How to Ride the Virginia Scenic Railway (and Catch the Fall 2025 Limited Train)

Virginia has many beautiful landscapes, but my favorites are always up in the mountains. While driving a car along the scenic highways is always a treat, taking a ride on the Virginia Scenic Railway just hits different.

Virginia’s only regularly scheduled tourist train allows passengers to enjoy two gorgeous sides of the Shenandoah Valley from cozy, modernized cars. It’s one of the best ways to see the area as you ride through lush forests, small towns, and panoramic valleys.

Beautiful fall foliage and mountains with a blue sky — *The mountains are easiest to see as you pass through small towns and valleys*

All of that is even better during the fall months, when the whole valley comes alive with fiery colors—which is why there’s a special edition tour for five weeks in September and October.

Keep reading to learn about the Virginia Scenic Railway and the Shenandoah Valley Limited!

Overview of the Virginia Scenic Railway

The Virginia Scenic Railway train in the Staunton station — *This vintage train doubles as the Hogwarts Express during the Mischief & Magic Festival*

Virginia’s only scenic railway is located in the beautiful town of Staunton. I found out about the scenic railway while visiting their annual Mischief & Magic Festival, which is a free Harry Potter-themed event that the entire town pitches in to host. But I digress.

Staunton is located near the middle western edge of the state, but it’s pretty easy to access from other main mountain towns like Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. It’s about 2.5 hours from D.C. and 3.5 hours from Virginia Beach. If you can stay awhile and explore, definitely do so because it’s loaded with small-town charm.

Sign for the main passenger terminal at the Virginia Scenic Railway

The Virginia Scenic Railway offers two regularly scheduled tours: Allegheny Special (to the west) and Blue Ridge Flyer (to the east). The train for both departs from the Staunton Train Station, which is located at 12 Middlebrook Ave., Staunton, Virginia 24401. There’s plenty of public parking nearby, both on the street and in the Wharf parking lot.

*There are plenty of places to park, especially during the week*.

On the train, you’ll get to experience the fun of riding in a vintage railcar with the comfort of modern amenities, like roomy seating areas, climate control, bathrooms, and on-board food and beverage service. But the real highlight is the scenery. Your three-hour journey will take you past mountains, valleys, farmlands, and small towns. And depending on which route you book, you might even go through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, which goes straight through a mountain!

The Virginia Scenic Railway offers tours year-round, but the schedule varies depending on the season. It also changes as special events are offered, like the Shenandoah Valley Limited, Murder on the Menu, and The Santa Express.

What to Expect on the Virginia Scenic Railway

As I mentioned, the Virginia Scenic Railway offers two standard routes: The Alleghany Special and the Blue Ridge Flyer. If you want to focus on mountain views and pastoral landscapes, take the Alleghany Special. You’ll head west through the Shenandoah Valley to see working farms, lush forests, and mountains off in the distance. If you’d rather head up into the mountains and take a mile-long journey through the Blue Ridge Tunnel, choose the Blue Ridge Flyer. It goes east, past Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro, offering incredible views and rocky cut-outs.

Both routes include occasional narration along the route, pointing out the significance of certain towns, fun facts about the track, and even a little train education.

On board, it’s easy to settle in and enjoy the ride, thanks to wide and comfy seats with plenty of legroom and complimentary snacks–even in Coach.

Choosing Your Ticket on the Virginia Scenic Railway

The Coach seating configuration allows groups of up to four people to sit together, with both two-seat and four-seat options next to large picture windows. The two-seater rows all have large, fold-down trays on the backs of the seats, making it easy to enjoy the complimentary chips, waters, and soda. There’s also an option to order boxed meals, like charcuterie, pita wraps, and chicken salad for $15.

If you want to upgrade your journey, opt for a spot on the “Silver Palace, a Vista-Dome class car from 1948, where you can enjoy unhindered views of the scenery. The seats even rotate so you always face forward and have great views, and you also have the option to order a boxed lunch here for $15.

The Virginia Scenic Railway — *Do you see the dome car ahead?*

Last but not least, you can relax in the dining car, where you can enjoy a full meal at a dining table with free-standing chairs. The bistro-style lunch is freshly prepared on board, but you have to order in advance when you book your ticket. Choose from delicious, seasonal options like stuffed shell florentine, smoked brisket & pulled pork paninis, baked potato soup, and more!

Tickets have a tendency to sell out, especially the week of, so be sure to book your seats as far ahead as possible to ensure you can get a spot.

Coach Class: $60+
Dome Car: $110+
Dining Car: $137+

*Prices may vary depending on the week and time.

Spotlight on the Shenandoah Valley Limited (Fall Special)

*The leaves were just starting to turn in mid-September*

But that brings us to the Shenandoah Valley Limited, a 5-week seasonal journey that’s only available during fall’s peak foliage! This special train ride is pulled by a Class J steam locomotive, one of only 14 ever built and the only one still in existence. How cool!

Due to high demand (and to maximize views), the Shenandoah Valley Limited leaves from the Victoria Station in Goshen, rather than Staunton, and journeys up the North Mountain Grade, through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests–ablaze with fall color–, and past the farms and valleys of Augusta County. The route ends in Staunton, where the train reverses and returns to Goshen. The whole ride takes about 3.5-4 hours and covers 50 miles of track.

It’s the perfect route to take in all those incredible fall views of the mountains and forests!

*Some fall views I’ve caught in the area in previous Octobers*

This limited-time event runs Friday-Sunday, from September 26 to October 26, 2025, and tickets sell out very fast since it’s so popular. They do offer two rides per day, one at 9:00 am and one at 2:30 pm, to provide lots of options. And leaving from Goshen allows them to add extra carriages, as well.

Pro tip: Virginia is supposed to hit peak foliage between the 13th and 27th this year, so definitely try to snag tickets during those weekends if possible.

Planning Your Trip to Staunton

Staunton is one of my favorite little towns in Virginia, so I definitely recommend you stay for the day and enjoy the gorgeous historic downtown. There are so many unique coffee shops, restaurants, boutique stores, and museums to check out in such a small space! You’ll have no problem finding fun things to do.

Some of my favorite spots include: Reunion Bakery & Espresso, Chicano Boy Taco, Crucible Coffee Roasters, Essentially Zen Shop, Pufferbellies, Foxtails Gift Shop, Sunspots Studios Glassblowing, and The Tubular Toy Box. You can find plenty of places to stay in Staunton or nearby in Waynesboro.

Watch My Scenic Train Adventure on YouTube!

Why This is a Must-Do Experience

If you’re interested in seeing the Virginia mountains from a brand-new point of view, this is the way to go! Not only is it incredibly relaxing and comfortable, but you’ll get to see so many cool areas that aren’t accessible by car. And, of course, if you’re down to splurge on the Shenandoah Limited, you’ll be able to treat yourself to unparalleled fall views for the entire journey.

It’s such a fun combination of gorgeous views, history, and easy adventure.

Remember, tickets do sell out fast, so if you want to grab a seat on the Virginia Scenic Railway or Shenandoah Limited, do so ASAP! They also have a holiday train coming in December, so keep an eye out for those tickets, too.

If you enjoyed this post, please give it a like and share it with someone else you think would like to hear about Virginia’s only tourist train! I also invite you to explore the blog further for more fun adventures across Virginia.

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