Photo by redtbird02 at Shutterstock
Seeing fall foliage across our beautiful nation is a popular bucket list item for folks. But while most opt to hop in a car for a memorable road trip, an East Coast fall foliage train ride will allow everyone in the family to soak up the incredible landscapes.
You can watch the changing scenery from the comfort of a train that does all the work for you, where the only thing you’ll need is your sense of adventure and maybe a couple of snacks. Early October typically marks the beginning of the leaves changing.
So, plan your fall journey for peak leaf viewing around the end of October. What are we waiting for? Sit back and enjoy the ride on one of these 8 East Coast fall foliage train rides in the United States!
On this trip, you can admire the scenic views from 6,288 feet at the summit of Mount Washington, which has been running for more than 150 years.
This three-hour roundtrip East Coast fall foliage train ride operates two vintage steam locomotives, allowing riders to visit five states, Canada and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.
After your Autumn foliage journey, jump out and explore the visitor center at the summit to catch sceneries from the observatory and stroll through the interactive weather museum.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway gives you a unique perspective of fall’s magnificence as you ride the first mountain-climbing cog railway worldwide to the summit of Mount Washington.
To get the finest views on this ride up the highest peak in the Northeast, we recommend timing your trip for October when New Hampshire’s famous foliage collection is at its best.
Vermont is well-known for some of the most dazzling displays of fall foliage in the United States of America. So, an East Coast fall foliage train ride here would be one of the best in the nation.
The Green Mountain Railroad in Chester is a two-hour roundtrip picturesque ride for the entire family. While on it, you can even book the four-course dining experience on the dinner train.
If not, you can make a pit stop at Okemo Mountain Resort for an unforgettable overnight stay.
When it comes to East Coast fall foliage train rides in New Hampshire, the choice is generally between Conway Scenic Railroad and The Mount Washington Cog Railway, the former traversing the valley and stunning Crawford Notch rather than ascending to the peak of Mount Washington.
The ground rises on both sides of this fabled pass, so you’re treated to incredible Autumn foliage views stacked up to the sky wherever you’re looking.
The 50- to 60-mile Mountaineer adventure features 50s-era passenger cars and three classes, the most luxurious offering upper dome seating for a better viewpoint. This train ride will take anywhere from 4 to 5.5 hours.
Amtrak’s Vermonter runs daily between Washington, DC, and St. Albans in northern Vermont, journeying through major metropolitan areas like the Big Apple and charming towns in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
This East Coast fall foliage train ride will allow you to appreciate autumn from both a rural AND urban perspective. Just be sure to hop off in cities like Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, and explore smaller communities like Northampton in Massachusetts.
Or you have the option of getting off at the Waterbury-Stowe stop in Vermont, which will allow you to visit both towns since they’re only 10 miles apart. As our readers know, Stowe provides some of the most fabulous fall foliage and seasonal activities in the nation.
If you want a scenic journey a little more south, consider West Virginia and hop aboard the vintage New Tygart Flyer on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad. This scenic East Coast fall foliage train ride will take you through the area’s lush, untouched mountain wilderness.
Not only will you find unbelievable views of the unique changing foliage covering the Potomac Highlands region, but you’ll cross the steep mountain grades to see the storybook-like High Falls of Cheat.
Best seen in October, you’ll experience fall’s changing colors. Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad offers half-day, two-hour, and Castaway Caboose overnight adventures.
Don’t leave West Virginia just yet! The Greenbrier Express will give you another taste of unspoiled Appalachian nature. Spanning a restored 15-mile portion of a 1902 railway, this historic East Coast fall foliage train ride is surrounded by charming West Virginia towns.
Departing from Cass, the trail follows the Greenbrier River and passes through part of the Monongahela National Forest, where red spruce, maples, and yellow birch create multicolored autumnal hues.
The round trip takes about five and a half hours, including a stop in Durbin for boutique browsing or grabbing a coffee from Simply Sweet Cafe next to the station.
A mere half hour away from Cleveland, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will take train lovers through the spectacular scenery of Ohio’s only national park. So be sure to pack a camera!
Jump on the picturesque Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Peninsula for an unforgettable journey where you can soak up sights of dogwood and sugar maples trees that have turned different shades of orange, red, and yellow.
This 3-and-a-half-hour East Coast fall foliage train ride travels through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and has been around since 1880.
You can even book the dining car if you prefer your meals with a view and special events, including painting, beer tasting, and sip rides. There are even costumed Halloween trains around this time!
Ideal for taking in the season’s changing colors, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a panoramic 26-mile round-trip excursion that takes a 4-hour journey alongside the Toccoa River in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Leaving from Blue Ridge, this East Coast fall foliage train ride runs 13 miles through woodland and along the Toccoa River all the way to the Tennessee state line.
You can choose between traditional closed cars with big picture windows and open-air vehicles, letting you breathe in the fresh mountain air while you marvel at the Autumn colors.
You can relax in your vintage car and admire the views, then stop for a layover at the George-Tennessee border in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, for a break.
This is the perfect East Coast fall foliage train ride where you’ll also get to enjoy an afternoon of antique shopping and grabbing lunch at one of the adorable cafes.
Have you ever been on any of these East Coast fall foliage train rides? If so, be sure to share your experiences with our readers in the comments section.
And if you’re looking for some more places to visit this fall, we also recommend reading: Top 4 Fall Getaways for Older Adults
Editor’s Note: Our writers have been all over the world. So we’re lucky to have them share their experiences with our readers. But even though Must See Places is a travel website full of incredible places to visit, we are not a travel agency. Our posts have many bucket list-worthy ideas for your next trip. Unfortunately, we cannot help you book any hotels, flights, or tours.
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