If you’re looking for a little Christmas magic in North Carolina, add THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer to your family’s holiday bucket list!
We recently took the girls, and it was such a fun way to kick off the Christmas season. From boarding the festive train and sipping hot chocolate to visiting the North Pole and collecting our silver bells from Santa, it was a memorable family experience.
If you’re planning your own trip, I’m sharing everything we learned, including a money-saving overnight package, where to stay, where to eat, what to wear, and a few tips I wish I’d known beforehand.
Where is the Polar Express in North Carolina?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride takes place at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC which is in Rowan County. The museum is located at 1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer, NC 28159, just off I-85. It’s a convenient destination for families traveling from Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and even here in Wilmington.
The experience includes a festive train ride with dancers, holiday music, hot chocolate, cookies, a visit to the North Pole, and a special silver sleigh bell. You honestly feel like you have a seat inside of the movie that we all know and cherish.
Plan for approximately 70 minutes for the actual event experience and of course time to explore the grounds before/after your train ride.
Save with the Polar Express Stay & Play Package
This is one of the first things I’d look into before booking your trip!
Rowan County Tourism offers a special Stay & Play package for families attending THE POLAR EXPRESS at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Here’s how it works:
One-night stay:
- One complimentary adult Standard Class ticket
- One complimentary child Standard Class ticket
Two-night stay:
- Two complimentary adult Standard Class tickets
- Two complimentary child Standard Class tickets
Tickets are subject to availability and the package must be booked through the participating Rowan County lodging process.
A few things to know:
- Your hotel stay needs to coincide with your Polar Express visit.
- Complimentary tickets are Standard Class.
- They cannot be exchanged for or applied toward an upgraded ticket.
- There are booking deadlines for each event weekend.
Be sure to read the current package terms before booking. Start with the official Rowan County Stay & Play information. You can also explore participating vacation rentals and Airbnb options through Rowan County Tourism.
My Tips for Riding the Polar Express
After experiencing it ourselves, here are a few things I’d recommend:
1. Selecting tickets, class, etc.
You select your EXACT seats when booking. You’ll be asked which DATE and TIME, which TRAIN (A or B) and what CLASS – Parlor, First Class, Deluxe and Standard. Here is the breakdown and a few tips.
DATE/TIME: Tickets launch as early as August for the holiday season. I recommend selecting an earlier time (we went at 6:15 PM), which allowed us time to eat an early dinner, arrive onsite around 5:00 PM, see the grounds during the daylight which is ideal for photos and then head out on the train once the sun has set. Once it was dark out, the lights were so beautiful and it made the North Pole feel even more magical.
These photos are from the NC Transportation Museum website
TRAIN/CLASS: There are two different trains – A and B (Both the same, except Train B doesn’t have a PARLOR Class) and then CLASS:
- PARLOR: 4 SEATS with a Table Top
- 4-person tables. Passengers receive hot cocoa served in a keepsake ceramic mug, a special treat, a cookie, a silver sleigh bell, a golden ticket, and a hard-bound copy of Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express book signed by Santa Claus (one per table). Each passenger ages 2 and up must use a seat at the table, and all seats must be purchased at the table. One child under age 2 may ride for free in the lap of a paying adult. No additional seats can be added to tables.
- FIRST CLASS: 6 SEATS with Table Top OR 4 SEATS with Table Top
- Tables available in 2-person, 4-person, and very limited 6-person. Passengers receive hot cocoa served in a keepsake ceramic mug, a special treat, a cookie, a silver sleigh bell, and a golden ticket. Each passenger ages 2 and up must use a seat at the table, and all seats must be purchased at the table. One child under age 2 may ride for free in the lap of a paying adult.
- DELUXE (SEATS only, no table)
- Passengers receive hot cocoa served in a keepsake tumbler, a special treat, a cookie, a silver sleigh bell, and a golden ticket. Tickets are for seats in coaches, without tables.
- STANDARD (SEATS only, no table)
- Passengers receive hot cocoa (served in a quality paper cup), a cookie, a silver sleigh bell, and a golden ticket.
