If you’d like to enjoy leaf-peeping season from the comfort of a cozy railcar, then these scenic train rides in New Hampshire are your ticket to foliage fun.

Foliage train rides are easily one of the most popular fall activities in New Hampshire – and there’s no shortage of them in the small-but-mighty Granite State.

So climb on board as we uncover scenic train rides in New Hampshire to enjoy throughout autumn and beyond!

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Conway Scenic Railroad offers several different rides aboard their vintage trains that range in length from 55 minutes at the shortest to five-and-a-half hours at the longest.

What was once known as “Hobo Railroad” became “Granite State Railroad” in April 2024. This rail provider offers an 80-minute, round-trip journey along the Pemigewasset River banks.

With multiple train providers that offer scenic journeys throughout the state, there are several options for enjoying the fall foliage in New Hampshire. Arguably, the best is aboard Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad’s designated Fall Foliage Train, which travels from Meredith to Plymouth and passes over the Ashland Summit.

If you’re looking to travel back in time on one of the most popular scenic train rides in New Hampshire, the Conway Scenic Railroad is literally just the ticket.

Based in the village of North Conway, Conway Scenic Railroad offers train travel throughout beautiful Mount Washington Valley (mid-April through December) and Crawford Notch (late June through mid-October).

Part of the railroading experience here is simply the historic station itself, which dates back to 1874!

While I loved the old-fashioned station interior and quirky details, I was shocked at how crowded it was (so much so that I couldn’t even snap a proper photo). In fairness, our particular excursion was on Columbus Day itself, but I ignorantly assumed more people would be driving the Kanc or headed home by then.

Unfortunately, this made for a chaotic ticketing experience. (In short, the ticket booth outside didn’t have my reservation on hand, despite me booking online a week or so prior. Thankfully, I was able to sort it out inside and they printed me a new one.)

I attribute the chaos and confusion to the popularity of Columbus Day weekend (one of the busiest times to visit in fall) and assume things would be better organized on a non-holiday weekend.

Conway Scenic Railroad offers a few featured railroad excursions:

1. Mountaineer – For a total travel time between four and five-and-a-half hours, the transcontinental streamlined Mountaineer journeys through Crawford Notch and is the most scenic of train excursions offered.
2. Sawyer River Excursion – Running just over two hours, the Sawyer River excursion journeys through Mount Washington Valley by the Saco River and eventually the Sawyer River by way of the woods.
3. Conway Valley Train – The shortest excursion at just 55 minutes, this introductory trip journeys through North Conway and is ideal for traveling with kids.
4. 470 Club Excursion – Running between five and eight hours, the 470 Club Excursion travels to Crawford Notch with several stops for photo opportunities along the way.

There are also more seasonal-specific train excursions, such as Santa’s Holiday Express.

Keep in mind that pricing can vary throughout the season.

We opted for the Conway Valley Train, as it’s the one recommended for those with kids, and we were traveling with our ten-month-old daughter.

The 55-minute round-trip journey was the perfect amount of time for her to enjoy the experience without getting excessively restless.

Unfortunately, the day of our ride was quite rainy and cloudy, so I think we may have missed out on some of the more impressive views and foliage opportunities.

Of course, I didn’t have this realization until the ride was over (and we sat on the left). Oops!

Ironically, one of the best views on this ride is right behind the station itself – a beautiful golf course punctuated with pops of fall color.

In any case, our rainy weather helped make for a cozy experience inside the train car – and it was certainly nice to have something to do other than lay around our hotel room!

One of my favorite parts of the overall experience was the vintage train cars themselves.

As you chug along, you can listen to a narration of history and a description of the surroundings (though I found this difficult to hear with how busy our car was).

Conway Scenic Railroad is located at 38 Norcross Cir in North Conway, NH.

In operation since 1869, Mount Washington Cog Railway offers visitors one of the most exciting and scenic train rides in New Hampshire.

The railway encompasses a total fleet of nine locomotives – seven biodiesel trains and two steam engines (which run exclusively in the non-winter months).

Unlike the Conway Scenic Railroad, the Cog Railway operates one main route up the slope of Mount Washington from mid-May until early/mid-October. This serves as the foliage train in fall.

A round-trip ticket will take you up the summit and back again in a little under three hours, including a one-hour layover at the summit. During your layover, you can enjoy views over the Atlantic, five neighboring states, and even southern Quebec, provided it’s a clear day.

Be sure to bring your camera with you in case the weather is in your favor. That said, Mount Washington is notorious for cloudy conditions at the summit, so prepare yourself for that possibility as well!

From the last week of October/early November until May, the train will operate its winter schedule and travel to Waumbek station instead. This alternative station is located about mid-way up the mountain and is the safest destination in winter, as the summit is then unable to keep visitors warm and safe.

