An incredible place to bring the family! Plenty of things to see and do including train rides. Multiple clean bathrooms located around the campus as well as 3 covered picnic shelters. I came specifically for a model train show they were hosting. Definitely coming back with my Grandson to tour the grounds and buildings. The volunteers and staff are so helpful and friendly.

We went on the Polar Express ride!!! SO MUCH FUN, and very nostalgic for some! I think the adults enjoyed it just as much if not more than the kids. Very well done. The decorations, chef dancing through the aisle serving hot cocoa, the ticket stamper, the kid actors playing the characters from the story, and the visit to the North Pole were all great. Santa even came onboard to hand out sleigh bells! Tickets sell out quickly so if you want options, buy as soon as they go on sale. We purchased a table for four in the "Parlor" which I believe was the most expensive at close to $400 total. Kind of expensive for a family outing but we thought it was worth it. I'm not sure we'd do this one every year, but probably alternate with something else in between years. It wouldn't feel as special to do every year, but we loved this whole experience!

My family and I really enjoyed our day here. There was lots to see, and the history was very interesting. There were some hands-on things for the kids, but they could really use more. And the things that are hands-on weren't always clearly marked, so it was a little frustrating for my 5 year old who wanted to touch every car. 😆 He really enjoyed being able to climb up in the cab of a big truck, and explore some of the train cars. The rest of us enjoyed all there was to see and take in. The train ride wasn't very exciting, but it was really nice. We bought a membership, so the turntable ride was included. I would have been disappointed if I'd paid for the turntable ride. It was interesting, but the operator was kind of unpleasant towards some of us, and simply ignored others. He was very friendly to my husband though. All in all, for the price and the close proximity to home, this was a win for my family and we hope to return soon!

It's been 15+ years since I was last here, there are so many great exhibits for all ages. Make sure to grab a ride on the train or round table. There are great picnic shelters so pack a lunch and head out for a day of fun.

This place was amazing to visit! The staff were super kind and helpful! They are also volunteers which I thought was awesome. They have a train ride that leaves at set times. They have several vehicles on display ranging from airplanes, trains cars etc. If you are in the surrounding area including Charlotte I highly suggest you come and check this place out! Thank you for the great time and we look forward to coming back!

Fun for kids and adults of all ages. We went today (9/23/22) for the Thomas and friends day. The museum is very accessible, not far off of 85. There is ample parking (note for the further away parking lot there is a shuttle, not sure if thisbis for special events only). Roughly a dozen or so vendors selling food and drinks. The museum itself is massive with lots of space to walk around with interactive stops for children.

Took our 4 year old son here and he had an absolute blast! So much to do & see, even a sandpit for the kiddos surrounded by very comfortable rocking chairs for mom & dad to enjoy! The train ride was short but very informative describing the history of the railway and then there were a few train cars you could get on and check out, which was really cool! Definitely recommend!

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles! What a fun place! We didn’t happen to arrive on a day when you can do a real train ride but we got to explore so much! We learned a lot about the history of the area, how the site used to operate, and a lot about how trains work. Definitely plan a good 3hrs to go through the site. Everyone there was super friendly. The restrooms were in great condition.

We went on a Tuesday. Very few visitors there. The train wasn't running during the week, only Saturday this time of year. We viewed the exhibits in the back shop and the flue shop. Very clean and organized exhibits. We didn't visit the roundhouse since the train wasn't running. The gift shop was very nice and had items in all price ranges. Staff was very friendly and informative. Well worth a visit and price of admission.

Took my four year old to the museum and I can say we both enjoyed it. It was very spread out and not crowded. Really enjoyed the old back shop and roundhouse with antique cars, fire trucks, wagons, and of course trains. The price for admission is spot on for a good value to spend a few hours checking things out. We did not come on a weekend so didn't get to try the train ride. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in history, cards trains, etc.

Had so much fun!!!! I highly recommend for anyone even remotely interested in trains/cars/planes. There were so many stories to read about and you can ride a turntable!! I think it's so cool that this town was such a crossroads due to being 150 miles from other big train hubs and trains needed maintenance/checks every 150 miles. I really liked all the trains and learning about how they were serviced there. I think it's so cool the town can preserve it's history like that. Highly recommend for engineers as well, as I always liked looking into how machines work and this really hits that itch. Ticket was $6 for me, an adult on a weekday. At the gift shop, the can of Cheerwine was only $1 and two postcards 50 cents each.

This place was so fun for the kids. It's a drive from the triangle area but it's well worth a visit. We went in the height of the pandemic. Hence the masks. definitely worth a visit. The gift shop is amazing.

Every time we have guests come to our home we always bring them to the museum, it is very economically priced and only about 35 to 40 minutes from our home, the museum is yet something for everyone! A 30 minute old-fashioned steam train ride and lots and lots of different cars and planes and other things to look at, if You Want To Step back into the past this is a place to Go and Find a piece of our history!

