Tickets

Details

Reviews

Location

FAQs

Back to list

Sacramento Magical Christmas Train Ride by River Fox Train

River Fox Train • 18095 County Road 117 • West Sacramento, CA 95691

View on Map

A person wearing a striped shirt and elf hat plays guitar and sings among seated people in a festively decorated room.

Three young children in festive pajamas smile and hug each other, with the baby in the center wearing a red knit hat. Holiday decorations are visible in the background.

Two women stand side by side, smiling, both wearing matching red and white striped pajamas, on a wooden porch with a yellow background.

Children and adults sit in a festively decorated train car with holiday lights and garlands, many holding up their hands and smiling at the camera.

View Gallery

Based on 248 reviews

River Fox Railbike Excursion in West Sacramento, California

River Fox Train Excursions in West Sacramento, California

Murder Mystery Dinner Train in West Sacramento, California

Old Vine Express Wine Train with Wine Tasting in West Sacramento, California

Magical Christmas Train by River Fox Train is not currently available.

Check out our other great Sacramento Things to Do.

View All Things to Do

Authorized Reseller

About Magical Christmas Train by River Fox Train

Overview

This Sacramento Christmas train takes passengers on a festive one-hour holiday ride with Santa, elves, music, and treats. Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and a souvenir mug while traveling through a decorated winter wonderland along the scenic river route.

up to 1 hrs

Good To Know

Sing holiday carols with Santa’s cheerful elves.
Includes hot chocolate, a cookie, and a souvenir mug.
Meet Santa Claus for a personal greeting and photo.
One-hour round-trip ride through decorated riverfront tracks.
Heated vintage railcars with holiday décor.
Arrive 30 minutes before departure for check-in and boarding.
Free on-site parking at the River Fox Train Depot.
No outside food or beverages allowed onboard.
Not wheelchair accessible due to the train cars' historical design.

Promotional Images (9)

Young girl sits on a wooden toy train in front of a decorated Christmas tree with wrapped presents on a wooden floor.

An adult wearing a mask holds a child in a plaid jacket and reindeer antlers as the child raises their arms at an outdoor nighttime event with colorful lights.

A child smiles at a person dressed as Santa Claus while sitting at a decorated table on a train during the holiday season.

Santa Claus waves while walking down a decorated outdoor corridor, with people, including children in red shirts, seated and standing nearby.

Description

Make timeless memories with Santa and his cheerful elves aboard the Magical Christmas Train. Step into a winter wonderland as the train departs, filled with holiday music, festive décor, and the spirit of Christmas in every corner. This family-friendly River Fox Train excursion transforms a simple ride into an unforgettable holiday tradition.

Each ticket includes a cozy cup of hot chocolate, a fresh cookie, and a keepsake souvenir mug to take home. As the train rolls along, laughter fills the cars with reindeer games, carols, and lively entertainment led by Santa's helpers. Midway through the ride, Santa Claus himself greets every family for a personal visit, creating perfect opportunities for photos and heartfelt holiday moments.

Guests are encouraged to wear Christmas morning pajamas for extra fun and picture-perfect memories. The playful, festive atmosphere makes this ride ideal for families, children, and anyone who loves the magic of the holiday season. With singing, games, sweet treats, and Santa's warm welcome, there is never a dull moment aboard the Magical Christmas Train.

Magical Christmas Train by River Fox Train Reviews

Based on 248 reviews

Write a Review

margaritamQ989IG

"Sad! Not the ride from the past few years."

Reviewed December 29, 2025 NEW

We were sad to see that the anual trip was not what it has always been. No Santa, no games, no music… it was a sad train ride in comparison to our past few years.

240tishap

"Dissatisfied"

Reviewed December 28, 2025 NEW

I was not expecting the magical moment like the Polar Express at CA State Railroad Museum but this was awful. I wanted to share a magical moment with my kids and 3 year old Granddaughter. Mind you, the price for both Polar and this are almost equally the same. Mrs. Clause and Grinch’s outfits looked like they slept in them. The decor was something you get at the dollar store. It passed by trash and trailers. You would think they would have some decor outside as passing by. It was not worth it and I was highly disappointed. I will stick to Old Sac Polar Express from now on. I basically paid almost $100 for hot cocoa, cookies and Karaoke. Will not be going back.

