Where to Take Your Kids to See Trains Near Charleston, SC

Did you know Charleston is where American railroading got its start? The Best Friend of Charleston was the first steam locomotive built in the United States to pull a regularly scheduled passenger train, making its first run on six miles of track on Christmas Day, 1830. That history, plus a handful of real train rides, model railroads, and holiday train rides, makes Charleston a surprisingly great place for a kid with a train obsession. Get aboard and check out our list!

This article features where to:

• Watch real trains go by
• See trains
• Ride a real train
• Celebrate the holidays aboard a train
• Eat at a train-themed restaurant

For more ideas, check out our Guide to Things to Do in Charleston, SC.

Where to Watch Real Trains Go By

Park Circle, North Charleston

The Park Circle neighborhood of North Charleston, one of the country’s original “garden city” planned communities, is bisected by active freight rail lines running right through the middle of the neighborhood. It’s a walkable neighborhood with restaurants along Montague Avenue, so it’s an easy, low-key spot for a train-loving kid to spend some time near the tracks while the grownups grab a bite.

Where to See Trains

The Best Friend Train Museum

Tucked inside a former train depot downtown near the Charleston Visitor Center, The Best Friend Train Museum is home to a full-size replica of the Best Friend of Charleston, the first steam locomotive built in the U.S. to pull a regularly scheduled passenger train. The original engine made its historic first run on six miles of track on Christmas Day, 1830, hitting speeds the Charleston Courier described at the time as “flying on the wings of wind.” The museum is small (plan on a quick 10 to 15 minute visit) but it’s free, family-friendly, and run by the City of Charleston. The building’s glass walls even let you peek in at the locomotive when the museum itself is closed.

The Best Friend Train Museum Monday–Friday, 10 am–2 pm (closed weekends and holidays) Free admission Note: Sources disagree on the exact street address (Ann Street vs. John Street) — confirm the address on the museum’s own website before publishing.

Charleston Area Model Railroad Club

For a look at model trains in N, HO, and O scale, the Charleston Area Model Railroad Club has operated a set of interactive layouts, complete with push-button features, cities, farms, and coal mines to explore, since 1983. For years the club has been located inside Citadel Mall in North Charleston. While that location had to close, the club has found a new location and they are in the process of building NEW layouts. Which we think is super exciting and we can’t wait for the big reveal! Check the club’s website or Facebook page for updates. We hope you can plan a visit soon!

Where to Ride a Real Train

Nature Train at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

At Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, a narrated 45-minute Nature Train tour takes riders through the outskirts of the property’s wetlands, lakes, and woodlands, with a good chance of spotting alligators, turtles, and wading birds along the way. The train departs from a small depot near the main parking area, and tickets are purchased separately from general admission, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414

Amtrak Day Trips from Charleston

If your family wants the experience of riding a real passenger train, Amtrak’s North Charleston station (CHS) offers a couple of fun, family-friendly day trip options. Board a train to Yemassee, SC for a quick countryside excursion, or ride up to Florence, SC, where you’ll find parks and family restaurants to explore before catching an afternoon train back to Charleston. Search both routes on Amtrak’s website to check current schedules and fares.

North Charleston Amtrak Station 4565 Gaynor Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405

Trains Around the Holidays

Holiday Festival of Lights Train at James Island County Park

Each holiday season, James Island County Park’s Holiday Festival of Lights transforms the park into a three-mile drive-through display of hundreds of light installations. Once you’ve parked, kids can hop aboard the Festival Express, a train that loops through the lights for about 15 minutes. Train rides are $5 per person and run nightly throughout the festival, typically mid-November through early January.

James Island County Park 871 Riverland Drive, Charleston, SC 29412

Train-Themed Places to Eat

Bodega & Share House

Near the same historic depot district as the Best Friend Train Museum, Bodega and Share House share an 8,000-square-foot building at 23 Ann Street that was originally constructed in 1850 by the South Carolina Railroad Company as a train depot. Bodega serves oversized New York-style breakfast sandwiches, while Share House next door leans into beachy, coastal Lowcountry fare. Worth pairing with a stop at the train museum if you’re already downtown near the visitor center.

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Where does your train-loving kid like to go near Charleston, SC? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for more train fun?
Check out our other Kidding Around guides in Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC.