The Choo Choo Barn

A traffic jam along the tracks is just one detail in the displays at Choo Choo Barn. Photo property of Mother of All Trips.

226 Gap Road
Strasburg, PA

Do you have a train-crazy kid in your family? Planning a family vacation or road trip through Pennsylvania Dutch country? You’ll want to stop at the Choo Choo Barn, a 1,700 square foot train-lover’s dream featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains!

Mara Gorman of Mother of all Trips, says of the Choo Choo Barn: “I knew it was going to be a hit with Tommy when we walked in and immediately saw a baseball game with tiny players running the bases and a ski mountain with a working lift…there’s also lots of fascinating real-life stuff like construction sites with moving bulldozers, a car accident complete with backed-up traffic, and a house on fire being busily tended to by a crew of firefighters. And of course there are also trains chugging around continuously, passenger cars that you can see in, freight trains marked “Pennsylvania Railroad and B&O and even some that are pulled by engines who will be familiar to all Thomas the Tank Engine fans.” (Read her full review for more details and travel tips!)

Extra Tip! Can’t get enough of trains? Visit three other train attractions in PA: the Strasburg Railroad, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and the National Toy Train Museum. Alternatively, check out the cool railroading offers at modelbuildings.org.

Please Note: Route 30 has many outlets and tourist attractions along it, and during the summer months the traffic on the far side of Lancaster (the side closer to Strasburg) can be beastly! There are lots of lights because of all the businesses. Plan accordingly!

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off Route 30. Approximately 30 minutes from either I-76 or I-83.

Hours: Generally open 7 days a week, but hours are varied by season.

Admission Prices:

Adults (13 and up) $6.00
Kids (4 to 12) $4.00
Kids under age 4 are admitted free

Food Services: The Mother of all Trips recommends the restaurant next door to the Choo Choo Barn for lunch!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Choo Choo Barn

Directions: From I-83, take exit 19 for PA-462 W, then merge onto N Hills Rd. Turn right at US-30 E, then right at PA-896 S/Hartman Bridge Rd. Continue to follow PA-896 S two miles, then turn left at E Main St. Take a slight left at PA-741 E/Gap R.

From I-76, take Hwy 283 to Hwy 23 into Strasburg.

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