Georgia’s holiday trains sell out weeks ahead, no operator publishes a public on-sale date, and the state’s most-searched Santa train — the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s Holiday Express — publishes no fares at all on its own website. Book the day you decide. This is the most time-sensitive thing in Georgia’s holiday calendar, and waiting for a price to appear will cost you the seats.
Five Georgia operators run verifiable holiday trains in 2026, and they are very different products: a one-hour ride in Blue Ridge, a full-day excursion to Plains, an evening sing-along inside a theme park, a short open-air run in coastal Kingsland, and a cocoa train in south Georgia. Published fares run from $12.50 for a child to $121.99 for an adult. Below is what each publishes — and what it does not.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When do tickets go on sale? | No operator publishes a date — assume they are already selling |
| Cheapest verified ride | The Santa Special, Kingsland — $12.50 child, $24.50 adult |
| Most expensive | SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express Chairman’s class, $121.99 + 8% tax |
| Best lap-child deal | Kingsland and SAM Shortline: under 2 ride free in a lap |
| Closest to Atlanta | Stone Mountain’s Scenic Railroad sing-along |
| Dogs | No — service animals only, everywhere a policy is published |
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express
The Holiday Express is a one-hour round trip from the depot at 241 Depot Street, Blue Ridge, and the railway publishes no fares for it anywhere on its site. Every “Purchase Tickets” button hands off to FareHarbor, and prices appear only inside that calendar. We will not quote a third-party figure; read the live price there.
The dates are inconsistent across its own pages too: the holiday rides page says “NOVEMBER 28 – DECEMBER 24,” the home page says select dates November 27 to December 23. Treat the booking calendar as the authority.
What is published is the experience: holiday music and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” a jingle bell and candy cane for each child, a chance to see Santa, hot chocolate for sale. Three car classes run on the holiday ride — Open Air Coach, Closed Coach (air conditioned) and a Handicap Accessible Coach with a 1,000 lb lift. The Premier Car is 18-plus and four-hour rides only.
The policies are unusually clear. Strollers are allowed but must be folded and stowed at boarding. No pets other than certified service animals. Arrive an hour early. Cancellations more than 48 hours out are refunded less $10 per adult and $5 per child ticket; inside 48 hours, nothing. Trains run in bad weather. Baby changing is in cars 332 and 405.
No lap-child policy is published — call (877) 413-8724 before assuming a baby rides free. See also things to do in Blue Ridge, GA.
SAM Shortline: Candy Cane Express and Cordele Holiday Train
SAM Shortline is the only Georgia operator publishing full holiday fares, and it runs two completely different holiday trains. Its 2026 calendar also lists a Plains Christmas Lighting run on Saturday, November 28.
The Candy Cane Express runs Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2026, departing Georgia Veterans State Park (2459 US Hwy 280 W, Cordele) at 10:00 a.m., reaching Plains at 11:45, laying over two hours and returning at 3:30 p.m. Santa rides along. Fares before 8% tax: Coach adult $41.99, child 2-12 $31.99, senior and military $38.99; Deluxe (13+) $51.99; Premium (16+) $91.99 with lunch; Chairman’s (18+, Saturday only) $121.99.
The Cordele Holiday Train is the short, cheap evening option: a one-hour ride from the downtown depot at 105 9th Ave E on December 11, 12, 18 and 19, 2026, with holiday music, hot chocolate and cookies, and Santa handing a gift to every passenger.
A caveat worth stating plainly: that train’s detail page still carries a 2022 copyright, so its times and fares (Friday 5:00, 6:30, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday from 3:30 p.m.; coach adult $29, child 2-12 $19, Deluxe $39, under 2 free in a lap) are from an earlier season. Only the dates come from the current 2026 calendar; verify the rest at booking.
SAM Shortline’s policies apply to both: non-refundable tickets, $20 date transfers, 8% sales tax, assigned seats, boarding 30 minutes before departure, under-13s accompanied by an adult 18 or older, no pets except ADA service animals, no outside food or coolers.
Stone Mountain Christmas Scenic Railroad sing-along
Stone Mountain Christmas runs select dates from November 7, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and the Scenic Railroad is included in the attractions ticket — it becomes “a special sing-along experience by night.” Published prices are $39.99 adult and $36.99 child, children 2 and under free. Parking is extra: $25 daily, $40 annual.
Two flags. The park’s FAQ states daily parking at $20 while the parking page warns prices “may be higher on site,” so confirm at purchase. And Magical Flight to the North Pole — timed and limited-capacity, same dates — needs a separate ticket whose price is not published; combo tickets exist.
The ticket also covers the drone and light show, Mini-Golf, Dinosaur Explore and a 4-D Rudolph film, making this the best-value holiday train in Georgia if you use the whole day. Our Stone Mountain Park guide covers the layout.
