Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Reviews

Very expensive train ride to nowhere. We paid nearly $300 for First
Class which included lunch, go cup and shopping bag. Lunch was not good. I barely had 1/4 C of the pot roast and a dollop of gravy. My husband's chickens was a weird color. There's absolutely nothing to see except a lot of dilapidated buildings and cars. The 'gorge' doesn't exist. Some rapids. Our on train guide, was very knowledgeable and funny. Just got bored. This could be an hour long and $30. First class wasn't worth the extra charge. Don't go on this it is a touristy ripoff!

First class is the way to go! We were in the Harper car on the Gorge excursion to check out the leaves and views. Steven was our host and he did a terrific job. He was friendly, entertaining and knowledgeable of the area and it's history. He threw in a couple jokes from time to time and maintained a nice balance of information with some quiet time where you could just enjoy the ride. The brunch was good. You have unlimited coffee and non alcoholic beverages. You can purchase a variety of adult beverages. This car was adult only, 21 and up. This train goes out and back and does not change directions so there is a benefit to picking the correct side of the train for the best views. We were at seat "M" and it was a table for two.

My family rented the caboose in honor of my grandmother who would have turned 100 this weekend. She was a lover of trains and had a long history connected with this route. We thoroughly enjoyed our ride. The caboose was awesome with tables and chairs (some upstairs), accesibility to stand out on the platform, snacks, and a restroom. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend the caboose for family gatherings and/or events.
Our family also enjoyed lunch at The Well House on the stopover in Dillsboro.

It was overpriced. Not worth the money. Views were terrible. Your view was looking into people trashy yard and a wall of rock. Not pretty!!! One hour stop with one overpriced food truck. Don't waste your time

Well, we had expected a little more. We rode the Polar Express, which went backwards on the trip to the “North Pole”. Sound system was blaring and the 2 little female employees screaming into their microphones. Unbearable. Little children scared out of their wits , screaming because of the loudness
Hot cocoa was cold and 2/3 artificial whipped cream. Scenery on the way was mostly trashy Rv sites with junk and litter everywhere. The coach windows were so fogged up that they did block some of the unsightly NC garbage
Had planned on maybe taking other trips but have changed our minds after this one. Poorly managed. Just another tourist trap.

Awesome trip, great photo ops. We found it a little confusing where to go to buy tickets and even to board however. Our seats were written on our receipt but we didn't see anything about the different boarding/loading zones. We took the 2pm steam ride on a Sunday and had an open air car. We thought it was the best having the great open windows for best viewing. It was 65 degrees that day and I thought we would be cold but it was actually perfect and I was glad they had fans going. The bathroom was one car away and there were several others close by. The food/drink car was several down but easy to get to. We were on Whittier and we had the best side for views I would say. I don't what side to say we were on because we came back on the same track just in a different direction, but our seats included h52 and h53 on Whittier. We also thought the open air car whitewater would have been good for little ones because it has a see through gate they could stand in front of but this might have been a 21 and up car (not sure). There was a guy playing music who was really good and took requests. All the staff was very friendly. They let you know when a good photo op is -be ready! We had a 1.5 and 3.5 year old and they never seemed bored (the little one did take a good nap though). During the layover we had exactly one hour to stretch our legs and take pics at the NOC.

Interesting and pleasant. Something different to do. Took the diesel trip along the Tuskegee river. About 4 1/2 hours with the stopover. Fun and reasonably priced, but once is enough.

We took a trip on the Nantahala George Excursion. We signed up for a premium open car and ended up in the Nantahala car just behind the steam engine. Jacob was our attendant- a local- who had detailed knowledge of the history, geography of the area as well as of the train. He frequently alerted us of upcoming points of interest. For example “Coming up on the right below us is an old house in the field has been there since the Civil War. “

The provided lunches were excellent. I had a pulled pork barbecue sandwich, beans. and coleslaw my wife a veggie wrap, beans and coleslaw, An unexpected dessert was provided of (excellent) apple or cherry turnovers. We will put the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad on our list of “must does” for our future visitors.

Fun and Entertaining in first class car Carolina Shine. Chris and Kim took great care of us, The weather was perfect and the ride was smooth. We met a nice couple to chat with and it was a lovely Anniversary trip.

We almost did not go after reading so many bad reviews. I’m glad we decided to go anyway! It was awesome!! Ignore the bad reviews!! This is a 5 Star experience with many hardworking nice people. What a great experience!

Steve B. was our guide. We rode in the Harper Car which was very nice. Steve B. was awesome!!! He was very informative and funny!! We had a blast! We will go on their other tours. We can’t wait!

The food was really good! We had pot roast, potato salad, vegetables, roll and apple turnover. You get unlimited coke products, lemonade, and tea sweet and unsweetened. We were very impressed.

The train ride was beautiful!! Bridges we crossed, old houses we learned about, spectacular views of the mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.

You really need to go. Do yourself a favor and go back in time and ride the Smoky Mountain Railroad. You will be glad you did!!

Oh dear, five hours of our lives we won’t get back. A dreary trundle up a railroad line with precious little to see. A noisy carriage attendant bellowed out when a photo op was imminent but never talked about the history of the line, the carriages, the engines, the route and stops etc. We got two cheaper tickets at $136. Save your money

The reviews on this excursion did not lie. If you're taking this train for views, you're not going to get them the train follows track carved into the valley so the views are limited and one side of the train is bumped up against a wall. We went in the fall, but I could see in the summer. You would really not see anything but green.
If you are childless, do yourself the service and buy a first class ticket which comes with your meal an indoor climate control seating. The meal was delicious and I could not believe it was train food.
The train stops in Dillsboro, North Carolina. This is a small town full of stores reasonably priced considering it's a tourist trap
We got lucky and on the way back into Tennessee in Cherokee. We were able to see herds of elk feeding at dusk.

My wife and I were guests on the Smokey Mountain Railroad last week. We were in a dining car for the Nantahal tour.

Everything, and I mean everything, about this excursion is 5 star.

The food was high quality. The train ride itself was comfortable. In our car, our Host was Danni. She was absolutely the BEST! What a pro. She kept the car, and the environment, first class. Her tour guide information was informative, and laugh out loud funny. She truly made the trip so much more.

Before booking our trip, I read through the numerous Trip Advisor comments. I’ll admit, I was almost taken in by the negative reviews. I am so happy I ignored. Many people just like to complain. My experience is the complete opposite and I beg anyone considering doing this trip, to do so. These comments are way off.

Our experience was a great, and memorable day!

And a special shout out “thanks!” to Danni. (from Oklahoma). You were just great! Best wishes to everything you may do and pursue.

And Bravo to the Smokey Mountain Rail Road! Our hope is to return soon one day with the grand kids for The Polar Express.

5 Star, nothing less.

The cost of the ride needs to equal the value of the experience. Nearly $300 to look at trashy properties on the way to and from Dillsboro is robbery.

I come here every year because I enjoy it so much. We took the Natahala Gorge excursion and rode in the open air car called Oconaluftee (see photo). The seats were comfortable. They are couple seats, similar to benches, so pick your seats carefully if you go as a couple. The views are all beautiful. I enjoy sitting and relaxing as I normally have a busy life and don't get much of a break. The trees were gorgeous with the seasonal change. The layover is also pretty fun, plenty of shopping at the outdoor center. The breakfast served was good and warm. 10/10, I will be coming back to try another car.
And if course, getting engaged at the layover was my favorite part 🤗

We rode in one of the first class cars, which I would say is worth it just for the comfortable experience! The food that was included was not great. I had the vegetable bagel and she had the hashbrown casserole. We were able to get a quick bite to eat during the one hour stop at the outdoor center. Our tour guide on the car was knowledgeable but spoke so often that there was not a lot of time for conversation. It was a good experience, and was something fun to do! Definitely leave time to explore and shop in Bryson City after the train ride!

Rode in the dining car. Food was okay. Some times you see nice scenery and other times you see lots and lots of kudzu. The employees are the best. These girls sure earn their wages. They are none stop serving the people. Hour layover at NOC. You can get off the train if you want for the hour. Everyone was very hospitable. Fun was had by all.
My biggest complaint has nothing to do with the train or ride. In the depot area while you're waiting to board the train, there are restrooms. I don't know who owns or takes care of these. They were disgusting in the ladies area. Water was leaking out of one of the toilets. Water all over the floor. Had to hold up your pant legs. No towels to dry your hands, had to flush the toilet more than once. This is the worst bathroom I've ever been in. Pitiful and disgusting.

Very fun trip with great views. We did the Nantahala Gorge excursion in the morning. We booked a "first class" car and that included breakfast. Free coffee (much appreciated on a cold morning) and a good selection of cocktails available. The service was excellent. The hostess in our car was Amy Lou(?), and she was fantastic. She provided great service, and great knowledge of the views on the tour. The trip was 4 1/2 hours long and included a stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center which was also fun.

My wife and I had a great time on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Although there was a little confusion at first, that was rapidly taken care of. We had reserved first class tickets with lunch on the Catamount car. When we got to the station, I has a new set of tickets for the MacNeill car. I asked the nearest hostess, and she explained the Catamount car was having air conditioning problems so we were moved to the MacNeill - which she explained was the best car on the train and that she was hostess for that car.

She was very personable and informative in pointing out interesting things about the route and other tidbits of information.

Our meal was very good. Overall a very enjoyable day.

They advise you to book early and we bought tickets 2 months ahead of time as gifts for our son and daughter in law. We booked on a specific car as well as in first class. Once seated they were bumped to a different car for a couple that had just bought their tickets that morning! Customer service had a laissez-faire attitude about this embarrassing moment and gave a comment of " we live in an imperfect world". Instead of taking the other couple to another car they made our son and his wife get up, gather their things and move. Wouldn't it have been easier to place the other couple in the other car? Then this would not have made for an embarrassing experience. Embarrassing for us for buying the tickets early as a gift, embarrassing for them trying to argue their point of having advanced tickets. Absolutely would not recommend buying advanced tickets if you want to avoid

This ended up being a perfect day, with mild temperatures and occasional rain showers. The train ride passes through pretty areas, across a lake and along the Nantahala River. After you reach the end of the line, the engine switches to the other end and you head back, stopping for an hour or so at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where there is a snack bar with draft beer.

On the train, we were served chips, drinks (alcoholic beverages are extra, but there was quite a selection), and lunch. Lunch was a barbecue sandwich with slaw and beans (not bad). Then we later were served cherry turnovers (very pretty pastries).

Our server, Lisa, also was an excellent tour guide, telling us about the various sites we passed and giving histories of the areas. She did an amazing job, and has the perfect personality for this kind of work: pleasant, humorous, and very capable.

We very much enjoyed the day.

Great train ride. Danni was funny and VERY knowledgeable about the stuff along the way. The food was decent.

My wife's family bought two first-class tickets for an excursion for our anniversary (I'm pretty sure we were on the Michigan car). A nice gesture for a ten-year milestone, right? Wrong. I would consider myself a novice train enthusiast, but in no way am I someone who actively looks for issues with my experiences. I rectify quality control issues for a multi-billion dollar corporation, and part of my role is creating experiences for vendors and prospective clients. To say that I understand quality and value for dollars would be correct. My first job was as a bus boy and dishwasher at Ryan's Steakhouse near Atlanta. Why is this relevant? As part of my duties, it was not uncommon to routinely scrape gum off the chair and table bottoms after the end of a service. So saying the profile of a Ryan's Steakhouse table set is burned unwillingly into my memory would not be a dramatic assumption. Upon boarding the train, our server (who reeked of cigarette smoke and appeared as if she had just slept in her uniform) showed us to our table. Within minutes of being sat, I looked at my wife and said: "Honey, doesn't this table set look familiar?" She wasn't following. It wasn't much longer until I realized THAT THE TABLES AND CHAIRS WERE RYAN'S STEAKHOUSE SURPLUS! During the layover, I checked the bottoms of both the table and chair, I thought there could be no way the management could charge one hundred dollars to ride in a passenger car with restaurant surplus furnishings. Sure enough, the table sets were bonafide via RYAN'S STEAKHOUSE. My wife thought it was a flop, so she asked our server. The server's response was priceless... "Yeah, they're from Ryan's. I was a waitress there. Our GM bought them cheap after the steakhouse closed. The General Manager (some 'K' name, Karen? Kim?) thought they would be nice." My wife (an interior designer) tells me that I’m full of useless knowledge and that we should check out the rest of the train.
WAIT, IT GETS BETTER
We walk through the entire train, front to back and back to front. Some cars had torn seats (One had Lime Green Duct Tape covering the tears), and some smelled of rotten food or rancid alcohol. Some of these same cars were accented with horrid wood paneling and brushed metal HARDWARE STORE light fixtures. Talk about a quality experience for your dollar!
While on the topic of quality. I asked how the onboard food was prepared. The server made it known that the food comes in heat and serve bags and the dessert is vendor-supplied/pre-made. (YAY, nursing home food!)
To make a long story short, I think everyone should be aware of the piss-poor quality that is associated with this experience. Beware of what you spend your money on. Maybe in the future, I can revise this one-and-a-half-star review. Until then, here we are.

Review on GSMRR
Ticket issues but we got it resolved. Couples should always book seats on the same side of the table. (one by the window and one by the aisle)
Be sure to book seats on the left side behind the engine if you want to see anything.
Be aware that the river is lowered during fall and winter. A drained river is mostly dirt.
The train stops at a rock quarry to get a diesel engine. That was the most interesting part of the trip.
The train goes backwards after stopping at the rock quarry. It would be a better experience for everyone if they could turn the train around.
The Nantahala Outdoor Center has restrooms and lots of places to watch kayakers, and a few gift shops- but not much else. I was surprised there weren’t any candy shops or ice cream shops. They could have had a lot of business from train passengers.
The meal on the train was okay. We got roast beef, potatoes and gravy, green beans, and a roll. We were served lunch the first half and dessert the last half. Pumpkin cheesecake- good for those who like pumpkin.
We were in a first class -adults only car. We could order adult beverages, at our expense. We got souvenir cups and a tote bag. Connie was our server and she was great!
At the Bryson City station, the bathrooms were small and dirty and the lines were long. For the price of those train rides, that is a disgrace! There is a model train museum, which was the highlight of the trip for me. It was the largest model train sets I have ever seen!
For the price we paid, I was very disappointed in this train ride.

This is definitely a must do if your in the area. Esp. do the dining car.
Views area great , food was great. Our guide Jacob was fantastic, very informative and funny.

I was up in the air about this trip because of the mixed reviews, but listened to local people that said do the Nantahla Gorge ride. 4 hours with a 1 hr layover in Nantahla. We got the "cheap seats", but the train wasn't full, so we could move around to other cars if we wanted. We had good comfortable window seats, so stayed put. The colors were just starting to change, so it was a beautiful ride. (despite the unruly children in our car....) the stop in Nantahla was nice, not sure there was really a lot to do in that hour stop? We should have done more research on the center before going. Was a pretty stop, with some picnic tables to sit and relax if you don't want to go all the way into the center (our car was far down, so it was quite a walk, but there was seating and a food truck, so we really wouldn't have to walk down if we didn't want) There was a gentlemen on the train, a one man band that was pretty entertaining. We didn't get the lunch, but the sandwiches looked pretty decent. There is a snack car on the train, purchased popcorn and a pretzel, and a very good bloody mary lol. It rained our whole way back, but we had windows so stayed dry. I don't know that I would do it again when I go back, its kinda of a one and done kind of thing. I would like to do the moonshine ride or the ride to Dillsboro though.
One thing I didn't like, they charge you $10 to park in their lot, and we did not see anywhere they mentioned that, until we saw it on our receipt. Seems a bit high for their rough, pot hole filled muddy lot. (it was pouring when we got back, and the lot was a mess)

Imagine riding on a train for 4 hours to go nowhere. There was maybe 5 minutes of beautiful views which you could just get doing almost anything else. No Mountain Views, just a River and lake. The stop where you get off to eat lunch was one of the ugliest parts of the river and smelled bad. So boring, majority of my group fell asleep. It’s very confusing how there’s so many positive reviews. Maybe if you’ve never done any traveling before?

We took the 8am Nantahala Gorge excursion. The views are better and more numerous sitting on the south side of the car, which is the same side you board on. This is a relaxing way to see the beautiful fall leaves. The temperature was in the 40’s when we set out. Due to the cold weather we chose the first class dining car. Several options are available for brunch. We chose the cheese, ham, and hash brown casserole. Overall the experience was pleasant.

Do not buy their boxed lunches. I got the turkey on a brioche bun lol it was a hamburger bun. Come on folks lol. Then they take you to a wonderful small village with several delicious looking restaurants. We wouldn’t know because I was full from a boxed barf box. Trip was pretty but the conductor had great info to give only to be over talked by the train car stewardess, that was annoying. And the seats (we paid extra for the air conditioner car) are not good for the older butt.

Wouldn’t recommend to anyone we know so I’m telling you to steer clear. Just take the car to these unique towns and enjoy without wasting your money on the SMR.

We had a perfect day all around. Train is beautiful, clean and the service is fabulous. We took the Nantahala Gorge ride in the MacNeill car including lunch. Our guide onboard was spectacular, He was from the area providing extra tidbits of information as well as serving the drinks/food. He even occasionally advised people when to be prepared to take photos as we passed special viewing places. At our Nantahala Outdoor Center stop, we enjoyed our break with a beer at the River's End Restaurant which is a perfect choice.

I surprised my spouse with a First Class train ride for our anniversary. We chose to ride on the Harper car (the oldest historic car) and our attendant was Chris. The whole experience was fantastic and exceeded our expectations!

During booking, just FYI couples will have to choose seats on the same side of the table if choosing a 4 top (ie, one gets aisle and one gets window). Our trip included brunch, beverages, and dessert as well as a travel mug and travel bag. Food was tasty for train food and the pumpkin cheesecake was awesome. Cocktails were extra, but they were well-poured and really good.

Chris made the whole ride really fun and kept us entertained. Views were gorgeous and the leaves changing made it extra special. I will say if views are important, choose seats on the left side of the train for the Nantahala Gorge ride since we did not realize the train does not turn around for the return trip but instead goes backwards which gave us the same views on the way back. We still could see everything and were welcome to get up and move about to snap photos, etc. There was a guitarist who traveled car to car and sang for us and he was very talented. The outdoor center we stopped at was beautiful and was fun to walk around. The bathrooms there were pretty small but clean.

All in all it was a really excellent ride and we would love to come back and try the Polar Express ride!

The train ride was a little over priced to go to a small area or town for about an hour and ride back. The boxed lunch was pitiful…. Don’t order one! Yuck! Long boring ride in this writers opinion. Kinda felt it may have been better for little kids if they did polar express maybe???

This was such an amazing experience! My boyfriend and I went together and got first class tickets for the Harper car. Overall, the car was nice and updated, the seats weren't uncomfortable, considering you're in them for several hours, and the service was great and prompt. We got a bottle of wine and 2 wine glasses, which was $25, and made the trip even better:) we both an absolute amazing time and will be coming back!
To help out anyone going on the trip, I took pictures of all the first class cars. My biggest issue was not being able to know what the cars interior looked like when I booked. So hopefully this helps. All the cars are comfortable and have concierge service. Spacious with plenty of room to sit. Depending on which tour you take, you may want to choose a certain side of the train to sit on because there are better views. I personally sat on the left hand side, which had a better view of the Nantahla gorge. We bought table O seat 1&2 on the Harper.

