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A lot of people search for the Polar Express in New Jersey without realizing the big one runs right here in Morris County. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride boards at Whippany Station in Hanover Township, and it is one of the few holiday events in the county that regularly sells out months ahead.
Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now. Here is what it costs, how it works, and the things worth knowing before you book.
The Basics
Where: Whippany Station, 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany. That is Hanover Township, about four miles from Morristown.
When: The season runs from November into the first days of January. Departures are at 11:10 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 3:25 p.m., 5:25 p.m. and 7:25 p.m., though not every time runs on every date. Trains do not run on December 31.
How long: Roughly two hours from arrival to the end, with about an hour of that on board.
What it is: A re-creation of the Chris Van Allsburg story on a real train, with a cast of actors, a reading of the book, hot chocolate and shortbread served by dancing chefs, caroling, and Santa handing out the First Gift of Christmas. It is produced by Rail Events Productions and runs on the Morristown and Erie Railway.
2026 Ticket Prices
Dates are grouped into Value, Standard and Premium tiers. The ride itself is identical on all three. The only difference is demand, so a Tuesday in November costs less than the Saturday before Christmas.
Coach Class. Value $67 adult and $59 child ages 2 to 11. Standard $79 and $70. Premium $91 and $82.
First Class. Value $98 adult and $90 child. Standard $98 and $90. Premium $109 and $101. First Class puts you in restored 1940s coaches with reclining seats, more legroom and a collectible ceramic mug you keep.
Those are all-in prices, so fees and taxes are already included. Budget another $12 for the required parking pass, which is one per vehicle and should be added to your order at checkout. Value pricing applies to Coach Class only.
Active duty military and first responders get $5 off each ticket, up to ten, with promo code HERO5. The ID has to be presented at check in by someone actually riding. Children under two ride free on a lap but still need a free infant ticket on the reservation, and they get a silver bell without the hot chocolate and cookie.
What Changed for 2026
This is the part worth knowing before you buy. The Whippany event no longer includes the outdoor North Pole set. The operator says the change lets them put more into the show inside the train, and Santa still boards to greet passengers and hand out the First Gift of Christmas, the same way the larger locations run it.
If your family went a few years ago and remembers stopping at a lit-up North Pole village, set expectations with the kids now rather than on the platform.
Sensory Friendly Departures
There are sensory friendly departures with softer audio, no startling sound effects, limited strobe and flashing lighting, normal car lighting left on, and some dialogue adjusted for the interactions with the cast. Everything else about the show is the same. The operator lists these for December 1 at 3:25 and 5:25 p.m., and prices them at the Standard and Premium tiers depending on the departure. Their own schedule page still carries a few leftover references from last season, so confirm the date when you book.
Getting Tickets Before They Go
The weekend departures in December are the ones that disappear, often within days of tickets going on sale in the summer. The mistake most people make is checking one Saturday, seeing it sold out, and giving up. November dates and weekday departures hold availability well into the fall, and it is the same show at a lower price.
Seating is assigned and you pick your own seats at checkout, like an airline. Study the chart: Coach Class seats face the center of the car rather than forward, which is deliberate so everyone can see the performance. First Class seats all face the same direction. Because the train runs out and back on the same track, everyone rides forward one way and backward the other regardless.
You can buy up to 30 tickets in one online order, and there is no early access for groups anymore. Tickets are not refundable, though you can change the date subject to availability and you can change passenger names.
Practical Notes From the Platform
Arrive an hour early. The time on your ticket is the showtime and the start of boarding, not the time to show up. The box office closes at showtime and nobody boards after it, including people whose party is already on the train.
Wear pajamas, but layer under them. Families are encouraged to come in pajamas like the passengers in the book. You will also be standing on an unheated platform to board and get off, so real winter clothes and closed toe shoes matter more than people expect.
Parking is a short walk. The lot is at 1 Railroad Plaza and your ticket confirmation doubles as the parking pass. Spaces next to the station are reserved for disabled placards and plates, and there is passenger drop off at the station if someone in your party has mobility issues.
Accessibility. The station and train are wheelchair accessible by a mobile lift, with wheelchair spaces in select Coach cars. The 1940s First Class cars cannot accommodate wheelchairs and there are no wheelchair accessible restrooms on the train, though there are on the grounds. Closed captioning is available in Car 5, seats 104 and 105, on every departure.
Coming by train. NJ Transit’s Morristown Line gets you to Morristown from Penn Station, Hoboken and Newark, but Whippany Station is another four miles by cab or rideshare from there. Leave real margin, because the train will not wait.
A few rules that catch people out. No alcohol anywhere on the grounds or the train, and it is enforced with no refund. No pets and no emotional support animals, service animals only. Hot chocolate and Walker’s Shortbread are served on board, so check the ingredient list at the box office if anyone in your party has a milk or wheat allergy.
Reservation agents are at 973-419-6255, Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8 p.m., though booking online is faster during the rush.
Make a Day of It
Whippany sits in the middle of the county, so the train pairs easily with the rest of the season. We keep running guides to Christmas lights in New Jersey and Christmas markets in New Jersey, and there is always more on the calendar in what to do in Morris County this month and our full Morris County events coverage.
We update this page as the season goes on. Prices, showtimes and policies above come from the operator’s own schedule and FAQ, and anything that changes gets corrected here.
Getting the tree. Our guide to Christmas tree farms in New Jersey covers every choose-and-cut farm in Morris County, what each one grows, and why the families who get the best trees show up in October.
