Short answer
The Sam Shortline Excursion Train runs scenic and themed excursions from Cordele and Georgia Veterans State Park in Crisp County, including trips to Plains. Its October 31, 2026 Halloween Express to Plains starts at $43.99. Checked on the train’s own site.
A vintage excursion train in southwest Georgia that rolls out of Cordele and Georgia Veterans State Park for scenic rides and themed events. Trips run to Plains, the Carter home town, and to Americus for the dinner mystery train.
Plan it in three lines
Getting In
Cost: .
What to Do
The official page lists Scenic excursion rides and Themed trains.
Make It a Day
Georgia Veterans State Park is about 7 miles away. Coming up near here: Harvest Run (Thanksgiving 5K and 10K) in Leesburg.
5 events within 30 mi
Sam Shortline Excursion Train Hours
- Office hours are not published. Trains run on a posted schedule; see the booking calendar at samshortline.com.
What It Costs
- Fares (per person, special events listed on the site 2026-10-20): Halloween Express to Plains, Saturday, October 31, $43.99 to $123.99; Wine and Cheese Train from Georgia Veterans State Park, Saturday, November 7, $93.99; Murder Mystery Dinner Train from Americus, Saturday, November 21, $35 coach or $142.99 dinner seat. Fares and dates change; the booking calendar on the official site is current.
Where It Is and How to Get in Touch
- Address105 9th Ave E, Cordele, GA 31015
- CountyCrisp (West Georgia region)
- Approximate map point31.97080, -83.78249 (street-address point from OpenStreetMap; directions in Google Maps by address)
- Office229-276-0755
- Official pagewww.samshortline.com
Dogs and Strollers
- No pet rule is published on the front page of the train’s site. Call 229-276-0755 before you bring a dog.
- Strollers: the park does not publish stroller rules. Paths range from paved walks to rough trails, so call ahead (229-276-0755) if you need a stroller-friendly route.
What’s at Sam Shortline Excursion Train
Facilities the park lists: Passenger excursion trains; Departures from Cordele and from Georgia Veterans State Park; Trips to Plains.
Things to do: Scenic excursion rides; Themed trains.
Events Coming Up Near Sam Shortline Excursion Train
State parks and historic sites
- 1Georgia Veterans State Parkstate park7 mi
- 2Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Sitepartner site31 mi
- 3Plains Visitors Centervisitor center35 mi
- 4Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodgestate park53 mi
Events coming up
- 5Harvest Run (Thanksgiving 5K and 10K)Leesburg28 mi
- 6SAM Shortline Plains Christmas Lighting TrainCordeleunder 1 mi
- 7SAM Shortline Candy Cane ExpressCordeleunder 1 mi
- 8Turner County Christmas Hustle & Stroll (5K and 1-mile)Ashburn20 mi
- 9First Day Hike: Georgia Veterans State ParkCordeleunder 1 mi
Straight-line distances from the site’s GPS point. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable. The same places are listed below.
- Nov 26Harvest Run (Thanksgiving 5K and 10K), Leesburg (about 28 miles away, from $35)
- Nov 28SAM Shortline Plains Christmas Lighting Train, Cordele (under a mile away, from $34)
- Dec 4 – Dec 5SAM Shortline Candy Cane Express, Cordele (under a mile away)
- Dec 12Turner County Christmas Hustle & Stroll (5K and 1-mile), Ashburn (about 20 miles away, from $20)
- Jan 1, 2027First Day Hike: Georgia Veterans State Park, Cordele (under a mile away)
Events within 30 miles in the next 90 days from our Georgia event calendar, as of ; distances are straight-line from the site’s GPS point. The park’s own ranger programs and events are on the Georgia State Parks events calendar.
Nearby State Parks and Historic Sites
- Georgia Veterans State Park (state park, Crisp County), about 7 miles away
- Jefferson Davis Memorial State Historic Site (partner site, Irwin County), about 31 miles away
- Plains Visitors Center (visitor center, Sumter County), about 35 miles away
- Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge (state park, Telfair & Wheeler County), about 53 miles away
More on It’s Georgia
- All Georgia state parks and historic sites, by region
- West Georgia: more places to go in the region
Source: the Sam Shortline Excursion Train website; the state parks list names it a partner site, checked . Hours and fees change, so check the official page before a long drive. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will re-check it.
Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Sam Shortline Excursion Train”, itsgeorgia.com/places/sam-shortline-excursion-train/ (updated ). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.