All of our general passenger excursions, special event trains, and activities depart from the historic Bryson City Depot in Bryson City, North Carolina. Various destinations depend on your route selection. All trains are round-trip and will return to the Bryson City depot.

Yes, we have restrooms available to everyone throughout the train.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is not afraid of a little winter weather! All trains, including special event trains, operate through winter weather. Of course, we want all of our guests to remain safe on their travels. In the event that the North Carolina Highway Patrol or Department of Motor Vehicles deems travel unsafe on Interstate 40 or Highway 74 resulting in a closure, please call our reservations staff at 1-800-872-4681 for further details and instructions. The option of rescheduling is always available at a nominal fee as well as the option for overnight accommodations. For information regarding US 441 please click this link for the most up-to-date information: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm

On vintage rail cars, accommodations for passengers with special needs are limited. We ask that the passengers desiring to ride on a special event train contact reservations personally so that other arrangements can be made. Boarding assistance with golf carts is available to accommodate guests who have limited walking or standing capabilities. Please call 800-872-4681 to speak with a GSMR representative who can assist in arranging and making reservations for your visit.

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.

Passengers riding THE POLAR EXPRESS™ are encouraged to dress warm for weather. Pajamas can be worn but closed toe shoes are required.

You can check availability and get a quote without purchasing tickets through the online reservation system, or you can call our Reservations Office for assistance at 1-800-872-4681.

We highly recommend booking reservations in advance as tickets do sell out quickly. To check times and availability click here or call our reservations office 800-872-4681.

This round-trip journey to the North Pole and back to Bryson City, NC is a 1 1/4 hour experience. We ask that guests arrive 1 hour prior to excursion time to pick up train tickets.

You can click here for information regarding area lodging that we recommend or call us for details about our packages with convenient lodging establishments in the area. For information on area lodging you can call the Smoky Mountain Host for a guide book 800.432.4678, or call the respective Chambers of Commerce; Jackson County (Dillsboro) 800.962.1911 and Swain County (Bryson City) 800.867.9246.

Child tickets are available to those between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, and infant tickets are available to those 23 months and younger. Anyone 13 years or older are considered adults, for ticket pricing purposes only.

At GSMR, we utilize online ticketing software and with the email address provided on the reservation, tickets will be sent via email.

Normal travel time from Gatlinburg to our Bryson City Depot is 2 to 2.5 hours via US 441. Travel time during peak periods (usually July, October, and holiday weekends) may be significantly longer. For US 441 weather updates please use this link: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm

Parking is conveniently located across the street from the Bryson City Depot at: 45 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC. Parking fees are already charged to your reservation. For RVs a $16.00 cash parking fee is required per RV. Limited handicap parking is available. There is two-hour street parking around Bryson City, but please keep in mind that your train adventure may take more than two hours. We encourage all passengers to take advantage of our convenient all-day parking.

Passengers with gluten or dairy allergies can substitute the cookie for either a gluten free Rice Krispie treat or dairy free Veggie Straws (Sea Salt).

Rice Krispie ingredients: Marshmallow (Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Modified Food Starch [Corn], Gelatin, Water, Vanilla Flavor), Gluten Free Crisp Rice (Rice, Brown Sugar, Salt) Sugar, Brown Butter (Cream, Salt), Sea Salt, Vanilla Flavor.

Veggie Straw ingredients: Potato Starch, Potato Flour, Expeller Pressed Canola oil and/or Safflower Oil and/or Sunflower Oil, Spinach Powder, Tomato Paste, salt, Cane Sugar, Corn Starch, Potassium Chloride, Turmeric (color), Beetroot Powder (color), Sea Salt.

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Whey, Dutch Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Sodium Caseinate, ( milk derivative), Salt, Dipotassium Phosphate, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Aluminosilicate, Natural Flavor. CONTAINS MILK.

A full range of exclusive THE POLAR EXPRESS™ gifts and keepsakes will be available for purchase at the event. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Gift Shop is located just feet away from the welcome tent and boarding area.

Yes. In order to offer the best experience for all guests, seating is assigned on board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. You will select your own seats during the online checkout process as you would on an airline.

In order to ensure that our guests can have the most enjoyable the experience together, our seating policy requires that all guests in a single party may only reserve tickets in adjacent seats. Reservations not in adjacent seats may be cancelled at GSMR’s discretion.

• You may cancel your reservation in full or in part and receive a refund less cancellation fee(s) no later than 60 days before departure.
• Within 60 days of the departure the reservation becomes nonrefundable.
• Once a reservation becomes nonrefundable, it remains nonrefundable.
• You may reschedule your reservation, subject to fees, for another date within the same calendar year.
• You may not reschedule a reservation after the scheduled departure.
• No exceptions are made for illness, weather, and/or road closures.
• Polar Express Cancellation and Rescheduling Fees:
  • Cancelling First Class, Premium Crown, and/or Crown classes: A $12 fee is required for each seat being cancelled. Partial cancellation of a table/section is not permitted.
  • Cancelling Coach Class: A $7.00 fee is required for each seat being cancelled.
  • Rescheduling any class: A $7.00 fee is required for each seat being rescheduled. In Crown, Premium Crown, and First Class the whole table/section must be rescheduled.
  • Complimentary tickets are not subject to fees.