Some of the best family day trip and vacation memories for North Carolinians and visitors alike involve a ride on one of the many Great Smoky Mountain Railroad scenic routes. Few things quite compare to a train ride through the mountains and valleys of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. This may be in the top five quintessential family trips in all of North Carolina.
But most people overlook the most unique way to ride the train (and possibly also one of the most affordable, depending on the number of people in your group or family).
Facebook/Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Did you know that you can rent a private caboose and ride on the tail end of one of two of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad routes?
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Imagine, just you and your family/extended family in your very own renovated caboose dashing through the gorge and whipping around the bends through the mountain scenery.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
For as little as $50 per person (at maximum occupancy), the caboose rental is yours for the duration of the trip. It has seating within the car and in the cupola. And as if that weren’t enough of an enticement: each rental comes with a modest cheese and cracker platter and 15 Cokes.
Flickr/Scott Beale Still not convinced this is the best deal on the GSMR? Here’s another reason to rent the caboose: this is the only ticket on the train that allows you to bring your own food and beverages aboard the train. So pack a cooler and prepare for hours of enjoyment riding the rails!
Each caboose has a limit of 15 people per party. (Good luck narrowing down the invitation list!)
Google Maps/Thorsten Bachner
There are two routes usually available, although the availability is, of course, related to supply and demand of the caboose cars on hand.
Google Maps/David Sechrest The first route is a 4.5-hour ride into the Nantahala Gorge (pictured).
The other route, (temporarily unavailable) is a scenic ride along the Tuckasegee River. On this four-hour trip, you’ll pass by a movie set from the Harrison Ford movie “The Fugitive.”
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
If social distancing from strangers is a top priority for you in 2020, then gather the family or a group of 15 friends and ride the rails in your very own caboose. Sounds like the perfect day trip, right?!
Facebook/Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Learn more about the private caboose rentals by visiting the official website of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Pricing quoted above was based on the current season pricing on the diesel train. Pricing varies by season, number of people you have in your group (the maximum is 15), and whether your caboose is attached to the diesel or steam train.
Facebook/Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Flickr/Scott Beale
Still not convinced this is the best deal on the GSMR? Here’s another reason to rent the caboose: this is the only ticket on the train that allows you to bring your own food and beverages aboard the train. So pack a cooler and prepare for hours of enjoyment riding the rails!
Google Maps/Thorsten Bachner
Google Maps/David Sechrest
The first route is a 4.5-hour ride into the Nantahala Gorge (pictured).
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Address: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, 45 Mitchell St, Bryson City, NC 28713, USA