Loooong ride through the mountains but absolutely little views. The lake is probably nice when it’s filled. The stone quarry, not so much. It’s a very long day-5 hours. I would find something else to spend 5 hours. The hour at the break is ok, but not needed.

Very relaxing and comfortable trip. We chose the open car and just loved it. We also did the trip to the city. The town shops were perfect with many varieties of interest.

"Terrible. Save your money. The hot chocolate was served cold. The train ride was pitiful, plus, a narrator walked up and down the isle with the Polar Express book open, pointing to pictures, and reading from the book. The Santa Town was badly put together."

First time taking a train ride through the great smoky mountains. My husband and I were on the Carolina Shine, first class, car with Steve. We had an amazing experience. Steve was full of knowledge throughout the entire ride. The food and drinks were amazing. Would definitely do it again!

My husband and I took the railway with the Tarzan trip. The railway was stunning. We got off the train and they took us to the Zip line where we were greeted by Cody and Lavender. We were both so nervous. Long story short, we could NOT of completed such a simple complicated course if we hadn't had Cody and Lavender. The views are incredible. The heights a lil challenging but these two just made you feel so comfortable and safe. Half way through I wanted to quit. At the end, I couldn't wait to do it again. Thank you Cody and Lavender. You made us believe in ourselves.

Had a great time on our train ride. We chose the Premium Open Air Gondola. We chose the pulled pork sandwich as our meal. We received a travel mug with unlimited drink refills. Alcohol was served if desired.
Very accommodating train ride with beautiful scenery.

We rode in First Class and it was great. The food and atmosphere was excellent and very relaxing! Great and friendly serve.

What a great time. Great scenery and atmosphere. And Emily was outstanding. She was on top of everything and so knowledgeable it truly added to the experience.

This was a very expensive trip and in my opinion not worth it. We booked this train trip in November 24 via the website. We were given assigned seating on the gondola, carefully chosen on the south side of the train, but on the day our seating had changed and we were not told until boarding. Other people were sitting at our newly assigned seats on the north side of the carriage. This was not value for money and the seats on the gondola ride were awful as the views we had both out and back were of trees. When we booked the website said that customers would be encouraged to swap sides but this was not done. As a heads up, do not wear any light clothing. My husband's jacket was ruined as there were diesel smuts all over his jacket - and our carriage was at the back. The jacket is ruined as the stains do not come off. It makes me wonder what we are breathing in from the engine smoke.

We thought the train ride was too long because you couldn’t really see a lot along the way. We thought we would have Mountain View’s but there was none. On the left side of the train you could see views along the lake. That was nice. The rest of the way was just covered in kudzu. They really need to send crews up there to clean out all the kudzu. I will say all the staff was 100% awesome! Just so friendly and really working their hardest to make guests happy and ride the best possible. We took the premium open air gondola. It came with unlimited iced tea, a free cup and lunch. We had the non vegetarian lunch which was pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and baked beans. That was good.

After years of reading about this railroad, we finally booked a trip that included a train ride and whitewater rafting trip. To be honest, the rafting trip was the best part. When you sign up online, they make it seem like you have to pay to park (if you arrive early enough and drive around town, you can find free parking) and that lunch was included (but you still have to order and pay for it). We arrived early enough to pick up our tickets at will call and to check in with the raft outfitters. Nobody told where to pick up our box lunches and we got all the way to our train car before going back to the food stall and getting our boxes. It was neat to have a "storyteller" walking around giving bits of history, but other than some nice areas around the lake, you don't really see much from the train. We probably wouldn't do this again.

THe trip was cut short because they said there was a bolder on the tracks. They took us back to a small camp site in the middle of nowhere and said we could get off the train and walk a ways to a flea market. Anybody that went there said there was nothing to talk about. Inside car was cold, there was no heat, the only adavantage was we were out of the wind. The lady that took care of the people on the car was great (Natalya) she did her very best to make us comfortable. The food was OK, is was hot when served. I am sorry to say it is not worth the money.

We rode an authentic steam engine for a 44 mile round trip up to and along beautiful Lake Fontana with a one hour stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We chose an open car that included lunch. Our guide, Steven, was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining as he described all of the sights and history along the way. At the same time, he did a great job of keeping our cold beverages full and serving a snack and a hot lunch (pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and coleslaw). On the return trip we had a delicious desert. This trip exceeded my expectations for a fun day on vacation that included amazing sightseeing, entertainment and a very good lunch.

Rode both the Tuskagee and Nantahala train rides. Both were fun but I definitely recommend the Nantahala Gorge over Tuskagee. The Gorge was very scenic and pretty. The rides were a nice way to relax for a few hours.

This was a fun trip from start to finish! We opted for the “moonshine” experience which provided a sampling of a variety of liqueurs (all small) and a modest but good brunch to fuel a convivial setting. As is common in railway diners we were seated at a table with “strangers” who quickly became friends. Honestly, I think all of the passengers were predisposed to have a good time, an atmosphere facilitated by the friendly and attentive staff.

The open air car might be an excellent option in the summer but at this time of year it can be (and was) cold so we definitely appreciated the inside seating and service. The Fall foliage and river views were lovely. The mid-trip layover was pleasant but would be even more so once the weather warms up!

This is a fun activity for your day! We did the Nantahala gorge train trip. The scenery is amazing, and you run along side the river for the most part. Our guide Nicoli was very personable, and took good care of us. The only thing I would skip is the "boxed lunch." It was mid, at best, but the do offer unlimited beverages and some snacks, and you can purchase a beer.

A great half day trip. Chris was our car attendant in our first class car. He was very knowledgeable and fun throughout the trip. The food was very good and the only complaint would be the chairs in our car were not well padded for a 4 hour trip. Great trip for couples and families. Many levels of service so you can pay for what you want. We will be returning to take a trip in the other direction on their line.

We went on the Polar Express and it was great! If you decide to try it just be prepared for it to be a little loud inside. Also, I feel like this is more suitable for kids 3yrs old and up. Must try at least once. We enjoyed our experience.

it was a nice ride to Dillsboro. The train attendant kept us entertained and informed us of some of the history. It's very scenic in October. This railroad organizes and transports a whole lot of people through the area. The only downfall is that the website won't let you check out wihtout purchasing parking for $10- which is not needed!

The train is well maintained and the staff that we came in contact with were pleasant, fun an added to the experience. However, the scenery was disappointing, especially if you have been to their other location in Durango. There was little to see and the location they have a layover at has little to see/do. We did pay for food for lunch. The ticket stated to pick it up before boarding. We did attempt to do that, however they stated that because we were in First Class, the emails would be brought to us. We never received our lunches. We were in the Nantahala, open air car and although it was a chilly morning, they did have blankets available for purchase on the train- which we did.

The train is expensive and all you see is a reservoir.
I thought there would be awesome scenery. You see nothing. Waste of time and money

Pretty sights, expensive for what you get, but a unique thing to do while in the mountains! The stop is nice but a lot of people trying to get food in a short period of time….was glad we packed our own food!

We did the Polar Express run on Christmas Eve with two grandkids ages 6 and 3. The kids absolutely loved it. They loved being in their pajamas (almost all kids wore them) on the train and drinking their hot chocolate while reading the story. The three year old started out with a fear of Santa but absolutely loved the train Santa and upon arriving at the Depot visited the Santa there. Leave time for the model train museum, it’s well worth the time.

Pros:
A great way to see the gorge.
Fun, quality time together
Super friendly staff

Cons:
Full descriptions of the cars does not show on booking page - did not know our car had no AC until we were there.
You will be riding knee to knee with strangers if there is less the 4 in your party (Coach class)
Not the best activity to do in the middle of summer or on the weekend.

Steve Becker our guide was freaking AMAZING!!!!! We rode in the Nantahala’s car with open air and it was so great. Loved every single minute of it. Our Gorge Diesel Excursion at 1:00 on Oct 24, 2022 was one of our most enjoyable things we have done as a group of 6 friends coming to Gatlinburg collectively for 30 years!! I don’t get the negative reviews, our food was great and the endless beverages were a plus as well. We traded sides of the train halfway so that everyone could enjoy the ride. Take advantage of this fun filled adventure
The Colson’s
The Snyder’s
The Rogers’

We were on 1st class, 21 and up car. Meals were good. Our car host/guide/bartender Jacob was great!! He gave us great info about area! Dessert on way back was a nice surprise.

Just completed our 4.5 hour journey on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad from Bryson City N.C. along the river and back. It was breathtaking, comfortable and very enjoyable. We did ride inside in first class coach Harper with the very BEST guide Emily. She was full of knowledge of the area and was always on point showing the sites on time. Nonalcoholic beverages are included and a light breakfast on this 830 am train which was perfect. Alcohol beverages available as requested a la carte. Would encourage to sit on left side of train going forward and you’ll stay in seat for return. More views IMO. The weather was sunny and unusually warm so this helped too. Definitely a fall foliage experience and I think AM is better time than afternoon trip IMO. Great staff, hard workers and so pleasant. SO glad we did this😊❤️

We traveled in the first class car and it was worth every penny! Jacob was the crew member in our car and he was awesome! Great lunch, souvenir travel mug with free refills and a souvenir tote bag were included. Also a warm cherry turnover was waiting for us when we boarded after the stop. Highly recommend!

My husband and I went with another couple and sat in first class. There are pros and cons. Be sure to reserve a table on the left side of the train unless you want to view kudzu. We sat at table 33-36 which was fine. Pros: The check-in process was smooth and boarding was controlled and swift. My husband uses a walker and they were able to store it on the train and helped him get on and off the train. I did not see anyone in a wheelchair. Handicapped are given priority boarding. The train is clean. Peak time for leaf watching is the third week in Oct. We were given a nice souvenir tumbler and decent tote.Cons: The morning run served breakfast which was not good. The biscuit was cold and the small portion of scrambled eggs were luke warm. A cup of apple sauce completed the meal and it was cold as ice. They later served a pumpkin cheesecake that was frozen. I had to wait for it to thaw. My biggest complaint was a loud woman with a sing song high pitched voice that did the narration. It was sooo loud. Asked her to reduce the volume and she said she couldn’t but continued to directly into the mike instead of holding it away from her.Take Tylenol incase you get her.

We booked the Jackson, which is a coach car.
$151 for the two of us. We sat in C which is the side you need to sit one to enjoy a beautiful view of the river. Once the train starts you’re going to think this is incorrect, but after a while you will see why this is the near side to sit on.
We went to Dillsboro where we did a little shopping and went to the Bistro for lunch and drinks. We didn’t buy the lunch because we knew we would have lunch in Dillsboro. It was a beautiful day and the train was at 1/2 capacity since it was a Sunday.
Be sure to visit the museum after the ride!
Neat collection of model trains.
The coach car was beautifully decorated for Christmas.
I’ve already recommend this day trip to several couples looking for a fun date day.

Awesome excursion on nice old diner cars refurbished and a real steam locomotive. They serve a very good meal with fresh ingredients as you travel into Nantahalla National Forest and a stopover where paddling is popular. Well worth the money andf includes a visit to the toy train museum.

We booked an excursion in First Class for the Nantahala trip on the steam train. We also had purchased a guidebook in advance to be picked up. We had paid for parking. The parking experience (gravel lot) was slow and bad. No one checked to see who had paid. When we figured out where to pick up our tickets, it was chaotic. We then had to find their store to pick up the guidebook, which meant standing in another line. They do not put their own package together for pick-up in one location (!!). We suspect this is the real reason they tell you to get there an hour early.

Boarding (remember, this is first class) was slow and cumbersome. It was hard for some older people to make it up the stairs, and then you had to go through at least two cars. It was just as bad disembarking at the intermediate and final stop
Bathroom options at the depot and the Nantahala Center were awful. LInes at each, especially for the ladies.

What made the ride better was our guide (Connie) who did her best in a car where the audio was not working and the air alternated from non-existent to like a meat locker. She was upbeat and informative. The folks we sat next to were also great, and helped turn a two star experience into three stars.

The food (pot roast) was mediocre to passable, but that's not why you come to ride the train.

The real problem is that the ride is just not that scenic. As others have noted, you are hemmed in by banks and kudzu on parts of the journey and forests on other parts. There are some good views, but you can see more on the Blue Ridge Parkway by driving it just a few miles for free. Also, we were not impressed by the Nantahala Outdoor Center. It's on the river but not especially scenic.

They have a terrible refund policy. No matter if you cancel 1 day after reservations are made, no matter if there is a death in the family or a Hurricane that affects you or your vacation. They charge a $14 per ticket cancellation fee. Will never use this company again. What happened to grace and compassion?

We were in the Carolina Shine Car to have moonshine tasting. It was entertaining, by our two hosts that were giving a description of the scenery and the tastings. The lunch was tasty - pulled pork and sides along with a dessert. The downside is you don't know which side to choose to sit on and you might have to stand up to see what they are pointing out. The table seats were a little narrow for the handicapped person we were traveling with and she didn't use the bathroom because of the train motion/accessibility. But, there is a stop for about an hour where she could get up if necessary, just not easy for her to get on and off the train. The only other complaint was there was no opportunity or information on purchasing the moonshine we were tasting. This was fun for a one time experience.

Chavez was great but the trip was not good. There is nothing to see and you ride the train except for Lake Fontana and that’s not a big deal. Don’t waste your money.

Today we Celebrated our 25th Wedding anniversary. We took the Nantahala Gorge excursion. We road on the open-air car. Or attendants name was Jacob. He was very knowledgeable, personable, and kind. Thank you for a great experience! Also We would like to give a shout out to the GSMR Parking Crew. They were very friendly and want to let them know how much the note and such meant to us. Thank you everyone.

This was so fun! We rode the 4.5 hour Nantahala Gorge excursion with 1 hour layover in middle. We rode in train with ceiling fans and open windows. $69/person and $10 parking. There is a lot you park in across from the depot. We rode in "Blue Ridge" train and it was nice. Seats and flooring looked new. Two bathrooms. Lots of great views along the way! We enjoyed this relaxing train ride so much! There's also a train museum you can walk through included with your ticket and a great large gift shop also.

Nancy Pappas was our Hostess in The First Class Adults Only Coach. She was very informative about the History of the area and the history of the train She made our trip so very enjoyable. She was a ray of sunshine with her wit and humor, always smiling, making sure we had everything we needed. She made this adventure more pleasurable than I expected!!!

I just moved up here full time but have been visiting Bryson and the surrounding area for almost 60 years routinely. My family owned a small vacation home in the city which has now become our permanent residence. And in all those years I never once considered going on GSMR. Fishing and more fishing since I was a kid was my only interest........until now.
Our daughter, who is also familiar with the area, visited us to see how things were coming along with the relocation. Her husband could not make this trip so, since we were limited because she has already seen/done everything here, we decided to take the 4 hour excursion to Nantahala Gorge. The indoor covered car was very nice. The lady working our car was engaging and funny. The assistants serving the food were quick and appropriate. We had a one hour stopover at NOC so we sat out by the water and had a beer. The views on this particular trip were not outstanding.....OK just not killer so you might want to ask which excursion offers the best views.......but we are like semi locals, and now locals, so no big deal for us. Our tickets came with a lunch choice of pulled pork sandwich or a Kale crunch salad. The sandwich was OK but the salad, which my wife and daughter had, looked and tasted incredible. It was HUGE with numerous dressings to choose from. The car in front of us was doing the moonshine special trip so they were having a good time. Some people were dropped off for rafting and zip lining. I noticed that many people were not tipping, or only tipping on their alcohol purchases, which I thought was incredibly cheap considering how hard these people worked to serve us. I mean.....you buy a First Class ticket and can't leave an extra 10 a person? Oh well. Anyway, I am really surprised reading the negative reviews. You get to ride on a steam engine, one of only two in the Country, that is around 100 years old. Clean tables and seats and restrooms, fast pleasant service, decent food, what more can you ask for? I would go again and probably will the next time we have visitors. We did have one oopsie......the generator acted up towards the end of the trip so the AC went out for awhile. Again.......a minor negative on a really nice train ride.

Wonderful all around experience. Our very funny tour guide, Kyle, was very knowledgeable about the area--not just pointing out historical points of interest, but local plant life as well(his wife is an herbalist, and it's a hobby of mine). Whatever his salary is, it's too low.
The train takes you over three different bodies of water, including Lake Fontana, which is beautiful. Lunch is served on the train, and I honestly wasn't expecting much. I was wrong. The pulled pork sandwich was amazing, and I'm sure they use locally sourced pork. It was flavorful, and didn't destroy the best sandwich bun ever baked with excessive grease. It was also HUGE, I couldn't finish it. Dessert was a warm apple turnover a la mode, but the sandwich filled me up, so I didn't partake.
Midway through the trip there's a one hour stopover so you can stretch your legs. There are shops and activities there, but I just opted to sit on a rock and dangle my feet in the river. It was heaven.
I highly recommend this excursion and request the Nantahala car. It's open air, and when you board, there are souvenir insulated cups, already filled with water! One couple had theirs stolen by passengers on another car, but Kyle quickly rectified the situation.
This was definitely the highlight of our trip!

Drew was great, I don’t see how she keeps up with serving everyone by herself! We thought the food was great. We had the roast beef entree and the pork loin entree. The only problem we had is we got seats on the wrong side of the train. Tables for 2 people have no view of the river. You mostly see rock walls and invasive vines. If we go again it will be on the other side of the train.

Some changes have been made since our last visit in 2016. Now guests qualifying for drink mugs with unlimited refills find they are only honored while on the train, and when I asked for coffee it was unavailable (but alcoholic beverages were and very much advertised). Upon arrival back at the depot the railroad’s snack bar was closed. But, The train still gave us a good ride!

We went on the McNeil car, 1st class, Steve B was our host. Steve really made this an outstanding trip for us. He's amazingly knowledgeable about the region and he was very hospitable.
I would definitely recommend the brunch as the 1 hour layover at NOC would have really rushed you. In closing, it seemed everyone in our car was having a great time. Thank you .

This company offers excursions on old railroad lines on trains which have been preserved from earlier times. We took the excursion from Bryson City to Dillsboro. The staff offer narration with historical tidbits and highlighting points of interest. Food and refreshments are offered for sale, but one can take their own food on board as long as there are no picnic baskets or coolers. Layover at the destination is over an hour before the return trip, allowing time to see some of the sights of the destination.

What a wonderful trip! The ride exceeded our expectations with scenery, food, and hospitality. Our server, Steve B, was exceptional at his job helping us to have a “first glass” customer oriented experience inside the Catamount Car! Also, the entire place was well maintained; the entire staff of employees seem to enjoy their jobs and worked together to provide a good experience 👍

Nantahala Gorge was a fun trip, lots of mountain views and a leisurely layover mid-way. I was a bit disappointed that the train was diesel instead of steam, but you can walk over and see a steam engine in Bryson City.

