Photo: Rick RTV
Photo: Andrea
Photo: Jennifer Vaughn-Estrada
Travel Town Railroad
★4.7(2,521 reviews)FreeMuseum
🕑 1.5-2.5 hours👶 Best for ages 2-10. Toddlers and preschoolers are thrilled just climbing on the stationary trains and ringing bells, while elementary-aged kids appreciate the history and enjoy the miniature train ride. Train-obsessed kids of any age will be in heaven.🧡 Saved by 80+ families
About
Travel Town Railroad is a train-loving kid's paradise tucked into Griffith Park, offering completely free admission to explore vintage locomotives, cabooses, and freight cars up close. Children can climb aboard real historic trains, ring bells, and peek into engineer cabins before taking an affordable ride on the miniature railroad that circles the property.
Highlights
- ✓Climbing aboard 40+ historic locomotives, cabooses, and freight cars from the golden age of railroads
- ✓Riding the miniature railroad that loops around the property
- ✓Ringing authentic train bells and exploring engineer cabins
- ✓Indoor model train display with detailed miniature landscapes
- ✓Wide open spaces for running between trains without being confined to indoor museum rules
Pro Tips
- 1.Arrive right at opening (10 AM) on weekdays to have the trains almost to yourselves,weekends get crowded by late morning
- 2.Bring $3 cash per rider for the miniature train ride, which runs continuously throughout the day (parents must accompany young children)
- 3.Pack a picnic to enjoy at the shaded tables near the trains,there's no food sold on-site
- 4.Don't miss the working model train display inside the gift shop building, perfect for cooling off on hot days
- 5.Wear closed-toe shoes since kids will be climbing metal steps and walking on gravel paths between exhibits
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings (Tuesday-Thursday, 10 AM-12 PM) offer the best experience with smaller crowds and cooler temperatures. Avoid weekends and summer afternoons when it gets crowded and hot with minimal shade around the trains.
What to Know
Admission to the museum is completely free, though miniature train rides cost $3 per person. Parking is free in the adjacent lot, and while there are no food vendors, picnic areas and restrooms are available throughout the grounds.
Seasonal Notes
The outdoor museum is open year-round except Mondays. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for exploring. Summer can be very hot with limited shade, so bring hats and sunscreen. Check their website for special holiday-themed train rides occasionally offered in December.
Nearby Eats
The Autry Cafe inside the nearby Autry Museum of the American West (5-minute drive) offers kid-friendly options like grilled cheese and chicken tenders. Alternatively, pack a picnic to enjoy at Travel Town's shaded tables or head to the Los Angeles Zoo's food court just down the road.
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