Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad

Sedona, USA

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

4 hours (approx.)
Paper ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6

· Kathy_C ·

Mar 2026

My family and I had a wonderful experience, it was an amazing ride and we had a great guide (Andy) and a great bartender (Josh). We learned so much and saw so many beautiful sights. This is definitely a must ride !!

· DONNA ·

Oct 2025

Amazing and so much fun. Staff was friendly and helpful. This is a must do. Food and drinks were great.

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Overview

Take an evening ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad during this "starlight" experience. You'll travel through Verde Valley, between two national forests, and along the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness to admire the high desert scenery, geological features, wildlife, and archaeological relics of the Sinagua people. Enjoy first-class seating on the train, which departs from Clarkdale.

Hop on the Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale, located a bit west of Sedona
Celebrate your starlight ride with a Champagne toast
Enjoy the comfort of a first-class cabin with panoramic windows and Southwest-inspired appetizers
Cash bar available if you wish to purchase drinks

What's Included

First class seating
Champagne toast
Appetizers
Snacks
Bottled water
Lunch

In 2023, all Verde Canyon Railroad tickets purchased through Viator include a cafe voucher for a meal at the depot cafe which may be carried aboard the train.

Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Gratuities
DVD (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Pets are not allowed on train

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Verde Canyon Railroad
300 N Broadway, Clarkdale, AZ 86324, USA
Departure Point: Verde Canyon Railroad Train Depot in Clarkdale, Arizona Address: 300 North Broadway, Clarkdale AZ 86324

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Ticket Redemption Point

300 N Broadway, Clarkdale, AZ 86324, USA

Itinerary

Verde Canyon Railroad

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Verde Canyon Railroad

Admission Ticket Free

Verde River (Pass By)

S O B Canyon (Pass By)

Perkinsville Ghost Town (Pass By)

Tuzigoot National Monument (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Infants must sit on laps

Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
Infant age is 0-1 year. Any guest aged 1 and over will be charged an adult rate. Guests cannot board the train without a paid ticket
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Kathy_C

Reviews

4.6

based on 90 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Pre-board hiccups but great time!

Mary_S, Mar 2026

We did the evening starlight ride 3/21/26. Requiring your ticket printed was a complete PAIN & ridiculous when someone is traveling! The pre-boarding wait in the heat & lack of enough shade seating horrific. Everything else completely luxury! If you make it through the beginning pergetory it is worth the expense. Every staff member beyond fabulous! The food, boxed meal & charcuterie were surprisingly delicious, and cocktail aboard wonderful. Definitely recommend, yet come prepared for the beginning terror.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Mary, we're happy you felt the train ride was worth it, hiccups and all! We appreciate your kind words for our crew, the charcuterie, the cocktails and the luxury of the ride. We'd love to hear more about your experience at the depot. Can you please write us at ellen.r@verdecanyonrr.com? We generally get folks checked in and their assigned seat tickets printed quickly, so we're curious what time you arrived and how long your wait was to check in at the ticket counter.

A wonderful evening and starry night

Kathy_C, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thanks for riding with us and sharing this great review. We're delighted you and your family had such a wonderful time, and we'll be sure to share your compliments with Andy and Josh.

It said it was a sunset ride and we saw no sunset.

Diane_F, Mar 2026

I would recommend the daytime ride because coming back you see nothing.. House was disappointed in our car. The person wasn’t giving any information.. when I walked through the next car there was some and giving lots of information. Also very disappointed there was a lot of kids in our car making a lot of noise.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Diane, thanks for riding with us and sharing this constructive feedback. We'd love more information about your ride, as far as the car you were seated in, so we can discuss with our train supervisor. Can you please email us at ellen.r@verdecanyonrr.com? We're sorry you did not get to enjoy the sunset on March 7th, although the train, running 3:30pm-7:30pm did return through it, with the last 40 minutes of the journey by starlight.

The staff and train ride,...

Frank_O, Oct 2025

The staff and train ride, including seating, was very comfortable and pleasant. The views were good but taking an evening train during late Fall prevented additional scenic viewing on the return trip. Also, upon getting back when it is dark, sun down, the parking lot lighting is not very bright. When going back to the car, the low lighting along with moving car lights made walking the parking lot difficult.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Frank, we appreciate your feedback which we have shared with our operations team. Thank you for the kind words for our crew, seating and scenery.

Non-Experience

leo_b, Oct 2025

The PA system is not effective to allow all to hear. If speaker is looking away, cannot hear at all. Views are limited. A disappointed from the advertised experience. Very Expensive for Value Received.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Leo, we'd love a little more information about your ride, and where you were seated that felt like limited views. Can you please email us at ellen.r@verdecanyonrr.com?