Summary: We took the early morning train - the Nantahala Gorge Excursion Round Trip. We rode in the premium open air gondola. It included a brunch.

Pros: the guide was very good, the food and drinks were tasty. The scenery was very nice at times. Because we had the premium open air, we had reserved seating.

Cons: parking before getting on the train was hard to find-they need better directions ( hint : look for the very small sign across from the depot). The scenery was good half the time. You’re looking at a lot of. Kudzu up-close (you do get to switch sides halfway through -some views are very nice.)

The reason I said we survived is because we were on the early train, it was in the low 20s, and we were in the open car. It was very cold!! I lost all feeling in my toes-I wasn’t the only one. The steam from the engine turned to little crystals and peppered our faces. I was wearing a winter coat, gloves, hat, and a scarf.

Things got better when we stopped halfway and got off the train to walk around for an hour. I went to the outdoors store and bought wool socks, toe warmers, and blankets to cover our laps.

Overall, I would recommend it in warmer weather or if you go when it is cold make sure to bundle up, have a big, warm wool blanket, toe warmers, wool socks (double them up), and drink warm liquids. Some the views are worth trip.

We went with large family group to ride their Polar Express train and new our grandkids would like but had no idea how much all the Adults enjoyed this event !

They Did a great job bringing the Storyline of the movie to life and brought out the kid in all of us.

Had an awesome time. We took the Tuckasegee train ride and had lunch aboard. The sites were great, chance to see a Bald Eagle and Elk on our journey. We had about an hour layover in Dillsboro, cute little town.

Was looking forward to this and overall was a good time. But long and you pretty much see the same thing going and coming back. We did the reserved seats with a box lunch and thought was a little expensive. The food was OK, nothing special. Was fun to walk to the different cars and loved the concessions car.

We were really looking forward to this ride. Were on the moonshine tour. We sampled several moonshines and were able to order drinks. Steve was very knowledgeable and entertaining. The food, bbq was good. But save your money if you want to see anything, because all you will see is kudzu. Thanks to Steve for recommending some sites to see. We went to 3 and will get the rest next time.

Great day in the smokies. Royal palm car, our host was Nicholi. Excellent service. Don't miss this if you are in the area.

Great experience. We were on Royal palm car on Nantahala trip. Bill was our attendant and made the trip even better. Box lunch was excellent. All staff were pleasant and helpful. Definitely plan to go again.

We took the Nantahala Gorge ride and we were so disappointed. The majority of what we saw was kudzu and I mean alot of it. It was so boring. My husband and I rarely get away and I booked this for us. I didn’t realize we were in the gorge the entire trip. We had to stop twice to have staff get out to cut up trees on the track. The route should have already been checked prior to the train leaving. Bill our attendant was amazing he was very knowledgeable. The PA system was not working so he had to pretty much yell. I spent alot of money to look at kudzu. Very disappointed and have no plans of recommending this trip or returning for any further train rides.
Our trip was 9-5-25

Sherry Hazelwood
shazelwoodadj@gmail.com

We were fortunate to have a beautiful autumn day and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I would suggest sitting outside if the weather is good. We were very comfortable (luckily the train was not crowded), could see perfectly and really felt we were doing something different than most tours. Many of these reviews complain about the lack of scenery for much of the trip, but I did not think it was bad. Yes, much of the time the train is in the forest, but you can usually see the river below and the sky above. During those times the ride is relaxing and enjoyable.

A few suggestions: We did listen to the advice about sitting on the left side of the car facing forward and that is good advice, most of the views are that way. Try to get a seat in a car near the front of the train. You cannot believe how long the train is, and if you are in the back, as we were, you will be walking a long way to you car and at the Outdoor Center. There is plenty of parking, although many people arrived early. We bought a parking pass but no one asked for it. We did not choose the lunch. Be prepared for a long ride, over 4 and a half hours. By the end I was ready to get off but really enjoyed this.

LONG AND BORING!! We wanted so much to enjoy this since it was our first time but unfortunately we were just left disappointed. While the train ride itself is fine 4hrs is a long time to really see nothing. If you book on the right side as we did mostly all your looking at is the side of a mountain. If you book on the left you get more water views but mostly of people on kayaks and tubing ?? So if you just absolutely love train rides you'll have a wonderful time, but if you want to actually see some sights just drive through the Smoky Mountain National Park!!

A couples trip with Mom and Dad. Overall a nice time to spend with the parents. One time on the train is enough. My biggest disappointment was they served “lunch” at 9:30am. We left Bryson at 9 am and had a big breakfast at a local cafe. We paid extra to have a table with 4 seats and “lunch” was provided. Any who, just a heads up.

We rode in the dining car. We had great service, good food and wonderful scenery. Sometimes we did only see kudzu, but when it opened up, it was beautiful. Our train attendant was great, though the sound system was very static-y and she was hard to understand. The entertainment was fun and we all had a good time,

We did the moonshine tasting trip. The website description and what actually happens couldn’t be more different. We didn’t board the train until almost 2pm. The tasting is a half shot of moonshine and you try 5 kinds. Service was slow getting drinks and the drinks tasted like they had zero moonshine in them. The food portions were tiny. The train goes out to a quarry then goes backwards back to the station. Other than brief glimpses of the lake and river, you’re looking at houses and kudzu along the ride. It stops for an hour at the Nantahala outdoor center. Overall not worth it for the price.

Did the Carolina shine train ride to the outdoor center. Our guides Andy and Steven were awesome and made the experience even more enjoyable. Ride was relaxing. We were given 8 moonshine samples. Lunch was served as was delicious. We had the bbq, coleslaw, and potato salad. The cheesecake was to die for. Only had an hour at the outdoor center before having to return to the train which was fine because there wasn’t much to do there besides watch the tubers coming through or shop at the overpriced gift shop. Would definitely recommend!

Dillsboro layover: Huge waste of money.!! Overpriced and boring. If you enjoy paying over $250 (couple) to see burned out mobile homes on the side of the tracks and a river view that you can enjoy anywhere you stay near Bryson City, then go for it. If not, there are many more fun things to do here. It was so bad that I walked back home (staying in Dillsboro) and had my husband ride all the way back to retrieve the car.

We had a great time on the Nantahala Gorge Excursion! We had crown class seats which were very comfortable. The whole operation was very well done and organized. I was a little wary because the website was a little confusing, but don't worry! The staff was so helpful and explained everything and made sure everyone had a great time. There was a guide in our car telling us about the train, the locations we were passing, and other interesting tidbits.

The food was pretty good and the picnic spot was so nice. The chicken salad sandwich was yummy. We had a member of our party with severe food allergies and they allowed her to bring her own food.

They gave us all souvenir cups and kept them full the whole trip

There is a spacious (for a train!) bathroom available. It was in our car, i'm not sure if every car had one though.

A singer /guitar player played some awesome John Denver for us on the rid and that went over very well.

The price was great for a full afternoon of entertainment!

We had done a lot more active things during our week of vacation so the slowed-down pace of a train ride and picnic were welcome!!

We had a great experience on the Smoky Mountain railroad. We sat in first class, and Nancy was our attendant. She was very knowledgeable and gave great service. The food was delicious and the views were spectacular. We would highly recommend anyone to take this excursion during their vacation .

We booked in first class simply because the weather had been so hit and miss around our vacation time we didn't want to be washed out. Well worth it, the guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable on the areas history and the scenery was great. The food was very tasty as well.

It’s was a great time,the ride was great and all the history you are told about the area was the best part.Seeing the boat houses tied out on the lake was so interesting they really do tie the boat houses and they just keep them that way so they don’t move I will add a picture

We did the dinner train great food,excellent service, very friendly. The views were fantastic, are porter was great told us about the history along the way in the area.
All the people we interacted with was very friendly, polite and courteous. Even the train crew engineer, conductor, car attendants and everyone else.
Definitely planing to go again.
Thank You
Dennis Ewing

We rode the train that went to Dillsboro. Dillsboro was a disappointment. I think it has seen better days. However, if you like train rides this is ok. However, I prefer the Nantahala Gorge Train. Opt for the open air car. Coach was very warm. Bring your own water. A bottle of water cost $2.68!

Relaxing and beautiful!
We rode the train today to the Gorge. I enjoyed it so much. Our car attendant Rebecca was fantastic. It was so relaxing and our car, the Appalachian had many amenities,

Purchased tickets through Watauga Valley Railroad Historical - BIG mistake. Overpriced, had passengers show up at 9:30, admission didn't start until 10, train didn't leave until 11:30. Bathrooms at depot ATROCIOUS. No sink in BR. Host on train did very well under challenging circumstances (some passengers over imbibed). Tickets purchased through Watauga Valley are almost double in price, Bryson City is charming town, railroad trip could use a LOT of improvement. Bathrooms at depot need MAJOR renovations. There is no door for the womens bathroom and no sinks. Watauga Valley needs to be limited on pricing difference or they need to provide a MUCH better experience. We purchased first class tickets, expecting a special experience. Cars were overbooked, sitting at table with uncomfortable chairs with strangers unless you had a group of four. This could have been an experience but ended up a major disappointment. CANNOT RECOMMEND.

We decided to travel first class on the early morning breakfast run. Seating was fine, the views were not as spectacular as one would think. Lots of Kudzu (a vine that overgrows trees and anything else it can find). Lovely river and mountain views. The breakfast I wouldn't feed to my dog. My husband had the potato,cheese, and ham breakfast. It looked like what comes out of a boxed mac and cheese with three miniscule pieces of ham. I had the shrimp and grits which were boiled shrimp stuck on a skewer stop grits. We both had canned warm apples on the side. I wasn't expecting a gourmet breakfast, but neither was I expecting slop. To top it off, even the coffee was undrinkable. Very overpriced for the food received. The constant ongoing guided tour was obnoxious and loud. Not a moment to enjoy the peace of the traveling by train. Take my advice and spend your money on the lower priced cars without the bad food and guided tour.

Overpriced, not suitable for children, and they don't honor their open seating policy. The views are not very scenic and nothing going on in the town of Dillsboro. Children get bored very quickly. The website says they invite everyone to switch sides of the car on the return trip, we did this but were forced to move back to our original seats due to the request of one particular family. Would never pay for this again.

My wife and I took the Tuckasegee River Excursion on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary, and it was a truly wonderful experience from start to finish.
We traveled on November 8, and the fall colors were still vibrant — a beautiful backdrop for the journey. We chose to ride in a dining car and both enjoyed the grilled chicken lunch, which was tasty and well-prepared. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the ride even more enjoyable.
The layover in Dillsboro was a highlight — it’s a charming little town with plenty of unique shops to explore. On the return trip, we were treated to pumpkin cheesecake, which was absolutely delicious and a perfect seasonal touch.
We highly recommend this excursion to anyone looking for a relaxing and scenic adventure. We’re already looking forward to trying the Nantahala Gorge Excursion and hope to experience the Polar Express one day too!

We have ridden a lot of trains. Steam trains, diesels, and clog railroads. But this experience was the absolute best. Steve B gave us such a wonderful experience with many historical facts and lots of laughs. He had so much energy and he was very kind and attentive, and a true servant. Everyone loved him. We were all laughing and enjoying ourselves through the whole trip. He made sure that he included all the people that worked with him behind the scenes and gave them a lot of encouragement and praise.

This was a fantasic experience! We were there in October and the leaves were just beginning to change. We did the Nantahala Gorge Excursion in the premium open-air gondola. Lunch was good and they give you a souvenir cup too. Seats are assigned and you swap sides for the way back so everyone gets to see both sides for excellent vistas and an opportunity to get some fantastic pictures. Our tour guide was Steven -- funny guy and he provides lots of information about the area and the railroad.

Very relaxing with wonderful scenery. We did the afternoon ride and couldn’t have asked for a better day. The train travels westward and simply goes backwards to complete the trip. Get your tickets as far as in advance as possible. We got ours a month early. Sit on the left side of the car for the best views going and returning. The train does not turn around nor do they have passengers change sides for the return trip. The left side is how it looks in the seating diagram.

We enjoyed our ride on the Great smoky mountain railroad. Scenery was very pretty! It was a great experience but what we didn’t enjoy was we had got our ticket through my email since I called to book our ride in April. We decided to ride in first class and the lady on the phone helped me pick our train which was Harper and it was table c and seats 1 and 2. To our surprised when we boarded someone was already sitting it our seats at table C 1 and 2. So I went up to them and said you are sitting in our seats and they showed me the tickets that they had just bought that morning and it said table C seats 1 and 2!!! How aggravating and embarrassing that they gave our table and our seats away to someone who showed up that morning!!! My hubby and I were not happy. Now they moved us down at least 5 train cars to another table. As we were on the ride we got to the Nantahala outdoor center and they split our train right at our car so on our way back we lost power and had no lights or air condition. So it was getting very warm in there till we arrived back at the train station. What surprised us they didn’t even try to fix the problem!!! So if you go make sure the tickets you have do have the right seat on them don’t trust it be sure before you get on the train so you don’t get embarrassed like we did!!

We purchased tickets on the dining car and it was great. Steven was our host and he really made the trip fun with all of his stories and jokes. If you go, see if you can get in the train car Steven is hosting that day. It was worth every penny we spent. We will do it again!

Beautiful views and a great expereince. Lisa was our cabin assistant. She was wonderful, happy to share her North Carolina knowledge and she is super personable and friendly. The trip is well planned and stays on time. We had pulled pork sandwhich, baked beans, chips and apple turnover and it was quite delicious.

When researching train rides, there were so many to choose from I didn't know where to begin. I finally settled on Nantahala Gorge Excursion because it was the longest one time wise. Before arriving I made the reservations on line. Their on line process at the time was a pain in the butt. I tried to get the senior rate as both my husband & I were the senior age. It would not let me do that. I figured I would e mail them and ask them about the senior rate or at the very least talk to someone when we arrived a couple of days later.

I had to choose the type of excursion, if we wanted to bring food or purchase food prior from one of their vendors. It also added in parking.

We arrived and found where we were supposed to park and then headed over to check in, we then checked in we were told where to go pick up our bagged lunch and where the train car was located. Of course our car was near the end. Once in the car it was sit wherever you wanted to sit. Half way through the journey the train attendants encouraged everyone to switch seats with the group across the aisle from you so you could see the other side. Neither us or our aisle partners wanted to change so we stayed where we were.

We stopped and got out at the end of the line and it was hotter than heck, we didn't spend too much time outside. The windows on the train did open and was nice with a breeze.

This was nice for something different, but I doubt I would do this again.

After receiving our initial "your email has been received" reply we waited and waited. Finally after about a month we did receive a small credit on our credit card but no reply.

On board entertainment is needed, something to occupy travelers on an otherwise trip that’s drags on.
The ride was nice but there was a lack of scenery that the advertisement mentions. The restroom was filthy throughout the trip.

This was an amazing train ride. We took the half day and booked the adult only car. It had restrooms down the hallway in our car so we didn't have to go hunting one. It was a nice place for couples or adult groups that want a quieter experience. The food was delicious, served on plates with silverware. There was a musician that came through our car a couple times on the trip and sang a few songs for us. Nice contemporary songs, not some silly sing along types, and he was talented. Our server was so attentive and nice, we wanted for nothing.
You will want to get there early, the parking lot is across the street and gets full quickly. If you have a handicap person in your party (like me), there is drop off at the station (no parking there). We sat on the bench in the waiting area to board and its a long walk to get to your train car, but they have a couple large golf carts that if you sit on the handicap bench, they will pick you up and drive you down to your train car, and pick you up to return you to the station after you arrive back. So other than parking they are very helpful to those with mobility issues.
We can't wait to go back again and take another trip.

We took the Nantahala Gorge excursion for our wedding anniversary, in August, and it was brilliant. I am disabled and everyone was so helpful. Charlie helped me onto the train and then wheeled me through in a special wheelchair that can fit through the narrow aisles. He was awesome. Our car steward was Chavez, another excellent young man, who kept the carriage entertained with the history of the railroad and pointing out sites that we passed. We had Crown Class and a boxed lunch.

We loved everything about the trip. The ride was relaxing, we passed over a trestle bridge over Fontana Lake, the scenery was beautiful. The people were so helpful. It was wonderful.

Wasn’t that great. All we saw was a lake and a house, lots of rocks and trees RIGHT beside the train. No Mountain View. I wouldn’t go again on this train ride. The ride up the mountain to the train station was prettier than the actual train ride. Staff was great and friendly but not worth the money to see sticks and trees. I could have seen that at the cabin.

We took the 4 hour gorge tour. Lovely scenery. Our car attendant was quite informative. There is a one hour layover, so the trip takes up most of your day. We opted to purchase a boxed lunch, but then we had to hold on to it for 2.5 hours until time to eat. There was a food truck at the layover location as well as a couple restaurants (a decent walk away), but my recommendation would be to pack your own lunch/snacks in a cooler or backpack. There is a concession car, but the options are limited.

The train is very authentic. Travelled First class as the weather wasn’t warm enough to sit outside but the air conditioning inside the carriage was freezing so we were frozen by the time we got to the lay over. The food was good there is dessert provided which isn’t mentioned when booking . The staff are all extremely friendly and knowledgable. Steven our guide was exceptional. Very attentive ad enthusiastic. The only downside apart from the heat was that the train travels very slowly and the views are not as spectacular as described . Most of the journey is in amongst the trees. The drive to Bryson City from Sapphire was more scenic. It was still a nice day to experience but is quite pricey for what you get .

We booked our seats 3 days in advance , a snow storm closed roads leading to Bryson city . Called explaining we could not arrive in time for our departure, refused to refund stating need 5 days in advance . How do you predict closed roads in advance? Just so you know they don’t care as long as your paid .

My husband and I took the 4 1/2 afternoon train ride. We rode in the Appalachian train car with Bill as our conductor. It was a beautiful ride and Bill kept us all well informed and entertained the entire trip. We had a wonderful time and would definitely recommend this trip for anyone wanting to experience a train ride.

I did the first class tour out to the gorge. Paid extra money to be in a seat assigned air-conditioned car. DO NOT EVEN DO THIS TOUR - unless you’re seated on the left side of the car. All the sites are on the left side. They should charge less for sitting on the right because there’s nothing to see out of those windows. Food came with the first class ticket. It came at 11 AM. Ice cold pork loin on ice cold mashed potatoes at 11 AM! Low quality experience combined with unknowingly booking on the wrong side of the train. Can’t emphasize enough don’t even take the tour unless you’re sitting on the left side of the train and don’t expect good food. $125 for food I couldn’t eat and for no sites out of my windows.

We did the Uncorked Wine Train and had a terrific time. The MacNeill car was the best on the train, while Jacob and Stephanie were excellent staff.

