This Family-Friendly Texas Attraction Is Worth Every Clickety-Clack

This summer, watch as pine trees roll past your window and lily pads drift across the ponds below.

You’re on a bench in a train car on the Texas State Railroad, which left its station in Palestine, Texas.

Train rides are much more than a mode of transportation. Attractions like this one prioritize the experience, the tales of nature told through the viewing windows of the train car.

Not only that, but you’ll get to sit and travel in style, depending on which seating class you select.

Cheers to a trip by train this summer!

Stay Organized

Texas State Railroad has a depot in Palestine, Texas.

According to the railroad’s website, this ride delivers a bit of everything: history, nature, and adventure.

If your kids or your group of friends are looking for just that, this summer is your opportunity to make it a reality.

The full round-trip is about 4 hours — you’ll ride for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes before stopping for a lunch break at the next depot.

Their regular season opens every March. Check out their excursions calendar for the latest events, dates, and times.

The route is called the Piney Woods Route — and the name says it all, with pine trees stretching for miles in every direction.

Their train cars are refurbished yet retain much of their original character, and the fleet includes vintage steam and diesel locomotives.

One thing I love about this railroad is that their logo is a huge Lone Star. The font follows a Western theme. In other words, this isn’t the kind of luxury train ride you’d take through the Swiss Alps — it’s proudly, unmistakably Texan.

Keep in mind that a few factors may affect your experience, including the locomotive assigned for the day, passenger car arrangements, meal and layover timing, and departure and arrival times.

Texas State Railroad was named a 2022 Travelers’ Choice by Tripadvisor.

Prices vary, so check their website for what seating classes, dates, and times are available. Find one within your budget!

The Palestine depot is their departure point. The second depot, in Rusk, is where they do layovers for their excursions.

Trains run on a strict schedule — no exceptions. There’s no one with a stopwatch chasing you down, but don’t push your luck either.

Trains leave at scheduled departure times and do not wait for any late arrivals. Try to get to the departure depot in Palestine at least 45 minutes before your train is supposed to leave.

Their excursions are round-trip between Palestine and Rusk. Trains take you from Palestine to Rusk and back to Palestine.

Always read the full description and rules of any excursion that you’re thinking about booking.

In Rusk, you’ll get off the train for about an hour and 15 minutes for most excursions. You’re free to go eat lunch, check out the grounds, or stop by the historical depot and gift shop.

I’d recommend taking this opportunity to get up, move around, and stretch — you’ll be glad you did.

Reserve your train ticket online, or call their reservations desk at 855-632-7729. You’ll get an email confirming your ticket purchase after you submit your reservation.

Be sure that you have your ticket confirmation email when you arrive at the Palestine depot. They accept mobile ticket confirmation emails. Just note that your confirmation email isn’t the same as your boarding pass.

Piney Woods Express Excursion tickets are fully refundable with a 72-hour notice. Any pre-paid lunches will also be refunded. If you miss your train, you can reschedule it within 14 days (subject to a rescheduling fee) and use the ticket credit (must be before December 31 of the same calendar year).

You can get a full refund for all other excursions, provided it’s within a 14-day notice. I’d suggest counting backwards on your calendar from the date of your train ride, so that you’re tracking the deadlines for canceling or rescheduling. It could save you from losing money on a last-minute cancellation.

If you happen to forget your confirmation email or can’t find it in your phone’s email inbox, have your photo ID ready (of whoever made the reservation), along with the credit card you used to book it.

Remember: your boarding pass and confirmation email are two separate things — make sure you have both ready on the day of your ride.

You’ll pick up your boarding passes at the Palestine depot. They’re not distributed digitally, so don’t expect an email in your inbox that’s your boarding pass.

You have to pick up your boarding passes no later than 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. The same applies here as it did for late arrivals to boarding: Plan ahead, and allow for extra time.

