Between the Appalachian Ski Mountain and Mystery Hill, nestled halfway between Boone and Blowing Rock in North Carolina, is a must-visit destination for any family. Put on your best cowboy hat and boots, load up your family into your motorhome, and chug your way along to Tweetsie Railroad, the wild west-themed park and fairground with no shortage of family fun and entertainment.
The animal lover in your travel party will be in their element with the petting zoo and deer park. At the same time, the live shows will captivate an audience for hours. Train rides, dozens of rides, and steam locomotives set on over 200 acres of land will also surely offer enough of a reason to take an RV road trip to North Carolina between April and December.
After a three-mile train ride through Tweetsie Railroad, and a day full of train-themed fun, visitors can then check out what the rest of the area has to offer. Take a walk on 25 miles of trails through Moses H Cone Memorial Park, or go picnicking at Julian Price Memorial Park.
Watauga County and Caldwell County in North Carolina have a lot to offer the avid traveler, so pencil in a trip away sooner rather than later.
There’s no better time than now to start saving your pennies, for there are plenty of Tweetsie Railroad ticketing options to suit the whole family. Avid train fans will revel in the convenience of being able to buy a Golden Rail Season Pass from $75, or special event passes from $30. A daily ticket also ranges in price from $30 for a child, to over $50 for an adult.
Blowing Rock and Boone, both of which provide road access to Tweetsie Railroad, are central to Charlotte, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee. I-40 is the most direct route to Tweetsie Railroad, but care should always be taken when navigating mountain roads.
The best time of year to visit is often between spring and fall, with winter driving proving tricky for drivers of any experience level. Blue Ridge Parkway is typically closed for the winter, so check your route for this and other road closures.
Anyone new to the area who wants to explore all the best national forests and state parks in North Carolina, such as Pisgah National Forest, may like to rely on a traffic aid like DriveNC to help guide the way.
Follow the whistle of the steam locomotive echoing through the mountains, and chug your way to 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane in Blowing Rock.
A paved parking area is easily accessible from US-321, which leads onto Tweetsie Railroad Lane. Motorhomes and campervans may make use of the lot, but consider visiting during off-peak times to secure the closest parking space to the main attractions. In the past, parking has been free, which means visitors may have more spare cash to spend on vendor purchases!
While train lovers can enjoy a three-mile journey around Tweetsie Railroad on a beautiful old steam locomotive, there is no such option available to get to the theme park itself. The best way to reach Tweetsie Railroad, either from Boone or Blowing Rock, is in a tow vehicle or motorhome.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of parking, and visitors can then set off to other natural attractions like Grandfather Mountain State Park once they have finished at Tweetsie Railroad.
RV travelers won’t mind in the slightest that they can’t camp at Tweetsie Railroad, for its central location to many townships and cities mean RV campgrounds nearby are abundant. Think about your preference for luxury or boondocking, then book a preferred option in advance to ensure you get your first pick of North Carolina RV parks.
It won’t take long to discover some of the best RV campgrounds and resorts in North Carolina. Honey Bear Campground and Flintlock Campground are within a ten-mile drive of Tweetsie Railroad, while Boone KOA is within the same distance past Howards Knob County Park.
Campers who don’t mind traveling from a little further out can select one of Tweetsie Railroad’s preferred RV accommodation providers, such as Bear Den Creekside Cabins & Campground within 40 miles of the theme park.
Getting around Tweetsie Railroad can be an invigorating experience for any train lover. Jump aboard the steam locomotive for a tour around the grounds. Otherwise, parents with kids can bring their stroller or wagon, or rent them for a fee.
While skateboards, scooters, and similar, are not allowed, there are plenty of other ways to navigate the grounds, including on foot, and a bus from the far side of the park to the entrance.
What a visitor to Tweetsie Railroad wears can depend on the time of year they visit, and what they feel like doing once there. Casual attire is best, but check a weather app to determine whether it’s going to be a shorts or pants kind of day! Don’t forget your best Mountaineers supporter’s gear either, for an Appalachian State University tailgating experience in nearby Boone could be in the cards.
Camping in the great outdoors of North Carolina can require any RV-goer to carry camping and cooking equipment. However, upon arriving at Tweetsie Railroad, this can be left in your locked motorhome.
Visitors can bring in food and beverages, their dog on a leash, and cash.
For convenience, ATMs are dotted throughout the theme park. While shopping, you don’t even need to lug around hefty bags all day. The theme park adopts a Package Pickup program, which means you can collect your purchases once you’ve finished exploring the park.
While visiting North Carolina to check out Tweetsie Railroad, outdoor enthusiasts may see the value in hiking or fishing at Cherokee National Forest, or even exploring the vast waterfalls while camping at Pisgah National Forest.
Therefore, alongside preparing for a trip to Tweetsie Railroad, visitors should factor in their health and safety needs for other fun things to do in the area. Pack a fully-stocked first aid kit, plenty of sunscreen, drinking water, and bug spray.
How an RV traveler cooks can depend on where they stay with an RV, and what RV camping rules are in place by resort and campground hosts. Cook up a storm in an RV rental or private vehicle with a propane gas cooker. Where possible, a campfire or charcoal grill can also prove useful. Before or after visiting Tweetsie Railroad, hungry campers can collect all the supplies they need in Boone, three miles away.
RV vacations can be all about trying new things, so why not carry on that theme while choosing what to have for lunch or dinner? Boone and Blowing Rock both have some worthwhile options, including hearty American cuisine, and bistro-style meals. However, if you feel like going on a local tour, Lenoir has some excellent eateries a mere 25 miles from Tweetsie Railroad.
All manner of exciting food options awaits at Tweetsie Railroad. Once you’ve worked up a hunger on all those fun theme park rides, you can then pay a visit to Fudge Works to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Fancy something traditional? The Funnel Factory offers fresh funnel cakes with homemade lemonade. Something more substantial awaits at Cowboy Cantina, with nachos, pizza, hot dogs, and more. All vendors at Tweetsie Railroad accept debit and credit cards.
Any bags brought into Tweetsie Railroad may be subjected to searches to ensure everyone can remain safe and sound at the theme park. If you’re bringing in your furry friend, they must be on a leash and under control at all times.
Anything damaging, distracting, or dangerous should be left in your vehicle, and it also pays to secure any valuables out of sight in a locked motorhome. Approach a security official for help at any time, but enjoy the convenience of having a police station within a short three-mile drive of the theme park for any outside matters.
Given Tweetsie Railroad’s closeness to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the climate and daily weather can be quite unpredictable. Always pay attention to a weather report before visiting to ensure you’re dressed for the occasion, and that your motorhome is prepared for all eventualities. In the event of rain at the theme park, ponchos are available for purchase. If any rides have to shut down, a rain check may be offered to visit on a different day.
Any slip, fall, scrape, or bruise can be quite uncomfortable for a visitor to Tweetsie Railroad. Fortunately, medical personnel are on duty during operating hours at the first aid station in the depot building.
Dial 911 for anything serious or injuries sustained at local attractions like Elk Knob State Park. The nearest medical center to Tweetsie Railroad is three miles away in Boone.