Amazing Ride

DONNA, Oct 2025

Amazing and so much fun. Staff was friendly and helpful. This is a must do. Food and drinks were great.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Donna, we love being considered a "must do"! Thank you for riding with us.

Such a pleasure!

Judy_R, Sep 2025

Scenic, relaxing, and memorable. The gift shop and waiting area are nice; the on-board staff is excellent & they set a fun tone; the whole experience was worth the trip and the price.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Judy, we love that you consider us a worthwhile adventure and appreciate your kind words for our crew and our depot amenities. Thanks for riding and relaxing with us!

It was very nice

Robin_D, Sep 2025

Take it during the day , then you can see all the stuff both ways, going and coming back . And the night does get chilly.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Robin, we appreciate you riding with us!

Starlight tour 5th anniversary

Melody_A, Aug 2025

The train ride was lovely. The cabins are comfy, they give you plenty of snacks, provide water and a champagne toast, and there is an optional bar. Our car's guide Romm was a wealth of knowledge and we thoroughly enjoyed listening to share his passion and information. We would highly recommend the starlight tour which gives you sunset views on the way in and starlight on the way back, truly the best of both worlds.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thanks for celebrating your anniversary with us, Melody. We're delighted the Starlight ride checked so many boxes for you, and we appreciate your kind words for Romn, the accommodations and the sunset scenery!

Perfect!

Glennis_K, Aug 2025

Excellent service and experience. Really enjoyed the champagne toast and carry on meal. The bartender was nice to have with all the yummy drink options as well. Wood do again!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for riding with us and sharing this excellent review.

Seeing stars

Shannon_F, Jul 2025

Overall the experience was nice. My favorite part was seeing all the stars during the return voyage. The guides were very informative as we began. The train does sway a little but that is how the ride would be on a vintage passenger train.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Shannon, thanks for riding the Starlight with us and for sharing kind words about the experience and our crew.

Excellent late afternoon evening tour

Diane_D, Jul 2025

Excellent tour - would have liked to hear the commentary from the speakers. Would go agai and highly recommend

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Diane, thanks for the feedback. We're happy you enjoyed your trip on the Starlight ride.

Don’t go in July when it...

Jennifer_R, Jul 2025

Don’t go in July when it is hot, waiting for the train in the heat is miserable and there is no place inside for seating.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

True AZ can be hot in July, even with the shade on the depot pavilion, but the train cars are cooled. We hope you enjoyed the ride.

Do this ride at all costs!

Heaven_H, Jun 2025

I absolutely loved the ride it was so beautiful the staff was also amazing. Everyone was so engaging and interactive. 1000/1000 would definitely do again.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

We love it when our amazing crew is saluted. We're delighted you enjoyed your ride with us. Thanks for sharing this great review.

Create a memory of a lifetime!

Katrien_A, Jun 2025

The whole experience blew our minds! It was more than we expected and we didn’t want it to end! Can’t wait to do it again!!!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Wow, we are so delighted we exceeded your expectations! We definitely look forward to welcoming you back.

I wa so looking forward...

Sherry_G, Jun 2025

I was so looking forward to this tour. I don’t ever leave bad reviews but I want to be sure you know what you are booking. 4 hours for us was entirely too long and we arrived almost 2 hours early and there was nothing to do. We ended up leaving and going to see Cottonwood. I’m not sure why they say to arrive early. Anyway once on the train, the first 2 hours were fine. The train moved super slow and it stopped for 20 minutes midway so it could change directions. The workers were super nice. The food was what you would expect. . The train ride was not what I expected and I would not recommend unless it was to someone older who likes to sit for 4 hours x

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Sherry, we're sorry our relaxed pace wasn't a good fit for you. We do appreciate you giving us a try.

Verde Canyon Railroad

Koreana_H, Jun 2025

The verde canyon trail is a beautiful experience. They had snacks and alcoholic drinks and even non alcoholic drinks available at your every whim. It is so full of history and beauty. Very comfortable and beautiful experience. We checked this off our bucket list!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thanks for riding with us and sharing this lovely review. We're glad you appreciated the scenery, comfort and service.

Great experience!

Richard_H, May 2025

My husband and I had a great time on this excursion. The seating was very comfortable and we also had access to an open air car. The staff was wonderful as well as the drinks!

Response from Host, May 2025

Richard, we appreciate your kind words! We're delighted you and your husband enjoyed the seating, the open-air cars, the beverages and our crew.

Started with promise…then a total bust.