It’s unfortunate, but if you do miss that 15-minute window to get your boarding passes, you’ll be automatically rescheduled for a new departure time and possibly a different date, along with applicable fees.

Save yourself and your party some troubles by getting everyone out the door on time.

Likewise, the boarding platform (doesn’t that sound so official?) closes 10 minutes before a train’s departure time.

No one is allowed on the boarding platform once that 10-minute window starts ticking. It’s for your safety!

A Ticket, Please!

Do I have to get a reservation?

Coordinating a group trip — especially with kids’ schedules and activities in the mix — isn’t easy. Getting everyone together, on the same day and time, requires significant effort, time, and coordinating.

But reservations are highly recommended here. Many of their excursions sell out in advance, which is no wonder since it’s such a cool, unique experience out in East Texas.

Walk-ins are permitted, so don’t feel like you can’t get a seat if you walk in. There’s always the possibility you’ll be able to snag a bench, but it’s a risk.

If you do purchase a walk-in ticket, everyone in your group has to read and sign the Texas State Railroad Terms of Service and Condition of Sale Agreement and Consent/Indemnity Waiver. These waivers have to be signed before they’ll process your ticket payments and issue boarding passes.

Okay, how does train seating work? That’s an important question!

Every car class has a different seating layout, so it’s worth looking into which one suits your group before booking.

Most train cars have four people at each table. If you’re a party of two, you’ll likely be seated with another party of two. Don’t worry — if you’re short on couple friends, it’s actually a great chance to meet someone new who shares your taste for a good day trip.

If you have an odd number of people in your group, some people will be seated with another group. But they do their best to seat you in the same area as long as you’re all booked under the same reservation.

It’s not uncommon for several families to want to all meet up to try out an attraction like this that kids, parents, grandparents, or in-laws will love.

They can seat you together even if you’re from different families who booked online separately.

Just be sure to book your separate reservations in the same seating class. Also, make sure someone from your group calls the reservations desk at 855-632-7729 to confirm that you’d all like to sit together in the same car.

That way, an agent from the railroad can manually link up your reservations for seating purposes. Make sure to make this request by phone at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure time.

It’s required to sign release forms to ride the train, too. Anyone who’s over the age of 18 needs to sign their own release form. If you have any minors riding the train, their legal guardian must sign the release form.

Texas summers are hot, as we know. Anyone who’s grown up in Texas is used to the heat, often playing outside, sunscreen on, throwing back water. But if you’re newer to Texas, or used to cooler climates, it can be quite the adjustment.

Not all of the train cars are climate-controlled. That’s a big deal here in Texas during the summer. Call ahead to the reservations desk, and ask one of the agents about cars or seating classes that are preferable when temps rise.

One option is to look ahead at the months and dates in your family’s schedule. When will everyone be free? What’s a cooler time to go?

They do have restrooms on the train, which is a plus.

How can I get to the depot in Palestine? Plug in Texas State Railroad Palestine into your Maps app.

Where: Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot, 789 Park Road 70, Palestine, Texas 75801

Smoking isn’t allowed on any of the trains. This includes e-cigarettes, vapes, or anything similar.

You can’t take any outside food or drink on the train.

Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed on board, but there is a concession car available to all passengers. Check first if it’s part of the excursions you’re planning on booking.

To save a little money, grab a snack or finish your drink before boarding and leave the rest in your car.

The concession car offers a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, as well as beer, wine, and premium liquor service.

Snacks such as candy bars, ice cream, and popcorn (traditional train fare, of course) are available for purchase.

All guests have access to the concession car. Note that some seating classes include complimentary appetizers, served by a train car attendant right to your seat.

With a clickety-clack, Texas State Railroad whisks you away through pine forests and past quiet ponds, with stops at historic depots along the way — a ride worth every mile.

Find them online at texasstaterailroad.net, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Flickr, and pull up directions on Google Maps before you head out — because the Piney Woods are best enjoyed from a window seat, right on time.