Verde Canyon Railroad

We visited the Verde Canton railroad on a Tuesday afternoon and purchased our tickets well in advance, I had read great reviews and didn’t want to risk it selling out. I’m so glad we did because the station was packed when we arrived! We added the meal vouchers when booking which I highly recommend. It ended up being about $10 cheaper than buying meals on site. Each passenger also received a beautiful charcuterie tray, a bottle of water and a small bottle of champagne or sparkling cider upon boarding so you may not even need a meal beforehand. They recommend arriving two hours before departure, we arrived about an hour early, picked up our meals, and found a spot at one of the picnic tables, that was plenty of time. No need to rush or line up early as everyone has assigned seating. We were seated in the Cottonwood car and our guide Mike was fantastic! Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. He kept the cabin spotless and sure everyone was comfortable and having a great time! On the open air car, our guide, Christian shared fascinating history about the area, pointed out wildlife and even offered to take photos for guests! I highly recommend this tour if you’re visiting rbe area,it’s relaxing( every train should have seating like this!) educational and a lot of fun!

The Verde Canyon Railroad is a great train experience! Friendly staff greet you, answer questions, and host the train ride. There is a nice gift shop with the ticket booth and cafe. As we boarded the train we were given important information about the federal laws when riding a train and then the adventure began. We boarded, walked through the open air car and entered the passenger car. It was beautifully decorated. Comfy "booths" with low back loveseats, bistro tables for two, individual champagne or sparkling cider and an charcuterie snacks and our own sweet bartender awaited. The views were spectacular and the docents so informative and entertaining about the history of the canyon that time flew by.

fantastic ride, 4 hours of fun! the scenery was gorgeous! the train staff was friendly and had lots of knowledge to impart. the seating was great. only 2 of us, we were seated at a small table with actual chairs that we could move for a good view out the windows. complimentary cheese/cracker/fruit tray and a small bottle of champagne for those that want it. also a full bar for those that want more! I highly recommend the prickly pear lemonade with a shot of tequila added ;) very tasty! lovely little depot building at the turn around. absolutely get your tickets early and on line, it was a fairly full train. enclosed cars with an open car attached if you want to go outside. I do recommend the add on lunch ticket, you get the food at the station. you can eat it there or take it on the train with you. all in all, a great day on a great train!

Beautiful train ride. Be prepared for a scenic ride through various terrain. The ride comes with a water, a small bottle of champagne, and a hearty charcuterie board per person. The narrator was awesome. My hubby and I spent the whole trainride out on the open air observation deck. I felt it was the best way to connect with the surroundings. There is a full bar in each car, mixed drinks are about $15. They asked you to get there about an hour and a half before the train departs. There's plenty to do and explore when arriving early. You can grab breakfast, you can explore the gift shop and the museum. Highly recommend, it's a beautiful experience.

What an incredible experience on the Verde Canyon Railroad! From start to finish, the staff made everything seamless. The friendly cart driver picked us up in the parking lot and dropped us right at the entrance steps—such a thoughtful way to start the day. At the ticket counter, the cashier already had the answer to my question about being a party of five and the tickets showing split rows before I could even finish asking. Super knowledgeable and efficient! We rode in the Phoenix car, and Dawn was absolutely fantastic—attentive, friendly, and made us feel well taken care of the entire trip. Out on the open-air car, Christian was a wealth of knowledge. His love of history and storytelling really added so much depth to what we were seeing. The ride itself was beautiful. The curves through the canyon, the rumble of the train, and even the faint smell of diesel in the air made it feel nostalgic and authentic. The scenery is stunning, and the whole experience felt like stepping back in time. This is such a well-run, special excursion. Highly recommend for anyone visiting the area!

Absolutely buy tickets in advance. We bought ours over a week in advance and they were almost sold out that far ahead. Will NOT be able to buy tickets day of. Comfy seats. Charcuterie board for each person was decent, bottle of water each, but you share 1 small mini brut champagne bottle. 4 hours flew by. Outdoor cars are the best for views and pictures.

What a treat. Train ride was certainly worth it. Beautiful scenery and great experience. The building where you check in is new and beautiful. That building holds a “diner” where you can buy lunch. Many selections were great, our “chicken wraps” were very tasty, fries were great, and prices reasonable. Food prepared when you order. We arrived early and sat outside in the shade for lunch. You can take your lunch (in a box) onto the train if you like. The building has a very nice shopping area - merchandise is much better than most. Train cars are very comfortable and very well appointed. You can tell they are well maintained. Car has a series of tables, chairs and couches with assigned seats. Very comfortable. Car includes a bar with a number of options - beer, wine and special drinks. Each car has its own restroom. Each car has an outdoor observation car adjoining which you can access. Great for the outdoor experience and much better for photos. We were so lucky to have Michelle, Nate and Bryan as “hosts”. Michelle managed the bar. She moved around the car, offered interesting facts from time to time, and was so nice and pleasant, offering drinks and service - quite funny as well. Nate and Bryan managed the outdoor area most of the time and provided information on what you’re are seeing - plus adding a nice amount of humor themselves. Again, the entire process - people and facilities - was “high class”. We were so happy we took the trip and would highly recommend to everyone.

Beautiful scenery, a little history,open bar. The box lunch was very good. Being able to walk back and forth from the air-conditioned car to the open car was great. We had Ryan and Sapphire,they were both fantastic!