Do you ever have those afternoons where you want to go do something with the kids, but there are only a few hours left before dinner/hangry melt downs? After nap time for us can sometimes be challenging because there is not enough time to drive too far and I don’t want to spend a lot of money on something we will only be doing for max 2 hours.  This is why Cedar Rock Railroad was a good stop for us one afternoon.  My 2 year old is in the train stage.  He loves to play with trains, watch them, and of course ride them.  Luckily my 8 year old can pretty much find enjoyment in anything so off to Cedar Rock Railroad we went.  I came across this local gem one day when I searched for trains in Austin.

Cedar Rock Railroad is located inside Southwest Williamson County Park which is quite a large park.  This time we did not explore the park and just went right to the train, but next time I will allow more time to check out the entire park because there was a lot to see.  Our trip took place on a weekday afternoon so there was only one other family there when we arrived.  We drove up to plenty of free parking, and we were lucky because right when we arrived the train was getting ready to leave the station.  The train departs every 30 minutes at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour so no matter when you arrive you will not have to wait long. 

Since the train was about to depart we hoped on.  The conductor was the one selling the tickets and driving the train so it was a one man show that day, but since it was not too busy that did not seem to be a problem.  Tickets were reasonably priced at $3 per person no matter the age.  However, if you have a large family or bring a large group keep the price in mind because it can add up fast.  I personally felt like since the train ride is about 15 minutes long it was a good bang for our buck.  The train starts off by going through a large field and we were lucky this time because we got to see multiple deer relaxing in the grass not phased at all by the train noise.  We always get extra excited seeing animals out in nature so that was a major bonus for my boys.  Then we passed by a few houses which was fun because kids outside in their backyards waved and smiled, and even though they probably see the train go by multiple times a day they acted like it was the first time and they were excited to see us.  Next we went through a tunnel and around a lake.  The entire ride had an entertaining narration to make it a little more interesting for the kids, and one other nice thing to mention is the train had a roof so we were not boiling in that hot Texas sun as we went on the adventure.

Once we arrived back at the station there was still more fun to be had.  There was a little train themed playscape that had a tunnel and places to climb, and kids can use their imagination to pretend like they are driving their own train.  Next to that looks like a small town setup where kids can run around.  There was also another small train track which according to the Cedar Rock Railroad website is for another ride called the Little Locomotive Chase, but that was not operational when we visited.  It was a nice shaded space where you can bring lunch or a snack and enjoy it before or after the train ride.  You can also purchase snacks at the ticket window and there are restrooms close by to wash up before eating.

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This was a nice place to spend an hour or two.  It is definitely not an entire day outing (unless you want to spend time enjoying the other amenities at the Southwest Williamson County Park), but it was perfect for what we needed on a hot afternoon. They also have options for private parties where you can reserve a train ride or the picnic tables for your event. One last thing to mention is the train does close as needed for bad weather or repairs.  They recommend to check out their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CedarRockRailroad/) before heading over to make sure they are up and running and they are currently closed on Mondays.  If you have any other questions, definitely check out their website (https://www.cedarrockrailroad.com/index.html) and ALL ABOARD!