No American road trip is complete without taking in the wide variety of model train exhibits available cross country. From Pennsylvania to Illinois, Ohio to California, and everywhere in between, miniature train enthusiasts are waiting to show off their intricate creations for you.
Choo Choo Barn & National Toy Train Museum, Pennsylvania
If you are visiting Amish Country in Strasburg, PA, you can see a tiny version of the area at the Choo Choo Barn. There are 22 mini-trains chugging around the tracks, and more than 150 animated figures designed by hand. Nearby, see the headquarters of the National Train Collectors Association, where the National Toy Train Museum features opportunities for hands-on operation of some of the model train displays.
Chattanooga Choo Choo Model Railroad Museum, Tennessee
This can’t miss sight of one of the world’s largest miniature train exhibits can be found in what was once the famous Tennessee Chattanooga Terminal Station. Stop in for an afternoon, or stay for the night at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Holiday Inn Hotel, where you can sleep in one of 48 Victorian-style train car rooms.
Northlandz, New Jersey
Put on your walking shoes and enjoy the mile-long tour that explores more than eight miles of miniature train tracks. A 30-foot-tall mountain and a 40-foot-long bridge are especially unforgettable features of this display.
Smoky Mountain Trains, North Carolina
With a collection of more than 7,000 figures and trains, it is no wonder that some pieces date back nearly 100 years. Learn more about the history of the American Railroad with examples of steam locomotives and even a model of the 1910 Voltamp Engine.
EnterTrainment Junction, Ohio
Officially the largest indoor model train display in the world, EnterTrainment Junction is more than just a Railroad Museum. The funhouse activities delight children of all ages, and train rides are offered throughout the day.
Great Train Story, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Illinois
The Great Train Story Exhibit is within the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, and offers opportunities to see the entire railway journey from Chicago to Seattle in a precise miniature scale. True to life details jump out, like the tiny figures on the beach. Help the trains complete their travel at the interactive drawbridges and mountain tunnels.
Living Desert, California
As you explore desert flora and fauna, you’ll enjoy a stop at the large scale model rail display in Palm Desert, CA. Plan to spend a day in the park, as the miniature train is not the only attraction you will enjoy. A zoo of desert animals and a botanical garden gives plenty to do, no matter what your interests.
If you are crazy about model trains, and you can’t wait to check out these railroad museum displays across the U.S., first stop off and buy us dollars online.