I really wanted to love the Uncorked Wine Train Ride because I had so much to celebrate (a birthday and retirement), but my companions and I were disappointed. This ride did not live up to the advertisements and expectations we had.
First of all, the ride was definitely NOT worth the price. I paid $622 for 4 people to ride on a "Crown Class" climate controlled car. Do not choose the Silver Meteor Car or any car that contains the kitchen compartment. It was only March, but it was so hot that we were all fanning ourselves to try to stay cool. However, every other car that we walked through was nice and cool.
Second of all, the wine that was served was a lower price point grocery store wine, and the servings were very small, but you WERE offered the option to "purchase additional glasses, bottles of wine, beer, and specialty drinks" from the train's bar. Keep in mind that you do not have a choice of red or white wine that comes with your ticket price. In additon, the food that was served was overcooked, cold, and the servers were not very friendly.
Third, the scenery was very disappointing. We followed the Tuckasegee River, but we did not see any wildlife, mountain views, or historical sites. However, we did see many trailer parks, neglected homes, and trash sites.
Fourth, the "host/hostess" guide for each car, who were supposed to narrate the ride and provide you with all the instructions did not have amplification devices, so if you were sitting at either end of the car, you could not hear the narration. Those people sitting in the middle of the car were the only ones who benefitted from the stories, instructions, and "entertainment" (a short story teller and a musician who sang 3 songs).
Fifth, the ride was 4 and half hours, including a one hour stop to get off the train half way through (although this was not advertised). A shorter ride without the food and stop would probaby be more enjoyable, especially since the temperature of the car was so uncomfortable.
While we enjoyed the company that we traveled with, it was overall a very disappointing experience.

Our day started with trying to find the train car listed on our tickets. We walked from one end of the train to the other.The car was not on this train. The workers were very helpful in getting us the correct tickets. It would have been nice to be notified earlier that the train cars were switched. Of, course, the car we were on was very near the end of the train. So we walked the length of the train 3 times before getting on. We rode in an open air car which was great for the fresh air and breeze on a very hot day. The ride itself was a nice train ride. The scenery was a bit monotonous. Lots of kudzu and Fontana Lake. We were given one hour when we stopped to eat and get back on the train. As soon as we stepped off the train it began to rain. Because of that and the fact that Our car was so far away from the food there was no way we could have gotten food and back to our train car in time. There was “conductor’s cafe” car the sold food. And we bought food from there. 2 of the 3 toilets were overflowing before we were 1/2 way thru the trip.
The information on what we were seeing and the history of the train was nonexistent. It seemed anytime someone came on the speakers, they blew the train whistle and we never heard the announcement.
Ultimately if you want a slow non strenuous event this is it. If your kids are train nuts, it would be a great trip for them.
But if you get the least expensive tickets, you get the least amount of attention.
I cannot speak to the other cars/classes on this train

Nice ride. Tim was very knowledgeable. Only draw back was location of car you pick seat in could be a 1/4 mile walk from depot and long walk on train to restroom.

This is a very good train ride and the second one. The ride started out great. The stop in Dillsboro was nice. However, on the way back to the train, my daughter was stung by a wasp. She said she didn't feel good. I told her to get on the train. Within ten minutes, she went into anaphylaxis shock.
The train staff went into action. My daughter's breathing was shallow, and I requested an ambulance to be called. The ambulance came immediately. The train was emptied, and the paramedics worked on her, but it wasn't enough. She was transported to, I think the hospital was called Harris Regional Hospital.
Thanks to the wonderful paramedics, hospital staff, and the great train staff.
I will ride the train again and recommend them to anyone.

Relaxing and peaceful experience riding this train. We took the Nantahala Gorge Excursion on the Cherokee coach car - a train car built in the 30's. It was comfortable with sliding windows to allow fresh air. Nostalgic. You do get some great views of Fontana Lake and the Nantahala River, but as with most trains, you also see debris, piles of old railroad ties and kudzu -- lots, and lots of kudzu. But it is a delightful experience with the sway and sound of the train. We would return for the Tuckasegee excursion someday. Where we were directed to park our car to where we boarded the train was a long walk - beware of that. Box lunches are available - recommend that option.

It had been 11 years since we last rode with the GSMR and on the Polar Express and we were long overdue to ride again. We dressed in our pjs, even my parents who are in their mid 70’s and most everyone else did too. People who didn’t looked out of place. It was so much fun! We rode first class in the Silver Meteor car. Nice to have assigned seating! When we got to our table , we had Polar Express napkins, our golden tickets, a Russell Stover chocolate bar and a Polar Express tote. Later the hot chocolate came in a souvenir mug! Then a cookie, in an individually wrapped Polar Express package. Then a bit later, Santa and an elf came and gave out bells to everyone! I think this is great! When we rode it 11 years ago, only the kids got the bells. But us adults want them too! We had a wonderful trip!

Note: They were offering free parking, there is also free parking at the courthouse and some along the street as well.

This is a wonderful half day excursion. Several options available for rail cars including open air, coach and first class. Choice of a pre-packaged box lunch or hot plate lunch. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. Seasonal specialty train rides like the Polar Express are appealing for children. Lots of history and the staff is amazing. Views are spectacular! Well worth the money!

I have to call the hotline during my work hours to make reservations, rather than order online, because their online reservation system is so inflexible that you cannot book without buying parking. What the heck...

My 14 year old special needs son LOVES trains so much so we decided to bring him here for a surprise. We drove over 6 hours to get here and I did not realize how loud it would be. Speakers blasting at every boarding gate and the ladies on the train screaming into their mics and singing loud. If that wasn’t bad enough, they encouraged everyone on the train to scream at the top of their lungs. I get my child is not the only person in the world, but I believe they should’ve been more accommodating. I let the lady know that’s why he was crying but it didn’t help at all. They were ridiculous . We wasted $500. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. As prominent as special needs is nowadays , you all need to make at least a few sensory days . He would’ve loved this so much had it been quiet . I’m so angry and disappointed. I’m making sure to post in my special needs family groups to warn them

75% of the ride is through kutzu and trees, 20% is along a half-empty lake, and the remaining part follows a nice mountain stream. Just drive the road by the stream and stop to enjoy the view.
Save your money!

The reservation staff was grossly disorganized. We made reservations days in advance, on embarkation our seats were given to other passengers, we were transferred to a car whose seats were restaurant chairs rather than the club car accommodations for which we paid. We are 70+ years old, our treatment bordered on elder abuse. It took walking to the ticket booth and having a heated conversation with agent, we were finally given seats in our originally reserved car but at a table for 4 instead of our requested table for 2. All in all it was a massive seating disaster.
The incessant loud instructions were unbearable, Why must passengers be told ,loudly , not to stand on seats, etc. Golly gee I felt as though I was in a kindergarten room speaking English in a foreign county non English speaking schoolroom! The ride itself was long, and not very interesting.
Our guide/waitress was kind and had interesting comments which would have been enjoyable had the announcer continually over talked her on his microphone?
Spend your time and money on another attraction.

We thoroughly enjoyed riding the steam train through the beautiful North Carolina mountains. We rode in first class. It was really neat to sit at our table and enjoy lunch while watching the scenery go by us. All the staff were helpful and friendly. The guide was very informative. She gave so many fascinating details about the places we saw on our trip. We enjoyed following along in the guide book as we traveled since it offered so many details about the train engine, cars, and the surrounding area. Definitely stop by the gift shop and museum if you love trains or model railroading, as we do.

Great way to spend a few hours. Spectacular views of the Smokies! The fall colors were amazing. You get off the train in a cute little town to explore for about an hour and a half. Such a fun time.

Hard to enjoy a scenic train ride when you can’t see out the windows. We were in the silver star car and most of the windows were in the same condition. It wasn’t just that they were dirty, they were scratched and hazy as well. I realize the equipment is vintage, but this car definitely doesn’t qualify for the extra cost of “first class”. The single attendant in the car was very personable and the staff overall was nice but this car should not be used until windows are fixed.

My wife and I along with our 16 month old daughter went on this train on 19 May. I enjoyed it very much. My wife on the other hand said it was OK. Also the timing of the train leaving at 10:30 and not returning until 330 is an extremely long time for a 16 month old who needs a nap and doesn’t want to take one on the train. honestly, the stop really was pointless because you had such a long way to walk from the train to just a couple of shops and where extremely overcrowded and nothing really to do other than get a snack at a convenient store, which you could do honestly on the train, but I will say make sure you sit on the left side of the train and your seats need to be A and B. You will definitely get the best views on this side you get to ride along the river the entire way, unless you switch sides with their neighbors at the stop, which we did not do and I’m grateful for that because they were along the side of the mountain that you just had trees nonstop although they did get a really good view of the lake, but that was very very quick and we had the river almost the entire time. I would definitely do it again if it was about half of the time especially with a young child. But I will know whenever my daughter was fussy the train attendant came and played his harmonica and put her in a daze.

We took the Carolina Moonshine Experience. It is a fun way to sample different flavors of moonshine. Our car host was so much fun. She had lots of information about the area. You get souvenir glass jars to take home. If you order one of the coffee and Irish cream drinks, you get a souvenir mug to take home. You also enjoy a great pulled pork lunch, with choice of sauce, creamy mac and cheese, coleslaw, and a slider roll. The country you see along the way is beautiful.

This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, but it was disappointing. We paid $240 for two of us in “first class” in the Carolina Shine car, but right off were surprised to find that instead of the cute little two chairs and table we thought we’d reserved based on the picture of that car, instead we were on one end of a sideways bench - backs to the window and sharing a table with two strangers. It was uncomfortable and crowded feeling - not at all the peaceful space I had expected for us. BEWARE that the photo of the Carolina Shine car is accurate only for the end of the car with the restroom, not the other end, where we were in seats D1 and D2.

Beyond that, the food was truly awful (canned green beans, cheap Mac and cheese, a bland dinner roll, tough chicken). It was also served at 11am…. Basically, instead of any sort of “first class” experience, this felt like a bad middle school lunch.

The scenery is unimpressive. And from the Carolina Shine windows, you won’t see much anyway. During the stop at Nantahala Outdoor Center, we asked if we could move to an outdoor car for the rest of the ride, but they refused that request. I’m sure the experience of being in the gorge would have been much better outside.

Finally, the “interpretation” (information and program) offered was so, so bad. Our car host, Steven, really tried, and I think is much smarter than this crap demonstrated. He had some solid info at times and seemed kind, but the slapstick humor fell flat with us and degraded the experience. And the bearded “mountaineer storyteller” brought on mid-ride … ugh, really, GRSMRR, after 50 years of serious efforts by Appalachian Studies scholars to debunk this kind of stereotyped presentation of this region, you can and should do better!

In sum, skip this. What a letdown.

First class was a little pricey but it was a nice day. I loved hearing the click clack of the train. Only wish it had truly been a ride in the mountains and not just farmland.

We love the Great Smoky Railroad! This was our second visit. This time we went on the Nantahala River Gorge excursion. A few years ago we went on the Dillsboro excursion. If you’re trying to decide which one, I’d recommend the Nantahala River Gorge excursion. You ride along the water almost the whole ride. It was absolutely beautiful. This time we did a small table in first class, and I’d highly recommend it. Nice to have your own space, you’re not squeezed in by strangers. The staff is incredible! So kind and fun. This is a lovely fall activity. Highly recommend it! The drive over from the Gatlinburg area is gorgeous. We will continue to be repeat customers!

Our family of four ( a pre-teen and teen) had a ball. We weren’t able to get the Polar Express tickets, but we were celebrating a 50th birthday. We had a ball. The only complaints we have had absolutely nothing to do with Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, but is good for future guests to know. First, expect to see litter along the tracks. It was disappointing to see the amount of litter present. The second disappointment was Dillsboro. We had a layover for about an hour and that was about 59 minutes too long. The shops felt more like a cross between a vintage yard sale and a craft sale. We were less than impressed and would have rather moved further on down the tracks than waste time in Dillsboro. As far as the GSMRR…. The parking was reasonable; the boxed lunches were very tasty (we had Turkey, ham, and chicken salad sandwiches); the refreshments were kept replenished; the train car was clean; and the entertainment was good. No complaints at all! …Except the interruption to have our photo taken by staff to try to sell back to us. For the price of the ticket the photo should come free. Just my opinion…

Comprehensive and honest review of this experience. Short version: the train ride was lovely, the company is inexplicably disorganized.
I booked our tickets for the Raft n Rail adventure trip through Wildwater, because if you try to book it through the GSMR they charge you for lunch, even though it’s supposed to be included in the price. I got a confirmation email through Wildwater for my purchase of one adult and one child ticket. On the day of our trip, I arrived 45 minutes early as directed and I highly recommend doing so! Parking was not clear: it is a lot off of Mitchell street (see photo). You walk across the street to the depot.
After I parked, I checked I at the Wildwater kiosk located outside at the end of the building. The employees there were friendly and confirmed my reservation for two, then showed me where to go inside and get my physical tickets. At the desk inside, I was told that GSMR only had one reservation for me in *their* system, not for my 12 year old son. When I showed them my confirmation and told them I had already confirmed with the Wildwater people, I was told that there was nothing they could do and that I had to go get the Wildwater people. I walked back to the kiosk where the Wildwater folks were very confused. I asked one of them to please come with me to confirm. He did - we had to stand in line again and got a different ticket agent. She was unpleasant and unwilling to be helpful until I politely said I wasn’t leaving the line until it resolved because it wasn’t something I had done wrong. Frankly the two of them were unprepared and confused about how to handle this situation which was apparently the “first time this had ever happened”. I prompted them through solving the issue “Can you call Wildwater? Can you let them speak to the agent? Can you look it up under my son’s name? Can you print a ticket for us now so we can get on the train and you can figure this out later?” until finally right at boarding time they decided to just print us a ticket. We picked up our lunches (there wasn’t one for my son so they thankfully threw one together. They were gross soggy turkey sandwiches which I would skip next time)
We trekked all the way down the tracks to our boarding area and got one of the last few seats on the not great view side of the open air car. *If you are only going one way for an adventure tour, sit on the LEFT side of the car! That’s the left if you are facing the engine - the side you board from.*
Once I was on the train I got a call from Wildwater saying the train station had called to say I wasn’t going to make it so they were calling to reschedule. I explained that I was currently on the train, the Wildwater staff knew I was there and we were most certainly on our way. I have no idea why GSMR would have called to say that.
After that the ride was pleasant. The open air car was actually quite refreshing on that hot day. The wind through the windows is really just a gentle breeze and we were grateful for it. My son and I agreed that we were glad to be getting off because a return ride would have been too much.
Overall I would recommend:
•Booking your adventure through Wildwater and confirming with GSMR before the day of your trip. (They have two different confirmation codes which makes it difficult - get the GSMR code from Wildwater first.)
•Arrive at least an hour early
•Pack your own lunch or at least snacks. The lunch included a turkey sandwich on a hamburger style bun with processed yellow American cheese, a tomato slice and very wilted lettuce along with mayo and mustard packets, a large water bottle, chips and 2 Grandma’s cookies which saved the day for us. The sandwich was gross. If you didn’t packed a plastic bag for wet clothes on your rafting trip, the lunch bag is a great option to use.
•sit on the left side of the train if you’re only going one direction. If you’re not apparently you will switch sides so either side is fine.
•Use the restroom well BEFORE the train stops. Like when you’re going through the very tight turn (you’ll know when that is). About 20 people tried to use the bathroom right as we stopped and our group was held up because of it.

The manager went above and beyond to help my friends and I buy tickets to ride the Nantahala Gorge Excursion while they GSMR was crippled by an unexpected power outage. Once on board, Natalia was a very gracious hostess ensuring we had everything when needed while keeing us laughing and taking a lot of heckling by our friends and I. The trip was beyond expectations with beautiful scenery, the ​​Nantahala Gorge river, and Natalie providing history about the area. We were in the first class car and enjoyed a wonderful meal and desert. I would definately suggesting taking a ride on GSMR if you are in Bryson City, NC. It's worth every minute spent. Ask for Natalia, she won't disappoint.

Great experience! We rode the Carolina Shine cart and really enjoyed listening to Nancy explain all the history of the train and the various other excursions available.

My wife and I took a trip to Bryson City and this was one of the bonus features of the trip. It’s pretty simple, if you can follow simple directions… print your tickets or have them available on your PED. Show up… check in… grab your lunch if you bought one… head to the boarding point. I recommend the open air car Wild Water or Nantahala as you can get great pictures and see the beautiful a views way better. Train ride left promptly at 10:30am.

Note: it’s a rail road cut in the mountain side so you will have literal mountain side views … however, once you get closer to Fontana Lake there are some amazing & beautiful views.

Our jeep with Paulie was awesome. I recommend him if you can get him for the jeep tour. He is knowledgeable of the area and very friendly/personable. He’s a good driver and can navigate the tour with ease while keeping good conversation and answering questions. We are hoping to be back for the fall tour based on some of the pictures he showed us on his phone and hope to get him for the tour.

Thanks GMSR and the sheep Tour!!!

For the cost, I'd skip it. It's an unremarkable, fairly long ride, and you don't see that much. It was disappointing that the trees didn't have any more color in the NC mountains than we had in SC. It was a lot of sitting, so next time we'll drive to the Nantahala Outdoor Center and spend our time there. That was the best part of the trip, but an expensive way to get there. It was so nice to stand by the river on a beautiful Autumn day.

Great day on the GSMR! We are a family of 5 and spent the day riding the GSMR, rode the Nantahala open air first class car with the greatest attendant, Gigi ️. (It helped that we had fantastic weather). Great trip. There is a LOT of kudzu to see and some of the scenery is really of just kudzu, but the ride is fun, the open sided train car was comfortable, and Gigi took great care of us while providing bits of information along the way. The stop over at Nantahala was short but interesting. Photo op on the small walking bridge to say you walked on the Appalachian trail. Lunch tasted ok - simple barbeque sandwich but the service was great and the dessert on the way back was a favorite all around. Stopped in train museum (admission included in train tix) - interesting and a very neat model train/set up to check out. Parking was easy, attendants checked our ticket and showed us where to park - easy in and out. Pricey for the 5 of us but will definitely do again.

We took the Nantahala trip from Bryson City to the Nantahala Outdoor Center turn, with an hour layover. The trip is pulled by the steam engine on the way out. It is impressive, photographers and rail fans were along the way snapping pictures. Today, we had a 1/4-Mile long consist loaded with 750 people over 14 or 15 cars.

The steam feature was lost on us after we pulled out. The steam engine runs one- way, with two diesels at the tail end, hauling us back to the depot. Same scenes coming and going, but the fall colors were epic.

We preselected our tickets about a month prior, opting for the First Class trip with meal. We rode the Catamount car, a newer refurbishment with generous seating, restrooms, and Jacob our server, narrator, and all-around go to guy.

Our seating was a two-top on the left side of the coach. Opposite were the four-tops. The generous, upholstered, booth-type seating was the best of all the cars we could see. The other first class cars had upholstered chairs.

For planning, and unless you just like a little more private “party of two” seating (we do - we like to just talk and visit together), the best views overall are offered to the party-of-four, 4-tops. The booth style seating is very comfortable for the 4+ hour ride.

Jacob was a seasoned guide and server. Everything appeared like magic, but our seats L 1 and 2, closest to the drink station got the fastest service. His story telling and narration was fact-filled, historic and informative.

The parking was efficiently marshaled, but is really spread out. Considering an inbound train disembarks maybe, 750 people and embarked our 750 you can sense the issue. The parking is a good walk to the depot and thence to your car. Traffic control, other than traffic lights, was non-existent - a few cops could’ve moved everyone in and out more quickly. It’s like emptying-out and filling-up an elementary school, but at the same time.

