10 Places to Bring Kids to See And Ride Trains in New Jersey

There is something magical about trains for kids. Boys and girls alike always stop to stare as a train glides into the station, and think taking a ride on a train is way cooler than hopping in the car. We have rounded up our favorite places to see all kinds of trains in New Jersey to share with you.

From museums to parks to historic terminals, pick your favorite destination and take your family for a train-tastic day with these New Jersey trains!

Start with these fun places to visit in New Jersey to see and ride trains in New Jersey

• Ride trains in Monmouth County at the  New Jersey Museum of Transportation: The Pine Creek Railroad at Allaire State Park. 
  • Founded in 1952, New Jersey Museum of Transportation’s Pine Creek Railroad is one of the oldest operating narrow gauge railway exhibits in the country. Trains run every weekend from noon to 4:30 (4:00 in November and December), weather permitting, from Easter until Christmas. Open 7 days a week from July to September. Rides are approximately 15 minutes long. Cost: $4 per person ages 3 and up. Different rates for special events. Parking fee applies on weekends. (See our Allaire State Park review.)
  • Located at 4265 Atlantic Ave, Wall Township.
  • For more information visit their website at www.njmt.org or call (732) 938-5524.

• See trains in Camden County at the Magnolia Train Station Museum.
  • If you are interested in learning the history of this local train station and seeing miniature train sets, Magnolia Train Station Museum is the place to go. The Museum is open Wednesday 7 PM – 9PM or by appointment. Their annual train show is in November. Cost: FREE!  (See our Magnolia Train Station Museum review.)
  • Located at 215 West Atlantic Avenue, Magnolia.
  • For more information visit their website at Magnolia Train Station Museum.

• Ride trains across South Jersey with Cape May Seashore Line Excursions in Cape May County.
  • Check the website for excursion service between Richland and Tuckahoe, a 30-mile round-trip on the former Reading Company’s steel speedway to the shore! Santa train rides are also available.
  • The Richland Village Train Station: 1272 Harding Highway, Richland
  • The Tuckahoe Village Train Station: Reading Avenue and Railroad Avenue Tuckahoe (you may need to “Woodbine” as the town in your GPS)
  • For more information visit their website at Cape May Seashore Line Excursions.

• Ride trains across North Jersey at the Black River & Western Railroad in Hunterdon County.
  • The Black River & Western Railroad is an independently owned and operated railroad located in rural Hunterdon County, New Jersey. From South to North, the railroad connects the towns of Lambertville, Ringoes, Flemington, and Three Bridges. Schedules and events vary, see the website for more details. Cost: Varies per event.
  • Flemington Station 80 Stangl Road, Flemington
  • Ringoes Station 108 John Ringo Road, Ringoes
  • For more information visit their website at Black River & Western Railroad or call 908-782-6622

• See and ride trains in Morris County at  the Whippany Railway Museum.
  • At the Whippany Railway Museum, you can enjoy an operating O-gauge model railroad layout, railroad artifacts, a gift shop, and outdoor railroad equipment. On the Whippany Railway, you and your family can enjoy various trips and events throughout the calendar year including Easter and Halloween. All rides depart from and return to the Whippany Railway Museum site. The museum is open Sundays from April – October, from 12PM – 4 PM, admission cost: $2 for adults, $1 for children 12 and under. Train Ride Cost: Varies by event. (See our Whippany Railway Museum review.)
  • Whippany Railway Museum, 1 Railroad plaza, Whippany
  • For more information visit their website at Whippany Railway or call 973-887-8177

• See model trains on display in Atlantic County at the Patcong Valley Model Railway during December and January.
  • The Patcong Valley Model Railway hosts open houses where the railroad will be running and there are recently completed new track and scenery changes that can be seen. Cost: The Railway is free (donations are accepted). (See our Patcong Valley Model Railway review.)
  • Located on Route 40 in Richland.
  • For more information visit their website at Patcong Valley Model Railway or call

• See trains in Hudson County at the Central Railroad of the New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park.
  • From 1892 through 1954, the CRRNJ Terminal stood with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to unfold one of this nation’s most dramatic stories: the immigration of northern, southern and eastern Europeans, among others, into the United States. After being greeted by the Statue of Liberty and processed at Ellis Island, these immigrants purchased tickets and boarded trains at the Terminal that took them to their new homes throughout the United States.
  • Located in Liberty State Park,1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City
  • For more information visit their website at Central Railroad of the New Jersey Terminal.