The North Carolina Transportation Museum is a must if you love history. This place is surprisingly huge, and they have a massive number of all types of vehicles. We took our 3 year old nephew, and it was a blast watching his face light up over all the different trains. If you've never visited this place, you should definitely add it to your list. Also, You should also purchase the train ride tickets. It's about a 25-30 ride and it was extremely fun.

This is a huge museum spread over a number of acres and complete with running tracks. We visited NC from UK and we planned to visit this museum before we travelled as I am a train enthusiast. Boy were we surprised! Set in an old engineering facility this museum is not just trains, there's a huge collection of cars, trucks and other road transport. Some of these are set in carefully thought out exhibits, but they have so many that most of the vehicles are lined up in an absolutely huge loco engineering shed. The trains were fantastic, diesel locos, steam locos, cabooses, freight wagons, coaches and even a 250T steam crane. We visited on a non-running day and the museum was very quiet. We were able to wander as we pleased taking as long as we liked. No pressure. As I have mentioned they have this huge repair facility which is packed with static exhibits, including a 1950's airliner being restored. We spent about 3 hours here just wandering, looking, learning. if it had been a running day we would have spent maybe 5 hours. Very pleased to have included this in our 5 day trip around NC.

Had a blast wandering around took about 3-4 hours to get through. Really loved learning about the turntable and the restoration work they are doing. The army and postal service cars where really fun to walk through, hard to imagine sorting mail on a train 🤣 I totally recommend this place for just about everyone unless you really don't like trains. The gift shop was very cute, had a lot of kid oriented gifts but had some very cool pins and Momentos for adults. They have a delicious cheerwine slushie for only $1.50 that comes in a collectible cup. The Employees are very friendly and knowledgeable, you can tell they love what they are doing. I will definitely be coming back they add a lot of cars/vehicles to their exhibits, it'll be nice to see what they add next time I'm in Spencer.

Our 4 year old birthday boy (grandson) loves trains, big rigs, anything big. For his birthday surprise we went here. He was all about the trains and cars and trucks on display. We got tickets ahead of time. Our Saturday visit was NOT crowded at all and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Everyone of the staff we encountered thanked us for being there. There is a short train ride (diesel not steam) and he loved it. The gift shop had his favorite train, Thomas, so of course we indulged. Aside from trains there were vehicles of every kind. Model A’s, Rolls Royce (1939), Edsels, Nash, even a Piedmont Airlines DC-3 undergoing major renovations. Several of the vintage autos were even made in NC for a short time. Very much worth the time and there is something for everyone!

What a pleasant surprise! The museum had a lot of really great exhibits, and space to explore. Has something for everyone. The turntable ride was fun, and getting to explore the round house was great.

The most friendliest, entertaining, diverse, fun museum I’ve ever been to. There truly is something for everyone here. Beautiful locomotives and railcars from all over the country (and world) with an amazing truck/car/plane section as well. There is so much history to be found at the museum and if you’re lucky, you’ll even see the friendly museum cat who will plop on her back and ask for belly rubs. The staff was extremely polite and friendly and made the experience even more enjoyable, and the $6 train ride was well worth it! If i could, I’d go back tomorrow.

There was actually a large amount of things to see. They had everything from Trains to Race cars. I seen old trains, newer trains, train yard, items about the Wright Brothers. They also have a train ride that let's you feel what a train rides really feels like and also gives you a little history lesson about the train yard. My kids enjoyed it and told me it was extremely fun.

I was honestly expecting a longer train tour than 25 minutes. I was disappointed that there were signs to wear masks and when MANY people got on the train, they took them off! It is definitely not enforced. Other than that, the museum was interesting.

Fun for everyone! My kids ages 3 months-6 years old all enjoyed the train ride and exploring the restored planes, trains, and automobiles. Lots of information surrounding every exhibit and really nice to explore at your own pace.

We are never disappointed in a visit. We have been the museum multiple times, and the Polar Express twice. Thank you for requiring covid vaccines or negative tests as well as masks inside. It was so much fun and relaxing. The outside events were fun. We had treats from the food trucks.

We visited the NC Transportation Museum on 9/16/2023 and thoroughly enjoyed it! We started the morning with a brief but lovely train ride around the museum site before heading over to visit all of the transportation exhibits housed at this location. The staff, mostly volunteers, were welcoming and everyone does a fantastic job of keeping this expansive site up and running smoothly. There's plenty to see and do for all ages. Bathrooms were exceptionally clean, picnic tables were readily available and interactive exhibits were a huge draw for children who were visiting. This is a great day trip for anyone within a 2-3 hour drive. The only thing missing was a cafe/food stand for a quick bite. The museum entry fee, however, allows patrons to come and go throughout the day and there are plenty of nearby places to eat in Spencer.

Today December 3, 2023 was my first time visiting here with my son for the Polar Express train ride and we absolutely enjoyed it. We got there super early, but from the moment we walked in to when we left everyone was soo incredibly nice. A great experience, and will be back. Lots to do, and amazing food vendors 😉

Amazing gem of a museum. The curators of this museum have carefully preserved the spirit of this unique monument to railway history and used the massive “Back Shop” building to showcase authentic treasures from the past few centuries in transportation history, from buggies, to trains to cars & trucks, to aircraft and everything in between. This is the site of the beautifully restored largest remaining railway roundhouse in North America. All of this you can see for $6 per person + an extra $1 to ride the roundhouse turntable with an expert tour and orientation. There is a gift shop & minimal snacks. Food trucks may be available for special events. Train rides are often available. Currently the popular “Polar Express” event is ongoing. From what I understand, this event sells out by the end of July, so plan well in advance. Plenty of free parking.