The First Class experience was good. All-adults, with bar service, and unlimited sodas, etc.. Our first-class, plated meal needed work. We ordered the grilled chicken. Other reviews mentioned the smallish portion size, won’t belabor it.

In all, an enjoyable trip. Next time - and there will be a next time - we will take the Dillsworth route.

Oh…we left home the night before and overnighted in Gatlinburg. From there drove down to Bryson City the next morning. The views of the trees, mountains, rivers and occasional wildlife was simply stellar!

We had a wonderful trip on the Tuckasegee River Excursion! This was the reason for our trip to Bryson City. Next time we ride, we'll be taking the Nantahala Gorge train with the steam engine!

Steve B was an amazing attendant. Very knowledgeable and funny!!! Had a great time would definitely recommend it!!!

We had a great time and a relaxing train ride. Our attendant Marlie was a great narrator for the sights we saw along the ride. Definitely recommend this if you want to sit back and relax.

We booked First Class on the Nantahala Gorge excursion in late August 2025. The scenery was often very beautiful, and our tour guide, Jacob, was excellent with extremely good service--but the food was AWFUL. We all expected to look down over a gorge, but you're actually IN the gorge the whole trip, looking up at mountain peaks. We ordered the roast beef lunch and grilled chicken salad. The roast beef was overcooked, super dry, and tasted like it was only cooked with bouillon and water. Green beans were almost raw and unseasoned, mashed potatoes also had no seasoning, and chicken was bland and dry. Nearly everyone in our train car left the majority of their food uneaten, as we did. At $123 per person, this food was unacceptable. Had we known how bad the food was going to be, we would have booked a lower class of service and saved some money.

The trip was really beautiful and made such fun with our “host” Steve B!! He was so friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, interesting and funny. Also he makes a mean Margarita!!
A great way to spend the day and learn about the area. Thanks!!

Limited seating options if you have teens or children. Expensive. We went in early June, so maybe due to foliage there were no scenic views. Maybe if you go in the winter you will enjoy it better. The highlights were: crossing a lake. A gravel pit. A curve. The one or two buildings of note are not even maintained. The staff was friendly and pleasant. Tge souvenir tumblers were nice.

We had a Great time on the Polar Express! Our train porter (Pinecone) was a lot of fun 😊 It was an enjoyable experience for our family!

We booked this trip as we thought it was thru the mountains and we would see the color. While it was early for the color, the train ride left much to be desired. It was ok at best. What we saw was not the gorgeous mountain view, but rather the roads, homes, businesses that were along the rail line. My advice would be to save your money & drive the mountains to see the colors yourself.

My wife and I had a lively discussion when deciding if we should pay the extra money for First Class tickets. The answer is a resounding YES you should. The experience in first class is exceptional. The train ride in a 1940’s dining car along with the scenery, history lessons, lunch and adult beverages and, most of all, our guide/bartender Steve’s entertaining manner made the whole five hour excursion epic. The train ride in any car other than First Class is just a train ride and not an ‘experience’. Highly recommend it.

I had a very bad experience, when 2 tickets, purchased by my friend, was refused being transferred over to me. I do not have access to her email about the tickets, nor do I have access to her phone, and neither does she. She is in a hospital not being able to comprehend the situation and having delusions. I understand , that they want the owner of the tickets to make the transfer, but she is unable to do this, and will not bend the rules. So, now, no one can use the tickets and she is out the money and I am out the trip and money. I asked why we couldn’t b there the day of the train ride, and they could see no one was using the tickets, up until boarding time. The manager didn’t answer my question on that. All the other trips we were to take in the area, were understanding and transferred the tickets, except for GSMR. So disappointed they could not have compassion in this case. Do not book, if there is any question that you may not make the trip and can’t get into someone else’s email.

The train ride wasn’t what I expected it to be. The train car Catamount was nice, clean and great service .
The scenery wasn’t there, all we saw was side of the mountain and other side was drained lake.
The food wasn’t half bad.

We obviously had high expectations for this train ride… But like many of the other reviews, we were disappointed by the total lack of scenery, the small portions of food, the understaffed first class car… Even though our one server, Jacob was phenomenal.
The ride was 4.5 hours at 20mph and it’s up and back on the same track.
There was a guitarist that popped in and sang a couple songs and then was gone like the wind. It took our sever 1 hour 15 minutes to get our drink order, as he was doing everything himself in a car of 60 guests and just couldn’t keep up.
This was a spur of the moment, bucket list trip, so we checked it off and will not repeat. :(

The Mrs. and I did something super fun ! On Saturday July 1st. We traveled to Bryson City NC to ride this famous steam train with The Great Smokey Mountains Railroad. We totally lucked out with a great weather day too ! Woo!! We did the open air car section 1 that has no windows called premium open air Ages 21+ only. That's the one you want for unobstructed views on a nice day. It included a great barbq pulled pork lunch meal and traveled the Nantahala Gorge with this famous steam engine #1702. People came out from everywhere to wave along the whole route which traveled along the river with the whitewater rafters who all wave too. I loved this ride ! But we had a perfect day. It got up to 87 degrees on my wifes apple watch on the way back but we had a nice breeze in the open car section which I absolutely loved. I noticed some people complained in their reviews about the food, the ride, or the process. But really ! This was a once in a lifetime for us. You just can not replace the experience of hearing that steam whistle period ! It was earth shattering !! Possibly off the charts in decibels. WoW!! I loved the steam engine chugging along up the hill at one point. You really get the full experience by being in the open car section at the front nearest to the engine which is where you will be if you choose the premium open car gondola section. Yes, it's an expensive ride but it's and experience which you can remember forever. It's all about your personal attitude. I was very lucky to be able to take this fun ride of a lifetime!! Our attendant girl who served the drinks and told little funny jokes along the way " Danny" was an added bonus. She was perfect and thanks to all a GSMR for a memory that no one can take away.

Relaxing ride through the gorge. We chose the first class experience and had a good lunch on the way out. We enjoyed talking to our attendant and our neighbors during the ride. Did figure out it would be more enjoyable sitting on the left side of the train as there was more open scenery on that side.

There was an odor.
The car had a horrible smell.
Crowded seating. No leg room. No cup holders.
Car attendant was an idiot.

My reservation was unexpectedly canceled via voicemail just three days before my trip. I immediately attempted to contact the manager I left 2 voicemail, didnt hear Anything back. I finally got them on the phone, I reached a manager named “Allison” on October 25th 2024. Unfortunately, she was extremely unprofessional, raising her voice and responding with a hostile attitude, lacking both professionalism and empathy. She made no effort to understand my frustration or the situation I was in—how I had lost a day of work and forfeited money from my Airbnb due to the last-minute cancellation.

On top of this, I was not informed that my selected seats were no longer available. When I asked to confirm our seating arrangement in case we were able to attend a Later time slot, I was told an “upgrade” was being offered, which did not suit our needs, Allison didn’t even care to ask for my opinion, or asked for what I needed to fix the situation, Throughout the conversation, Allison continually talked over me, ignored my concerns, didn’t even apologized nor tried to even tried to fix the situation in anyway, she refused to provide a cancellation confirmation number, insisting I already had it with my ticket confirmation. When I requested that she still confirm the number, she declined and abruptly said she would end the call because she was done.

Is this the level of service I should expect? After waiting years to finally be able to visit this place I find myself with Allison who sounded like a teenager arguing with me, I am deeply disappointed to be treated this way. This experience has left me questioning the professionalism and maturity of those handling such important reservations for this establishment.

LOVE! We booked the Sarge Revis. A open air car. We read up quite a bit on the train ride beforehand. So I packed us a little Picnic basket since there was a 1- hour “Layover” by the riverside. 🧺
Our Parking passes were $10 and we got there 10 minutes from the train leaving. They were so Amazing and Accommodating with helping get my Family in the train on time. There were Golf Carts that brought us! Turns out they help the elderly, ones who have a hard time walking, or with Medical Struggles… by dropping them off and picking them up on Golf Carts! How kind, thoughtful and Considerate. They are Handicap accessible. We all piled up on there, and finally boarded the Train Car. Our Ride began and we started waving to everyone leaving Town.
We got the east side facing car. (If you’re Facing the Lead Car, it’s on the right side of the train)
With that being said we saw some beautiful barns and Foliage. We loved seeing the water when we could…. But the other side definitely has the better view. After we left the outskirts of town, it became mostly Kudzu and Rock walls that were so close… you could touch them!! The Layover was wonderful. Like I said, we brought our Own Picnic. There are spots down at the “stop spot” where you can lay a sheet down-away from everyone else, Read your Bible, Eat your Lunch and Pray with your Family. It’s peaceful and very nice. After our Picnic, we boarded again, and the train literally just reversed. So you see the same exact side, that you already saw before. The bridges were very cool!! Slightly Scary! 😃
Me, My Husband, and Son enjoyed the fresh air and breeze. We LOVED seeing everything slowly,and taking it all in. It was Memorable. Plus they have cute things on the way out to take Family and Fall Pictures with!

My Recommendations:

-GO OPEN AIR!! So much better than being cooped up in the train…

-Get there EARLY! Preferably 30 minutes like they ask… there is a Reason for this!

-Save Money by bringing a Picnic! (Meals are around $14-$17)

Thank you so much!

Quite a fun day on the train. It was a rainy day so the views were not great. Obviously that's out of the control of the train company.

We were in a first class car with lunch. For me they served that a bit too early (1120am).

The guide/server in our carriage was very nice. Could have done with out the same info in both directions.

Food was good and mains served on proper plates. The use of single use plastic plates and polystyrene cups was a shame though. Need to do better on their environmental credentials.

Nice chunter through pretty woodlands including a viaduct and a tunnel to Dillsboro. The Sunset Trip does not give any sunset views. The persistent music throughout the trip was far to loud for most people.

Chris made our trip on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad a fun time. He kept the trip fun with facts about the area and some humor along with it. My Husband and I chose to visit the Smoky Mountains for the first time to celebrate our 30 year wedding anniversary and we are so glad we did.

We took the Nantahala Gorge trip on the GSMR and loved it! We rode First Class - the meals that we chose (roast beef and chicken) were delicious, as was the dessert that we were provided as a "surprise". Our host was Jacob and he excelled in his job. His stories and facts about the area were interesting and helpful and his attention to all the passengers in the Harper car was beyond expectations.
We spent several days in the area and my husband and I both feel that the railroad was the highlight of our trip. We highly recommend the GSMR and Jacob!

We did the Nantahala Gorge trip in the adult open-air car. It was a pleasant trip and our tour guide/bar tender Kyle was great. It's a little pricy for what you get but it's a unique experience. The vegetarian lunch was fair but the apple turnovers were delicious! We had a good time and enjoyed the ride especially since you change sides for a different experience on the return trip.
We didn't visit the train museum or other shops around the depot.

the views were awesome. we were in the McNeil car, first class climate controlled excellent food, amazing drinks and terrific staff.

BE ADVISED: This was so not worth the time or money. It was a slow train ride through the forest because most of the scenery was trees. Very disappointed. A lot of people around us were falling asleep and so were we. The four hours felt like forever, so if you do this, bring card games or a book. There is no Wifi, and the cell service is very bad. Now for the food, I ordered the vegetarian meal, and it was just an embarrassing serving of bad salad with half of a slimly cut boiled egg and a bread roll. It was a total waste and would not recommend it unless you are 80 yrs old and want to sleep on a train ride.

We took the tour along the river and not the gorge and was very disappointed. There were miles of trash, broken down trailers and trash all along the way. Not much scenery except for some farmland with rotting tomatoes , peppers and pumpkins.
The train car we claw was enclosed with AC and freezing, but the attendant was funny and entertaining. There’s a food car, and prices are reasonable but they are extremely busy. There’s attendant will fill you souvenir mugs with free soda, water or tea if you select the right class.
Overall our rating is based on the scenery and price point. Dillsboro is cute but everything seems closes on Wednesdays.
Not worth the trip in our opinion.

We took the Nantahala Gorge trip with my mother for her 78th birthday. We went first class with seats in the Carolina Shine car. Be sure and sit in one of the booths (2 people on each side) on the “driver's” side of the train for the best views. This is the same side as you board the train. Jacob was our train guide telling us what views were coming up making sure we didn’t miss anything. He also had interesting stories and did a great job.

We have not yet taken this train yet. This review is entirely about the website.

The website is extremely difficult to use.
First off, they have not created a version intended for use with Android phones. After enough frustration to make me want to cancel our vacation, I set the ticket purchasing aside, and came back to it when I had use of a desktop computer. This, at the least, allowed me to see all the information.

The information on the website is confusing, inaccurate, and contradictory.

Kudos to the GSMR for making things so cumbersome that I ended up purchasing a more expensive ticket. I am still uncertain about seating in the bottom-tear cars. Are there assigned seats? Are there assigned benches ... meaning an assigned range of seats? Are there assigned cars? Does showing up earlier allow for a better opportunity to choose seats when there are no seat assignments? Is everyone let on at the same time in a free-for-all? No clue.

Back to the Android issue ... The red "buttons" that allow for quicker and more accurate navigation of the website do not function on an Android. Not sure if they do on an I-phone. On the desk top, those buttons did work. However, looking for information while in the process of purchasing tickets will cancel the purchase you have set in motion. Up to a point, anyway. After a random point in the process, the tickets are temporarily saved. No timer, mind you. Just that I noticed the seats I wanted were highlighted in Yellow rather than Blue or Grey. However, I was not able to get back to (forward to?) continuing my purchase. Nor was I able to select those "Yellow" seats. Instead, again, I set the drudgery aside and came back to latter on.

I was eventually able to purchase 2 tickets ... albeit during the "mid-peak" of fall leaf viewing rather than "true peak" viewing season because the train does not run beyond October.

I can only hope the train experience is more enjoyable than navigating their website.

Well, our hostess was Amy, and she was on her second week, and she kept us entertained, and the service for drinks and lunch was very good. We paid for the first class tickets because it said no one under 21, but we did have one young lady on our car. And you knew it. Also, when I called in for the reservation, they said we could open our window on the Harper car, but no, you could not. Also, I asked about the military discount when we got to the depot, and they said it was not for the tickets we purchased. Little upset over that because the discount should be for all tickets, if you are given discount to belong with. I also recommend the loading zones be reversed because the people who paid the most shouldn't have to walk to the far end of the train when boarding and disembarking the train. I'm just saying that for older people also when you have a layover, they can't walk as fast.

We can say we did it, but I wouldn't pay to do it again. The ride was a bit long to not have a whole lot to say. While we saw some beautiful scenery, it wasn't much different from riding along roads. We stopped a the Nantahala Outdoor Center for an hour or so which was just like stopping at a gift shop where the food and souvenirs are quite pricey. Like I said, I wouldn't tell someone not to do, but don't expect too much excitement.

Had a wonderful ride out to the gorge. It took roughly 4.5 hours total, covered around 40 miles rt. We opted to do first class and we sure are glad we did. Our experience and service was leveled up and so enjoyable. The gentleman , I think Stephen did a phenomenal job narrating our trip with details about the area. He was excellent and so attentive. Would most definitely do this again, but would like to go in the fall.

Took the ride and was in the Crown Class car. Our attendant was Bill and he was wonderful. He was very informative and very friendly. We have take the ride before but not with an attendant. This is the way to go. We did order the box lunch for each of us and the sandwiches were delicious! The cookies were a little hard but tasted good.

I booked this as a day trip while vacationing in Gatlinburg. I had looked forward to the train ride but I hate to say this was a very big disappointment. The trip was described as a scenic ride but in reality it was mostly residential areas. Dillsboro was a quaint town but we were unable to do any shopping due to the stores being overcrowded with (rude)train passengers. If Uber had been available we would have taken it back to the depot and skipped the train back. On a safety note - I observed people picking up box lunches at approximately 1 pm for a 3pm trip. They did not eat them until we got to Dillsboro, That is way to much time for lunch meat to not be refrigerated. If you are in the area with nothing to do this might be a trip for you but not worth a special trip to Bryson City.

Had a wonderful time riding the train through the mountains and forests of NC. It was a relaxing time seeing all the views around us.

The staff(including the parking lot staff) were friendly and efficient. Guitarist chose songs we all knew...loved this. Although there is kudzu it did not hamper or affect our enjoyment. Seems some folks are bothered by that....we enjoyed the train, the ride, the comrades onboard. Great experience. The layover was in a great spot. Announcements were hard to hear.

Wonderful Day! We have always wanted to do a train ride and this was great. We preordered the boxed lunch and it was not too bad. We actually arrived early enough to eat at the depot before boarding. We booked the AC car and the seats were comfortable. Great views and our steward Jordan was funny and informative and attentive. The stop had nice shops and the entire day way great.

The atmosphere is like that of a tourist town. There are shops and things downtown. The train ride we took was to the Nantahala excursion at peak season of color change it was beautiful. We purchased Crown tickets but I would go with the more expensive one next time. Crown was nice but the more expensive had a place to set drinks, the windows would open for clearer photos, and you are closer to the steam engine to hear the whistle better and experience the steam engine sounds. If you are looking for a nostalgic experience this one might get you half way there. They loaded the train on time, there was live music that passed through the car at least once on the way into the gorge and once on the way out. You are encouraged to swap seats with the other side to get a different view on the return as the train does not turn around. Drinks were served and there were other items you could purchase. We purchased our box lunch which was Chicken Salad and it was good. My only complaint is with the public restroom facilities - they were a mess and some had no toilet paper.

We placed a reservation on Feb 20,2023 for a ride Apr 7 2023. It seems GSMRR issued a duplicate reservation to another party. My wife and I were led to another car with reduced amenities. This is poor customer service. I request a refund of half our expense for the reservation.

We expected the scenery to be so much more, but at least 1/4 of the ride was hemmed in by forest and kudzu. The scenery we could see, wasn't any better than what we could see driving on any road. In fact, we commented that the fall color and the view of all the mountains on the highway going to Bryson City was way better than anything we saw on the train. The lake was already drained...so that wasn't pretty either. And finally, the windows need to be cleaned. Dehazed and given a good scrubbing. I would not recommend spending the money for this train ride. Sorry.

The Smoky Mountain RR train ride was a wonderful mini vacation. We took the trip that goes to Dillsboro. The staff on the train are all friendly and knowledgeable about the train ride and the area in general.

We rode the Carolina Shine and had a great time!! Jacob was the best!! He is what really made the trip enjoyable. Most of the time is just looking at a hill/mountain side. There are a few opportunities to get a couple of good pictures of the river. I wouldn’t say it’s the most picturesque train ride but it’s the whole experience that makes it enjoyable. Don’t go with super high expectations and you will enjoy it much better.

This has been on our bucket list for quite some time. We took an extra day or two on a trip to be able to ride this train. The experience was good. Emily on the Natahala train car was very personable, friendly and accommodating to everyone. She made the experience pleasant. We did have some food served while on the ride. The whole experience takes about 5 hours which we thought it would be less time. It goes to the Natahala Gorge, then comes back with a stop at the Natahala Outdoor Center for an hour. Wish we had more time to explore the town of Bryson City. We saw some leaf changes which was nice.

