Santa Margarita Ranch Steam Train Rides Voted Among the Best Christmas Train Experiences in the US

Steam train rides at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch in San Luis Obispo County has earned a spot among the best Christmas train rides in the country. 

Vintage Christmas steam trains at the ranch secured third place in Newsweek’s list of the Best Christmas Train Rides of 2026.

The annual ranking identified 10 holiday train rides across the country, selected by panelists and contributors and voted by readers for their “exceptional quality and distinctive excellence.”

Located just outside the town of Santa Margarita and a mile from Highway 101, the Santa Margarita Ranch is one of the oldest continuously operating cattle ranches in California, according to the ranch’s website. 

The ranch offers a Jingle Bell Express, using steam locomotives, running between the Santa Margarita Ranch and Santa’s Village.

These narrow-gauge steam train cars were once used at Disneyland Park when it opened in 1955, and one engine was featured in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, according to Newsweek.

As part of the special Christmas event, elves deliver gifts from a C-47 plane, with a North Pole Village that aims to recreate small-town Christmas scenes. 

In addition to the steam trains, the ranch also offers a series of “open cars” and caboose rides. The trains run every weekend from November 28, 2025, through December 21, 2025, from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Besides the Santa Margarita Ranch, the Napa Valley Wine Train in Napa was another popular Californian Christmas train ride to feature on Newsweek’s top 10 list. 

The Napa Valley Wine Train has celebrated the festive season for over 30 years with the Santa Train, according to Newsweek. The train combines gourmet dining and local vintages with music, storytelling, and festive decor. 

Guests can meet Santa and write wish lists. Proceeds from the event support Napa Firewise and Expressions for Hope. 

Here are the top 10 best Christmas train rides in order of their ranking: 

• Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: Peninsula, Ohio
• East Broad Top Railroad: Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania
• Santa Margarita Ranch Historic Steam Trains: Santa Margarita, California
• Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Polar Express: Bryson City, North Carolina
• (Tie) Strasburg Rail Road Christmas Trains: Strasburg, Pennsylvania
• (Tie) Western Maryland Scenic Railroad: Cumberland, Maryland
• Texas State Railroad: Palestine to Rusk, Texas
• New Hope Railroad: New Hope, Pennsylvania
• Napa Valley Wine Train: Napa, California
• Blue Ridge Scenic Railway: Blue Ridge, Georgia

About the Santa Margarita Ranch

Founded as part of Father Junipero Serra’s Mission Trail in the late 1700s, the Santa Margarita ranch was originally used to raise cattle, grow grapes, and establish an ‘assistance mission’ between Mission San Luis Obispo to the south and Mission San Miguel to the north, according to the website.

The missionaries built the Asistencia building, which is considered to be the first stone-and-mortar structure in California, according to the website. The building served as a granary, farmhouse, chapel, and lodging quarters during the Mission Period. The building stands even today and is covered by a protective barn. 

Since 1999, the 14,000-acre ranch has been owned by three local winegrowing and ranching families: the Filipponis, Rossis, and Wittstroms. Currently, the working ranch has a vineyard and produces wines and natural beef. 

The ranch also hosts public and private events and has been featured in several TV shows.