12 of the most beautiful train rides for fall foliage views

Mikhaila Friel,Kristine Villarroel

October 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM

* One of the best ways to view the changing autumnal colors is with a scenic train ride.

* There are a variety of routes across the US, Canada, and Europe that are ideal for fall.

* Some of these train rides have luxurious details, while you can board others for less than $50.

Temperatures are dropping, pumpkin spice everything is back on the shelves, and leaves are changing colors.

Fall is here.

If you're looking to soak in the stunning red and orange foliage before it's gone, taking a long-distance train ride might be one of the best ways to do it.

And you're just in time. Explore Fall's interactive foliage map shows how the leaves are changing across the US, with many northern US states experiencing peak fall colors during October.

Routes across the US, Canada, and Europe offer scenic rides through the colorful fall landscapes, and options range from budget traveling to luxurious private rides.

Prices and route information are accurate as of October 2025.

Amtrak's Vermonter from Washington, DC, to northern Vermont

The Amtrak Vermonter line, which travels from Washington, DC, to St. Albans in northern Vermont, is one of the best ways to see the leaves changing colors in the northeast.

Passing through the Connecticut River Valley and the New England landscapes of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the nearly 14-hour trip is full of views of maple and oak trees along the way to the stunning Green Mountains in Vermont.

Prices vary depending on the route, with roundtrip tickets between Washington, DC, and St. Albans in October starting around $240, per Amtrak's website.

Amtrak's Adirondack in New York and Quebec

Explore the fall colors of Upstate New York and Quebec aboard the Amtrak Adirondack route.

The journey, which starts in New York City and ends in Montreal, passes through destinations like Saratoga Springs and Ticonderoga, and is one of the best scenic train routes in the US.

The 10-hour ride is a great way of seeing the fall colors of the Hudson Valley and the Adirondack Mountains along Lake Champlain, providing a great mix of mountain and lakeside views.

Prices vary per location and date, but roundtrip tickets between New York City and Montreal currently start around $144, per Amtrak's website.

The Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway in Italy and Switzerland

Services on the Italian-Swiss Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway are accompanied by fantastic views of the region's woodlands and fall foliage, Secret London reported.

The 32-mile route, also known as the "foliage train," begins in Domodossola in Italy's Piedmont region and ends in Locarno, Switzerland, passing beautiful natural landscapes including deep gorges, mountains, rivers, and waterfalls, according to the publication.

A round-trip ticket on this route cost around €39, or around $45, per Vigezzina-Centovalli's website.

The West Highland Line in Scotland

ScotRail's West Highland Line begins in Glasgow, the country's largest city, and ends in Mallaig, a town on the west coast of the Highlands. The journey takes five hours and 30 minutes.

The route spans across the country's lochs, mountains, and woodlands, which are covered in bursts of orange leaves in the fall.

The route also travels across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, used in the "Harry Potter" films for the fictional Hogwarts Express. It is considered by many as one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.

The price for a round-trip ticket on this route starts at £51, or around $68, but prices vary by date and time.

The Rocky Mountaineer in the western United States and Canada

When Business Insider's Monica Humphries traveled on the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, Utah, in May 2022, she remarked on the train's luxurious touches, including the glass-dome windows offering panoramic views, as well as the high-quality food and beverages on board.

Since this train is only operational during daylight hours, passengers will never miss an opportunity to view the changing leaves in the fall.

Those luxury touches come with a suitable price tag, however. Tickets for the Rocky Mountaineer's 2025 packages begin at $1,700, according to the website.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in Ohio

If you're looking for a budget option to see the best of the Midwest fall foliage, look no further than Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.

This "excursion railroad," as its website notes, offers a variety of experiences, from family-friendly loops to happy-hour trains.

Its national park excursion immerses riders in the views of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Rockside into Akron.

The 26-mile journey along a historic track lasts about 3 ½ hours, and all-day tickets start at $26 for adults.

The Agawa Train in Canada

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train lets you explore the northern Ontario landscapes during the peak fall season.

From the grand Canadian Shield forests to the lakeshores and rivers of the region, this journey travels through some of the best spots for seeing the Canadian leaves as they change colors.

At the 102nd mile of the journey, the rail descends 500 feet into the Agawa Canyon. It takes travelers 10 miles to go from hugging the top of the canyon wall to reaching the canyon floor, per the company's website.

The tour itinerary, which includes a roundtrip aboard the Agawa Train, and a 90-minute stop at the Agawa Canyon Park, lasts a total of 10 hours and spans 114 miles.

Peak season tickets start at CA$166, or $119 USD, for adults.

Amtrak's Empire Builder from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest

For a varied journey through the Midwest and the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Northwest, the Amtrak Empire Builder line gives the best fall views across different landscapes.

Considered one of the rail service's best sightseeing routes, per Amtrak, the Empire Builder travels more than 2,200 miles in 46 hours.

Leaving from Chicago and traveling through seven states before reaching its final destination of either Seattle or Portland, the Empire Builder shows riders beautiful views of the Mississippi River along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, endless acres of North Dakota plains fields, the mountains of Montana's Glacier National Park, and cliffs of the Washington mountains.

Trains include a sightseeing lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows where you can take in the foliage and mountain views.

Prices vary per location, with roundtrip tickets between Chicago and Seattle in October 2025 starting at $490, per the Amtrak website.

Amtrak's Heartland Flyer in Oklahoma and Texas

For a much shorter route exploring the western fall foliage, try Amtrak's Heartland Flyer, which travels between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas.

The 4-hour journey travels through the region's fall-colored riverside forests and Oklahoma's rolling plains for a different fall foliage sightseeing experience.

From Oklahoma City, you can then enjoy 14 foliage sightseeing roadtrip routes and dozens of fall festivals, per Travel Oklahoma.

Roundtrip tickets between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City start at $56, but prices vary by date.

The Bernina Express in Switzerland and Italy

Looking for a world-renowned historic train route through the Swiss Alps and northern Italy? The Bernina Express is exactly what your fall foliage tour might be missing.

The line taken by Rhaetian Railway's Bernina Express has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its "exemplary railway development," per UNESCO. The train travels through the Swiss Alps, crossing through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, per the company's website.

One-way tickets from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, start at CHF ₣66, or $83 USD.

Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to California

Amtrak's California Zephyr departs from Chicago and ends near San Francisco, spanning a total of 51 hours, according to the Amtrak website.

The long-haul journey offers a rare look at fall across various landscapes in the US, including the Rocky Mountains, Colorado's Gore Canyon, and the Byers and Glenwood Canyons.

Prices vary depending on the route, with roundtrip ticket prices from Chicago to the Emeryville station near San Francisco starting at $476.

The Conway Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire

This list wouldn't be complete without a route through New Hampshire, a popular destination in the US for fall scenery.

The Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire, offers a classic look at the fall colors on its 1950s-themed Mountaineer train.

The "supremely scenic" route takes passengers across the Mount Washington Valley and over the Crawford Notch through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, according to the website, which takes around five hours and 30 minutes.

Prices for a round trip begin at $83 for the high season, per the railroad's website.

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