Railroads & Trains

Red train crossing a tall bridge on a sunny day.

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All Aboard for Family Fun on Arkansas Trains and Railroads

From scenic excursions through the Ozarks to hands-on rail museums and community celebrations, train rides in Arkansas keep families rolling toward fun.

Trains have a special way of capturing imaginations, and Arkansas offers plenty of ways for families to experience that magic together. The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad runs vintage passenger excursions between Springdale and Van Buren, where restored 1940s railcars glide through a mountain tunnel and over high trestles. The holidays are especially popular with the Holiday Express ride where this magical train ride brings the spirit of the season to life. In Eureka Springs, the Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Railway adds history to the ride with narrated tours, vintage locomotives and a rail museum that shares stories from the region’s past.

In Pine Bluff, the Arkansas Railroad Museum lets visitors climb aboard real locomotives and cabooses, including the historic 819 Steam Locomotive built right there in 1942. Train lovers can also visit Little Rock Union Station, an architectural landmark still serving Amtrak passengers along the Texas Eagle route. And each spring in Paragould, families gather for the Loose Caboose Festival, a weekend filled with live music, food, crafts and small-town charm that celebrates the city’s deep railroad roots. Whether it’s the rumble of the tracks, the whistle in the distance or the joy of the journey, Arkansas trains bring generations together for unforgettable adventures.