Also, keep in mind that while trains from Mount Washington Cog Railway run year-round, the summit State Park is closed from mid-October through early May (considered winter season on the mountain).

Navigate to Marshfield Station on Base Station Road, six miles east of Rte. 302. The station includes a food court, a gift shop, and a free Cog Railway Museum.

The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad is one of the most unique railway providers on this list because all of its journeys are lakeside routes!

Weaving through the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad offers excursions from three stations:

1. Meredith (Main location, 2-hour round-trip journey)
2. Weirs Beach (1- – 1.5-hour round-trip journey)
3. Laconia (2.5-hour round-trip journey)

Please note that advanced reservations are required for trains leaving from all three stations.

Meredith Station is the flagship location for the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad. This is also where you can board the popular fall foliage train, a seasonal favorite.

This special, 4-hour journey will take you north of Meredith over Ashland Summit and through Ashland High Trestle. It will then travel through a deer farm and a Christmas tree farm before arriving at Common Man Inn & Spa in Plymouth for a delicious hot buffet lunch.

Post-lunch, the train will continue on to the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad Station for a historic guided tour from the Ashland Historic Society (outfitted in 1860’s garb, no less!) before returning to its starting destination in Meredith.

For options other than the fall foliage train, you can check out the standard Meredith schedule and purchase tickets here.

Another option, Weirs Beach is located along a historic boardwalk and offers one to one-and-a-half hour journeys. Trains traveling south will journey from Pargus Bay to Lakeport and back again. Alternatively, trains traveling north will journey to Meredith Station and back. You can check out the Weirs Beach schedule and purchase tickets here.

Finally, the longest of all train rides aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad are from Laconia, a two-and-a-half-hour round-trip journey. You can check out the Laconia schedule and purchase tickets here.

Keep in mind that Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad does not operate year-round. Instead, it offers seasonal routes from late May until autumn, when foliage is in full swing.

Meredith Station is located at 154 Main Street in Meredith, NH.

Weirs Beach Station is located at 211 Lakeside Avenue in Weirs Beach, NH.

Laconia Station is located at 15 Veterans Square in Laconia, NH.

The sister company to Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, Granite State Scenic Railway was formerly known as Hobo Railroad until spring of 2024 when it was acquired by Patriot Rail.

Located in Lincoln, NH, this railway provider offers an 80-minute, round-trip journey that runs for around 15 miles along the banks of the Pemigewasset River. A trip aboard this historic train will transport you back in time to the late 1800s.

The route is especially beautiful during fall foliage season in September and October, when you can peep spectacular colors along the water and the picturesque woodland scenery.

You can check out additional details and view ticketing information here.

Keep in mind that just like Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad,  Granite State Scenic Railway does not operate year-round. Instead, it offers a schedule from May until October and then from Thanksgiving through December before closing its doors for the season.

Granite State Scenic Railway is located at 64 Railroad Street, off 1-93 Exit 32 in Lincoln, NH.

If you’d like to enjoy fine dining while leaf peeping in your train car, then the Café Lafayette Dinner Train is sure to whet your appetite.

This unique, 2-hour experience will take you through the Pemi River Valley aboard vintage rail cars from the 1950’s. It includes a delicious 5-course meal which you can enjoy with the backdrop of picturesque woods, charming trestle bridges, and a Christmas tree farm. You can enjoy the enticing dinner train menu here.

If you’re planning to experience autumn in New Hampshire, this is a beautiful time to ride the fall dinner train. It runs from September to October and is the prime time to watch the leaves turn.

Alternatively, the train also operates a spring schedule from May 11 until June 16 and a summer schedule from June 20 through August. You can check out all seasonal schedules here.

Café Lafayette Dinner Train recommends that all guests arrive 15 minutes before the designated “All Aboard” time.

From December through March, there are no trains running, but you can enjoy a bite to eat at The Depot, the station eatery.

Café Lafayette Dinner Train is located at 3 Crossing at River Place in North Woodstock, NH.

When planning your train journey, you’ll want to consider an accommodation that’s within easy driving distance of your chosen railroad provider. Since you’ll need to arrive early regardless of which train operator you choose, a nearby stay will make life easier.

For instance, we used the Conway Scenic Railroad, so it made sense to base ourselves in North Conway where we enjoyed a comfortable stay at Merrill Farm Inn.

Ideally, for the Conway Scenic Railroad or Mount Washington Cog Railroad, I’d recommend looking for accommodations in the White Mountains region.

Alternatively, if you’re planning to utilize the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, you’ll want to find a nearby property in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, and so on.

You can search for appropriate properties using this handy interactive map.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual journey aboard some of the best scenic train rides in New Hampshire.

What questions do you have for me about planning your ride? Let me know in the comments below!