SEATS: If you want to see the North Pole out of your window, choose seats on the top side on the chart when selecting your train seats. If on the opposite side, the windows are a bit foggy from the heat inside, so just hang tight and you can see once you exit the train. Some class seats have tables, while others face one another (perfect for our family of 5).
2. Bring a bag for all the goodies.
You’ll collect hot chocolate cups, golden tickets, silver bells, candy and crafts. Bring a tote or another small bag to keep everything together.
3. Arrive early and stay after!
Give yourself plenty of time to park, get everyone situated, take pictures, walk around, use the restrooms and find your boarding area. The museum recommends arriving approximately 45 minutes before your scheduled departure as there is a pre-ride show in front of the train.
4. Don’t rush home afterward.
There is more to enjoy around the grounds! Plan to arrive early or stay a little after your train ride to walk around, see the model train displays, make a craft, stop by the gift shop, see Santa Claus, meet to the Conductors, enjoy the decorations and take in the atmosphere. It’s a full experience! We were able to see a number of other trains pass by after our ride and it was special to see other families waving from inside the trains.
5. Bring your jackets!
Even though the passenger cars are heated, portions of the experience happen outside. You’ll be waiting to board and watching outdoor performances, so dress warmly. I also recommend putting your jackets back on when you reach the North Pole.
We recommend comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Cozy slippers with hard bottoms can also be a fun option if the weather and walking conditions allow.
6. Don’t forget the gift shop.
We were pleasantly surprised by how reasonably priced the gift shop was. It’s a fun place to look for a little souvenir to remember your trip.
Three Santas? Here’s What Parents Should Know!
One thing I wasn’t expecting was seeing THREE different Santas throughout the experience!
Here’s where we saw them:
- The North Pole: Santa makes a special appearance during the North Pole portion of the experience.
- On the train: Another Santa comes through and hands out the silver sleigh bells.
- The gift shop area: There is another Santa available for posed photos inside the Gift Shop.
Just a little heads-up if you’re trying to prepare your little ones or plan your pictures!
Food, S’mores & Where to Eat
You don’t necessarily have to leave the museum grounds immediately after your ride. Depending on the event night, food trucks are available for dinner and snacks. There are also fire pits where you can purchase s’mores kits (2 s’mores for $6).
We also decided to go out for dinner at DJ’s Restaurant & Skylounge in Salisbury, which was beautifully decorated for Christmas. It made for a festive dinner stop after our train ride! I’d recommend checking restaurant hours and making dinner reservations or plans ahead of time, especially on busy Polar Express weekends.
What to Wear to the Polar Express
You can absolutely wear Christmas pajamas! In fact, that’s part of the fun.
Here’s what I’d pack:
- Warm pajamas or comfortable layers
- Winter jackets
- Closed-toe shoes or slippers with hard bottoms
- Hats and gloves if the forecast calls for them
- A small tote bag for your souvenirs
Remember, you’ll be outside for portions of the experience, so don’t dress only for the heated train car.
More Things to Know Before You Go
A few practical details from the museum’s visitor information:
- Parking at the museum is free.
- The train ride and event experience last approximately 70 minutes.
- Strollers and car seats aren’t permitted on the train, but there is a designated stroller parking area.
- Restrooms are available near the train station and another near the water tower, so it’s a good idea to use them before boarding.
- The event includes hot chocolate and a cookie, but dinner is not served on the train.
- You can take your own pictures during the experience.
Check the museum’s official Polar Express FAQ before your visit for current policies and details.
Is the Polar Express in Spencer, NC Worth It?
We had such a sweet time taking the girls, and I loved that it gave us a reason to slow down and enjoy a little Christmas magic together. We’ve been to a few other Polar Express type events on trains and this one far exceeds the others. It was polished with professional looking cast, dances and ensuring the kids are engaged on the ride and at the North Pole. My biggest recommendation? Make a weekend out of it! Take advantage of the Stay & Play package, plan a fun dinner, explore the grounds and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
Hopefully these tips help you plan your own family adventure aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS!
All aboard! 🚂🎄
We were gifted tickets to this experience from Visit Rowan County, but this blog post is based off of my real opinions!
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