Fall train rides in and around Southwest Ohio range from a two-hour foliage run through the Hocking Hills to a full-day trip into southern Indiana with a two-hour layover. Here’s where to book a seat this season. For more ways to fill an October weekend, check our full guide to fall fun in Cincinnati and Dayton.
1. Hocking Valley Scenic Railway – Nelsonville, Southeastern Ohio
- Why go: A volunteer-run heritage line that follows the Hocking River out of Nelsonville, with open-air cars for unobstructed leaf views.
- Fall Foliage Train: Runs Thursdays through Sundays all October, plus Nov. 1. Weekday trips depart at 1 p.m.; weekend trips run at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The roughly two-hour round trip heads to East Logan, passing the remains of Hocking Canal Lock No. 19 along the way. Coaches are heated as weather requires, with open-air cars available when conditions allow.
- Tickets: $22 for ages 13 and up, $17 for ages 3 to 12, $20 for seniors and military (60 and up). Kids under 3 ride free on a lap. Weekend trips typically include a stop at Robbins Crossing Historical Village, an 1850s pioneer settlement; weekday trips skip that stop since the village isn’t staffed.
- Extra charm: The railway also runs a separate steam-powered special and a Halloween Train with treats and costumes encouraged.
- Depot: 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville. Reservations are strongly recommended.
2. Lebanon Mason & Monroe Railroad (LM&M Railroad) – Lebanon, Southwest Ohio
- Why go: This is the most accessible fall train ride for Cincinnati and Dayton families, with vintage cars running through Warren County countryside from a depot in downtown Lebanon.
- Pumpkin Express: A pirate and Hocus Pocus-themed weekend event with a stop at the Lebanon Sports Complex for balloon twisting, face painting, inflatables and fall treats. Every ticketed passenger takes home a small pumpkin, though if you want to walk a full patch and pick your own, see our pumpkin patch guide. The ride runs about 1 hour and 45 minutes total, with roughly 45 minutes at the stop. Tickets are $24 for open-window coach, $29 for deluxe coach, $10 for infants under 2.
- Trick or Treat Train: A 1-hour-15-minute costume-friendly ride, $25 per ticket.
- Turtle Creek Valley Flyer: The railroad’s standard scenic run, about 1 hour 15 minutes, starting at $15.
- The Lebanon Experience: A 3-hour trip starting at $85.
- For the adults: The Munich Express ties into Lebanon’s Oktoberfest ($40, 1 hour 15 minutes, 21 and up), and Trivia on the Tracks pairs pizza and beer with a 90-minute ride ($45, 21 and up).
- Depot: 16 E. South St., Lebanon. Phone: (513) 933-8022.
3. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad – Near Cleveland/Akron
- Why go: It’s a longer drive from the Cincinnati-Dayton area, but it’s routinely ranked among the best fall foliage train rides in the country, running 26 miles through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, past forests, meadows and the Cuyahoga River.
- Ride options: The Classic route is a 4-hour-15-minute round trip from the Rockside Depot in Independence or the Akron Northside Depot, with coach-seat passengers able to hop on and off at stops in Valley View, Brecksville and Peninsula. The shorter Express option runs 2 hours 20 minutes round trip from the Peninsula Depot. Fares run $25 to $38 depending on route and seating.
- For the adults: Grape Escape (wine tasting) and Ales on Rails (beer tasting) run on select fall evenings, both 21 and up, and both include appetizers and a souvenir glass.
- Note: construction on the Rockside Bridge is limiting access to the Independence depot to one lane. Guests are asked to park at Lock 39 and cross via the walking bridge.
4. Whitewater Valley Railroad – Connersville, Indiana
- Why go: It’s the closest cross-state option for Cincinnati and Dayton families, about an hour’s drive into southeastern Indiana, and it comes with a built-in stop in a town most kids will want to explore.
- Fall Foliage Flyer: A 5-hour round trip departing Connersville’s Grand Central Station at 10 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays in October, with a 2-hour layover in historic Metamora for shopping, food and a look at the working canal.
- Tickets: $27 for adults, $16 for children ages 2 to 12.
- The railroad also runs a Wild West-themed ride and a weekend Valley Flyer through the same season; check the schedule for specific dates.
- Depot: Grand Central Station, Connersville, Indiana. Phone: (765) 825-2054.
5. French Lick Scenic Railway – French Lick, Indiana
- Why go: A longer drive, but the payoff is real: 18 miles round trip through the Hoosier National Forest and limestone bluffs, including a pass through the 2,200-foot Burton Tunnel.
- Fall scenic rides: The railway is running Heritage Rail Bike excursions through the summer while it completes fleet maintenance, with standard scenic train rides scheduled to resume in October. [Can’t be verified: specific October 2026 dates and fall ticket pricing haven’t been released yet]. Coach, first-class and dome seating are typically available.
- Depot: 8594 W. State Road 56, French Lick, Indiana. Phone: (800) 748-7246.
6. Zanesville & Western Scenic Railroad – Mt. Perry, Southeast Ohio
- Why go: A short, low-key ride on the Glass Rock Spur through woods and farmland, better suited to toddlers and shorter attention spans than the region’s longer excursions.
- Pumpkin Train: Runs weekends Oct. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25, with trains departing each hour from noon to 4 p.m. The ride itself is about 40 minutes round trip. Pair it with a stop at one of our favorite corn mazes near Cincinnati and Dayton for a fuller day out.
- Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for children ages 3 to 13, free for kids 2 and under.
- The railroad is pet-friendly for well-behaved, leashed dogs. Address: 5700 SR-204, Mt. Perry. Park across the street at 5705 SR-204.
Whichever ride you pick, pair it with a stop at one of the region’s best apple orchards for a full day outdoors.
