Rappahannock Railroad Museum — Local services in Fredericksburg

If you're looking for a unique, hands-on experience the whole family can enjoy, the Rappahannock Railroad Museum is a hidden gem that delivers. This museum is incredibly kid-friendly, offering an ideal mix of education and adventure that keeps children engaged and curious.

One of the standout features for younger visitors is the opportunity to ride on a fully restored maintenance-of-way rail car. It’s not just a walk-through display — it moves! Kids are thrilled to hop aboard and take a short ride along the museum’s private track, experiencing firsthand the sights, sounds, and motion of vintage railway travel. It’s the kind of immersive experience that brings history to life in a way that’s accessible and exciting for all ages.

The staff and volunteers are exceptionally welcoming and patient with children, always happy to answer questions or share fun facts about the trains and equipment. The exhibits are approachable, and many are displayed at a height kids can enjoy without being lifted. (Including an entire outbuilding dedicated to model train displays.

With plenty of space to explore, and the unforgettable rail car ride, the Rappahannock Railroad Museum is a fantastic quick trip for families seeking something special, educational, and fun. Highly recommended for parents looking to spark their child’s imagination and...

This place is a hidden treasure. It is encouraging to see a place run by volunteers where the enthusiasm for their subject material is palpable. Everyone here loves trains. My two 3 year olds loved the train models and the open air train ride. They have a small play area for smaller kids to play with a train set. They have a large room with multiple train sets running at the same time. My boys could have stood there all day watching the trains run. Smaller kids really seemed to be having a good time. Would probably not recommend for older kids unless they like trains. The train ride was entertaining and the train goes about 10 miles an hour, taking us near to the back of Fredericksburg field house and back. This place has its own parking area. Great way to spend about an hour or two. Since this is all volunteer run, would highly recommend leaving a donation. Looks like they accept...

This place is SO neat! It's a great stop if you like trains. It's also a great place to bring the kids. My kids love trains and absolutely loved their time here. The place works off donations, so you don't have to pay anything for admission, but if you can donate, it is really appreciated, to help the people there keep it moving. They have an awesome train right that goes down the track like a mile or two, and comes back. It was really fun. If you don't have a lot of money, and need something fun to do on the weekend, I definitely recommend this! They have really cool old train things, model trains, even old train cars you can walk through and explore! It was a very educational and enjoyable...