Travel Outside the South How To Travel By Train In The South By Southern Living Editors Published on September 4, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Getty Images There's nothing quite like a train ride. Speeding through the landscape and taking in the views along the way has a certain romantic flair. While other modes of transport have made train travel less common, there are still opportunities out there to ride the rails. With lots of Amtrak routes crisscrossing the Southern states, as well as shorter scenic routes on historic and vintage railroads, you can usually find a railway near you for enjoying a ride—and all the memories that come with it. Whether you're on the hunt for an opulent dining car, a fall foliage round-trip route, a seasonal spin on a railway, or a ride from city to Southern city, you can find a depot nearby to welcome you. 01 of 12 Bluegrass Scenic Railroad Nan Zhong/Getty Images >>> Departs from Versailles, Kentucky Ride through Central Kentucky's horse country on an air-conditioned Saturday train ride departing from the station on Beasley Road in Versailles, Kentucky. Learn more. 02 of 12 Carolinian/Piedmont Trains Sky Noir Photography by Bill Dickinson/Getty Images >>> Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte Explore the sights of North Carolina on this dual Amtrak route that runs through Charlotte and Raleigh. The Piedmont extends between Charlotte and Raleigh, while the Carolinian continues up to New York. Take the train during the fall months to see the leaves turning. Learn more. 03 of 12 Cass Scenic Railroad State Park John Elk III/Getty Images >>> Departs from Cass, West Virginia This state park and historic railway is located in Cass, West Virginia, and is operated by the state's Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. You can hop the scenic railway downtown and follow it on a journey up to the overlook at Bald Knob, the highest point in the state, on a four-and-a-half-hour ride, or you can take a two-hour excursion to Whittaker Station. Learn more. 04 of 12 City of New Orleans Train Nathan Steele/Getty Images >>> Memphis, Greenwood, Jackson, New Orleans The City of New Orleans train, an Amtrak route, shuttles from Tennessee (Memphis) to Mississippi (Greenwood, Jackson) to Louisiana (New Orleans), running through beautiful countryside as it goes. Learn more. 05 of 12 Crescent Train Robbie Caponetto >>> Atlanta, Birmingham, New Orleans This Amtrak route, which runs from New York to New Orleans, makes stops in Charlottesville, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and Greenville, Mississippi, before rolling into the Big Easy. Learn more. 06 of 12 Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway JeremyMasonMcGraw.com/Getty Images >>> Departs from Eureka Springs, Arkansas This seasonal tourist rail line has narrated excursion trains, dinner trains, and lunch trains on historic, ornately appointed railcars. Learn more. 07 of 12 Georgia Coastal Railroad Richard Steinberger/EyeEm/Getty Images >>> Departs from Kingsland Station in Kingsland, Georgia This fun railway offers several services, including wine tasting trains, 1920s-inspired trains, a Christmas train, and other seasonal specials. There's also a one-and-a-half hour ride that will whisk you from Kingsland to St. Marys and back. Learn more. 08 of 12 Grapevine Vintage Railroad Robbie Caponetto >>> Departs from Grapevine, Texas This railroad runs excursion and special event trains (like Jazz Wine Trains, the North Pole Express, and the After Christmas Trains) that travel from Main Street in historic downtown Grapevine, Texas, to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Travelers enjoy rides on the railroad's air-conditioned 1920s Victorian coaches. Learn more. 09 of 12 Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Getty Images >>> Departs from Bryson City, North Carolina For a train ride with unbeatable views, hop aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Rides depart from the historic train depot, which is located in downtown Bryson City, North Carolina. Learn more. 10 of 12 Silver Service/Palmetto Trains Peter Unger/Getty Images >>> DC, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Miami On this Amtrak route, you'll ride on the Silver Meteor, Silver Star, and Palmetto trains as you travel through the Southeast into Florida and its welcoming beaches. Learn more. 11 of 12 Sunset Limited Train Bill Barfield/Getty Images >>> New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Houston, San Antonio, Alpine, El Paso The southernmost of the Amtrak routes, this line runs from New Orleans through South Texas and continues all the way to Los Angeles. Learn more. 12 of 12 Tennessee Valley Railroad David McCurry/500px/Getty Images >>> Departs from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Delano, Tennessee You can hop aboard this Tennessee railway for rides of varying lengths—options range from 45 minutes to 8 hours long. The offerings include day trips, round trips, meals aboard dining cars, and vintage short lines. Trips include small-town stops, rides through scenic gorges, and holiday rides with lights and seasonal celebrations. Learn more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit