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All aboard for family fun! Metro Detroit is full of unique train activities for kids that will delight young and old alike. Whether your child is obsessed with locomotives or you’re just searching for new things to do with kids in Metro Detroit, this list has you covered. From restaurants with model trains chugging overhead to historical depots and rideable mini railroads, here are 15 cool train-themed attractions (listed alphabetically) that promise an unforgettable outing. Grab your conductor’s hat and let’s explore!
Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern, Facebook
Bagger Dave’s – Berkley
2972 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley, MI 48072
Admission: No entry fee – it’s a restaurant (menu prices vary)
Website: Bagger Dave’s
Bagger Dave’s is a beloved local burger tavern with a twist – a model train runs along a raised track overhead as you dine! Kids will be mesmerized watching the train loop around the restaurant, making for a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. The Berkley location of Bagger Dave’s was the first in the chain and proudly features this whimsical train feature that delights guests of all ages. While you enjoy gourmet burgers or the famous hand-cut fries, your little ones can keep an eye on the choo-choo circling above. It’s a casual, community-focused spot where a simple meal out becomes a mini train adventure.
Bagger Dave’s – New Baltimore
50570 Gratiot Ave, New Baltimore, MI 48051
Admission: No entry fee (restaurant; pay for your meal)
Website: Bagger Dave’s
The New Baltimore location of Bagger Dave’s offers the same family-friendly dining experience with an overhead model train component that kids love. Located along Gratiot Avenue on the edge of New Baltimore/Chesterfield, this burger tavern welcomes families with its relaxed vibe and community feel. As you wait for your meals, the kids can watch a miniature train chug along above – a great distraction and conversation starter. Parents appreciate the local craft beer and hearty sandwiches, while children stay entertained by the train making its rounds. It’s the perfect pit stop to refuel during a day out, combining good food and train-themed fun in one stop.
Hungry after your train adventure? Explore our picks for kid‑friendly family dining in Metro Detroit
Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill – Armada
17985 Armada Center Rd, Armada, MI 48005
Admission: Day pass approx. $13–$20 per person (varies by day/season; includes train & wagon rides; children 2 and under free)
Website: Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill
A visit to Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill is a must for families, and train-loving kids will especially enjoy the Funland area here. This 800-acre working farm in Armada offers an array of classic farm fun – including train rides through the orchard on weekends. Purchase a Funland day pass (kids 2 and under are free) and you’ll get unlimited access to attractions like the petting farm, corn maze, giant slides, and the farm train/wagon rides that loop around the orchards. Little engineers can climb aboard a colorful tractor-pulled train for a gentle ride amid the apple trees (a great chance for cute photos, too!). Parents will love the fresh cider and donuts, U-pick fruits, and the country atmosphere. It’s one of those things to do with kids in Metro Detroit that combines outdoor education with pure fun – all while enjoying a scenic “choo-choo” ride.
Visiting in spring? Don’t miss our roundup of best free spring activities for kids in Metro Detroit
Chi-Town Union Station – Commerce Township
8275 Cooley Lake Rd, Commerce Twp, MI 48382
Admission: $5 adults, $3 kids/teens (ages 5–17), children 4 and under free
Website: Chi-Town Union Station
For serious model train enthusiasts, Chi-Town Union Station in Commerce Township is a jaw-dropping destination. This venue is home to the world’s largest O-scale model railroad and the world’s longest model train – truly one of the most impressive model train exhibits in Michigan. The layout fills a 10,000 sq. ft. building floor-to-ceiling with over 12,000 feet of track, meticulously recreating Chicago’s Union Station and mid-century railroading in miniature. Dozens of trains, including exact-scale replicas of famous passenger lines, run simultaneously in an orchestrated ballet of model locomotives. Chi-Town Union Station typically operated on a seasonal schedule (open to the public on weekends November–March), so be sure to check ahead for current hours. When open, it’s a paradise for kids who love trains: they can climb up on viewing platforms to watch hundreds of cars snake around scenery, and chat with the volunteers about how it all works. If you’re looking for a family train ride Detroit area activity that’s indoors and educational, this record-setting exhibit is a must-see. (Note: As of recently, the museum has been closed pending relocation, so verify its status before planning a visit.)
Detroit Model Railroad Club – Holly
104 N. Saginaw St, Holly, MI 48442
Admission: $5 adults, $2 children (ages 5–18), children under 5 free
Website: Detroit Model Railroad Club
Tucked in downtown Holly inside an old historic movie theater building, the Detroit Model Railroad Club offers an enchanting journey into miniature railroading. This club has a sprawling two-rail O-scale layout that comes to life during their public open house events (generally fall through spring). Kids can scamper between viewing areas, marveling at detailed landscapes and long trains winding through tunnels and towns. The club thoughtfully provides low viewing panels “at kid height” for little ones, so even toddlers can get a great view of the trains. Parents and grandparents will appreciate the craftsmanship and the club’s 90-year history. During an open house, you might witness multiple trains running at once over 6,000 feet of hand-laid track – a sight that captivates the young and young-at-heart. The atmosphere is friendly and educational; club members are on hand to answer questions and share their railroad passion. For an affordable outing (kids under 5 are free) and a look at one of Michigan’s great model train exhibits, put the Detroit Model Railroad Club on your list of train activities for kids in Metro Detroit.
Domino’s Farms Petting Farm – Ann Arbor
3001 Earhart Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Admission: $8 per person (children under 2 free)
Website: Domino’s Farms Petting Farm
Animals and trains come together at The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farms, just outside Ann Arbor. This working farm attraction, established in 1984 at Domino’s Farms, features all the usual barnyard friends – goats, cows, pigs, and even pony rides – plus a real 1923 railroad caboose on-site! Young train fans can explore the stationary train car and imagine life as a conductor, ringing the bell and peering into the historic caboose’s cozy quarters. It’s a hands-on history lesson that sparks kids’ imaginations. Throughout the year, the farm also hosts special “Train Weekends” and seasonal hayrides, giving families a chance to enjoy a short ride around the farm property. For just a modest admission, you can spend hours feeding and petting animals, taking a hayride, and climbing on a vintage train car. The mix of farm fun and a touch of railroad history makes this a unique outing. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your little one in the caboose – it’s a classic slice of Americana and a memory to treasure.
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Flat Rock Model Train Depot & Museum, Facebook
Flat Rock Model Train Depot & Museum – Flat Rock
28700 Arsenal Rd, Flat Rock, MI 48134
Admission: $6 adults, $5 youth (ages 11–18), children 10 and under free
Website: Flat Rock Model Train Depot & Museum
Located in a historic depot building, the Flat Rock Model Train Depot & Museum is a hidden gem in the downriver area. It’s operated by the Flat Rock Model Railroad Club, whose members have created an elaborate operating Lionel train layout inside. The museum is typically open to the public about twice a month (often the first and third Saturdays) – so it’s a good idea to check their Facebook page or local listings for the schedule. When you visit, you’ll step back in time: the 1910-era depot has been lovingly restored, and outside you’ll even see a bright red caboose on the grounds. Inside, dozens of model trains zip through miniature towns, mountains, and countryside scenes on multiple levels of track. Club volunteers are eager to chat and even let kids activate some of the trains. Admission is only a few dollars, which goes toward maintaining the displays. If you have a young railfan in the family, this little museum will make their day – it’s hands-on, uncrowded, and filled with the magic of toy trains in motion. Plus, you’ll learn a bit about Flat Rock’s own railroad history in the process.
Great Lakes Live Steamers – Royal Oak
Starr Jaycee Park | 1321 W. 13 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48073
Admission: Free (open to public on first weekend of each month, May–Oct; donations appreciated)
Website: Great Lakes Live Steamers
What kid wouldn’t love a miniature train ride? Great Lakes Live Steamers is a volunteer-run group that operates rideable miniature steam trains in Metro Detroit. At Royal Oak’s Starr Jaycee Park, the group offers free train rides to the public from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month during the warmer seasons. The trains are adorable scale models that are big enough to sit on – children and parents alike can straddle the small train cars for a leisurely ride around the park. As the little locomotive chugs along the track, you’ll wind through trees and past park playfields on a loop that feels like a real railway adventure to the kids (it’s roughly a half mile of track). The experience is completely free (with donations welcome), making it one of the best family train rides Detroit-area families can enjoy on a budget. Arrive early, as lines can form on nice days. Watching the live steam puff out of the engine and hearing the “clickety-clack” on the rails is pure joy for young train lovers. It’s a wonderful community event that brings generations together, courtesy of the dedicated hobbyists of Great Lakes Live Steamers.
Great Lakes Live Steamers – Southgate
Southgate Municipal Park (Train Park) | 13901 Leroy St, Southgate, MI 48195
Admission: Free (open to public on third weekend of each month, May–Oct; donations appreciated)
Website: Great Lakes Live Steamers
Downriver residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy the miniature trains – Great Lakes Live Steamers also run a second location at Southgate’s Kiwanis Train Park. On the third Saturday and Sunday of each month (May through October), from noon to 4 p.m., families can ride the pint-sized trains around the loop in Southgate’s park. Just like in Royal Oak, the rides here are free and operated by friendly engineers who are passionate about sharing their love of trains. The Southgate track features bridges and small trestles, adding to the adventure as the mini locomotives pull passengers through the park. You’ll often see multiple trains running at once – sometimes even a scaled-down steam engine alongside a mini diesel. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it; the kids will likely want to ride again and again. This is family train ride fun at its finest – relaxed, community-oriented, and powered by imagination (and a bit of steam). Don’t forget to wave at the volunteers and thank them for keeping this delightful tradition on track each year!
