9 Kid-Friendly Train Rides Near Austin

Whether you have a train-loving kid or you’re just looking for something a little different to do, riding trains (or mini trains as the case may be) can be a fun activity to do as a family.

There are a handful of kid-friendly trains in the Austin area or close enough for a day trip! Here are the best trains to ride in Central Texas.

In This Post

Train Rides in Austin and Suburbs

You can stick close to the city and still have lots of options for family-friendly train rides.

1. Zilker Eagle

2131 1/2 William Barton Drive
Austin, TX 78746

The iconic Zilker Park mini train re-opened in the middle of Austin in the summer of 2024, and it is such a perfect part of an Austin outing! Ride the train around the park and get a view of the skyline, then play on the playground, and take a dip in Barton Springs or rent a kayak to take on the lake.

2. Austin Zoo

10808 Rawhide Trail
Austin, TX 78736

This train inside the Austin Zoo is a fun way to take a little ride and see some more animals. The perfect ending to your zoo outing! Tickets are $5 and you take a short ride through nature, past some animals, and through tunnels with some skeletons.

3. Cedar Rock Railroad

390 Borho
Leander, TX 78641

Southwest Williamson County Regional Park, Leander. This is such a cool little spot with a play structure, old mini town, and hand crank train cars. They’re getting a new train in 2024 or 2025!

4. Austin Steam Train

401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste C-100
Cedar Park TX 78613

This one is a full-size train that hosts fun rides for kids like the Teddy Bear Train, North Pole Flyer, Thomas the Train and regular trips in the hill country. (There are also events just for grownups like a Speakeasy Train!)

5. Round Rock Express Kids Day

3400 E Palm Valley Blvd
Round Rock, TX 78665

Before every Sunday Round Rock Express home game at Dell Diamond, you can ride a mini train in the parking lot. It’s not on tracks, but still a fun activity, especially combined with the baseball game, inflatables, and running the bases after the game. There’s also a train-themed playground inside the kids zone in the stadium.

6. CapMetro Rail

And of course, you can always ride the rail through town. There is currently only one line (Austin is so behind on public transportation!), but there are plans in the works for future lines. CapMetro goes to stops near Q2 Stadium where Austin FC plays, restaurants like Black Star Co-op, Kura Revolving Sushi, and Cosmic Saltillo, and downtown.

Train Rides Outside of Austin

7. Landa Park

164 Landa Park Dr.
New Braunfels, TX 78130

This lovely park in New Braunfels is worth a trip, not least of all because of the mini train that travels around the park. While you’re here, enjoy the park’s paddle boats, mini golf, playgrounds and wading pool.

8. San Antonio Zoo

3903 N. St. Mary’s Street
San Antonio, TX 78212

If you’re in San Antonio, the zoo’s mini train can take you around Brackenridge Park or to fun attractions like the Witte Museum or the Japanese Tea Gardens.

9. Pioneer Express Railroad

333 Wayside Drive
Wimberley, TX, 78676

Head out to Wimberley to visit an Western themed pioneer town from the 1880s, complete with ice cream parlor, opera house and house made out of glass bottles. And of course, the Pioneer Express Railroad! There’s also an arcade, but I’m guessing that’s not from the 1800s!