If you are a train lover or have train lovers in your family, then the Twin Cities is a fantastic place for you. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, James J. Hill–a native of Ontario, Canada–was a pioneer in Minnesota developing the Great Northern Railway and pioneering the Pacific Northwest Railway. Because of his legacy, the Twin Cities has a rich railroad history making it a great location for any train lovers and train fun abounds around the metro area. We have train museums, historic depot restorations, model trains and family-friendly events all year long.
CALENDAR OF TRAIN RIDES & EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Tots & Trains
Date: 04/15/2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Jackson Street Roundhouse, 193 Pennsylvania Ave E, Saint Paul, MN , 55130Looking for a fun way to spend a Wednesday morning with your preschooler? Join the Minnesota Transportation Museum at Jackson Street Roundhouse for Tots & Trains! This program is held most first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Your ticket to Tots & Trains also includes general admission to the museum. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.
TCMRM Circus Trains Open
Date: 04/17/2026 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Twin City Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Rd Ste 8, St Paul, MN , 55114The Twin City Model Railroad Museum (“TCMRM”) started in 1934, with a small group of model railroad enthusiasts, and has grown to a world-class museum featuring model trains. If you have young train enthusiasts, TCMRM has the best collection of toy trains in the Midwest and continues to add hands on and interactive exhibits. For instance, there is a train table for small kids and some exhibits allow visitors to operate the controls. READ MORE»
Hennepin Overland Railway Open
Date: 04/19/2026 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Overland Railway Historical Society, 2501 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55406Hennepin Overland Railway Society is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from September through April. Admission includes the railroading museum, the “Station 2501” museum/hobby shop, and a 65 foot long by 29 foot wide HO scale model train layout.
On Second Saturdays during the public season, visitors can enjoy the displays in reduced light levels to simulate night operation during special late hours for Trains After Dark.
TICKETS $25/family. Paid admission includes a FREE model railroading magazine to take home. The 2025/26 public season runs Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4pm; September 6, 2025-April 26, 2026. Closed Easter Sunday.
Storytime with Engineer Paul!
Date: 04/20/2026 10:30 am - 11:15 am
Location: Choo Choo Bob's Train Store, Union Depot, 214 4th Street East, Unit 120, Saint Paul, MN, 55101Engineer Paul hosts an educational, interactive storytime at Choo Choo Bobs including train-tastic stories, songs and jokes. Recurring every Monday & Friday from 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM. Storytime with Engineer Paul is included with general admission to the indoor play space ($2-$10/pp):
National Train Day
Date: 05/09/2026 12:00 am
Location: ,Begun by Amtrak, this holiday has taken on a life of its own. Who doesn’t want to celebrate trains? Amtrak doesn’t actually celebrate it anymore but it can be a good excuse to visit some of the old depots and museums around the Twin Cities.
Union Depot Train Days
Date: 06/06/2026 - 06/07/2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Union Depot, 214 4th Street East, St Paul, MN, 55101Train Days will include train equipment tours, a vendor marketplace, model trains, concessions, train photography exhibit, family friendly activities and more! Train fans will not want to miss this FREE summer festival. 10am-4pm both days.
A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF TRAIN FUN IN THE TWIN CITIES
If you want to explore our rich train history at your own pace, you can learn more about James J. Hill on MNOpedia, and then investigate the fun train-destinations below:
MINNEAPOLIS DESTINATIONS FOR TRAIN FUN
Minnehaha Depot
Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis
Located in Minnehaha Park in South Minneapolis this historic gingerbread depot boasts one of the prettiest settings in the Twin Cities. Learn more. Open Sundays, Memorial Day – Labor Day. FREE admission.
The Hennepin Overland Railway Historical Society
2501 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
Offers for the most sincere model train lovers a 400 square foot layout in a nondescript building. If you are unfamiliar with Minneapolis, finding the building could be a challenge but well worth your time. Open weekends, 1- 4pm, September thru April (closed for the summer months). $7/pp or $20/family.
Minnesota Streetcar Museum – Como Harriet Streetcar Line
2330 W 42nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55410
Take a ride on the retro Como-Harriet Streetcar Line, shuttling riders on a scenic route between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. Trains run May – October, please see the link for the schedule. $3/pp.
