Since the early days of silver and gold mining, trains and train rides in NV have been an important part of the state’s history and heritage. After all, steam locomotives were used to haul out the ore and carry in the building material. Today, there are several train museums located throughout Nevada that preserve this important part of history. And many of Nevada’s historic railroads continue to carry passengers on excursions. Even a few of our finest parks offer scenic train rides in Nevada for adults and children of all ages.
If you’re a fan of trains, here are six train rides near Las Vegas that’ll give you an unforgettable experience:
1. Virginia & Truckee Railroad
Virginia & Truckee Railroad Company, 166 F St, Virginia City, NV 89440, USA
Passengers will enjoy this gorgeous scenic train ride in NV and its views while traveling the historic route of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. This train ride takes about 1.5 hours to climb up to Virginia City. During the ride, your conductor will share the story of the Comstock mines and how the railroad helped make Virginia City the most famous boomtown of the Old West. No trip to Virginia City is complete without a ride on this historic railroad. Read more about what you can expect from a trip to the Virginia & Truckee Railroad.
The Las Vegas Monorail, the very first driverless public monorail system in all the world, is the ultimate way to get around if you're staying on the Las Vegas Strip. There are seven stations: MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton, and Sahara. The traffic on the Las Vegas Strip is usually terribly slow, so why not take a ride on a monorail that'll take you to your destination at 50 mph in air-conditioned comfort without all the headache of traffic? Using this form of transportation for a train trip in NV along the Las Vegas Strip takes about 15 minutes. This is a huge deal when you consider the amount of time it takes to drive or walk the Las Vegas Strip. Learn more about this train and other scenic train rides in the US.
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3. Nevada Northern Railway
Nevada Northern Railway Museum, 1100 Ave A, Ely, NV 89301, USA
"The Nevada Northern Railway Complex is the best-preserved, least altered, and most complete main yard complex remaining from the steam railroad era. It was established in 1905 to support the area's booming copper mining industry." Today, guests will get to experience the early 1900s while taking a historic train ride in NV. On this train, you'll have the choice of coach or open-air seating, or you are free to roam between the two. The two most popular train rides are the Ghost Train and the Polar Express. These are both seasonal events that many people look forward to each and every year. The next time you're in the Ely area, be sure to stop by and take a ride on one of these historic trains. You'll really enjoy it! Get all the details about riding the Nevada Northern Railway.
The train ride in Idlewild Park is one of the park's many fun features. Passengers of all ages will enjoy riding the train as it meanders its way through the most scenic area of the park. This is one of the most peaceful NV train rides you can take and the kids will love it. Read up on all the fun things you can do at Idlewild Park.
5. Nevada Southern Railway
Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City, 601 Yucca St, Boulder City, NV 89005, USA
When riding the Nevada Southern Railway excursion train, you'll be experiencing history dating all the way back to the 1930s. You'll also have the choice of either riding in an open-air car or an air-conditioned/heated Pullman coach. The train ride lasts approximately 35 minutes and is one of the most scenic train rides in NV. Check out this writeup for more information on visiting the Nevada Southern Railway and what it has in store for you.
6. Carson & Mills Park Railroad
Carson & Mills Park Railroad, 1111 E William St, Carson City, NV 89701, USA
The entire family will enjoy riding the Carson & Mills Park Railroad. Passengers will get to ride behind a replica of a diesel switcher engine and either choose an open gondola or a covered passenger car. This train ride will take you 1.25 miles through beautiful Mills Park and lasts about 15 minutes. Adults and children of all ages are invited aboard one of the most scenic train rides in Nevada. Head to the website for Carson & Mills Park Railroad to plan your visit.
Have you taken any of these train trips near me in NV? Are there any other scenic train rides in Nevada that are your favorite? We’d love for you to share your experience(s) with us in the comments below!
Want to check out the scenery firsthand? Try one of these scenic hikes in Nevada. And if you are still on the hunt for fun things to do in Nevada, we are huge fans of Airbnb experiences, where locals offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to enjoy an out-of-the-box activity.
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More to Explore
Fall In Nevada
Rachel Raimondi|September 09, 2022
Whatare the oldest attractions in Nevada?
Founded in 1864, there is a lot of history in Nevada. But if you want to see the very oldest place in the state, you’ll need to head to:
Mormon State Park Historic Park in Genoa, the area where residents first came to settle in 1851. The park was established in 1991 and features artifacts, reconstructed buildings such as the mid-19th century fort, a self-guided interpretive walking tour, and many scheduled events throughout the year. And the mountains and landscape are absolutely jaw-dropping.
In Overton, there is Valley of Fire State Park. The landscape here is incredible, with petrified trees, red sandstone, and even ancient petroglyphs to examine among its 46,000 acres. There are several hiking trails as well as a visitor’s center and opportunities to both picnic or even camp for the night.
Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in Panaca. Although only 1,800 acres, this state park also has some unique features such as hoodoos, slot canyons, caves, and cathedral-like spires throughout. Like Valley of Fire State Park, enjoy the hiking trails, visitor’s center, picnic facilities, and campground.
What is the weather like in fall in Nevada?
If you have ever experienced summer in Nevada, which sees the average temperature of 81 (in July, it’s 90), you’ll know how welcoming the cooler temperatures of the fall in Nevada really are.
Depending on what part of the state you are in (after all, much of the 110,000-square mile state is desert), you’ll see a significant decrease in the daily high, sometimes being in the very tolerable mid-60s as fall progresses.
That is a lot lower than the average of 78 days a year that reach three digits.
It’s a perfect time to get out there and enjoy the outdoors without all the heat. Not to mention, it's a great time to take a train ride in NV.
