Griffith Park & Southern Railroad — Attraction in Los Angeles

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad is a charming attraction nestled within Los Angeles' expansive Griffith Park, offering a delightful and nostalgic experience for visitors of all ages. This miniature train ride, which has been a beloved part of the park since 1948, provides a fun and scenic journey through some of the park's most picturesque areas.

The train itself is a beautifully crafted replica of a classic steam locomotive, and it pulls a series of open-air passenger cars, giving riders a perfect view of the surrounding landscape. The 1-mile track winds through tunnels, over bridges, and past shaded groves, capturing the essence of a vintage railway experience. The ride lasts about 15 minutes, making it a perfect short adventure, especially for families with young children.

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad also features a small but well-curated area with railroad memorabilia, adding an educational component to the visit. Kids and train enthusiasts alike will enjoy learning about the history of railroads in America while seeing these nostalgic pieces.

The railroad is conveniently located near other popular Griffith Park attractions, such as the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Griffith Observatory. This makes it easy to include the train ride as part of a fun-filled day exploring the park.

Overall, Griffith Park & Southern Railroad offers a unique blend of history, nostalgia, and simple joy, making it a must-visit for families, train enthusiasts, and anyone looking to experience a piece of Los Angeles' cultural heritage in the heart of one of its most...

My husband and I chose the Holiday Festival of Lights Train Ride, which is a very quick but fun holiday event for kids from 1-92! Very family friendly but there are no pets allowed other than licensed and trained serviced animals (they may ask for proof for insurance purposes). NO EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS.

From singing trees that are synced to holiday classics and newer Christmas songs , vendors selling lighted, spinning and flashing souveniers to Santa inflatables, light tunnels lined with Nutcrackers, candy canes, Santa's Village - there is something for everyone at this event.

There is a section of this that is very reminescent of the DWP Festival of Lights which was an annual holiday event for many years. We were lucky enough to see a coyote running across the trees.

As tickets are limited, I would recommend visiting the box office during the day to purchase a ticket for the day you wish to see it. You also have the advantage of seeing the exhibit in daylight. However, the box office is open from 5 until maximum capacity is reached. If you choose this option, you should arrive early. You will wait in line, but it goes very quickly.

There are photo opportunities at the Holiday Photo Village but you must purchase a ticket - $2 per person.

Overall a wonderful experience. There is color, shape, plenty of lights, reindeer - great way to experience the train ride and see the park at night. Very vibrant place worth the drive to see! You can have this experience until...

Another great year for the Griffith Park holiday train. This approximately 10 minute mini train ride takes you through lit up tunnels and past beautiful holiday light displays. I highly recommend this event. I also highly recommend you buy tickets online or at the box office in advance especially as it gets closer to the holiday week. They tend to sell out fast. Parking isn't usually a problem as long as you show up by 5:30 to 6pm at the latest. There are usually 2 trains operating each night so the line moves fairly quickly. You can show up at the box office during the day from 10 to 3:30 if you want to buy tickets in person and spare yourself the ridiculously high processing fee that comes with online ticket purchases. If the event gets rained out, they will let you reschedule or give a refund but only if THEY cancel that day. If you need to reschedule and the ride isn't canceled, you need to reschedule by the deadline or loose your money. There are food vendors selling snack stuff and porta potties if you need a bathroom. It's great for kids and family in town for holiday festivities. I go every year and it never gets old. No pets allowed on this ride. This is not a timed entry event but it is a show up on the date on your ticket event. The rides go from 5 to 9 but the sooner you show up, the less your wait time. It's usually dark enough by 5:30, 5:45 to really...