Nantahala Gorge: First Class is the only way to go. BUT, when you are selecting your seats make sure that you select the LEFT SIDE of the car. My husband and I selected a table that was on the right side just for 2 people, and except for about 5 mins, all we saw was cliffs and woods covered in kudzu vines. Yet, those people that were on the left side - all 4 person tables, were able to view beautiful river and Fontane Lake views for almost their whole ride. The Nantahala Outdoor Center stop should only be a 30 min stop. Emily, our host was energetic, her service and hospitality exceeded all of our expectations! Food and dessert was very good. The drink and food service helped keep you relaxed. Go First Class!

There were 5 of us on this trip. We had a great time on the train ride, especially because of the other passengers who were in the Carolina Shine car with us. Andy, our steward/bartender was quite informative and entertaining., as was the gentleman who went from car to car singing and playing his guitar. The food was good. I especially liked the cole slaw which I added to my pulled pork sandwich. I was a little disappointed in the scenery but it could have been because it was December and raining. I'll bet autumn would be beautiful.

We greatly enjoyed this train ride. We were in the premium open air car where they served us food and drinks. It was almost 90 today, but the gentle breeze and ice cold drinks kept us from getting too hot. We got tickets for the left side (the best views). Once we got halfway, they connected the engine to the end of our trail cars and pulled us in reverse. We all had the option to switch sides therefore seeing each other's views. We then stopped halfway at a local outfitters with restaurants and shops. We watched several people paddle boarding and white water rafting. There were also great views of Lake Fontana along the route.

For the premium tickets that we purchased, we had unlimited ice water and sweet tea. There were also alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine and cocktails for additional purchase. The pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, chips, baked beans and cole slaw meals that we all chose for lunch were average, but good.

Our train car attendant, Jacob was very knowledgeable. He's been there for several years and is a local that was able to provide us with a lot of information about the local area. He was very nice and accommodating with any requests. I highly recommend being in his train car.

Don't forget to stop about a block away and eat breakfast at Everett Street Diner before you ride the train. They have the BEST home cooked breakfast.

this is nothing like we expected, it's like driving down a road in a forest. 75% of the time you can' see further than 20 feet, kudzu covered trees and rock walls. lots of industrial and commercial to enjoy ? the engine is puffing diesel smoke that gave me a headache. There are a lot better ways to spend $140. couldn't wait for it to end.

I see some negative comments on here but I have to disagree…we were an adult group and had as much fun as if we were kids..interaction, entertainment. it was wonderful..it was cold so dress in layers…it was unclear on where to go to get merchandise due to the dark hour but there were signs, just need to be bigger…shops close after last ride so be aware of this…they did a great job!

We went on the beer run. It was terrible! The food was awful, frozen burgers and Frozen cheesecake which was tasteless. The beer had to be their pre-chosen beers which were not our style, and ended up not getting any except for the first one. They only gave people samples and not a full beer. I would be embarrassed if I were them to charge as much as the did, $126/ person for cold Frozen burgers and half beers.

The only thing that salvaged this was the wait staff was really nice and tried really hard.

The reason we did the train journey was because the grandchild loves diesel trains. He thoroughly enjoyed the rocking of the cars and the experience of watching the train as it rounded the bands or going into the tunnel. We were in the Standard seats, which were okay for a family to sit together and view the river, elk, and other trains in the yard. Unfortunately on the return from Dillsboro the fumes from the engine blew into the train. It was so strong at some points that it made us nauseous. If you have breathing challenges, or are sensitive to strong smells, the diesel options may not be for you.

Expectations for my wife and I amounted to a quiet steam train ride while we discussed the beautiful scenery having paid first class money in the Harbor car. In reality we could not talk to each other due to the unnecessary almost continual loud voice of our otherwise amenable coach host, passionately plugging other things to do in the region including evening dinner options as well as medicinal benefits of Kudzu; which can be see growing over trash trackside of the journey. The talk did include some interesting facts but for us, those valuable points of interest were lost in the rhetoric - preordered food luke warm and nothing to shout home about.

Cool relaxing experience to disconnect from technology and travel back in time to the days of rail transportation. The crew attempts to keep things lively and entertaining. They do attempt to sell more stuff on the train: drinks, pictures, merch. Overall it’s a pretty cool and relaxing experience.

First Class should not be labeled as such. Windows were dirty and scratched all over. I was expecting a little more than what we saw during the ride. The only highlight of the trip was the stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, which by the way you can drive on your own and enjoy better scenery than the train's. This ride shouldn't cost more than $ 30.
I would not recommend it. Drive on your own and you will enjoy more and save money.

We had received tickets as a Christmas present and used them the following Labor Day. We were amazed at the service and friendliness of our cars staff. From the food served to the mountain scenery to the peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Such a great experience.

Honestly if I had to come up with one good thing about our experience it would be the anticipation of waiting in line thinking we were going to have a good experience. Once seated in a table for four all of us were above 5’ 7” and are knees touched. Our waitress then proceeded to tell us to feel free to get up and get our own drinks unless you want alcohol. Everything to see was on the opposite side of the railcar and it was a Marina. At least 5 times we were told the conductor had plans and we would be back early so hold on. My daughter in law got the chicken and literally had to throw it away and get food at the midway stop. This was one attraction I was looking forward too most and would tell everyone to find something else to do with their day.

Enjoyed taking the train ride with Steve B who was fun and gave us a lot of information over the course of the trip. We were in the open air Nantahala car and I would highly recommend that — it’s covered but you can see really well and face outside. The lunch was really very good — I was pleasantly surprised. Spent a few minutes in the museum at the end and liked the model train set up. Great way to spend a day!

We booked 4 seats on the Catamount first class train for the Nantahala Gorge excursion. We were required to pay for a parking pass online booking even though we were staying within walking distance of the train. The parking lot is a huge gravel field that unless you request handicapped parking you will end up walking a good distance to get to the train itself. Wear good walking shoes! Our "everything" person was Emily and although she provided great service, sometimes quiet would have been nice. Fortunately, we had seats on the "left" side of the car for better viewing (the other side saw mostly the side of the mountain). However, riding along the river provided little scenery as much was blocked by foliage. Somehow, I was under the impression that we would see the Fontana Dam, but no, just the river. It takes 2 hours to go 20 miles to the NOC where everyone disembarked for time to stroll around a pretty but crowded area. Then we all boarded for the return trip - the same view just in reverse. I can say we were treated well on the first-class car. First, we were served small mimosas, followed by bottomless tea or beverage of choice which included many alcoholic beverages for an upcharge. Lunch was served and was surprisingly good. The ladies had the chicken entree with mashed potatoes green beans and a roll. The guys had the roast beef with gravy mashed potatoes green beans and a roll. The portions were small. On the way back we were served pumpkin cheesecake with whipped cream, also tasty. I crossed this off my bucket list and I'm glad I did but wouldn't do it again.

Visited during the last week of July and paid for four Crown Class tickets to the Nanhatala Gorge. The train ride itself wasn’t bad, however the scenery is sub-par, unless endless views of kudzu is your thing. Our car attendant, who I cannot recall the name of, was great. Personally, I will not be a repeat customer, nor recommend this as a thing to do on a Smoky Mountains visit.

Train was a bit boring. I figured I’d see more mountains and valleys but not much besides the river. The saddest part is the lack of being able to get someone on the phone. No way after trying several times to speak to someone after I left about the polar express. No live person answers or calls back. I should rate a 1 star for that reason.

We took the train to NOC and back, a 4.5 hour trip, and we thought it was fantastic! We were in Crown Class and in the Appalachian car, which we were told was a newer car. It was very comfortable. We had a wonderful tour guide in our train car, named Chris. He is amazing! He provided so much information about the area and was very funny at the same time. We decided to eat the concession stand choices offered on the train rather than take a chance and not getting to eat in NOC. NOC is fairly small but we still felt rushed to see both Appalachian trail heads in the time we had there. In addition, the train museum is really impressive with the miniature train exhibits. If you enjoy train rides, this is a great one!

Excellent day trip amazing views. Our attendant Jacob in the Piedmont car was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He explained lots about the area. This
Was an excellent day trip for us!

Well, the pictures in the website look great, but we were all disappointed, especially compared to the price. We anticipated seeing the fall colored leaves, but we missed peak - not the railroads fault!
We rode the steam engine train and it only goes to the Nantahala Gorge. This ride lacked varied scenery. You mostly saw the water on the left the entire ride. The food in 1st class was fair. Someone in our group had the salad and indicated it was very good, however, the egg casserole dish was only fair. The Tuskegee River exclusion might provide a more interesting ride and layover.
Our suggestion would be to ride in a less expensive train car and buy lunch after your ride.
Staff and online services were excellent.

This day, the littles (children, grandchildren) went to Gatlinburg, and we (grandparents) decided to have a quiet day on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. The drive up there (through the park) was beautiful. Cherokee NC has a nice park to visit on the way if time is on your side, however once we got to Bryson our expectations of the day slipped. We prepaid for parking - not understanding that we'd be walking about 3/4's of a mile to where we got on the train. The parking iot is not paved so wear good soled shoes! The bottoms of my feet were sore by the time we got to the train loading area as I was not wearing the proper footwear. It was a beautiful day so we chose an open air car..no complaints there. The ride is about an hour and a half one way, with another hour plus layover at a beautiful park. We brought our picnic lunch and enjoyed the scenery at the park. (There is hot food for purchase as well). On the way back we sat on the other side of the train so we could see that side of the views. Again, we had the long walk back to the car so from the time we arrived to the station, unloaded and got to the car it was another hour added on to the day. Plan accordingly - we were rushed as we arranged to pick up the littles at a specified time.

My wife and I rode the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad on Monday September 1st. We choose the Nantahala Gorge Excursion and it was great We choose the Premium Open Air Gondola and really enjoyed it. The best part was our car host named Drew. She worked hard the entire trip, was very pleasant and could not have been nicer. The scenery was beautiful and it we're in Bryson city aghain we will ride the train again!.

An awesome scenic and historic trip everyone should take. A 52 mile, 4 1/2 hour trip with a 45 minute layover; there were 17 cars, 2 locomotives and 2 cabooses on our train.
Recommend booking in advance, you can choose open car or air conditioned car, a boxed lunch or served meal. We were on the Harper Car, our guide and hostess was Gigi who was excellent.

I am giving this review an "average" score due to the non-stop sales pitch that lasted the entire train ride. We booked the Moonshine Tour and in the first class train. The attendants were Steve and Gigi. Nothing bad about Steve, but he should definately work as an info-mercial pitch man. I think that it must be required from the company that owns the train. From the minute we arrived on the train, it was non stop sales. Buy wine, buy glasses, buy a drink, buy shots. Buy wine to go. It was really very harrassing. Steve was a great host and was very knowledgeable in the area. The train served a few 1/2 shots of moonshine and a box lunch type lunch. Pulled pork, potato salad and a corn muffin and it came with Sweet Baby Rays b-b-que sauce, whhich was also sold in the gift shop and could be purchased after the train ride. The lunch also had a salad that you could choose instead of the pulled pork. Definately go with the salad. The pulled pork was the boil in a bag type and the b-b-que sauce was in a side cup. The train ride up the hill was all drink sales. Af ew of the guests should have been cut off even before they got on the 10;30am trip. A woman kept asking people around her in the seats if they showered from the bottom up or top down. Very loud and obnoxious and people just kept rolling their eyes and trying the avoid eye contact with her. Steve knew all about eh area and the Kudzu vines that seemed to be the highlight of the trip. After 90 minutes, the train stopped at a tourist area, disambarked from the train for 1 hour and bought souvenirs or had lunch or sat by the stream. The trip back down the mountain was quicker and Steve talked about the area and the Kudzu vines again. Gigi the bartender/assistant served a small piece of cheesecake to people and of course, you could purchase a shot of apple pie or salted carmel moonshine to put over your cheesecake. All in all, the staff were friendly. If your not into being hounded to buy wine or drinks, then this is not the train car for you. Not sure how the other cars were. The ad for the moonshine car said it had copper lined walls, I didn;t see any copper lined walls. The ceiling had tin tiles on it. I didn;t see a moonshine still. The seating was not as described. I had seats D 1 and 2 and was shown as a small table for 2 facing each other. The pics I have attached are the table for 4 that we got. You had to try and turn sideways to look in back of you for the view or look thru the people across from you to see out their window.. The bast part of this trip was the train museum right next to where you get on the train. Amazing place.....

Enjoyed beautiful views of Fontana lake and the Great Smoky Mountains. The train winds 22 miles through the mountains of North Carolina then stops for a 1 hour layover at Nantahala Outdoor Center before returning back to Bryson City. If you're a train enthusiast, or if you just want a relaxing trip through the beautiful mountains of NC, this is for you. Very friendly staff, Cafe car for food, snacks, drinks, and alcoholic beverages, and restrooms on each train car.

We made the mistake of wasting a day on this trip. We booked first class - I cannot imagine how much worse it would have been in a lower-class car. Imagine a 4-hour train trip - out the windows on one side of the car - you are looking at a mountain wall or heavy foliage that is sometimes just a few feet from your window. Out the other side of the car - the views are not much better. Out of 4 hours - you maybe experience 5 minutes of quality scenic views. You go up the line - then come back on the same line - you would think that at least you would get to see the view from the other side of the car- but only the engine switches position - so on the return - your side is going backwards but looking at the exact same thing. Coming back - halfway through - they stop at an outdoor center for white water rafting. There is really nothing to do - so you just sit for another hour. Many just went back to the train and waited. I am shocked at the number of positive reviews for this experience - if you have any quality expectations for this train ride - you will be sorely disappointed. I would have rather had my teeth cleaned.

Pay the extra and go first class! It was a great ride, the time flew buy. Our rail attendant Steve Becker was the best tour guide I have ever had and we have traveled extensively in the US and abroad. He was a wealth of knowledge and had us in stitches several times as well. Made the trip most enjoyable. Food and beverage service was good as well. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Definitely worth the $$. Great views and a relaxing ride. The train staff is very knowledgeable about the area and happy to answer any questions. My tip/suggestion, book the open air gondola. Who wants to be couped up in a stuffy coach with closed windows?

What a terrible disappointment. First off, I had paid $6.00 for parking. Parking passes were never checked. Every car was admitted to parking area. Even though I had paid I still was directed to an area well over a block away and had to walk on gravel to get to the Depot. Once at the Depot, I was told we would be boarding at area #6. Once again this was a lengthy walk of probably 1/2 mile. This time on gravel and railroad tracks. They did have a very limited number of golf carts to transport people but were always full the few times I did see one.
The trip couldn't have been a bigger disappointment. Mostly what was seen from the train was overgrown kudzu. Occasionally Cumberland Lake would be visible but mostly what was seen was dry lake bed as the lake had already been dropped to winter pool. It was so low that boat docks were sitting abandoned on dry ground.
The one hour layover at the Outpost was an absolute joke. Saw nothing there that was even remotely worth getting off the train for. Additionally, there were so many cars hooked to the train that day, it would have been another extremely long walk on gravel along railroad tracks to get to the Outpost.
So many cars were attached to the steam engine this day that we only got a couple of glimpses of it as it rounded curves.
We had coach class tickets and many of the seats were ripped and showing signs of wear.
Upon disembarkment back at the station, the long walk back to the depot on gravel and railroad tracks was still ahead of us and then the long walk back to where our vehicle was parked.
I was seriously disappointed in this adventure. I have personally know people in the past who have taken this trip and truly enjoyed it. I feel the trip has been in serious decline and some drastic improvements are needed.
It is certainly overpriced as mostly what is visible along the 4.5 hour ride is kudzu and a dry lake.

If you like kudzu, that green invasive vine that completely covers and consumes trees and foliage, this train ride is for you. 90% of the view out the windows of this train is nothing but kudzu covered brush. A few nice cue views of Fontana Lake and quick glimpses of the Nantahala River are not worth the price of this “scenic” train ride. I’ve ridden the Durango & Silverton train, in Colorado, and this train is nothing at all like that one. We got the box lunches, which were ok but certainly not worth the $13 charged for them. Small sandwich, bag of chips and a cookie, and a warm bottled water. Even my 5 year old grandson quickly got bored of looking at nothing out the windows of this train and was whining “How long do we have to be on this train?” after the first hour of this 5 hour mistake.

I booked our seats in one of the first class cars and it was a wonderful experience. From the moment we boarded “The Harper”, we were welcomed and entertained. The roasted pork loin lunch was excellent! Having almost endless spring water and soft drinks available was refreshing and very convenient. Being a sunny day, the trip to the Nantahala Outdoor Center was breathtaking. I highly recommend this ride. I’m sure it’s also amazing as The Polar Express during the holidays.

Had a great time on the GSMRR. We rode first class in the Harper car on the morning train to see the changing of the leaves. Our car hostess, Emily, was great. She kept us informed and entertained. The cars windows were clean and clear. I’m not sure if small children would enjoy this due to length and lack of “action”. The GSMRR probably has shorter rides children would enjoy.
I would do this or a different ride in the future.
Disclaimer: I am a rail buff and enjoy riding trains.

Nantahala Gorge Excursion, a really great trip! We took the ride in the Harper wagon and Steve our guide was so fun! The food was better than expexcted. Of course the view was amazing. Over all this was absolutly worth the money!

I paid over 230 dollars for first class for two people.
On the website it looked like we scored the last table and chairs. We were confused when we found out that what I had paid 230 dollars for was a shared couch with a table. Every other guest on the couches thought they were paying for a table and chairs as well. They need to update their layout online as it was extremely misleading.

First class included a lunch (which was really yummy), and refillable soda or water. Alcoholic drinks were extra. Our tour guide was Kyle. He was great.

If you’re expecting a nice view, this isn’t it. We had a full view of a nice long highway on one side and a residential area on the other. Train went back the exact same way so it was the same highway and residential area views on the way back.

Ride stopped a small town. The town was cute. Had a few shops all walkable but that was the only decent part.

I essentially paid an arm and a leg for a four hour trip to a cute city when I could’ve just cut out the middle man and drove there myself for half the time, half the price, and a better experience.

Skip this one.

Very nice experience. Kyle was awesome. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Kept us laughing, but he was very attentive. BBQ lunch was excellent. The ride up the mountain was not very exciting—just mountainside and kudzu, but asking guests to trade sides gave everyone the enjoyment of the scenic side.

Out family of 5 had a great time on the train. We rode in the open air gondola cars. In my opinion, unless you are going to pay for the first class experience, this is the best way to ride the train. The main reason is that your seats are facing outward and you can stand up. You really have the best views with no windows or backward facing seats.

We did order the boxed lunches ahead ($13 each), which were fine but had we to do it again, I think we would have brought a backpack with our own sandwiches. They seem to be ok with bringing a drink on (we brought coffees), as well. There were also some food options as well on board.

For the Nantahala River Gorge trip, the best views on the trip were on the left side of the train as it left the station.

