The Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler is a fun place for train enthusiasts. Not only can you learn more about trains, you can also walk around and even inside actual trains!
More trains have recently been opened up and there are now 12 passenger cars to walk through.
Your admission includes:
- Access to the train yard
- Access to 12 passenger cars and a caboose to walk through
- Indoor display museum
- Gift shop
The train yard is a self-guided tour where you can walk around and inside the passenger cars to view the interiors. Each train interior is a bit different and has different artifacts.
Inside the train yard and cars you’ll get a chance to get an up close look at: local and long distance travel cars, train seats, dining cars and tables, sleeping quarters, china exhibits, luxury accommodations, railroad signal displays and more.
Table of Contents
About the Arizona Railway Museum
What to Bring
Tickets and Prices
Hours & Time Needed
Train Events
Birthday Parties on a Train!
Getting There
Good to Know Before You Go
What’s Nearby to Do
About The Arizona Railway Museum
With the trains, guides and information at the museum, you travel back in time from the 1870s to 1970s. At this historic museum, you get the chance to learn some history and see a collection of antique rail cars.
The trains are in really good condition and you can see how much time and effort the volunteers have put into maintaining them.
The Arizona Railway Museum opened in 1983 and is completed
Fun fact: did you know train cars from the Arizona Railway Museum can be seen in the following films: 3:10 to Yuma, There Will Be Blood and Stay Tuned and Terror Train?
What to Bring
When going to the train museum in Chandler, it’s best to be prepared. While there isn’t much we recommend you bring, there are a few things:
- Comfortable shoes
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Plenty of water
Arizona Railway Museum Tickets and Prices
As the museum is completely volunteer based, the admission fees help support the maintenance of the vintage cars.
Tickets are $10 for ages 12+ and only $5 for kids ages 2-12 so very reasonable for families.
Little ones are free, as are active military personnel.
Tickets must be purchased on site.
Arizona Railway Museum Hours & Time Needed
The Arizona Railway Museum is open for fall, winter and spring. It typically opens in early September and remains open through the end of May. The museum is closed for the summer due to the heat.
The museum is closed during the week as it is completely run by Volunteers. They are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 4pm.
Since the museum is run by volunteers, some volunteers do come into work on some Saturday mornings during the summer months so you can see if you’re lucky and can catch the gates open. Either way, you are able to see the trains from outside the fence.
You can expect to spend between 30 – 60 minutes in the train yard. Possibly a little more time if you spend more time in the small display museum where you purchase tickets.
Train Events
Every year the Arizona Railway Museum celebrates Arizona Railway Day for families. Admission and parking are free (although donations are appreciated as this is a non-profit organization) so you can bring everyone to see various trains and technology from past.
On this day, all the cars and engines are open (that can safely be opened) and there are several organizations there, plus food and drink. It makes for a fun afternoon!
Watch the museum’s event page for the next celebration.
Birthday Parties on a Train!
As a kid, can you imagine getting to have your birthday party inside an actual train? That’s right, you can reserve a caboose for the special day and invite your guests onboard.
The ‘birthday caboose’ does have A/C and has tables, chairs and decorations.
And they only charge $75 for a 3 hours (and only $25 for each additional hour) which is unbelievably reasonable.
Getting There
The train museum is located at 330 E Ryan Rd. Chandler, AZ 85286.
They are just off the 202 near the intersection of Arizona Avenue and E Germann Road.
Good to Know Before You Go
- Bathrooms are available on site
- It can be hot inside some of the trains (a couple do have A/C) but not unbearable
- Leave the strollers at home, the rocky ground isn’t good for strollers.
- Parking is easy and right next to the display museum where you purchase tickets
- There is a gift shop inside the museum which actually has reasonably priced souvenirs, especially when compared to may other amusement parks and museums you go to
- The train yard and passenger cars are not set-up for the disabled. Stairs are required and the entire yard is rocky
What’s Nearby to Do
- Grab a snack and watch the planes from Hangar Cafe at Chandler Municipal Airport
- Play at the new (& huge!) Lantana Ranch Park playground
- Ride the Desert Breeze Railroad at Desert Breeze Park
- Visit the huge barnyard style playground called Playtopia at Tumbleweed Park
- Visit the (free!) Chandler Museum
- Get jumpin’ at Big Air Trampoline Park