Mill City Museum
704 South 2nd St., Mpls, MN 55401
Flour milling and lumber industries were reliant on barge and rail traffic, which made the selection of this site for a flour factory, a strategic choice. Small children will love playing with the toy train at this museum. There is also an 1879 boxcar on display in the museum’s Rail Corridor. After your visit, get out and explore the railroad features that still stand in the Washburn A Mill and walk across Minneapolis’s landmark railroad bridge, The Stone Arch Bridge. Adults $12/children $8.
SAINT PAUL DESTINATIONS FOR TRAIN FUN
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store
Union Depot, 214 4th St East, St Paul, MN 55101
The store offers pay-to-play train tables. $10/child and $2/supervising adult. Storytimes are offered on Monday’s and Fridays and music on Saturdays. These events are covered in the pay-to-play price.
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
668 Transfer Rd Ste. 8, St Paul
If you like to putter with model trains, you will enjoy a visit to the Twin City Model Railroad Museum. With the World Famous O Scale reproduction of the St. Anthony Falls Milling District, you will be able to see how the railways played a specific and important part in history. Learn more here.
Bonus Fun: All Year, check out TCMRM’s TRAKS (“Train Related Activities for Kids”) page for activities, coloring pages and more train activities.
Union Depot
214 4th St East, St Paul, MN 55101
Union Depot is an historic station along the Amtrak national train system. This is where you will catch a train for real vacations. They offer rail lines to Chicago, the Rocky Mountains, Chatanooga and more.
Families will love visiting on Wednesdays when they put out games or for one of their many public events. There’s a designated picnic area set aside next to the tracks; bring a lunch and watch the trains come through! Read more: Family Fun at Union Depot, St. Paul.
Jackson Street Roundhouse
193 Pennsylvania Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55130
The historic Jackson Street Roundhouse is the former steam engine maintenance facility for the Great Northern Railway. The interactive exhibits feature local and regional railway history, and you can experience an operating roundhouse turntable and real passenger train rides! Bring littles ones the first or third Wednesday of the month for Tots ‘N Trains special programming. Look for special events throughout the year such as fall color train rides, round-trip, rides to pick pumpkins and a Santa Train. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, Must make advance reservations online. $9-$16/pp, family rates available.
James J. Hill House
240 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102
This National Historic Landmark will be of more historical interest to older kids and adults as the mansion home of the creator of the Great Northern Railway, James J. Hill. Get an idea of the great wealth that the railroads created for a their builders.
Minnesota History Center
345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102
You can’t discuss Minnesota history without the railroad industry. Climb on a vintage box car and explore the path of the modern light rail. Find a video of the Minnesota Historical Society’s Railroad Collection here.
FUN TRAIN DESTINATIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES NORTH METRO
New Brighton History Center
Long Lake Park, New Brighton
This history center is built in an old train depot with an historic train that kids can climb on. It is located in Long Lake Regional Park, so you can make it part of a day at the beach. The museum opens in early June and you can visit summer weekends between 1-4pm. FREE.
North Metro Model Railroad Club
1929 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids
Occasionally, the club invites the public inside for open houses or to watch the trains operate. Admission is free, donations appreciated.
FUN TRAIN DESTINATIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES WEST METRO
Historic Wayzata Depot
402 East Lake Street, Wayzata,
The Wayzata Museum offers hands-on experiences from the James J. Hill train era, including using a Morris code machine to send your own messages. The tracks that pass the depot are still busy today. And all ages will love the Garden Railroad, an outdoor landscaped miniature railway track. The depot is open April-October, Wednesdays, weekends and holidays, 1-4pm. FREE.
Excelsior Streetcar Line
Excelsior
All aboard for an old-fashioned trolley ride through downtown Excelsior. Trains run May – September, please check the link for the schedule. $2.50/pp.
FUN TRAIN DESTINATIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES EAST METRO
St Croix Railroad
Hudson, WI
Three railroad lines operate miniature locomotives the public is invited to ride on the last Sunday of the month, May – September from 12-4pm. There is no official charge for train tickets, but a donation of $5/pp is suggested.
RAIL TRAVEL FAMILY FUN OUTSIDE THE TWIN CITIES
Chugga chugga! You’ll have to travel a little farther from the metro to visit these trains, but they make for a lovely day trip destination.
Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway
Osceola, WI
Just across the border into Wisconsin, train rides depart every Saturday and Sunday throughout the weekend, spring through fall. 50 or 90 minutes in length, these scenic trips through the the beautiful scenery of the St. Croix Valley offer a one of a kind appreciation for vintage trains. Guests can book meal excursions on the 90-minute rides, such as the family-friendly pizza train. Rates vary so please make sure to check the website for more details.