Looking for even more budget-friendly family fun? Check out our article to free things to do with kids in Metro Detroit
Greenfield Village – Dearborn
20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124
Admission: $39.00 adult | $29.25 youth (ages 5–11) | children 4 and under free (ticket includes all Village attractions; rides are extra)
Website: Greenfield Village
Greenfield Village in Dearborn is like stepping into a time machine – an 80-acre living history village where America’s past comes alive. For train fans young and old, the highlight is the historic steam locomotive that circles the village each day. An authentic 19th-century steam train ride is included with a ride pass (or All-Access ticket) and lets you hop aboard a train pulled by a vintage locomotive as it chuffs its way around the perimeter of Greenfield Village. You can ride coach cars or even open-air gondolas, waving to other guests as you pass by period-perfect farms and buildings. Beyond the train, the Village offers plenty of railroad fun: visit the working Roundhouse to see where engines are serviced, or check out the historic Detroit, Toledo & Milwaukee roundhouse and turntable. Kids will love hearing the whistle echo across the park and feeling the rumble of the tracks beneath their feet. The rest of Greenfield Village is packed with things to do with kids in Metro Detroit: ride in a Model T car, watch glassblowers and tinsmiths at work, visit Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park lab, and more. It’s educational and entertaining in equal measure. Tip: Consider a combo ticket or membership if you also plan to visit the adjacent Henry Ford Museum – both are part of The Henry Ford complex, a true treasure of our region.
Michigan Transit Museum – Mount Clemens
200 Grand Ave, Mount Clemens, MI 48046
Admission: $7 adults, $4 children (ages 4–12); ages 3 and under ride free
Website: Michigan Transit Museum
Here’s a chance to ride a real train on a historic railroad line! The Michigan Transit Museum operates out of the preserved 1859 Grand Trunk Railroad depot in downtown Mount Clemens. The depot itself is a small museum (open limited weekend hours) that showcases railroad artifacts and the story of Thomas Edison working as a young telegraph operator there. But the big draw for kids is the excursion train ride the museum offers in summer and early fall. On Sundays from June through September, they run vintage train rides that depart from Joy Park (Clinton Township) and travel about 3 miles down the old Grand Trunk railway line and back. The ride is about 40 minutes – just right for little ones – and features refurbished 1930s passenger cars, an engine, and even a caboose. Volunteers on board will punch your tickets and share a bit of local railroad history as you clickety-clack down the tracks. There’s nothing like the real sights, sounds, and feelings of riding a full-sized train – you’ll go over a bridge, through woods, and experience a bit of nostalgia. After the ride, stop by the Mount Clemens depot museum (free with your train ticket) to see exhibits and an electric trolley car on display. This outing is a fantastic blend of family train ride excitement and Michigan history in action.
Saline LS&MS Railroad Depot – Saline
402 N Ann Arbor St, Saline, MI 48176
Admission: Free (open to the public Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; donations welcome)
Website: Saline LS&MS Railroad Depot
The Wabash Depot Museum in Saline (named for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad that once ran here) is a charming piece of small-town history. Known also as the Saline Depot Museum, this 19th-century train depot has been restored and turned into a local history museum by the Saline Area Historical Society. It may not have operational trains, but it’s full of railroad heritage and is a great place to teach kids about the importance of trains to early Michigan towns. The depot’s interior looks much as it did in the 1800s – with a telegraph office, waiting room, and baggage area. Volunteers have outfitted it with railroad artifacts, old photographs, and even a working telegraph you can try. Outside, a red caboose is stationed on a short stretch of track, and an old semaphore signal and crossing signs add to the atmosphere (kids love to see the life-size rail equipment). The museum is typically open on Saturdays for free tours, and during Saline’s summer events they often have special programming. It’s a quick, worthwhile stop to spark your child’s imagination – they can pretend they’re travelers from a bygone era. And for model train lovers, Saline’s Depot often sets up a small Lionel or HO scale model train during open-house events or holidays. This hidden gem proves that even a quiet little depot can be one of the cool train activities for kids in Metro Detroit – especially for those who appreciate local history.