Arrived on time. We reserved the open air car which was a major let down. The fumes fumes from the train were awful. The views were limited due to the abundance of kudzu growth. The turkey sandwich provided was at least a day or two old, wilted lettuce and the cheese turned slimy and the bread was soggy. The conductor and guides often interrupted each other nor were they easy to hear due to the train. The mountain man Mr Jim gave excellent information on the area and was obviously proud of the area. For the price I was not happy.

We have done the Nantahala Trip and the trip to Dillsborough through the tunnel. We definitely enjoyed them both. The Nantahala trip that runs for awhile, besides, Fontana Lake, is the most scenic. It ends at the Nantahala Outdoor Rafting Center. Which is cool. The Dillsborough trip takes you through a tunnel and past the trainwreck, featured in the movie, The Fugitive, with Harrison Ford. It is not as scenic but does terminate in Dillsborough where you can shop and eat and wander downtown. Eating on the train is not that great. Eat at he Outdoor Center or in Dillsborough. Also do not expect the higher price enclosed cars to be luxury dining car quality. They are not. The open air cars gives you the best views and sounds and smells, with the breeze in your face. You spend less and have more fun.

We've rode the GSMR a few times over 25 years. The first time was when they had a depot in Dillsboro and we rode to Bryson City and back. In 2020, we rode the BC to NOC route and it was enjoyable. This time was in July when we rode the BC to Dillsboro route, just to see the other trip (since we had not seen that in about 25 years). It was "worth it" but I was not as thrilled as previously. Maybe I'm getting used to the experience (?) or just getting older and cynical but I don't see us going again by ourselves, unless we go with another couple or take visiting friends/family.

To clarify, I'm not against the rides and STILL think the GSMR is a huge boon to tourism and almost a "must do" if in the area. I'll try to hit on the little things that I noticed or experienced this time:

Parking: We have always paid the $6 to park in their lot which is a LARGE lot on the opposite side of the street from the depot. No problems there so we paid it this time. We had parked only a couple hundred feet down on Main Street and walked and shopped before our train ride, so when we were ready to go to GSMR I drove to that lot (even though I could have left it on Main Street all day-there are no restrictions on time). Upon arriving at the lot (and my wife even commenting "So we are moving FARTHER AWAY than we were and paying to do so?") we were told by the attendant that "Unfortunately our main lot here is full, but we will direct you our 'auxiliary' parking area..." This turned out to be the parking lot of the Swain County Courthouse which was an open public parking lot that I could have parked in for free anyway. Of course no HINT of refunding the $6... So although the amount was only a few dollars I was not happy with that. We also got the boxed lunches "to be safe" in case we would not have time to eat in Dillsboro and to devote our time to shopping (and this was kind of corny for us, as we stop in Dillsboro anyway every few months.) I had to hold the large bag they came in the entire train ride as our seats didn't have sufficient overhead storage, as I also had to hold a camera bag. I only ate my food once we arrived in Dillsboro, although my wife had ate hers on the ride. On our trip in 2020, we had a car with a table but there was no table and I wasn't going to chance dropping or spilling something trying to "juggle" everything. Even though I'm a foodie and chow hound, I regret buying the prepaid boxed lunch even though they make it look like a good option, and would not do so again. At least on the Dillsboro ride, eat before you ride, carry some snacks, shop in Dillsboro, and eat again on return to Bryson. GRANTED, this may not be the case on the Nantahala Gorge ride, but I *think* there is a food option there also.

Also, the ride was not as picturesque as the Gorge ride, and we were on the "bad side" of the car. While there is a HINT that you "could" switch sides on the return trip so everyone gets to be by a good window, there is no official statement or command by the crew and even though there was some murmuring by the folks on our side no one on the good side even offered, and therefore there was no switch. The couple sitting next to us were really hot about this, saying they would not have booked the ride had they known they wouldn't get a good seat either time. We had the rock bank/kudzu side both ways. GSMR should realize that they need to make this an official announcement, but I don't see that happening. Generally this ride was much "dirtier" also with much more litter and junked cars visible that the Gorge ride. The storytelling was nice-we had a noteworthy local and he did a great job. The photographer that comes through tries to get everyone to let him/her photograph them-I had told my wife I didn't feel the need to get a photo but she wanted one. I "waved him off" in 2020 but we allowed it this time. They process the pics on the layover and come back though selling them on the return. My wife couldn't decide on which one so not wanting to be "that" couple I just bought the whole overpriced package to be done with it-this was north of $50 for 3 pictures of us sitting in a train seat... :rolling eyes: My suggestion...wave the photographer on by...

It's STILL an enjoyable outing for couples or families with kids of age enough to sit still and take it in, but note these things.

It was a nice & relaxing to do after a day of driving to NC from Chicago. We booked the open air car (Fontana) and it was great - fresh air (weather was hi 60's) and windowless so you can take pictures easily. Also there was a bathroom attached and was 1 car over from the food car, so that was convenient.

The good:
• There was a storyteller on board to ask any questions (my husband is a train geek)
• There is a food car on board to purchase food if you didn't buy their boxed lunch. They don't allow coolers on board but I put some food in my bag as I have a specific diet.
• The stop at the Natahala Outdoors Center was a nice, albeit brief, break. (Drinks & food at the local store are expensive so plan accordingly)

The bad:
• Views are better on the river side. Online, it is encouraged to swap seats so you can see views that you didn't have going the 1st time. However, none of the crew announced it and a kind gentleman switched places with us. No one else moved.
• If you buy tickets online, they force you to buy parking in the lot. Would have liked the option not to, as we could have parked on the street for free.
• Don't expect constant open views. Those are few & far between. Remember that you're in the Smokies and there are trees everywhere. The conductor announced when to be ready to see Lake Fontana and some other views but the ride isn't on an open plain.

All in all it was an enjoyable day but we won't need to do this again.

100% worth the money. What a great way to spend a full day with great friends.
We spent the extra few dollars for the VIP package. You're giving a wonderful lunch. All the non-alcoholic drinks free of charge. And they have a nice bar. If you wanna go the adult route.
The staff was all wonderful. The stop was beautiful.
And Bryson City was a great place to go walk around afterwards.

We enjoyed our afternoon on the trip along the tuskaseegee river. We opted for the enclosed air conditioned car, and we are glad we did. The car was cool, which on an august afternoon, was needed. The attendant was very prompt in offering and refilling drinks regularly. The “crown” tickets came with a souvenir mug. The mug was nice quality, and the kids loved being able to have unlimited drinks.

The ride followed the river, so the scenery was lovely. The town of dillsboro is small, so the influx of passengers getting off at one time caused lines for the bathrooms and the shops. The time allotted to explore the town was sufficient.

The booking experience wasn’t ideal. I was unable to use discount codes for those who qualified (senior and first responder) online, since not everyone qualified. When I called to try to book by phone, I was referred to the website. There was a promotion this summer for kids to ride free in coach. Because we chose the enclosed car, the children were full price. It seems they could have prorated the ticket prices, due to the promotion.

I want to thank the staff at GSMR for their pleasant and outstanding customer sevice. I purchased my train ticket on line and when I arrived at the station, I asked about military discounts. The manager explained that she would process a refund for the discount. To me, that's over the top outstanding customer service!

Thank you for a pleasant and informative train ride.

Thank you for a wonderful experience! My family and I took our first Polar Express ride on November 23, 2025 and I highly recommend. Reading of the story, Singing/Dancing, hot cocoa served at the perfect temperature, a chocolate chip cookie, a Golden ticket, a visit to the North Pole complete with lighted houses/bakery, dancing elves and a visit from santa who hands each child a silver bell (adults are handed a bell by the staff) all combine for a perfect , magical experience.
I would suggest arriving at least an hour before departure time as there are several photo ops, a Polar Express store, a model train museum and shop, live music, s'mores (additional cost) and several more stores/booths as well as a booth to get photos with Santa.
We look forward to making this an annual trip for our granddaughter who is just 2 months old.
We ordered merchandise when tickets were purchased and we picked those items up at the register in the museum shop.
When entering the plaza/depot area, look for a sign that will tell you what boarding station you will need to find when it is time to board the train; this is listed by the name of the car that you purchased tickets for (pic attached).

We went on railroad for our 23rd anniversary It was fabulous! Steve Becker was our host in the first class car Catamount. He was so nice, entertaining, informative and funny. He did an excellent job serving all of us. The car was very comfortable, restroom were in our car. He had coffee poured and ready when we boarded and mid trip. They surprised us with mimosas and cheese cake which was not included with our shrimp and grits. The fall foliage was beautiful. We had been on the Tennessee Central railroad twice and it was mediocre. This far exceeded our expectations. The first class car is adult only which was nice. They got everyone on and off the train and served in a timely fashion which was really something as many people as there was.

Took the Tuckasegee River Excursion on our 21st wedding anniversary and thoroughly enjoyed it. We booked into the crown class seats and our attendant was very personable and knowledgeable, she made the trip fun. The stopover at the town was quick but nice, the scenery was pretty. On the way back we had a musician play for tips, he was enjoyable and fun. My only suggestion would be to build a covered platform out at the boarding areas for sun or rain. There is a covered waiting area but it’s a bit far from where you board.

The train ride was fun and interesting for the most part. Met some great people on the train and even made a couple of new friends. The staff was helpful and kind when asked. Train Crew Member Wesley was awesome! He took care of our needs and answered our questions. He made us feel like we were his friends. He is a great asset to this company. We took the Nantahala Gorge Excursion which was not what we expected. We were disappointed that most of the views we saw were kudzu...tons of kudzu...and every once in a while a quick view of the river. The hour long layover was in the middle of nowhere on the side of the river. We were expecting to get to visit shops during the layover but there were none...only a food truck on the side of the river (which was too far for my parents to walk, so we had no lunch. It was located at the opposite end of the train from where we disembarked. It would make it easier for the majority of train passengers if the food truck was midway the length of the train so it is not such a long walk.) We were supposed to be going to Dillon but found out when we got on the train that we were on the train named Dillon and not on the excursion that went to Dillon. (Disappointing and deceptive) We were told (on the train ride) that the Tuckasegee River Excursion is the one that goes to Dillon and has the layover where there are shops and restaurants. When we arrived in the morning waiting for departure, there was a spot for the disabled to wait for a golf cart ride to the correct train car; however, when we returned there was no thought taken for the elderly and disabled departing the train. That is definitely something they need to fix. (FYI...The open air gondola is the coolest and makes for better picture opportunities.)

The reviews for this railroad experience were fantastic, so we took the plunge and booked our adventure.

Our attendant, Bill G, had wonderful tidbits of information during our 4-hour train ride through the Nantahala Gorge, down the Nantahala River. I learned so many things on this trip. Not being from the area made this a great asset, from Kudzu to the caves in the mountains.

We purchased the boxed lunch and I ordered the chicken salad -- it was so good!! I'd definitely encourage this sandwich. It came with plain chips and 2 chocolate chip cookies. The train ride staff have concessions and our family purchase hot chocolate and pretzels. We know they had hot dogs and popcorn too.

The train cars were comfortable and were equipped with a bathroom as well.

We stopped for about an hour and were able to enjoy the NOC area where we walked around and viewed the gift shops. There were quick eats and a restaurant there but with limited time, we were glad to have already eating on board. The view of the river was intriguing, watching the power of the water through the area.

We LOVED this trip and would highly recommend it to any traveler needing a relaxing few hours to do something a little different. I hear the Polar Express is phenomenal!!

My wife and I took the train from Bryson and took the first class coach. It was 86 degrees outside and the first class coach has AC. Well worth it today. Jacob was our car service lead and was outstanding. He shared his perspective on the area and some interesting information about the area. We had the roast beef entree and some drinks including a moonshine cocktail that was delicious. On our way back we stopped in at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for rafting, ziplines, etc. great area to visit. I recommend this trip to others. It was easy to park and board and enjoyed by both of us.we boarded at 10:00 and returned by 3:30.

I had been wanting to do this trip for years and we were not disappointed! We got tickets in one of the coach-plus cars and I was happy we did so as it rained on and off during our trip and wasn't exactly balmy at the end of April in the mountains. The 4.5-hour excursion was worth every penny. We really enjoyed the live music, but most especially, the stories told by Tim--a real mountain man who lives in the area and has been learning from members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. He provided a lot of history of the area as well as good tips about hiking and exploring around the Great Smoky Mountains National Forest and Nantahala.

This was a great way to spend an afternoon. The ride and weather were great. The employees on the railroad were all very cordial. We took the Nantahala Gorge ride. Look forward to coming back again

We truly enjoyed our ride on the railroad. It was educational and beautiful. Our time on the railroad was made even more memorable by our railway employee, Lane.

We enjoyed the beautiful mountains on this train ride, but the best part was the assistant on our train car. Connie was very informative with a lot of heart. It’s clear that she loves these mountains and their history, and she loves to interact with her passengers. She made the ride even more fun.

Went on the Moonshine Tour/ Nantahala Gorge Excursion with the Steam engine. Visited the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Saw some nice scenery. It was a great time! Drew and Amy Lou were very good hostesses and made the trip even more fun. Food was good. Souvenir mug and tote bag for free. Highly recommend!

We had the best time on the train ride yesterday. We took the River excursion with the stop in Dillsboro. Everyone was very nice and accommodating. We had someone in our party with limited mobility and we took a wheelchair for her. They were able to store it close by and were very polite. We rode open air and it was awesome. Very pleased. I don’t understand all the bad reviews. We would definitely return!

The experience is really nice. But the employees, from the parking lot to ticketing to the train ride, make the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad excellent. Heather and Bill are ‘the cream of the crop’. It is pricey but customers can pick from a variety of packages. We enjoyed our lunch. The experience photo taken by an outside company is okay but I would not purchase again. Photos on phone are just fine.

We splurged for a dining car experience on the steam engine train and had a blast with Jacob as our thoroughly competent and friendly guide and waiter. Best Irish coffee ever, although it’s got a fancy railroad name. Fun cocktail menu and the food was good. The train won’t break any speed records but we were there to relax and enjoy the scenery as well as stories about the area. We are going back next year to try another route in October on the same railroad. We are hooked on the dining car ambience. And we hope to get Jacob again!

it’s overrated, overpriced and boring. You ride in 1 direction for about 1 1/2 hours you get there and they back up and you go back. Did enjoy the stop. It’s definitely an over sell. It’s like riding in a tunnel and all you see are trees. Virtually no scenery from where we sat. We did the first class car it was cold and smelled of horse manure. They served lunch before 11 AM and we had a late breakfast. Had the roast beef the mash potatoes were warm and the roll was good. The deserts were also good. The train rocks and my wife was miserable the entire trip. Definitely would not recommend nor ever do it again. Very dissatisfied.

Don’t bother reserving your seats ahead of time, they place you wherever they want. I had reserved seats for our anniversary a month in advance and selected a two person table in the middle of car (we are hard of hearing and wanted to hear what the attendant said). We ended up on a different car in a seat at the back of car, sharing the table with another couple and the ceiling leaked on that table….found out other people ordered their seats the night before and sat in middle tables. Long 4 hours . Food is fine. Scenery is fine. Attendants worked very hard. We were so excited for this activity and we’re disappointed. This is a one and done activity.

We had really looked forward to this trip after reading the reviews. We were pretty disappointed. While there were some nice views of Fontana Lake, the main view was of close up vegetation - specifically miles of kudzu vines - and trees close to the open gondola rail car we were riding in. We did stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) for an hour on the trip back, there wasn’t really much there.

Our trip took about 5 hours. It’s about 22 miles out and then going 22 miles back on the very same route.

Additionally, on the way back, the train’s generator kept going out. The first 3 times it did that, they had to stop the train to try to fix it. Fortunately, we had paid extra for the open air gondola car. The people in the enclosed metal cars must have been sweltering!

After the 3rd stoppage, the finally gave up and just headed on back to Bryson City.

Emily, our “tour guide” was the bright spot. She remained positive during the whole ordeal. The lunch of pulled-pork BBQ was decent.

All in all, I would not recommend this trip for the $100/ticket we paid. We wouldn’t do it again.

Views were amazing..fellow passengers were friendly. The highlight of the trip was Dave. He is knowledgeable funny and attentive. Crowds were not a problem at all. It was a great value. We opted for the first class with a meal included . Free travel mug with free refills of water sods and tea. Alcohol
was available for a fee. We want to come back with our Granddaughter for the polar express for Christmas

Best old time train ride I have experienced. Old 1702 did a magnificent job of pulling 17 coaches up the hills. Our guide Steve Becker was terrific, explained all the history of the rail line and the area we travelled through, Bryce City NC for 22 miles alongside rivers, lakes and mountains. I can not conceive of the maintenance needed to keep this line operating but they have done a magnificent job. The pulled pork sandwiches and Steve’ grandma’s apple pie were wonderful. I would highly recommend the open car, 1st class, nothing like the mountain breezes on a hot summer’s day.

Although definitely touristy (over-priced keepsake pictures), the train ride itself was a fun experience. I chose the open air gondola seating, which faces out rather than forward or backward, and because there were no passengers in the seats directly behind me, had great views out both sides of the train. Though not fully narrated, both the conductor and car attendant provided interesting details from time to time. I was on the westbound itinerary to the Nantahala Gorge. The scenery is mainly foliage and water, but interesting enough, and according to the car attendant, it is much more scenic than traveling on the eastbound/Tuckasegee River itinerary.

This car class comes with lunch, the weakest aspect of the trip. There are two very poor choices for meals – barbeque and a veggie wrap. While I understand the need for a limited menu, neither of these seem to have enough universal appeal for such a wide audience. I never eat barbeque, so I went with the wrap. It was refrigerator-cold (unfair since the other option was warm) with veggies that were both too offensive for a lengthy, public outing (raw onion) and, again, not universally liked (Brussel sprouts). It was served with so-so cole slaw and chips. Because it was a wrap, I could not even pick out the items I did not want to eat. The apple turnover dessert, however, was a very tasty snack upon boarding the train after the layover.

The layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center could have been a little better. The car attendant gave some details, but quickly and it was hard to see where she was pointing. NOC needs to improve their signage. They had signs pointing to shopping and restaurants, which was already pretty obvious. The big “you are here” map gave no indication of distance to certain areas, such as the walking trail, or any signage along the path that I could see. With only 90 minutes, you don’t have time to do much, especially if you are unfamiliar with the layout. And be prepared: the restrooms are very unpleasant. The stall door is right on top of you and the water is brown.

Despite the food and shortcomings of NOC, I do recommend the excursion. It was a pleasant outing and something a little different. Our car attendant Kim was very personable. The ticket includes a water bottle and tote bag plus entry to the Model Train Museum, which was a nice bonus. I wasn’t expecting much at the museum, but there is a large intricate model train exhibit (set like a whole town), smaller inactive exhibits (fun to push the buttons and see the actions regardless of your age), and models for all the rail lines, such as B&O and N&W.

The vintage train was a treat. Well maintained. Most of fixtures are original with a few exceptions. Bathrooms could use some upgrades. Scenery is along rivers and creeks.

Nice train ride. We were not prepared for amount of walking!! To get to our assigned train car was at least a 5 block walk, after walking several blocks from parking lot. When the train stopped for the 1 hr layover - the walk to the restaurants & shops would have taken over 15 mins to get to and then at least 15 mins to get back. Parking lot was an unorganized mess. Announcer & car attendants very negative - complained about crowds & working 12 hour shifts.