Went for the polar Express. Highly suggest for younger kids. My 6 year old wasn't to impressed but I do think it's worth doing at least once. Everyone was super friendly and they had vendors there so you could eat there if you want.

We had a wonderful time getting to the North Pole aboard The Polar Express. Santa was great with the kiddos, as was the staff. They put on a great show! I highly recommend the trip!

I really had a great time roaming around here! I kinda wish I had taken more pictures. I like automotive and train history, engineering in general, and being able to see everything here was a great experience. The round house, trains in various stages of restoration, the repair shop, the buildings, and the history captured in this one place make it uniquely special. I came on a Saturday, they were only open 9 to 2, I got here around 10, left at 2, and could have easily spent another 2-3 hours reading everything, and looking around - I rushed through several buildings in the last 1/2 hour so that I could just see it all.

We went to the Station for the Ultimate Christmas Train Ride. Unfortunately, there were no open vendors for Food due to the dreary wet weather. But we didn't come for food. This Christmas Story Themed Train Ride included the Main Characters, Christmas Elves, and SANTA actors. Included in our Train Ride Ride Package a Train Ride Stop in the North Pole, a Christmas Story Book, a Hot Cocoa and Souvenir Coffee Cup, a Chocolate Chip Cookie, a Take Home Bag of Goodies, and a Christmas Bell, hand-delivered by Santa Clause. ☆☆☆Buy your Tickets for Next Year ASAP if you wait till Summer you may not get the Ticket or Package you would like. Well worth the money.

My family came to the NC Transportation Museum for the Day Out with Thomas, which was incredibly fun! My son thoroughly enjoyed seeing Thomas and Percy and being able to ride the train. The property itself is laid out like a normal trainyard, only a museum. There was some construction in the main bay, but otherwise, seeing all the exhibits was really cool. Lots of fantastic rail history all through the museum.

We went to the museum for our third time today! We always have loved it and try more of the fun things each time we go! My boys love riding the train and turntable. They like all the interaction exhibits as well!

Great museum! Trains, vintage cars, and some planes. Working train turntable. Great facility. Thomas the Tank Engine and Percy were there for a special event, but they're not permanent.

Such a fun experience! They even have cheerwine slushies! First time ever and it did not disappoint. Such awesome artifacts of our history of transportation. Will definitely come back again. Spent about 2 hours in total with the train ride and just casually walking through.

We experienced the Polar Express train ride. This experience truly excited my inner child. It brought so much joy to me and my family. This experience was beyond what I expected! Everyone was very nice and polite. I plan on making this one of our yearly holiday traditions!

Woo-hoo had fun! 5 buildings of exhibits. Easy to get to off exit #79 on I-85 in Spencer NC. Planes, trains and automobiles plus more. Recommend.

Great Day trip from the Roanoke Valley area! My son loves to visit and it gets better every time. We see more things and the staff is so friendly!

This was a perfect Christmas trip for my 6 year old. We watched the Polar Express movie and home and then took the PE train ride! He was so excited to see parts of the movie, drink hot chocolate with marshmallows, sing, visit the gift shop and take a picture with Santa. A memory he'll never forget and worth every penny!

Nice train ride, great experience. The inside had lots of neat vehicles. The car show was going on when we got there. Only downside is the winner didn't deserve it, but that was only due to voters.

Wow! This museum is wonderful! If you are a train buff, you need to make plans for a family outing at the NC Transportation Museum! They offer a local train ride and themed rides throughout the year as well. My family will definitely visit again! (Great gift shop, too!)

Neat little place that is rich in history. It was amazing to learn about how strong this small town was during the Great Depression, thanks to the 3000+ jobs it provided to those in the railroad Steam locomotive industry. The exhibits gave a glimpse into the hard work of the workmen that made this country an industrial success. Be sure to check out the special events and train rides that happen throughout the year!

Amazing! Do yourself a favor and purchase the train and turntable ride. Actual museum may not be enough "fun" did tiny tots (though they'll love the train) but teens and adults will likely want to spend 3-4 hours at all the displays in the many buildings.

I took my father today. We had a really enjoyable day. He got to tell me all about train riding in his day. The variety of methods of transportation were all over on display. Truly a great experience and way to connect with your parents.

If you like trains, machinery and automobiles, this is the place for you. I see many families bring their younglings there to explore. Admission is only $6 and you have so much to see and explore. Even snacks and gifts are cheaper than most museums I've been to. They have steam engines, diesel engines, old cars and trucks. I think you can ride on one of the train too. It is an old train railyard so all the area doesn't have AC. It does have fans to move air but it can get hot walking on the rails and sidewalk during summer.