Quick Summary:

  • The train lines that wind through the hills, valleys, and mountains of North Carolina are among the most beautiful ways to travel through the state.
  • Riding these railways offers visitors the opportunity to be transported back to the peak time of the train, when millions of people depended on them to move across the country.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
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  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Kids & Family
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad | North Carolina Train Trips & Railway Museums
© Courtesy of atlantic_advert - Fotolia.com

2. The Craggy Mountain Line ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
The Craggy Mountain Line | North Carolina Train Trips & Railway Museums
© The Craggy Mountain Line

3. North Carolina Railway Museum

Category: Kids & Family
North Carolina Railway Museum | North Carolina Train Trips & Railway Museums
© Courtesy of robin - Fotolia.com

4. N.C. Transportation Museum

Category: Museums & Culture
N.C. Transportation Museum | North Carolina Train Trips & Railway Museums
© N.C. Transportation Museum

5. Tweetsie Railroad

Category: Kids & Family
Tweetsie Railroad | North Carolina Train Trips & Railway Museums
© Tweetsie Railroad

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