Michigan’s Magical North Pole Express Returns: Ticket Info Inside

It's time to start making your Christmas plans. And no, I don't mean Christmas in July.

You might be saying, "It's way too early to start thinking about that", however, I would beg to differ. And the main reason being: tickets for Michigan's North Pole Express train trip go on sale soon.

Michigan's North Pole Express is Returning This Winter

The Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso recently made the announcement on their Facebook page.

If you don't know, the North Pole Express train trip in Michigan is a yearly tradition that Michiganders go gaga for. From November 21 through December 21, the Steam Railroading Institute (SRI) takes their Pere Marquette 1225 steam-powered locomotive (the locomotive that inspired The Polar Express) and pulls passenger cars from its home in Owosso to Ashley Michigan on a Christmas-themed trip.

READ MORE: Got Visitors? Here are the Best Places to Take Them in Lansing

Passengers are encouraged to come in their Christmas pajamas or festive attire, enjoy themselves on the train, disembark from the train into the Village of Ashley's Country Christmas, and then head back to Owosso on the train.

These tickets are VERY popular, as evidenced by the fact that in 2024, tickets sold out within an hour, and there were even scammers preying on people looking for resale tickets. And that's even with the SRI adding dates for excursions due to demand.

When Do North Pole Express Tickets Go On Sale?

If you're interested in riding the North Pole Express this winter, here's what you'll want to know to purchase your ticket:

• Tickets go on sale at noon on Tuesday, June 24th
• Tickets range in price: coach tickets start at $85, Cocoa Class tickets are $125, tables of four are $550, individual tickets in a caboose or private car are $3,200, and the Frank Thompson Private Class is $6,500 for a whole car with up to 26 passengers
• The roundtrip is 4.5 hours long
• Those 24 months and under do not need a ticket, but they MUST sit on a lap the entire trip
• The SRI offers a tutorial on how to buy tickets
• Over the next couple of weeks, the SRI will share answers to other FAQ regarding ticket purchasing and more

This is undoubtedly a magical event, IF you can get your hands on tickets. If you'd like to take the family, set a reminder in your phone to buy tickets the moment they go on sale on June 24th.