Learn More About the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway: Meet the 6 National Parks of Minnesota.
Chippewa Valley Railroad
Carson Park, Eau Claire, WI
This pint-sized train travels in a half-mile circle along Half Moon Lake during between Memorial Day and Lab or Day. Coaches are pulled by coal fired, steam-powered locomotive. Open Sundays and holidays noon-5pm. Adults $3.00; Kids 3-12 $2.00; 2 and under FREE.
North Shore Scenic Railroad & Duluth Depot Museum in Duluth
Anne recommends a ride on the Duluth Zephyr, when visiting Duluth. For families with older kids, plan a trip around a Murder Mystery Express!
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
More Train Depots in Minnesota
We haven’t even scratched the surface with depots to visit in Minnesota. Check out DepotMaps.com to find all the depots in Minnesota.
WHERE TO PLAY WITH TRAIN TABLES
We have several museums and small businesses in the Twin Cities where kids can play with train sets. No need to find your own space for a play table and storage.
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store
Union Depot, 214 4th St East, St Paul, MN 55101
Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store has train track activity tables set up with wooden train sets and accessories. Open Mondays, Fridays and weekends, families can drop in for imaginative play. $10/child and $2/accompanying adult.
Firefighters Hall and Museum
664 22nd Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
You might not get to the train tables once they see the fire trucks, but the Firefighters Museum has a good sized train table. Admission: $6-$7/pp.
Jackson Street Roundhouse
193 Pennsylvania Ave E, St Paul, MN 55130
Besides the real train cars, Jackson street roundhouse has train tables in an area designed for toddlers. Sometimes there will be crafts and other tot-friendly things to do in this area. Wednesdays $9-$15/pp. Saturdays $9/$18/pp.
Mill City Museum
704 S 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN, 55401
Part of the Market to Market exhibit, Mill City’s train table shows how flour is transported to various places. Kids can load the trains with flour sacks and spend playtime learning about how trains aided the flour industry. Admission $8-$12/pp.
Twin City Model Railroad Museum
668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, Saint Paul, MN 55114
TCMRM has some train tables toward the back of the museum. Kids will also enjoy the interactive layouts that allow them to control some of the trains and layouts. Admission: $8-$10/pp.
TRAIN THEMED PLAYGROUNDS IN THE TWIN CITIES:
- Teddy Bear Park, 207 Nelson Street East, Stillwater, MN 55082
- Kenwood Park, 2101 West Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
RAILROAD & TRAIN FUN AT HOME
Learn More about Trains and Railroads with NPS
School age kids can earn a Junior Ranger Virtual Badge from the National Park Service by working through the Junior Ranger Explorer Booklet. Kids can learn about railroad safety, the tools and supplies needed to build a railroad, the cities the railroad connects between New York City and San Francisco and the landscape of the land between, and they can explore how the railroad made it possible to share resources across the U.S. They will also get to decipher a Morse code message and use their math skills to calculate travel costs. They will also learn about the history of the westward expansion of the rail system, the people who built it, the Native American homelands that were lost to the railroad and the unexpected loss of Bison that this expansion caused. Print and Complete the Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer Booklet.
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Savage Library has Bilingual Story Stations for ages 0-5 featuring Trains! Self-directed stations are available during most open hours on Fri 6/27, Sat 6/28, & Sun 6/29.
Thanks Jeff. That looks fun. I’ll add it to our calendar.
My boys loved going to Jackson Roundhouse when they were little. With lots of trains to see and climb around! Train tables that younger children enjoy, and sometimes caboose rides.
Yes! Our kids loved it when they were younger, too. It’s almost a Twin Cities right of passage.
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I’d also recommend the railfan park on the far northeast (as in downriver) end of St. Paul Union Depot’s property for watching freight trains in a fenced-in, kid-friendly place, as well as the playground at 4th and Sibley, which is next to the light rail station at St. Paul Union Depot.
The pedestrian overpass on the south end of Tinucci’s parking lot in Newport is also a relatively good, kid-safe place to watch the big trains go by.
Thank you for these recommendations, Nick. My kids always complain when we get stuck behind a train and ARE NOT first in line. Maybe we should go have a train-watching outing!