C4608INkristenm

"Total disappointment…"

Reviewed December 27, 2025 NEW

We’ve been going on this train for years and it used to be one of our favorite Christmas traditions. Unfortunately, this year was nothing like it used to be and all the Christmas magic was gone:( I guess it’s under new management and I can’t imagine why they would make the changes they did. They basically stripped it down to just the bare minimum and got rid of everything that used to keep people like myself coming back every year. The train decorations were lacking, there were no games or prizes, the cookies were gross packaged grandma’s cookies, we didn’t even have a Santa on our train just the grinch and Mrs. Claus, no snowball fight or live music, and you can no longer order snacks or adult/kid drinks from your table. And when we first got on the train, one of the staff was incredibly rude and told us we couldn’t stop to have our kids take a quick pic even though there was no one waiting behind us. Just from start to finish it was a total disappointment and nothing like it used to be. We won’t be returning and wouldn’t recommend this train to anyone anymore…

492daelynl

"Disappointing new management"

Reviewed December 22, 2025 NEW

We’ve done this Train in the past and it has always been our families favorite. However, this year under new management it was a complete disappointment. No fun games, no singing, no snacks to purchase, pre packaged cookies, mediocre hot chocolate, lack luster elves, and a brief visit from a one star Santa (and also no Mrs Claus!). Throwing snowballs at the Grinch was the only redeeming quality (except they had to collect the snowballs for each car and share- they couldn’t buy enough for each car? Yikes). The same price as last year was not worth the poor experience. Unfortunately, our family will have to look elsewhere next year for a better Christmas Train experience unless they make some serious changes.

sarahsN7050PN

"Nightmare"

Reviewed December 22, 2025 NEW

Last year my daughter and I had such a magical experience on the Christmas Train. Cookies, games, songs, Santa, respectful passengers. This year was an absolute nightmare. They placed us in the back “Santa” car where the overhead lights were cracked, turning on and off, and the glass fixture was dangling from the ceiling. The train was dark and depressing. Santa was so overwhelmed he came off rude, did not even ask to speak to the kids we had to ask him if he could come and take a photo with them and he seemed irritated. The elves were getting cold hot chocolate the entire time so no games but they did sing 2 songs. The other passengers in the train were screaming at the top of their lungs and very obnoxious since there was so structured activities. I would not have ridden on the train for free, much less pay the expensive prices for such an awful experience.

View all 248 Tripadvisor Reviews

Magical Christmas Train by River Fox Train is located at River Fox Train • 18095 County Road 117 • West Sacramento, CA 95691

Attractions

Hotels & Lodging

Nearby Things to Do

Nearby Hotels & Lodging

Frequently Asked Questions about Magical Christmas Train by River Fox Train

What is included with a Magical Christmas Train ticket?

A one-hour round-trip ride, Santa visit, hot chocolate, cookie, souvenir mug, and live entertainment.

How long is the Magical Christmas Train ride?

The ride lasts approximately one hour, including onboard activities and entertainment.

Where does the Magical Christmas Train depart from?

The train departs from River Fox Train Depot, 18095 County Road 117, West Sacramento, CA 95691.

When should I arrive?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure for check-in and boarding.

Is parking available at the station?

Yes, complimentary parking is available at the River Fox Train Depot.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

No, outside food and beverages are not permitted onboard.

Is the Magical Christmas Train wheelchair accessible?

No. the train is not wheelchair accessible due to the design of historic train cars.

Are restrooms available on the train?

Yes, restrooms are available onboard for guest convenience.

Can we take photos with Santa?

Yes, each guest receives a personal greeting and photo opportunity with Santa.

How should we dress for our River Fox train ride?

Wear comfortable, casual clothing, or dress in your cozy PJs to add even more magic to your holiday experience. Flats or chunky heels are also recommended as there are multiple gravel walkways and moving rail cars.