We did the Nantahala Gorge ride and had a fantastic time. Each rail car has its own "guide" who provides all of the services and narration. Ours was Steven and he absolutely made the trip! So many interesting things to learn on the journey. We rode in a first class car and the food, drinks, and car temperature were perfect. When you get to the turn around take the time to go step on the Appalachian Trail!

If you time the leaf change perfectly, that's great but there is so much to enjoy about the beautiful train ride through some gorgeous country. We did the Nantahala Gorge and had a wonderful trip, made even better by Jacob, our tour guide and server. Wonderful experience.

This was our first time on the Railroad, but we enjoyed it! We rode through the Nantahala Gorge. Steve is a great guide with lots of knowledge of the area, and he made it fun. We booked first class in the open 21+ car, which was great. The pulled pork lunch was good too. I would go again!

I want to preface with the fact that the staff was AMAZING! Super friendly and eager to help in anyway they could.

However, I think the train ride in itself is incredibly boring with no views. We chose an open air gondola, the conductor narrated the trip, but it couldn’t be heard over train noise. The highlights of the trip are an overturned train car and the train wreck from a 90s movie scene.

We went to Dillsboro, most shops/restaurants we visited were extremely vocal about not liking the train or the people it brought.

Save your money and try a rafting or tubing trip! Those businesses love and value the tourists in the area.

We ultimately decided to call a cab and pay $75 to go back to our vehicle in Bryson City. If you ever find yourself stranded in the Silva/Dillsboro area, give Charlie the Cabbie a call! He was awesome and made our day.

Amazing experience! Learned a lot about this great area of NC. Met some great folks. Shout out to Jacob! When I saw his nametag, I knew we would have excellent service. Every staff member was courteous and truly went out of their way to make the trip memorable. Taylor, a local musician, treated us to original music. Thankful to see this area healing.

Never do business with this company. We made reservations for December. We had to cancel them 2 days after being made. I was charged 96.00 for canceling! More than 4 months before our trip. Be very careful with this company!

This is our 4th time riding the rails here! We so enjoy this a couple times a year. The staff is amazing...professional, fun and informative. We had Shay as our host today. She was the best. The whole operation is well organized

We did the 4.5 hour ride along the Nantahala River! What a great afternoon! We rode in the first class car with the served lunch and a terrific guide, Steven, who was full of great tidbits about the area and warned us when the really good photo ops were coming up! It was a beautiful day; the leaves were changing and a fabulous visit to a beautiful part of the world! Highly recommend this trip, and, if you can, go all in and get the first class ticket and sit by the window on the river side.

I have been wanting to do the Nantahala Gorge excursion for a few years now and we were finally able to make it happen this year!
The views were scenic, with some beautiful areas in between. I bet in the fall this is a truly stunning area to see via rail.
I did, however, have an epiphany once we boarded. If you are looking for a sexy, romanticized rail trip like those of the early 1900s, this is not that. We got what I like to call “middle class” tickets-the Crown class, so I cannot speak for “first class,” but I doubt that car lived up to my dreams.
Please save your precious money and skip the boxed lunches. Truly a disgusting looking sandwich that none of my party of 3 ate. (MELTED American cheese that was melted for no reason except being left out too long.) I am happy to report you get a cute lidded cup with free drink refills.
Our car attendant Lane was wonderful and hard working.
Overall a fun experience.

First, as a full disclosure it was a rainy day. But the seats are cramped and uncomfortable. We were extremely lucky that we sat on the correct side of car. If you are on the other side, you have no view. Nantahala goes up and back same route, so same views. Parking seemed abundant and not the limited parking mentioned on website. We prepuchased the meal and it was fine, but there are plenty of places to eat in town before the train leaves. People were nice but tired from a long season, they said so.

Great train ride,Chris our host and staff were great,Chris was very knowledgeable, food was great,would recommend this train ride experience to anyone

Great day- trip. Rode on the MacNeill car with Jacob and had a great time. BTW the roast beef was very good, but not as good as Jacob!

Many weeks in advance, we reserved a two-seat table in a First Class car on the steam train trip. A few minutes after we were seated, we were informed that our reservation had been updated and we were moved to another two-seat table in another car that had been designated First Class for this trip. This was on the right side of the train. What you are not told in advance is that the train does not turn around and no accommodations are made to switch seating sides for the return trip (which has been the case for other similar train rides we've taken in the US and England). That wouldn't have been so bad if the right side of the train didn't have such a lousy view. It was mostly just a wooded hillside and LOTS of kudzu. There were just a few brief glimpses of the river and lake. The passengers on the left side had far better views and we paid the same high price as they did. The food that was served was edible but not very good. And the stopover location at the Nantahala Outdoor Center was pretty bad, too. The bathrooms are filthy. There aren't many shady spots to wait things out. And you don't have enough time to walk over the river bridge and visit the shops there. We didn't go because we were warned that if you bought something, you may end up in a long checkout line that could make you miss the train's return trip in one hour. Also, the train (which is pulled by a diesel engine on the way back) had numerous unscheduled stops due to problems with a generator (affecting the AC) that were so bad, they picked up a repair man along the way. He wasn't able to fix whatever it was. Not a great day. BTW it is a long trip and I would not advise it for small children.

We had a great time! Enjoyed the layover at Nantahala. We will return to do the Dillsboro train in the very near future!!!!

Overall event was quite enjoyable with one major complaint; paid for 2 prepaid parking and arrived early due to being disabled. Pulled into the paid parking lot (which was empty) and showed my parking passes and was directed to park across the street in the FREE parking at the town administration building. We are both disabled, have handicap plates on both vehicles and PAID for parking yet had to park the furthest from the venue. The venue got free money and we got got more pain due to the distance.

I will start by saying THERE IS A LOT OF WALKING! The parking lot is across the street and if you take the afternoon ride, you have double the walk. When the lot attendant seen I was having trouble walking, see offered to find another place. By this time though, I was almost there. Once we checked in, we had more walking to the train car. Being a train, there is a lot of uneven ground and gravel to walk on. We opted for a closed car and was happy once we got seated, It was a very hot and humid day and the car was very comfortable. The ride to Dillsboro was fun and great scenery. We did not buy the box lunch and was glad we didn't as we found a great place for lunch. But again, more walking. After lunch, we were going to visit the shops but I just couldn't do much more walking. The ride back we had a singer for entertainment that was good. When we got back, as I was leaving the train, the extra step that had been placed at barding was not there and I step down and my knee gave out. I did yelp at the pain and was asked if I wanted a golf cart ride to the street. (where was this at the start of the ride) He took me to the main street where I was able to sit and wait for my husband to get the car. Overall the ride was fun and we got a nice mug as a souvenir.

Despite having an absolute idiot in our car named John who complained endlessly and caused his wife to cry because of his none sense, we had a wonderful time. The ride, the service, the scenery was wonderful and we’ll definitely be back. I don’t understand how people like John make thru life with such a bad attitude.

Half way through and I want to jump off the train. This was the most boring train ride ever. I would have had more fun in my local park kiddy train ride. There’s nothing I can comment on that was positive. Do not waste your time here. Being at the dentist office was more exciting than this.

My grandchildren and I always watched the POLAR EXPRESS every year at Christmas, so I decided to take them on this train ride. I was disappointed with the way things were done. If you have ever seen the movie, you would have expected a little more of the train ride to be like the movie. you know like the little boy losing his ticket or the mention of the tickets with the words punched out in them. The only good thing about the train ride was the Santa was very good. He took the time to talk to every kid and there was 22 of us on the train. It was a nice outing for my grands but for the money I paid I would have just expected there to be more interaction with the kids. especially since I booked the best tickets available hoping they would get the best experience possible.

Terrible experience for handicap accessible. Aisles do not accommodate wheelchairs, restrooms are barely accessible or available, although the reservations agent assured us a restroom on the Appalachian car was beside our seats, but it was on the opposite end of the car. The car attendant was fabulous,but the equipment is in dire need of an update. I do not recommend this venue for anyone with any disability.

LOVED our train time. The depot & train museum (admission included in your train fare) were awesome. We opted for 1st Class car HARPER. No children in 1st class, which we liked. Our host was Steve, who kept a constant, entertaining narrative of local facts & history, including the top things to see in the area. He was the BEST! Scenery was beautiful. (Note: we sat at E table - our side of the train had the best views.) Saw Fontana Lake, waterfalls, rivers, had a delicious plate lunch (ordered beforehand), plus a mimosa, unlimited coffee & soft drinks, & dessert was brownies or cherry turnovers. Everything about our trip was 1ST CLASS!
Note: you get what you pay for. If you want a 1st class ride, sign up for a 1st class train car. I see people complaining about walking from the parking lot - really?!?! It wasn't that far. Everyone there was super-nice. If we return to Bryson City, we'll take another train ride. Hopefully in Harper, with Steve.

This was such an amazing trip. We splurged and went first class and it was SO worth it! Our attendant was Steve and my goodness, he totally made our trip! He is full of information and history and funny to boot. He never stopped talking or working. He was incredible! If you go, spend the little extra and do the First Class. You get a great meal (I was even able to get a Gluten Free meal & dessert), a fun time and you learn so much (like - did you know Kudzu is edible and is used medicinally??). The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. We have been to this area quite a few times in the past and we saw many things we'd never seen before and learned about places to visit in the area we'd never heard of before. The engine & cars are beautiful. Anyone slightly interested in railroads can't help but be in awe. My recently retired RR husband and I had such a wonderful time. GREAT job GSMR!! Keep it up and keep Steve!! ;)

The steam engine train and the premium open air car on the round trip excursion to the Nantahala Gorge was the best. This car was excellent for photo ops and Oct 9th was the perfect time of year to see all the fall colors.

The staff was friendly. My husband and I rode first class. Our meal was okay --- not bad but nothing to write home about. The train ride goes up the mountain and back down. This time of the year, there is a lot of kudzu to see. The views of Fontana Lake and the Nantahala River were nice. We stopped on the way back for an hour at the Nantahala River.
There were shops and food. I enjoyed the ride because I love trains. It is an over 4 hour train ride total. I've been there and done it but would not return to do again. Especially for the money that it cost.

Great views of the lake up the gorgeous travelling in a very comfortable 1940s carriage (car in the US!). We chose 1st class for only a little extra cost and the aircon was very welcome as well as a very good lunch included. In this carriage Jacob gave us lots of information and looked after us very well!
A relaxing 4 hour journey with good company and an hour's lay over at a white water rafting centre to let us stretch our legs, great fun!

This rating is an honest one and not full of this, that, and other BS. First off, there is squat for scenery, period. My eyes now have a burned in vision of kudzu. If it weren’t for trees appearing once in awhile, I’d be blind. OK, we did get glimpses of the river and saw kayakers, rafters and if you were lucky enough you saw Big Foot. Didn’t have time to get a photo but I did see him. :-) The lake views, come on man……You had to be ready for any view as they passed by very quickly. BTW, we sat on the left side of the car which was supposed to be the best viewing side. Nuff said about the non-existent view and on to the Carolina Shine experience. We were served 9 different flavors of shine spread out over 2 hours so don’t think everyone was falling into the isle. Besides, these “Shots” were no more than 1/4 oz. Interesting flavors I might add. The lunch of pulled pork and cheese cake were really good. Emily was our hostess, and what a great job she did. Bubbly and a personally to match, a real joy. Our narrator did provide some interesting information but the loudness distorted the clarity which didn’t help. Sometimes too much information is just that. As for the car itself, pretty dirty looking. Could spend some of the $$$$$$$$$ made to clean up and put on a bit of nostalgia into each car. Believe that would enhance the whole experience. (KILL OFF KUDZU TOO). So, thank you for riding this train and now its your call on what to do, train it or not. Oh wait, you could also see the same sights by taking 74W out of Bryson, same river and no kudzu. You even drive to the tourist park that the train stops at. From Bryson to the park, it might set you back $6.59 in gas…

Our train trip was so much fun! The leaves were beautiful. Our guide/host, Steve B, was fantastic! He was very personable and he taught us a lot of history on the trip. He gets out vote for best host of the Smoky Mtn. Railroad!

In spite of everything we still enjoyed it very much! We bought tickets for the 21 and over BBQ and Beer 4 1/2 hour ride through the gorge with dinner by the lake. Instead we got a ride to a brewery with a 45 minute nite layover and HORRIBLE Hors d'oeuvres that tasted like chicken straight from a can and macaroni salad from the grocery store deli counter. Not even a good grocery store. The service from Steve and Heather was great and our travel companions were so much fun! Not worth the money IF you place value on the food alone. But the experience was unforgettable.

We took the Tuskasegee River trip and sat in the Harper train car. First-class service was excellent. Food was delicious & our server was professional and fun. They gave us useful souvenirs as well. I will say that the scenery outside isn't great. Lots of run-down homes along the river. Also, the stop in the small town of Dillsboro can be seen in less than an hour (you'll have 1.5 hrs). We did get excellent coffee & hot chocolate in this town. Overall, we enjoyed just being on the train, eating good food & enjoying the trip together.

The train trip was fn but be prepared for a noisy crowd on the uncorked car. When people start drinking alcohol at 10:30. The crowd is rowdy

This is a fun bucket list item for any trip to the NC mountains. Great views! We did the Natahala Gorge excursion. Good customer service from Jordan our hostess. The premium open air car was perfect for even an 86 degree day. Just enough breeze and cover to keep you cool. Cons: the food is mediocre at best. They also aren’t 100 percent forthcoming that you won’t get to see everything equally. The train physically does not turn around and change sides on the return trip so you see the same side you saw going up the line. We were told when we booked we would swap seats for the return trip but this isn’t true. Or it’s only halfway done. One patron said they allowed it just two days ago when they rode with another person in their family, yet today we were told it was not allowed. So, you may have tickets on the side of the train that gets way less scenic views. And it is a pretty big difference - the right hand side sees way more rocks and trees while the left hand side gets more river, lake and mountain views. If I had known at booking I would have booked the better side but there was no way to know! All in all, this was a fun day trip. Probably won’t go again as it feels like one of those “one and done” trips. But definitely go once!

Enjoyed the ride. We went on the Nantahala Gorge trip. Met Tim the story teller. Remarkable man. Full of area history and fun stories. The train is a little rock and rolly but it was fun. Cars were comfortable. You can walk out to the open cars but wait until the train slows down or you might get tossed around a bit. Beautiful views. I recommend taking one of the excursions.

Whenever we travel, we look to see if there is a train ride nearby. We were in Asheville for a week (a little over an hour from Bryson City) and went over for the Tuckasagee River dinner train. Unfortunately, it was a rainy day so that's 'dampened' things a bit. Connie (on our car) was a good guide, our meal was good. One highlight was seeing two bald eagles and four elk.

Took the Moonshine train and had a great time. The moonshine tasting was fun and our host was very nice. Wish we could have learned more about the actual moonshine. The town we stopped in was a bit boring but good to get out and stretch our legs. The weather was nice and scenery was good. Thankfully it was a 5 hour day, much longer would have been too much.

We are avid hikers (who are slowing down a bit in our mid-fifties) so decided to take this trip as a rest after a strenuous day in the park. The ride was fairly enjoyable but long and not terribly scenic. You honestly get a lot better sights just driving up to Clingman's Dome from Bryson City. I don't regret doing it, but I wouldn't recommend it and would not take this ride again. With so much amazing scenery visible from the roads all through the park and out along the Blue Ridge Parkway it just doesn't seem worthwhile to spend half a day on a train that truth be told has seen better days

The website was somewhat difficult to navigate and offered incomplete or confusing info about the trip. If I were to go again I wouldn't pay the $10 parking lot fee--they put you on the far side of the large lot and you have to walk about three to four blocks to board the train. Worth taking a shot at street parking closer to the depot. We wished we had bought tickets for the open car. Breezy, but more leg room....much roomier than the other cars. No coolers are allowed on the train, so you're at the mercy of their prices, choices, and availability. The ride itself in August is not that scenic; you're staring at hillsides, rocks and forests choked with kudzu vines. Lots of kudzu. The best part of the trip is passing by Fontana Lake, but you could drive there to see that. The half-way point stop seems to be almost the middle of nowhere, but you can stretch your legs and get lunch (the stop was about 1:15-+) from a food tuck and an Icee truck. Overall, my companion and I both decided we would not do this trip again, stopping just short of admitting we wished we'd spent the day doing something else.

Enjoyed a rail road trip. We sat in first class. Glad we did as it included a wonderful pot roast meal. It wasn't crowded and the perfect outing for my wife and I. The host in our train was informative and attentive to our needs. The ride is relaxing and a great way to step back in yesteryear. The rail cars are very well maintained.

I didn’t actually get to visit because according to the people that answer the phones, they are really not handicap accessible.
I have to have a shooter to get around, so I called to find out if there was places we would stop and get off the train, and the lady told me yes there is. Then I asked her about bringing my scooter ( this thing is 40 lbs. and I can pick it up). She tells me the train is not handicap accessible ( shame on them) and there no lift to lift my scooter. I’ve been looking forward to vacationing up there ( I’m from Louisiana) and riding a train in the mountains, guess I shall spend my money elsewhere.

I do not recommend. Not as scenic as expected. The train went right along side a highway for much of the trip, past an ugly rock quarry and we struggled to stay awake it was so boring.

It was great. We loved everything about it. The food was fantastic and the host was very informative. We learn a great deal of history. This is something everyone in the family will enjoy.

Took the first class trip to Dillaboro, food was good, our guide Jacob was awesome. Souvenir cup and tote bag.

Train was comfortable but the music was so loud you couldn’t hear someone next to you talk. You couldn’t hear the white water and nature which was so disappointing.
You could barely hear the train squeak and the horn honk. I asked someone to turn it down, but it wasn’t on their agenda for today. And I’d prefer multiple genres- not just boot scootin honky tonk.

The man who came on the intercom a couple times was excellent. I would have preferred him talking history the entire way! Most anything other than the blaring music.

This was a great experience!! Lovely views and enjoyed the Nantahala Outdoor Center. We were Crown Class Royal Palm car and it was really nice! Our attendant was great!!

This was a fun trip with neighbors. The train trip was fun to do with a group. None of us liked or appreciated the hour and a half stop at a shopping area set in the woods for the express purpose to trying to take more money. Although we were there at the height of the fall colors. The food was pretty good for a casual fun trip. It was not cheap.

I rode January 20 for my honeymoon. First off first class was great Steve was great the food was great the only major problem I had was the engine crew Steve said the guy driving the train was eddie and he was learning to drive the engine this company should really emphasize that there is people on the train there was food flying of tables and drinks were going everywhere. In closing These tickets were given to us by my mother in law for our honeymoon and I would like to come back and ride the Nantahala train ride and may be back my only hope is that driver eddie will not be on that train ride.

A great way to travel and see beautiful nature areas. It is a slow trip with nothing much to do, but well worth the outing. We took the closed train since the open wagons take a lot of smoke (when you pick the steam train). We also took our own picnic lunch. It is possible to buy food on the train and at the stop-over, but usually very long queues.