Tickets

All visitors who aren’t members must buy a general admission ticket.

Hours
9am–5pm daily


Descanso Railroad

All Aboard the Descanso Railroad!

Model trains run 8:30am–4:30pm (8–9am is member-only hour)
Ride-on train runs 9am–1pm (Tickets are limited)

Explore the Descanso Railroad with model trains traveling through intricate landscapes and depots made of natural materials (many from Descanso Gardens). Each depot will depict a great train station of America.

The model train area is created by Applied Imagination — a company that designs iconic botanical models and sculptures paired with beloved G scale model trains.

Also, at the Descanso Railroad enjoy a new train station where you can take your favorite ride through the garden on our electric train.

Join us!

Members can enjoy the railroad during a special member hour 8-9am.
Not a member?  Join or upgrade now.

Train info that’s good to know

When does the train run?

The model trains run from 8:30am–4:30pm, and the electric passenger train is open daily from 9am–1pm unless otherwise noted on our home page.

You’ll need a ticket

Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased at Guest Services on the day of your ride.

Have a train voucher? You can proceed directly to the train any time it’s running, and we’ll collect your voucher there.

How tall do you have to be to ride?

Riders must be at least 30 inches tall and able to sit on their own

Where does the train go?

The electric train runs the same route as our previous train, along the section of the gardens near the Promenade, on a track that is about ¼ of a mile long

How long is the train ride?

The train ride duration is approximately six minutes

How fast does the train travel?

Our model chugs along at about 4 mph

No train when it rains

The train doesn’t run in the rain – most people prefer the ride under clear skies

Did you know?

Every year 50,000 guests – young and old – ride the train. Train rides at Descanso began in the late 1980s when train enthusiast Lewis Soibelman began trucking over his 1/8th scale trains. The train became a permanent fixture in 1996.