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Detroit Zoo, Facebook
Tauber Family Railroad at the Detroit Zoo – Royal Oak
8450 W 10 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Admission: Detroit Zoo admission required ($27 adult, $24 child at gate) | Train tickets $3 per person (one-way ride)
Website: Tauber Family Railroad at the Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoo’s Tauber Family Railroad is a perennial favorite that combines two things kids adore: animals and trains! Once you’re inside the zoo, hop aboard the miniature railroad for a relaxing ride that shuttles you between the front entrance (Royal Oak station) and the Africa Station deep inside the zoo. These are scaled-down trains that you sit inside, and although they’re not full-size, they’ve been delighting visitors since 1931. The open-air train offers a scenic trip along the zoo’s southern perimeter – you’ll chug past portions of the African savannah habitat, see native plants and ponds, and occasionally spot animals in the distance. For kids, it’s pure magic to ride this miniature steam train (now powered by eco-friendly engines) and wave at people as you go by. It also saves little legs from walking the entire zoo back and forth – a train ride can cut your zoo trekking in half! Rides cost just $3 per person one-way, and you can purchase tickets at the station. Make sure to check the schedule posted at the zoo; the train typically runs daily in summer and on busy weekends, weather permitting. Pro tip: Ride from the front to the back of the zoo early in your visit (to reach the Arctic Ring or African exhibits), then catch the train back toward the exit when everyone is tired. It’s a classic family train ride Detroit families have loved for generations, and it’s sure to be a highlight for your young adventurers at the zoo.
The Henry Ford Museum – Dearborn
20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124
Admission: $36 adult, $27 youth (5–11); children 4 and under free
Website: The Henry Ford Museum
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is not only one of Metro Detroit’s top attractions – it’s also a fantastic place for train lovers to explore. Inside this vast museum (which is adjacent to Greenfield Village), you’ll discover several historic real trains on display that will leave your kids wide-eyed. The most impressive might be the colossal Allegheny locomotive, one of the largest steam engines ever built, which you can walk right up to (and even underneath!) to appreciate its sheer scale. There’s also the elegant XIX-century 1862 Rogers steam locomotive and a 20th-century diesel-electric engine, among other rail artifacts. Kids can climb into a vintage Michigan Central Railroad passenger car from 1900 and imagine traveling in the old days. Throughout the museum, exhibits showcase how railroads transformed America – from the first steam locomotives to the dining car experience. Youngsters can try their hand at interactive displays, like operating a signal light or checking out a model of a modern high-speed train. Beyond trains, The Henry Ford Museum houses famous pieces of history (the Rosa Parks bus, JFK’s limousine, airplanes, giant machinery and more) that make learning fun and hands-on. It’s an engaging, smart yet family-friendly museum where you easily can spend a whole day. If your kid’s birthday or a rainy day calls for a train activity in Michigan that’s indoors, educational, and awe-inspiring, the Henry Ford Museum will not disappoint.
Witch’s Hat Depot Museum – South Lyon
300 Dorothy St, South Lyon, MI 48178
Admission: Free (open Sat–Sun 1 p.m.–4 p.m. in season; donations welcome)
Website: Witch’s Hat Depot Museum
The Witch’s Hat Depot Museum is as charming as its name. This iconic 1909 train depot in South Lyon earned the nickname “Witch’s Hat” for its steeply pitched octagonal roof, which resembles a witch’s hat. Moved to McHattie Park in 1976 and restored, the depot is now the centerpiece of a small historic village. When you visit on a summer weekend, you’ll find the old depot building acting as a museum filled with local railroad memorabilia and exhibits about South Lyon’s early days. The interior is preserved to look like a turn-of-the-century station, from the ticket window to the potbelly stove. Kids can see how people used to send telegrams or wait for the next train. Outside, there’s real train equipment to explore: a bright yellow caboose that often is open for climbing inside, and a neighboring freight house with additional displays. The Witch’s Hat historic village also includes a little one-room schoolhouse and a vintage wooden chapel, so you can extend your visit by wandering the past. Each fall, the South Lyon Historical Society hosts “Depot Day” with extra activities, crafts, and sometimes a small model train setup for kids to operate. This quaint museum is community-focused and run by volunteers, giving families a free and educational outing. It’s a great way to spark a child’s appreciation for local history and, of course, to enjoy the ambiance of an old-fashioned train depot – complete with that unforgettable Witch’s Hat roof.
All Aboard for Your Next Adventure!
Metro Detroit is teeming with train-themed adventures perfect for families – from model train exhibits and historical depots to rideable steam trains and zoo railroads. These 15 attractions offer a variety of experiences, whether you’re planning a weekend outing, a birthday surprise, or just exploring new things to do with kids in Metro Detroit. Encourage your little engineers to embrace their curiosity and imagination with each whistle stop on this list. And remember, The Perna Team is here not only to help you find the perfect home, but also to connect you with the community we love. Ready to plan your next outing? Pack some snacks, charge up your camera, and get ready to make precious memories on these train adventures. If you need more local tips or are looking for family-friendly neighborhoods near these attractions, contact The Perna Team – we’re always happy to share our local expertise and help your family enjoy all the wonderful experiences Metro Detroit has to offer. All aboard for family fun!
For location and Directions, please see the interactive map below
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