A First Timer’s Guide to the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
If you’re looking for a cool experience in the North Georgia mountains, consider taking a ride on the historic Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.
For whatever reason, I’ve wanted to take a train ride for a long time, and was finally able to make it happen this past March. Tina and I booked an AirBNB on the Toccoa River just outside of Blue Ridge and pre-ordered our tickets for a four-hour trip on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.
Despite less than perfect weather, we had a great, relaxing weekend, and the train ride was worth the expense.
If a historic train ride through the Appalachian mountains sounds like something you’d enjoy, this article highlights exactly what to expect and provides a few tips to get the most from your trip based on our recent experience.
Quick Look
Where is it located:
241 Depot Street
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
GPS: N 34°51′56″ | W 84°19′29″
Who it’s for:
A ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway will appeal to people of all ages who enjoy trying something new, scenic views, and the nostalgia of train travel. It may seem “boring” to kids and teens unless they have a specific interest in trains.
How much time do I need?
The train ride itself is two hours, and you can choose an option that includes a two-hour layover in McCaysville, GA/Copperhill, TN.
You will want to arrive at the train depot 30-45 minutes early to get parked, pick up your tickets, and board the train. So plan for around three to five hours, depending on whether you have a layover.
If you’re coming from out-of-town, I’d also recommend giving yourself some time to check out the shops in Blue Ridge. It’s a cool little town!
What does it cost?
The price of the train ride varies on time of year and whether you choose a coach car or one of the premium cars.
Spring, summer and winter pricing is similar, with fall trips being the most expensive.
For the two-hour trip, expect to pay anywhere from $42.99 to $59.99 per adult. For the four-hour trip, prices range from $54.99 to $74.99 for coach cars and $99.99 to $119.99 for the premier cars.
There are discounts for seniors (65+), military, first responders, teachers, and children (2-12).
Dates of Operation:
For 2024, the train will operate from March 2 to January 5.
Parking:
There are a variety of parking options available in downtown Blue Ridge, both free and paid. Download a free parking map.
About the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a heritage railroad nestled in the quaint mountain town of Blue Ridge, Georgia. This train takes passengers on a picturesque 26-mile roundtrip journey along the Toccoa River to the twin border towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway offers two- and four-hour trips. They both take you on the same exact roundtrip, however the four-hour trip includes a two-hour layover so you can grab lunch and do some shopping in the cool mountain towns mentioned above.
Guests can choose between open-air and climate-controlled rail cars depending on your preference. The vintage rail cars, some of which date back to the early 20th century, have been meticulously restored to offer a comfortable, nostalgic ride.
Our Trip
Since we went in March, with temperatures and weather conditions unpredictable, we opted for a Premium enclosed car. I thought the open-air car would be really fun, but just didn’t want to risk bad weather, and it turned out to be a wise decision.
The morning trip was cool with drizzling rain, so we were really happy to be in a nice, climate-controlled enclosed car.
Keep in mind, the premium enclosed cars are about twice the price of an open car.
There are other perks to the premium car, including reclining seats, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, a catered snack (ours was a scone and fresh fruit), some sweet treats on the return trip for dessert (a fresh cookie), a complimentary group photo, and a canvas tote bag (1 per sales transaction).
We opted for the four-hour trip, and I’m glad we did. The price difference wasn’t all that much, and there were lots of cool shops and numerous restaurants to check out in McCaysville and Copperhill (more on that below).
Now, for the ride. We arrived at the historic train depot 45 mins early as recommended. By the time we picked up our pre-ordered tickets from the ticket line, took a few photos in front of the train, we were able to board.
Seating is first-come, first-served, so get there early to ensure you get a good seat. Which brings me to a frequently asked question regarding seating:
Which Side of the Car Should You Sit On?
A noteworthy tip for those planning to ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway: the positioning of your seat can significantly impact your viewing experience. As the train heads north towards McCaysville, passengers seated on the right-hand side will enjoy the most picturesque views.
Yet, there’s no need to worry if you find yourself on the left; the railway ensures fairness by having passengers swap sides for the return journey to Blue Ridge. This ensures that everyone gets an opportunity to savor the stunning views along the Toccoa River, regardless of their initial seating.
Keep in mind, though, that this switch means you’ll be facing the opposite direction on one leg of your journey. For the optimal experience, try to secure a seat facing forward on the side offering the scenic views.
I learned this the hard way, ending up with my back to the direction of travel on the scenic return trip, leading to a lot of head-turning to catch glimpses of the approaching beauty.
While not a deal-breaker, being prepared can enhance your enjoyment of the breathtaking landscapes that make this railway journey so memorable.
The train departed right on time, so don’t be late!
It’s a nice, slow and smooth one-hour ride to McCaysville. The average speed is around 15 mph. The car would sway a little as we got going, and I was worried initially that I may end up motion sick, but it wasn’t an issue.
While the train is moving, you can get up and walk around, use on of several bathrooms located on the train, or visit the concession car located in the middle of the train. There you can purchase cold/hot beverages, snacks, candy, and other food items.
The scenery is amazing, and the conductor does a great job of pointing out historical landmarks, wildlife, and other interesting things along the way. I feel like the one-hour trip went by quickly, and before you knew it, we were pulling into the cool little towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee.
The Layover in McCaysville/Copperhill
Fortunately the rain has mostly subsided by the time we arrived in McCaysville, and we were able to have a great time exploring the two towns. There are lots of shops and restaurants to check out, and you’ll want to be sure to grab a photo at the Georgia/Tennessee state line, which is marked by a sign and painted blue line that runs across the highway.
I also had to take the opportunity to visit the infamous McCaysville Drug and Gun that doubles as a pharmacy and gun store, because why not? Lol
Tina never misses an opportunity to try some new coffees, so we made it a point to visit The Folk Collaborative so she could grab some new kinds to take home.
Before we knew it the first hour of our two-hour layover had passed, and we still needed to grab something to eat. If you visit our website or YouTube channel regularly, you will quickly learn we both love pizza and trying new pizza places.
So it was no surprise we gravitated toward the Twisted Tomato restaurant on the bank of the Toccoa River. While it would be a great place to eat outside overlooking the river, the recent rain and cooler temps kept us inside for this meal.
I won’t go into a full review, but the brick oven pizza was excellent! I would definitely eat there again, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to our friends and family.
By the time we finished up our meal, it was time to head back and re-board the train for our return trip to Blue Ridge.
Final Thoughts
I was really glad to finally get my train ride this past March. It lived up to my expectations, and made for an overall great weekend spent with good friends in a beautiful region of Georgia.
I will say, it’s probably one of those one-and-done activities for me, other than I wouldn’t mind going back to ride in an open car during peak fall foliage season. Otherwise, I’ll just mark my train ride off the “must do” list and move to something else.