The Santa Special, Kingsland
Georgia Coastal Railway’s Santa Special runs November 27 through December 24, 2026 from Kingsland Station, and it is the cheapest verified holiday train in the state. Open Air Car seats are $24.50 plus tax and fee for ages 13 and up and $12.50 plus tax and fee for children 3 to 12. Toddlers 2 and under are lap riders and do not count as riders.
Departures run in slots from noon to 6 p.m. depending on the date, Christmas Eve finishing at 4 p.m. A theater preshow comes first, and Santa works through the coaches during the ride. Private cars are bookable: Cupola Caboose (up to 10) $350, Bay Window Caboose (up to 25) $475, Locomotive Cab (two) $75. Two hard rules apply: “ALL SALES ARE FINAL! No refunds,” and “Trains run rain or shine!”
Azalea Sprinter Santa Train
The Azalea Sprinter runs a two-hour Santa Train out of 503 E Marion Ave, Nashville, Georgia, with unlimited hot cocoa and one-on-one time with Santa — but it publishes fares without publishing dates. Adults 19-64 pay $49, children 2-18 $37, seniors and military or first responders $47, a private caboose for eight $455. Under-2s ride free.
The dates are the gap: the railway’s own pages carry none and push you to a FareHarbor calendar. Explore Georgia’s holiday train roundup lists December 12-13 and 19, 2026 — treat that as indicative and confirm before driving south.
What about the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s holiday trains?
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights runs November 14, 2026 to January 10, 2027, nightly until midnight, last entry 11 p.m.; Night Light tickets after 9:30 p.m. start at $19.95 for adults. The Holiday Ride-on Train is a separate weekend-daytime attraction, and its page still shows the 2025-26 season: Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $6 per passenger, $4 members, a ticket for all ages.
The Garden has not published ride-on train dates for 2026-27. If the train is the point of the visit, check before buying. Our Garden Lights guide covers the rest.
How do Georgia’s holiday trains compare?
| Train | Town / drive from Atlanta (approx.) | 2026 dates | Published fares | Lap children | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express | Blue Ridge, ~1 hr 45 | Nov 28-Dec 24 (pages disagree) | None published | Not published | A one-hour ride in a mountain town |
| SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express | Cordele, ~2 hr 30 | Dec 4-5 | $31.99 child to $121.99 Chairman’s, +8% tax | Not published for this train | A full day out to Plains and back |
| SAM Shortline Cordele Holiday Train | Cordele, ~2 hr 30 | Dec 11, 12, 18, 19 | Page fares are from an earlier season | Under 2 free (earlier season) | A cheap one-hour evening ride |
| Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad sing-along | Stone Mountain, ~30 min | Nov 7-Jan 3, select dates | $39.99 adult, $36.99 child; $25 parking | Under 2 need no ticket | Value, if you use the whole park |
| The Santa Special | Kingsland, ~5 hr | Nov 27-Dec 24 | $24.50 adult, $12.50 child 3-12 | Under 2 ride free in a lap | The cheapest verified ticket in Georgia |
| Azalea Sprinter Santa Train | Nashville, GA, ~3 hr 30 | Not published by the railway | $49 adult, $37 child 2-18 | Under 2 ride free | South Georgia; unlimited cocoa |
| Atlanta Botanical Garden Ride-on Train | Midtown Atlanta | 2026-27 dates not published | $6, $4 members (last season) | All ages need a ticket | Toddlers, in daylight, no long drive |
When do tickets go on sale, and what are the age rules?
No Georgia holiday train operator publishes an on-sale date. What they publish instead is urgency: Blue Ridge warns “Tickets sell out FAST for these rides” and “We do not recommend purchasing tickets the day of, as rides sell out weeks in advance.” SAM Shortline recommends reservations because capacity is limited. The calendars are open by early autumn, so the answer to “when should I book” is today.
The age rules split three ways. Kingsland is most explicit: “Toddlers ages 2 and under are lap riders and do not count as riders.” Azalea Sprinter rides under-2s free; Stone Mountain requires no ticket for under-2s. SAM Shortline prices children 2-12 and requires under-13s to be with an adult 18 or older. Blue Ridge publishes nothing about infants.
Read the refund line before you click: Blue Ridge refunds up to 48 hours out minus a per-ticket fee, SAM Shortline is non-refundable with a paid transfer, Kingsland is final sale.