Jay_S, May 2025

It was a bust. The train broke 15 minutes into the trip. We waited in the heat for 45 minutes before they let us know we had to get pushed back to the station. We received a full refund but who knows when we be able to return and give it another attempt.

Response from Host, May 2025

Jay, we are so sorry. It's incredibly disappointing to us when we are unable to fulfil our passengers' expectations. When we have mechanical issues that could impact our guests' safety and enjoyment, we have no choice but to cancel.

Too long

Julie_E, Sep 2024

This was just okay. It was way too long. Could be cut to two hours and it would have been better. The food was more than. we expected to get. The drinks were just okay.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Julie, we appreciate you gave us a try.

A relaxing ride

Susan_B, Sep 2024

The ability to be on the open aur car and get a 360° view, or bartender in the Yuma car was great! We were surprised that a dinner and snack was included on our ride. The car was comfy for the long ride that included some interesting buildings on the way! Definitely worth the money spent!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Susan, we're happy you enjoyed your Starlight journey with us, the views, the scenery, the comfy seats and our crew, and were delightfully surprised by the cafe voucher, included in bookings made via Viator.

Amazing Experience

Dior_C, Sep 2024

This was a wonderful experience! First of all, the staff at Verde Canyon are friendly and professional and made the entire experience enjoyable. I didn’t realize our tickets included a meal from the cafe so that was a nice surprise. The gift shop was quaint with some really fun items. The trainride itself was amazing! Comfortable seats inside, outdoor seating, snacks & drinks! The views and history were incredible. The tour guides were really great at pointing out the most unique sites/views. The ONLY thing that would have put the trainride over the top for me would have been available blankets as it was very chilly in the train especially at night. Otherwise the whole experience was unforgettable and we will definitely be going back!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dior, thanks for joining on one of our seasonal summer Starlight journeys and sharing this excellent review! Tickets booked through Viator do include a cafe voucher and we're happy this was a nice surprise for you. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again!

Amazing

Mark_N, Sep 2024

It was a cloudy day all day. Then like magic the skies cleared and it was an amazing stargazing experience. Staff was wonderful too!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Mark, we're happy the stars shined for you! Thanks for your kind compliments about our crew,

Beautiful time

Jesus_C, Aug 2024

First train ride ever, best train ride ever. The views were something of the imagination come to life. The staff was fantastic, the music was perfect and the history lesson about the region was the icing on the cake. 10/10 would do it again.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Thank you, Jesus! We are so delighted you loved so much about the train ride, the views, the staff, the music and the history. We look forward to welcoming you back!

Fantastic Adventure!

Jean_H, Aug 2024

Loved many things: Gift Shop, Cafe, couches on the train, champagne, cheese and goodies, full bar, friendly atmosphere, canyon beauty, music, recorded tour guide and last but not least … Kerry and her assistant (1st day on the job). Absolutely best day ever!

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Wow, Jean, thanks so much for sharing all of your favorite aspects of the journey! We can't ask for much more than "best day ever!" We're happy you enjoyed your trip. We'll share your sweet comments with the gift shop, Kerry and her trainee.

Relaxing, fun trip.

KatherineB, Aug 2024

We had a wonderful time. Our hosts were very interesting and informative. We enjoyed learning about the area. The train ride was relaxing and the stargazing at the end was great. We would go again.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

We're so happy you enjoyed a relaxing adventure with us aboard the Starlight ride. Thanks for sharing this excellent review. We do hope to welcome you aboard again!

My friend and I had a...

Hannah_N, Jul 2024

My friend and I had a great time! The staff we interacted with were very friendly and helpful. I liked being able to go to the outside viewing area but then go back inside when it got too warm. The views were beautiful! I would definitely go again.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Hannah, we're happy you and your friend enjoyed riding with us! Thanks for the compliments about our crew and the open-air viewing cars. We look forward to welcoming you back again!

Totally awesome train experience.

Bradley_C, Jun 2024

The stories that Tim told us and the service was great. The views and stars at night gave us a great experience for our evening. This was by far the best train excursion ever! We will be back and we will bring our family next time.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Best train excursion ever? Wow, Bradley, it's hard to top that. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and for sharing this awesome review of the Starlight ride. We'll be sure to share your kind remarks with Tim.

Wonderful day trip away from the city

Justin_B, May 2024

Absolutely fantastic experience. The whole staff was knowledgeable and hilarious. Drinks were fantastic. Would definitely recommend this. My girlfriend loves the surprise.

Response from Host, May 2024

Justin, thank you for riding with us and sharing this wonderful review.

It was lovely

Steve_E, May 2024

The rumble of the rails, the open air feel of the Arizona mountains on my face, and the pleasurable conversation with friends in a relaxing atmosphere.