Train Trips Near Louisiana: Scenic Rides and Rail Museums Worth the Trip
(Updated July, 2026) - Train travel is one of the most underrated ways to get around, and it can be cheaper than flying. Trains are less likely to be canceled for weather than planes, many lines run points programs that work like frequent flyer miles, and the ride itself becomes part of the trip, especially with family along. If you've never taken one, you're far from alone in Louisiana. Here are the rail museums close to home and the scenic train rides worth planning a trip around.
Louisiana's Four Railroad Museums
Louisiana is home to four railroad museums, and each one is an easy day trip. There's the DeQuincy Railroad Museum, the Louisiana Steam Train Association, the Old Hickory Railroad Museum, and the Southern Forest Heritage Museum. It's a bit of a full-circle thing, since rail was once the only way to travel and now it's become a destination of its own.
Riding Amtrak From Lake Charles to New Orleans
For actual travel, Amtrak is still a solid option in Louisiana. The Lake Charles to New Orleans route makes a couple of stops, so it takes longer than driving, but there's no traffic to fight and no parking to pay for. It's a low-stress way to make the trip with a group, and the ride is part of the fun.
The Polar Express: A Holiday Train Ride Near Louisiana
If you're planning ahead for the holidays, the Polar Express is worth it. Based on the movie, the two-hour round-trip ride features characters from the film, hot chocolate, and passengers boarding in their pajamas. It's a magical experience for kids, and it departs from several stops within reach of Louisiana, including the Galveston Railroad Museum, New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, and the Texas State Railroad. (Note this one runs seasonally, so check dates before you go.)
The Piney Woods Excursion on the Texas State Railroad
For a bigger adventure, the Piney Woods excursion out of Palestine, Texas, is hard to beat. Passengers ride a four-hour round trip in a vintage 1920s car, pulled by a vintage diesel or steam locomotive. The trip includes an hour-long layover at the Rusk Depot for shopping and tours, then a narrated journey through the Piney Woods with music and 135 years of history. Every seat has a view.