POLAR EXPRESS™ TRAIN RIDE

Due to the popularity of this train event, there are no refunds or cancellations. Please be sure that when you make your reservation, you know exactly which date and which departure time you wish to secure.

If you would like cancellation flexibility, we recommend purchasing Cancellation+ during the checkout process.

In the event the train is unable to operate you will be notified immediately and given a complete refund or the opportunity to reschedule.

The depot includes a ticket office, gift shop, restrooms, and a boarding area. It is located in Hood River with nearby shopping, hotels and restaurants.

On board The Polar Express Christmas train, our cast of characters will serve cocoa and a cookie to all passengers. Local restaurants in Hood River nearby offer meals for purchase.

A limited number of restrooms are available on board the train. Please alert a staff member if a member of your party needs to use the restroom, as they may need to be escorted to the nearest one during a pause in the performance. It is important to note that there are no wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the train. However, there are wheelchair-accessible restrooms located on the event grounds.

The Polar Express Train Ride is a family-friendly event, and no alcohol is sold or allowed on board the train or on the event grounds. Intoxicated passengers or those found in possession of alcohol will be removed from the event without a refund. This is a zero-tolerance policy.

A gift shop loaded with toys, t-shirts, and souvenirs will be open for business during the event. Make sure to stop by and shop for holiday gifts and memorabilia from your ride aboard The Polar Express.

Joyful elves welcome and accompany pajama clad passengers on an entertaining trip. Everyone is served hot chocolate and a cookie by the delightful cast during an interactive journey to The North Pole. Then Santa will board the train, so he can greet each child and present them with a small bell. For the remainder of the journey the train will enjoy a festive atmosphere and interactions with the cast.

The train departs from the depot in downtown Hood River and travels towards the “North Pole.” Due to the magic of Christmas, it only takes approx 90 minutes to make such a remarkable round trip! Passengers are inside the train cars for the entire excursion.

Sturdy shoes with closed toes are best for train safety. (No slippers, open-toed shoes, sandals, or flip flops.) There is a fun tradition for children to wear pajamas, and sometimes even entire families enjoy The Polar Express in pajamas. You’ll be amazed at how much fun it is to get Dad and Grandpa to join in! Please CHECK the WEATHER and bundle up accordingly.  Passengers will spend time on an unheated platform as they board and disembark from the train, so appropriate winter attire is also recommended.

This is a memory you’ll want to save so we suggest bringing a camera with a flash if you are riding an evening train due to the lighting conditions. Guests will be outdoors during boarding, so please dress for the weather. Have your reservation number or confirmation email to present at Will Call. Your ticket includes the ride and cocoa and cookies served on board as well as a silver bell for each child. Additional gift shop items are available for sale including books, apparel, and souvenirs.

Parlor seating is the only option that can accommodate wheelchairs, so please select that option for pricing. Keep in mind, since this is a historical train, the width is limited to 27 inches.  We have a lift, but unfortunately, we are unable to load or store electric wheelchairs. Also, wheelchairs will not fit through the bathroom doors, so please keep that in mind. Guests need to be able to walk or pivot transfer from their wheelchair to their seat on the train.  Please call a representative at 541-387-4000 to book your tickets. Explain your specific needs, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

We cannot ensure that our special cocoa and cookies do not contain ingredients that someone may be allergic to. Guests are welcome to bring their own snack option for the person with allergies.

You can purchase tickets online or by calling 541-387-4000. Any unsold tickets will be available at the depot on a first-come, first-served basis. Everyone attending must have a ticket, including children sitting on your lap under the age of two (a ‘babe-in-arms’ ticket can be obtained from our reservation agent or online.)

We do not mail out tickets. All tickets may be picked up at the Ticket Windows at the Train depot the same day of the event. Will Call opens 1 hour prior to the first departure of that day.

The only differences between Value, Regular, and Peak departures are the dates and/or times of the rides. Lower demand departures are priced lower to offer those on a budget options and higher demand departures are priced accordingly. The event functions exactly the same on all departures and passengers enjoy the same experience.

Child: age 2- 12

Adult: age 13 and up

Infant in Arms: age under 2 held on adult lap

Seats are assigned by Mt. Hood Railroad according to your ticket type. VIP and Parlor have a table that seats 4. If your group has fewer than 4 tickets, you might be seated with someone else to fill the table, so if you want to ensure you don’t share a table, please make sure the number of tickets equals a multiple of 4.

Yes, as long as your group is all booked in one reservation, you will be assigned seats together. Depending on the size of your group, your reservation may require more than one section, in which case you will have seats assigned across the aisle or directly behind or forward of your main location.

We offer group discounts only for our scenic trains that operate in spring, summer, and fall for groups with a minimum of 25 riders paying with a single method of payment. Group discounts are not available for special event trains, such as Easter or Christmas.

**113 Portway Avenue, Hood River** Due to the popularity of this event, please go straight to our overflow lot which can facilitate larger crowds with shuttle service to the depot. We strongly encourage you to pay for parking when making a reservation; this will save time and make everything easier when arriving.

Mount Hood Railroad is about 60 miles east of Portland, so exit 63 off I-84 from either direction — or cross the Hood River Bridge if traveling via Highway 14 on the Washington side. Hood River can also be approached from the south by State HWY 35.

CLICK HERE FOR A MAP OF DRIVING DIRECTIONS

There is paid parking on city streets. We highly recommend prepaying for parking for $7 with your reservation in order to make it easier upon arrival. If you pre-paid for parking, your original confirmation email should have instructions for printing at home to display in your windshield. In addition, we have a designated area for disabled parking, so please display the proper badge.

Please arrive one hour prior to your trip. This will ensure proper time to find parking, pick up your tickets, and visit the gift shop.

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of this train event, there are no refunds or cancellations. Please be sure that when you make your reservation, you know exactly which date and which departure time you wish to secure. If you need to reschedule, please contact the reservations office no less than four (4) days before your trip. A modest rebooking fee will apply. Also note that the train will depart in rain or snow. In the event the train is unable to operate, you will be notified immediately and given a complete refund or the opportunity to reschedule.

If you would like cancellation flexibility, we recommend purchasing Cancellation+ during the checkout process.

Unfortunately, due to the popularity of this train event, there are no refunds or cancellations from Mt Hood Railroad. However, you can purchase Cancellation + from Ticket Risk, and that will allow you to receive a full refund if you cancel AT LEAST 24 HOURS before your departure. Please be sure that when you make your reservation, you know exactly which date and which departure time you wish to secure.  Also note that the train will depart in rain or snow. In the event the train is unable to operate, you will be notified immediately and given a complete refund or the opportunity to reschedule.

Plan ahead and be prepared. Please prepare for winter or holiday road and traffic conditions. Mt Hood Railroad is not liable for road closures or delays. This event will run no matter the weather. As a result, the Cancellation + option is worth considering because that will allow you to receive a full refund if you cancel AT LEAST 24 before your departure. In the event the train is unable to operate, you will be notified immediately and given a complete refund or the opportunity to reschedule.

You can reach our Customer Service by calling 541-387-4000.  Alternatively, you can reach them by email at customercare [at] mthoodrailroad.com