• Ride trains along the Delaware River at Delaware River Railroad Excursions in Warren County.
  • All  year long you can ride along the beautiful Delaware river departing from Phillipsburg New Jersey or join one of the many themed excursions such as the Easter Bunny Train Rides,  Corn Maze Train,  Mine Train, The Great Pumpkin Train, Dino Days,  A Day Out With Thomas and The Polar Express. Cost: Train ride ticket prices vary. (See our Delaware River Railroad Excursions review.)

• See model train sets in Sussex County at the Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum.
  • This model railroad museum contains both historical information and model train sets like Thomas and Friends, and holiday-themed trains. The museum is open Friday – Sunday from April through the end of December, and Saturdays and Sundays in January, February and March 10AM – 5 PM. Cost: $6 per person, children under 4 are free. No strollers, food or drinks. (See our Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum review.)
  • Located at 240 Demarest Road, Sparta.
  • For more information visit their website at Friar Mountain Model Railroad or call 973-579-9833

• Watch trains as you play at the Railroad Plaza Park across from Allenhurst train station in Monmouth County.
  • Looking for an easy, free way to see trains? Visit Railroad Plaza Park, a playground located right next to a NJ Transit train station. Trains come and go regularly (see the NJ Transit website for a specific schedule) while your children play on the playground. Cost: FREE! (See our Railroad Plaza Park review.)
  • Located off Corlies Avenue in Allenhurst.

• Ride the popular Zoo Train at Turtle Back Zoo through the South Mountain Reservation woods adjacent to the zoo. It’s a favorite so make time to wait in line, but it’s worth it! Rides take about 15 minutes and it’s open April-December. Free with your paid admission to the zoo. See our website for our experiences at Turtle Back Zoo.
  • Turtle Back Zoo Review – Field Trip Friday
  • Turtle Back Zoo – Adventures Abound
  •  Located at 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange
  • For more information visit their website at Turtle Back Zoo or call 973-731-5800.

• Ride trains around a children’s garden at Arrow River Train at the Camden Children’s Garden Railroad Garden in Camden County.
  • In the Railroad Garden is the 600′ long Arrow River Train Ride. It holds up to 38 children or 22 adults. As you travel on the train, for a small extra fee (after the admission fee), you’ll see:
    • Expanded “G” scale display of model trains running at different elevations
    • Miniature landscapes which includes a 10-foot high waterfall, several buildings made from natural products, and flowers
    • A village of custom houses and “Wally World”, a collection of storefronts.
    • A full-sized, 25-ton “Camden Caboose.” Originally used in 1942 for the New Haven Rail Line, this caboose was donated by Conrail.

Travel across New Jersey with these New Jersey trains

More details coming soon about these ways to travel across New Jersey by train.

• New Jersey Transit – New Jersey Transit offers train service across Central and North Jersey, with lines stretching as far south as Bay Head and Trenton. Kids ride free on weekends and holidays. Learn more at New Jersey Transit.
• Patco Speedline – The Patco Speedline provides train service from Lindenwold New Jersey into Philadelphia. Learn more at http://www.ridepatco.org.
• PATH – Port Authority of New York & New Jersey operates PATH trains from Newark or Hoboken to multiple stops in New York City. One way ride is $2.75, children 5 and under ride free. For details on the PATH click here.

Did we miss any of your favorite spots to see trains in NJ? Please share with us in the comments section below!