There’s so much to do and see in the Great Smoky Mountains. But if you go just a little further past the state line of Tennessee, you’ll find that the neighboring state also has a lot to offer – especially for train enthusiasts.
Simply take Highway 441 through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and go just a bit further.
The tiny North Carolina town of Bryson City sits just beyond Cherokee on Highway 19 in the the beauty of the Western North Carolina mountains. And it offers a getaway within your getaway.
Is there a train that runs through the Smoky Mountains?
Yes, you can take a scenic tour of the Smoky Mountains by train.
Bryson City, NC – besides being the hometown of former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler – is most famous for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
The railroad offers scenic rail excursions through the fairly remote corner of Western North Carolina. Passengers wind through tunnels, across the historic train trestle over Fontana Lake, through fertile valleys and into a deep river gorge.
There are seasonal rides, diesel rides and steam rides.
Also featured are all-adult rides in First Class cars with a private attendant. Enjoy a delicious meal served with alcoholic beverages such as moonshine and wine. You can even keep your stemless wine glass as a souvenir!
Special events throughout the year include the all-adult Uncorked and Carolina Shine Moonshine Experience rides and also, The Polar Express.
Packages include Tarzan Train (includes a zip lining stop), Rafting (includes a rafting experience), Stone Brook Lodge (with train excursion), Rail and Trail and Private Caboose parties.
The Polar Express Christmas special event during November and December – based on the classic children’s book about a magical train ride to the North Pole – is one of the most popular rides that the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers.
It’s highly recommended that you book early if you wish to ride the Polar Express as it is one of the most popular events in the smokies.
The holiday themed rides are shorter – and less scenic. But they offer the perfect opportunity for train-obsessed little ones to get into the spirit of the season and get to ride a real train.
Read Also: There’s a real-life Polar Express train ride in Bryson City
How much does it cost to ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad?
Prices vary by ticket, age and train experience.
At the time of this writing, the Polar Express during the off-peak season is $67 for adults and $47 for children. Ticket pricing increases as you get closer to the peak season.
The Nantahala River excursions and Tuckasegee River excursions range from $56-126. Moonshine experiences range from $109-126, and the wine experience starts at $139. Package prices vary, follow the website for more information.
Note that these prices may vary by selection and are subject to change. To learn more, visit their website. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad parking is located at 45 Mitchell Street Bryson City, NC.
Is the Smoky Mountain Railroad worth it?
Worth is always in the eye of the beholder. Still, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers a unique experience that you will likely remember for years to come.
I like to think of attraction tickets in terms of dollars per entertainment hour.
The regular Tuckasegee excursion to Dillsboro, NC and the Nantahala Gorge are 4-4.5 hours. For a half day’s worth of entertainment, the prices are pretty reasonable.
The Nantahala Gorge Excursion includes a one-hour layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. While there, guests can shop and dine at the center’s riverfront restaurants and enjoy a fine selection of wine, beer and cocktails and spectacular views of the Nantahala River.
All excursions are round-trip and return to the Bryson City depot.
The Smoky Mountain Trains Museum
If you go to Bryson City, make sure to allow some extra time for the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum.
It’s a magnificent model train museum featuring a collection of 7,000 classic Lionel cars and two massive rooms with intricate model railroad villages.
When I was a kid, I’d go to visit my grandparents in Northeast Ohio, and my grandfather would take me to a train museum that featured a large, intricate model train set.
I was never into trains. I’d not heard of Thomas until I was grown, but there was something about following the trains along the tiny tracks, the small vignettes they passed, the switch tracks, the lights … everything. I found it incredibly diverting, relaxing and fascinating.
That feeling returned watching the museum’s trains wind their way through the tiny tunnels. The closest way I can describe it is a little bit like the feeling you get watching fish swim in a large aquarium. There’s just something soothing about it.
My son – who was really, really into trains for reasons I don’t understand – and I could have stayed in there for hours without ever setting foot on the bigger trains located just outside.
Visit the website here to learn more.
Read Also: Road to Nowhere, the dam road that was never completed in Bryson City
Outdoor recreation in Bryson City
One of the major attractions in Bryson City is, of course, the trains. But there are other things to do as well.
Like most small mountain communities trying to draw tourists, there’s plenty of outdoor recreation. Bryson City is on the Appalachian Trail and thus has some fantastic hiking.
There’s also zip lining as well as tubing, white-water rafting and fly fishing in the Tuckasegee River and Nantahala River.
Bryson City also offers the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians, which, I suppose if you’re really, really into fly fishing, is a place you can go.
The website promises rods from as far back as the 1800s and in-depth explorations of the history of the sport. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers packages if you are interested in additional excursions.
Have you been to Bryson City? Have you taken an excursion on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad? Let us know in the comments!
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