert! We’ve got a list of these and other day trips in Texas in this article; check it out! What are some good museums in Texas? If you’re into the macabre, we’ve got the National Museum of Funeral History! And then we have a few options that are just plain bizarre. Like the Cockroach Hall of Fame in Plano and Toilet Seat Museum in San Antonio. What are some cheap activities in Texas? Speaking of museums, how about these seven museums in Texas with free admission? Here are some more things from various areas of the state that are fun and don’t cost a dime. Mayfield Park in Austin is filled with beautiful peacocks!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Day Trips Near Me In Texas
August 11, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some of the best day trips in Texas? How about exploring the Sonora Caves? And of course, The Alamo is one of the most historic sites in the entire country. You’ll be enthralled by Monahans Sandhills State Park: it looks like you got thrown into the Arabian desert! We’ve got a list of these and other day trips in Texas in this article; check it out! What are some good museums in Texas? If you’re into the macabre, we’ve got the National Museum of Funeral History! And then we have a few options that are just plain bizarre. Like the Cockroach Hall of Fame in Plano and Toilet Seat Museum in San Antonio. What are some cheap activities in Texas? Speaking of museums, how about these seven museums in Texas with free admission? Here are some more things from various areas of the state that are fun and don’t cost a dime. Mayfield Park in Austin is filled with beautiful peacocks!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
How about exploring the Sonora Caves? And of course, The Alamo is one of the most historic sites in the entire country. You’ll be enthralled by Monahans Sandhills State Park: it looks like you got thrown into the Arabian desert! We’ve got a list of these and other day trips in Texas in this article; check it out!
What are some good museums in Texas?
If you’re into the macabre, we’ve got the National Museum of Funeral History! And then we have a few options that are just plain bizarre. Like the Cockroach Hall of Fame in Plano and Toilet Seat Museum in San Antonio.
What are some cheap activities in Texas?
Speaking of museums, how about these seven museums in Texas with free admission? Here are some more things from various areas of the state that are fun and don’t cost a dime. Mayfield Park in Austin is filled with beautiful peacocks!
