Booking choice: The Royal Gorge Route Railroad, from $148 per person. Check dates Tour details
The line follows the Arkansas River for 12 miles from the Santa Fe Depot in Cañon City to Parkdale, then the train runs back the same way. It never turns: it is a push-pull train, so the locomotive simply leads on the way home. More than 200,000 people ride it every year, and it runs year-round.
What changes the day is the ticket you choose. Coach, Deluxe, Vista Dome and First Class all go through the same canyon, and every one of them gets you into the open-air car. Below: the classes and their 2026 from-fares, dining and the 403 Grill, Ride with the Engineer, the Santa Express and Twilight trains, parking, accessibility, the Royal Gorge Bridge, and how refunds work.
The quick answer
A daytime ride takes about 1 hour 50 minutes, about 24 miles round trip from Cañon City. Railroad fares start at $109 in Coach, $129 in Deluxe and $139 in the Vista Dome on non-peak trips, and food is extra except on the First Class Lunch and Dinner trains ($199). Every ticket includes the open-air car. The Royal Gorge Route listing costs from $148 with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
What is the Royal Gorge Route Railroad?
A family-owned scenic railroad that runs from Cañon City through the Royal Gorge to Parkdale and back, about 24 miles round trip on standard-gauge track.
The canyon has railroad history in its rocks. The Denver & Rio Grande and the Santa Fe fought the Royal Gorge War over this route from 1878 to 1880, and the Rio Grande won. Its engineers then hung a 175-foot girder from the canyon walls where the gorge narrows to 30 feet: the Hanging Bridge of 1879, still under the train today. At that point the walls rise 2,600 feet above the track.
Regular passenger trains through the gorge ended in July 1967. The current company bought the line in 1998 and revived passenger service in the late 1990s. Today it runs 17 cars, six classes of service, four bars and five onboard kitchens, pulled by EMD F7 locomotives built in 1949. Four full-length dome cars came from Alaska in 2005 and 2006.
Departures leave at 9:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM on most days, with 6:30 PM trains on select evenings. The evening runs take about 2.5 hours. Check the times for your date before you plan the drive.
Which class is best on the Royal Gorge train?
The Vista Dome is the railroad's own top-rated class and the best view; Deluxe is the comfortable middle; Coach is the cheapest seat. First Class is for a full three-course meal.
Published from-fares for 2026, per adult, for non-peak trips (the 12:30 PM and 6:30 PM trains are peak, and holiday dates price higher). A historic preservation fee is added at checkout and gratuity is extra.
| Class | From (adult) | What you get | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | $109 | Pods of four seats around butcher-block cocktail tables | Food and drinks extra |
| Deluxe | $129 | A renovated mid-century dining car with four-top tables | Food and drinks extra |
| Vista Dome | $139 | Booth seats under the glass of a full-length dome car | 14 steps up; not wheelchair accessible |
| First Class Lunch or Dinner | $199 | Three courses and a welcome glass of sparkling wine | For teens and adults; holidays, events and select weekends |
| Ride with the Engineer | From $299 | A seat in the locomotive cab, merchandise and a photo folio | Age 13 and up; 9 AM and 12:30 PM trains |
Children 2 to 12 pay a little less in Coach, Deluxe and Vista Dome, and children under 2 ride free on a lap on most trips. Our pick for a first ride is the Vista Dome on a morning train: the dome gives you the walls above as well as the river beside you, and the morning slot is non-peak.
Seats are assigned at booking, and parties of two usually sit across from another couple. Want a table to yourselves? The railroad says to buy all four seats.
About 110 minutes through the gorge, with the open-air car open to you the whole way.
Check dates for the Royal Gorge Route RailroadWhat is the open-air car on the Royal Gorge Route?
An open car with railings that every passenger can use at any time, whatever class you booked. It is standing room only.
This is where most of the photos come from. With no glass in the way, you look straight up at the granite, and the river runs right beside the rails. Step out as often as you like; your seat stays yours.
- Go out at the Hanging Bridge. The gorge narrows to 30 feet there, with walls 2,600 feet above the track.
- Bring a hat and a layer. The listing suggests a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and closed-toe shoes are what the railroad recommends on every departure.
- It runs in rain and snow. The train goes in most weather, and a trip the railroad cancels for weather can be rescheduled free within a year.
Dennis, on the GetYourGuide listing: "Beautiful scenery, gorgeous day for open car ride. Food and drinks were great" (Sep 2026)
Is food included on the Royal Gorge train?
Only on the First Class Lunch and Dinner trains. In Coach, Deluxe and the Vista Dome you order from the onboard menu, and food and drinks are extra.
The kitchen is the 403 Grill, named after the railroad's classic F7 locomotive No. 403. Expect burgers, paninis, wraps, salads and a kids' menu, plus wine, local microbrews and cocktails from the bars. Two ways to keep it simple:
- The grill-menu offer: $35 for an entrée, your first drink and a commemorative pint glass, when you add it at booking. Breakfast offers are $30.
- First Class: $199 per person for three courses with a glass of sparkling wine, in the Elegant Dining Car or the Vista Dome.
The railroad says no taxes are charged on tickets or dining aboard the train. Gratuity is not included. In railroad dining tradition, per the listing, you may share a table with other guests. Before or after the ride, the Happy Endings Caboose Cafe at the depot does coffee, crepes and ice cream.