What should you do in these situations?
| If you… | Do this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are booking late | Check Stone Mountain first | Theme-park capacity, not a fixed-seat excursion |
| Have a baby under 2 | Kingsland or Azalea Sprinter | Both publish free lap riding; Blue Ridge publishes nothing |
| Have a toddler who will not sit still | The one-hour rides: Blue Ridge or Cordele | The Candy Cane Express is a five-and-a-half-hour commitment |
| Are on a tight budget | The Santa Special at Kingsland, or the Garden ride-on train | $12.50 child fares are the floor here |
| Want dinner and a layover | SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express, Deluxe or Premium | Two hours in Plains plus catered service on board |
| Are bringing a dog | Leave it at home | Every operator that publishes a policy allows service animals only |
| It rains | Go — but read the refund line first | Trains run in bad weather; refund rules differ sharply |
How does a train fit into the rest of December?
The Blue Ridge depot is about an hour west of Helen, which makes a train-plus-village weekend workable — see Christmas in Helen, GA — and a morning at one of the Georgia Christmas tree farms pairs with an afternoon train. If the trains are already sold out, Georgia’s Christmas light displays, Atlanta’s Christmas markets and outdoor ice skating take walk-ups.
FAQ
How much does the Blue Ridge Santa train cost?
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway does not publish Holiday Express fares anywhere on its own site. Every ticket link routes to a FareHarbor calendar where the live price appears at checkout. We will not quote a third-party figure — use that calendar, or call the ticket office at (877) 413-8724.
When do Georgia holiday train tickets go on sale?
No Georgia operator publishes an on-sale date. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway warns rides “sell out weeks in advance” and advises against buying on the day; SAM Shortline recommends reservations because capacity is limited. Calendars are open by early autumn, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
Blue Ridge or SAM Shortline — which is the better Santa train?
Blue Ridge for a one-hour ride with young children and a mountain town afterwards. SAM Shortline for the fuller day: its Candy Cane Express runs from Georgia Veterans State Park to Plains with a two-hour layover, fares from $31.99 for a child, and catered upper classes. Blue Ridge publishes no fares.
Do babies need a ticket on Georgia holiday trains?
It varies. Kingsland states toddlers 2 and under are lap riders who “do not count as riders,” Azalea Sprinter rides under-2s free, and Stone Mountain requires no ticket for under-2s. The Atlanta Botanical Garden requires a ticket for all ages. Blue Ridge publishes no infant policy — call first.
What is the cheapest holiday train ride in Georgia?
The Santa Special at Kingsland: $24.50 plus tax and fee for ages 13 and up, $12.50 for children 3 to 12, under-2s free. The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Holiday Ride-on Train was cheaper at $6 last season, but it is a short garden ride and its 2026-27 dates are unpublished.
Can you take a stroller on the train?
On the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, yes: strollers are allowed but must be folded at boarding and stowed for the trip. It is also the only operator publishing baby changing stations, in cars 332 and 405. No other Georgia holiday train publishes a stroller policy, so assume fold-and-stow.
Are dogs allowed on Georgia holiday trains?
No. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway allows “no pets other than certified service animals,” and SAM Shortline states “No pets allowed. ADA service animals are permitted.” No Georgia holiday train here permits pet dogs; service animals must be harnessed or leashed and stay on the floor.
What happens if it rains on the day of your train ride?
The trains run. Blue Ridge operates in inclement weather and, if it cancels, offers a refund or a missed-trip pass. Kingsland’s Santa Special states flatly “Trains run rain or shine!” with all sales final. In an open-air car in December, dress for the weather rather than hope for a refund.
How early should you arrive at the depot?
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway asks you to arrive one hour before departure for parking, ticket pick-up and boarding. SAM Shortline boards 30 minutes ahead and warns the Candy Cane Express will not wait. Downtown Blue Ridge parking is limited at weekends and the railway publishes no cost.
Is Stone Mountain’s Christmas train worth it compared with a real excursion railway?
Better value if you use the whole day. The $39.99 adult and $36.99 child attractions ticket covers the Scenic Railroad sing-along plus the drone and light show, Mini-Golf, Dinosaur Explore and a 4-D film; parking is $25 extra. An excursion railway gives a longer ride and nothing else.
How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.
Sources
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — Holiday Express dates and inclusions
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — ticket classes and sell-out warning
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — strollers, pets, refunds, weather, restrooms
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — depot, arrival time, accessibility
- SAM Shortline — 2026 excursion calendar
- SAM Shortline — Candy Cane Express schedule and fares
- SAM Shortline — Cordele Holiday Train page (earlier season)
- SAM Shortline — refunds, tax, seating, ages, pets
- Stone Mountain Park — Christmas dates and the sing-along railroad
- Stone Mountain Park — ticket prices and under-2 rule
- Stone Mountain Park — parking permit prices
- Georgia Coastal Railway — Santa Special dates, fares, lap riders
- Azalea Sprinter — Santa Train fares and boarding address
- Azalea Sprinter — ride list showing no published dates
- Explore Georgia — statewide holiday train roundup
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Garden Lights dates and hours
- Atlanta Botanical Garden — Ride-on Train page, still showing last season
Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.
