Posted in Nevada March 04, 2016 by

7 Epic Train Rides In Nevada That Will Give You An Unforgettable Experience

Since the early days of silver and gold mining, trains have been an important part of Nevada. After all, steam locomotives were used to haul out the ore and carry in building material. Today, there are several train museums located throughout Nevada that preserve this important part of history. Also, many of Nevada’s historic railroads continue to carry passengers on excursions. Even a few of Nevada’s finest parks offer train rides for adults and children of all ages.

If you’re a fan of trains, here are 7 epic train rides in Nevada that’ll give you an unforgettable experience:

1. Virginia & Truckee Railroad - F Street 1870 V&T Depot, 165 F Street, Virginia City, NV 89440
flickr/ATOMIC Hot Links
Passengers will enjoy gorgeous scenic views while traveling the historic route of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. This train ride takes about 1.5 hours to climb up to Virginia City. During the ride, your conductor will share the story of the Comstock mines and how the railroad helped make Virginia City the most famous boomtown of the Old West. No trip to Virginia City is complete without a ride on this historic railroad.
2. Bonnie Springs Ranch Train - 16395 Bonnie Springs Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89124
flickr/rickpilot_2000
Bonnie Springs Ranch began as a stopover for the wagon trains traveling the Old Spanish Trail to California. Since the 1950s, it's been used as a tourist attraction. One of the ranch's main features is the train ride. Guests will have the opportunity to board the train and enjoy a scenic ride throughout the ranch. All ages are welcome. However, train rides are offered only on the weekends. Be sure to keep that in mind.
3. Las Vegas Monorail
flickr/Phil Guest
The Las Vegas Monorail, the very first driverless public monorail system in the world, is the ultimate way to get around if you're staying on the Las Vegas Strip. There are seven stations: MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton and Sahara. The traffic on the Las Vegas Strip is terribly slow, so why not take a ride on a monorail that'll take you to your destination at 50 mph in air-conditioned comfort? Traveling the Las Vegas Strip takes about 15 minutes. This is a huge deal when you consider the amount of time it takes to drive or walk the Las Vegas Strip. The Las Vegas Monorail's hours of operation are 7:00am to 2:00am Monday thru Thursday, and 7:00am to 3:00am Friday thru Sunday.
4. Nevada Northern Railway - 1100 Avenue A, East Ely, NV 89315
flickr/The Greater Southwestern Exploration Company
"The Nevada Northern Railway Complex is the best-preserved, least altered, and most complete main yard complex remaining from the steam railroad era. It was established in 1905 to support the area's booming copper mining industry." Today, guests will get to experience the early 1900s while taking a ride on a historic train. On this train, you'll have the choice of coach or open-air seating, or you can feel free to roam between the two. The two most popular train rides are the Ghost Train and the Polar Express. These are both seasonal events that many people look forward to each year. The next time you're in the Ely area, be sure to stop by and take a ride on one of these historic trains. You'll really enjoy it!
5. Idlewild Park Train - 1900 Idlewild Dr, Reno, NV 89509
yelp/Marie S.
The train ride in Idlewild Park is one of the park's many features. Passengers of all ages will enjoy riding the train as it meanders its way through the most scenic area of the park. Beginning March 19 through April 3, the train will operate daily from 11am to 3pm. It'll then start running on weekends only from 11am to 6pm, through Memorial Day weekend.
6. Nevada Southern Railway - 601 Yucca St, Boulder City, NV 89005
flickr/Klaus Nahr
When riding the Nevada Southern Railway excursion train, you'll be experiencing history dating all the way back to the 1930s. You'll also have the choice of either riding in an open air car or an air conditioned/heated Pullman coach. The train's departure times are 10:00am and 11:30am - 1:00pm and 2:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The train ride lasts approximately 35 minutes. The 7 1/2" gauge trains operate on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
7. Carson & Mills Park Railroad - 1111 E William St, Carson City, NV 89701
Carson.org
The entire family will enjoy riding the Carson & Mills Park Railroad. Passengers will get to ride behind a replica of a diesel switcher engine and either choose an open gondola or a covered passenger car. This train ride will take you 1.25 miles through beautiful Mills Park and lasts about 15 minutes. Adults and children of all ages are invited to take a ride on this fun train.

What do you think? Have you taken any of these train rides? If so, we’d love for you to share your experience(s) with us!