Susan, on the listing: "My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the train ride. [...] We enjoyed our meal and had a great lady server who also answered any of our questions." (Oct 2026)
The ride through the Royal Gorge from Cañon City, the open-air car included, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Explore the Royal Gorge Route Railroad Tour detailsWhat is Ride with the Engineer, and what special trains run?
Ride with the Engineer puts you in the locomotive cab from $299. The special trains include the Santa Express (19 November to 30 December on the railroad's page) and the Twilight Train with a laser light show.
- Ride with the Engineer: the full 24-mile up-and-back trip in the cab, on the 9 AM and 12:30 PM departures. Minimum age 13 (13 to 17 with an adult), closed-toe shoes and long pants, steep 17-inch steps and no bathroom in the cab.
- Santa Express: a shorter trip of about 1 to 1.5 hours with hot cocoa, cookies and a gift for ticketed children. Non-peak Coach fares start at $99 per adult. More than 40,000 people ride it each year, and the railroad has a strict no-refund policy on it.
- Twilight Train: the 6:30 or 7 PM departure on select dates, with a laser light show and a dance party on the open-air car, from $109.
- First Class Dinner Train: three courses after dark, from $199.
Our holiday trains guide lines up the Santa Express with the other Christmas trains in Colorado this season.
Where do you park for the Royal Gorge train, and is it accessible?
Parking is free, across the railroad tracks from the Santa Fe Depot at 401 Water St in Cañon City. The train takes a limited number of wheelchairs per departure, so call the railroad before you book.
The depot is in walking distance of downtown Cañon City, its coffee shops and the Arkansas River Walk, per the listing. Timing tips:
- Arrive at least 45 minutes early, as the listing asks. Tickets are picked up at the depot, and tickets not collected on the day are forfeited.
- Book online. Same-day online booking works up to 1 hour before departure; buying at the depot costs $10 more per ticket, and same-day buyers should be at the ticket office 1.5 hours ahead.
- Leave the big bags in the car. The listing does not allow large bags, coolers or strollers on board.
Accessibility: wheelchairs up to 24 inches wide at the base, a lift for the 5 to 7 exterior stairs, and a limited number of places per train. The Vista Dome needs 14 steps and is not accessible. The GetYourGuide listing marks this tour as not suitable for wheelchair users, so wheelchair users book with the railroad by phone on 719-276-4000. Pets: service animals only.
Downtown Cañon City, the depot cafe, then 110 minutes along the Arkansas River.
Check dates for the Royal Gorge Route RailroadDoes the Royal Gorge train go over the Royal Gorge Bridge?
No. The train runs along the river at the bottom of the gorge and passes beneath the bridge. The Royal Gorge Bridge is a separate park with its own tickets.
The bridge opened in 1929, was built in 7 months, and stands 956 feet above the Arkansas River and 1,260 feet long. The park calls it America's Highest Suspension Bridge. It opens at 9 AM daily, year-round, and dogs are allowed on the bridge.
Train tickets do not include the bridge, and the bridge park sells its own admission. Seeing both in a day is easy: the train in the morning, the bridge in the afternoon, so you see the canyon from the floor and then from the rim.
Can you get a refund on the Royal Gorge Route?
The railroad has a no-refund policy: cancelling more than 48 hours ahead costs $20 per ticket, and there are no refunds within 48 hours. The GetYourGuide listing gives free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The railroad's own rules, from its FAQ:
- More than 48 hours out: cancel for a $20 fee per ticket.
- Within 48 hours or a no-show: no refund.
- Reschedule: $10 per ticket in Coach, Deluxe and Vista Dome, to a date within one year.
- Special events: no refunds, rescheduling for a fee.
- Weather: if the railroad cancels for weather, you reschedule free within a year.
Booked through the GetYourGuide listing, the ride costs from $148, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 678 reviews, and you can cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund. That is useful if your Colorado plans are still moving. For a second train day, the private Pikes Peak Cog tour runs from Denver, and our guide to the best train rides in Colorado compares every line.
A second day on the rails: the Cog Railway to the 14,115-foot summit with a private guide from Denver.
Explore the private Pikes Peak Cog Railway tour Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
How long is the Royal Gorge train ride?
Daytime trips take about 1 hour 50 minutes, about 24 miles round trip from Cañon City to Parkdale and back. Evening departures take about 2.5 hours.
How much does the Royal Gorge Route cost?
Railroad fares start at $109 in Coach, $129 in Deluxe and $139 in the Vista Dome on non-peak trips; First Class with a three-course meal is $199.
Is lunch included on the Royal Gorge train?
Only on the First Class Lunch and Dinner trains. In the other classes food and drinks are bought on board from the 403 Grill menu.
Can every passenger use the open-air car?
Yes. Every ticket in every class includes access to the open-air car at any time during the trip; it is standing room only.
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Choose your train
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
- Scenic train ride through the Royal Gorge
- Access to the open-air car for the whole journey
- The Happy Endings Caboose Cafe and Santa Fe Depot boutique before and after
Pikes Peak Cog Railway & Garden of the Gods
- Private round-trip transport in a luxury Suburban
- Private guide
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway tickets
Georgetown Loop Railroad and Railroad Museum Day
- Denver Union Station and Red Rocks Park
- Colorado Railroad Museum, with a train ride round the grounds mid-May to October
- Georgetown Loop Railroad ride
