There’s something about stepping onto a train that makes you expect the past… even if the present keeps sneaking in.
We headed to the Texas State Railroad not entirely sure what we’d get—somewhere between a rugged, old-school rail experience and a polished tourist attraction. What we found was something a little more interesting than either.
The Texas State Railroad isn’t just one experience. It’s several—depending on where you sit.
Lonnie’s Perspective: A Ride with Options—From Open-Air to Presidential
One of the first things you notice is the range of cars available.
At one end of the spectrum, there’s the open-air car—simple bench seating, fully exposed to the elements, and about as close as you can get to a stripped-down, back-in-time experience. The windows have been removed. The seating is bench-style—unpadded (think park bench).
In the middle, you’ll find cars like the ADA-accessible car, where we spent most of our trip—climate-controlled, quieter, and arranged with individual chairs and tables. There’s also the first-class car, with booth-style seating for up to four passengers around a table.
At the top end sits the Presidential car, with softer seating and a more curated, relaxed feel.
What stood out most wasn’t just the train. It was how much your seat changes your story.
Same train. Same track. Same scenery. But a very different experience depending on your choice.
Dawn’s Perspective: Planning, Comfort, and Knowing What to Expect
I approach travel through a lens of preparation and awareness. I tend to plan ahead as much as possible—researching and trying to anticipate what the experience will feel like. I recently found out I’m Level 1 on the autism spectrum, and there are a lot of things that can dysregulate me when I don’t know what to expect.
That leads me to ask questions like:
- How tight is the seating?
- What’s the temperature like?
- How loud will it be?
- Where are the bathrooms?
After researching, I chose the ADA car for predictability and comfort.
I’m tall and need space to sit comfortably. That’s something I’ll always try to point out—what might or might not work depending on your body type. And, if you have specific concerns—seating, accessibility, sensory issues—never be afraid to ask.
Also, you’ll see a few links throughout this post. Those are items I either wish I had brought or would recommend based on this trip. If you decide to purchase through those links, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. But, we never want you to feel obliged to buy any of them. And we’d never recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves.
Mostly, those links just help us keep this blog going and continue sharing what we learn along the way.
The Miles and Smiles Breakdown: Good, Bad and Some Things In-Between
Before You Go: Plan Ahead (More Than You Think)
We received a text message the morning of our trip that the depot had a water outage.
That matters.
There’s not much around the depot, so Dawn quickly found a nearby gas station to make a stop beforehand.
Also worth noting:
- Buy tickets ahead of time (we skipped a long line)
- Bring snacks in a small bag if desired—but be mindful to keep them out of sight
- Backpack-style coolers are commonly used (more on that later)
Boarding and First Impressions
Boarding the ADA car requires passing through a concession car selling drinks and snacks.
Inside the ADA car:
Individual chairs and tables
- Windows on both sides
- Air conditioning (a bit chilly on our day)
It felt more like a quiet lounge than a traditional train car—at least initially.
The Reality of Shared Spaces
While the ADA car is quieter, you’re still sharing space.
A few louder passengers made it difficult to hear the narration, which led Dawn to explore the open-air car instead.
Open-Air Car: A Different Kind of Ride
This is where the experience shifts.
The open-air car offers:
- Bench seating
- No climate control
- Full exposure to the elements
On a cool day, it’s enjoyable. On a Texas summer day… that’s a different story.
If we did this again in the heat, we’d come prepared—with a cooling towel.
Moving between cars requires caution:
- The train sways significantly
- You must step carefully between cars
Lonnie made the trip back to the ADA car once the train slowed.
A Slower Kind of Travel
We traveled about 60 miles over four hours. That kind of pace changes how you experience time.
We found ourselves wondering what it must have been like to travel this way across the country—days at a time.
It’s not about getting somewhere quickly. It’s about choosing to let time pass on purpose.
The Motion: Relaxing for Some, Not for Others
The movement of the train affects everyone differently.
Dawn could have slept through the ride: “The swaying motion felt like being rocked or on a swing. That’s something I look for when I’m stressed. It was incredibly soothing.”
For Lonnie, it had almost the opposite effect—especially after lunch.
Same motion. Different reactions.
If you’re:
- soothed by rhythmic movement, you’ll love it
- prone to motion sickness, come prepared
After lunch, the return trip feels quieter and more relaxed. You’ve already seen the ‘scenery’ on the way over, so there are opportunities for some quiet conversations with your traveling companions, if you’re so inclined.
The Rusk Stop: Picnic or Purchase
The midway stop in Rusk gives you about 80 minutes.
Options include:
- On-site restaurant (preorder or order there)
- Picnic-style meals you bring yourself
While coolers aren’t allowed on the train, we noticed many people using backpack-style coolers and enjoying their meals at the stop.
That’s something we’d consider next time. Especially in light of the fact that navigating the line to order or pick up your lunch takes some time. (Interestingly, the line to order on site was shorter and easier to work through than the line to pick up preorders on our trip.)
There’s a lake near the picnic area, so if you love the water, make time to check it out (but beware: signs warn of alligators in the area!)
The depot also contains a mini-museum area with displays that show the events that shaped the current railway. A theater plays a short video that will tell you more about the history too.
Let’s Talk About the Bathroom
Each car except the open-air car is equipped with a bathroom (and the open-air car has access to the bathroom in the concession car). But don’t anticipate a luxurious or relaxing experience:
- Single stall
- Handrails included
But:
- The train is moving
- Balance is required
- The cleanliness is about what you’d expect on an older train
Hand sanitizer is a must.
What We’d Bring Next Time
Every trip teaches you something.
For Dawn, one big takeaway: “I forgot to bring disinfecting wipes—and I won’t make that mistake again.”
Between the train, shared surfaces, and the water outage, she will usually wipe down handles and surfaces—not because things aren’t cleaned, but for her own peace of mind.
Next time, we’ll bring:
- Disinfecting wipes (fragrance-free preferred)
- Hand sanitizer
- Cooling towel for warmer days
State park experiences are great—but they’re very much “bring what you need.”
The 3-3-3 Rule: Does It Fit?
Under 30 minutes to plan?
Yes—if you’re comfortable with minimal research. The TSR website itself takes less than 30 minutes to navigate. ✅
Under a 3-hour drive?
From most of Southeast, Central, and North Texas—Houston, DFW, Austin, San Antonio, Waco—yes. ✅
Under $300?
For the train alone, absolutely—depending on your seating choice. Add a hotel and it likely exceeds that.
Still, it can be a very budget-friendly experience. ✅
Final Thoughts: Worth It?
This falls into a very specific category for us: “Fun to do… but not something you need to do regularly.”
We’re glad we did it.
Would we go back?
Absolutely:
- with our granddaughter for a summer ride
- for the Polar Express experience at Christmas
As Dawn described it: “It was a lovely day, and I’m glad I’ve been. If we go again, I’d try the Presidential car.”
We made a weekend of it. There are plenty of great hotel options in and around Palestine. We book most of our travel through Priceline.com and found a good deal on a great room but saw other options for lodging while there that we might look into for our next trip.
Still, this is also easily a day trip if you want to maintain a budget-friendly experience.
But this trip also sparked something else for us. It made us want to take a true long-distance train trip—something like Amtrak.
There’s something romantically nostalgic about riding the rails that this experience only begins to tap into.
Call to Action
Have questions about seating, accessibility, or what the experience might feel like for you? Drop them in the comments—Dawn especially loves helping people think through those details before they go.
Affiliate Reminder
If we recommend it, it’s something we’d pack ourselves next time.
Miles & Smiles of Texas 