Family Guide to the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Adventure in Perris, California
Last updated: September 2026
If your family loves Harry Potter, you have to check out this official Harry Potter train adventure happening just down the road in Perris!
disclosure: I reached out to Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure and begged asked for tickets so I could check this out and share about it with you. Happily they provided tickets for my family to attend. I’m not required to post about the event, and all opinions are my own.
For once, something amazing has come to us here in the Riverside area FIRST!
We are big Harry Potter fans in our house, so I’ve been excited for this experience ever since I saw it announced a year or two ago. It’s hosted by the same company that does the Polar Express Christmas train, so I was hoping it might eventually come to the SoCal Railway Museum near Riverside in Perris (since they’re one of several locations worldwide that do the Polar Express).
I was shocked when they announced the Harry Potter event would come to Perris! So far, Perris is the only location for this event (which I assume will eventually travel the country). I feel really lucky that our little corner in the Inland Empire gets to be a part of its inaugural debut!
With that said, I think they’ve had a few kinks to work out since it’s the first time - keep reading for a little more on those, and what to expect! If you’re interested, don’t delay - it wraps up at the end of September 2026!
All About Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Train Adventure
What is the Hogwarts Express Train Adventure?
Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure is an hour-long Harry Potter themed train ride modeled after a ride on the Hogwarts Express. You start in a pre-boarding area with photo ops and a chance to enter Platform 9 3/4. Then you take the train ride, featuring activities, house celebrations, and experiences with actors.
It’s quite a bit different than the Hogwarts Express at Universal in Orlando - this doesn’t just take you from point A to point B, but rather is all about the train ride itself.
The Basics of Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure
Location: Southern California Railway Museum, Perris, California (about 20-30 minutes south of Riverside).
Address: 2201 S A St, Perris, CA 92570
Dates: July 24 - September 27, 2026
Hours: Departures at 12pm, 2pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm (Exact times vary by day). You want to arrive an hour early to enjoy the pre-boarding area.
Cost: $82.75/adult, $72.75 for children (ages 2-11).
Ages: best for children who enjoy Harry Potter and can sit through the hour-long train ride/show.
Reservations: required - purchase your ticket and seating assignment ahead of time online.
Parking: Parking is available at the SoCal Railway Museum. It costs $6 and MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE. When you buy your ticket, make sure to buy parking too. if you already purchased tickets, be sure to give them a call before you go.
Official Website: For more info, visit their web site here.
Our Experience
We're visiting this weekend… check back soon for our full review!
Tips for Visiting
I’ve been scouring reviews of this experience looking for info - Camille from San Diego Mamas has lots of good tips!
here is what I’m keeping in mind as we get ready to attend ourselves:
Dress festively, ideally in house colors. If you have Harry Potter clothes or gear - especially representing your Hogwarts House (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, or Ravenclaw) - wear it! I’ve heard this makes it easier for the characters to interact with you, plus it’s an excuse to wear something festive! We’ve had costumes since a few years ago when our family costume was Harry Potter themed, and these have all held up well for Halloween, dress-up, going to Universal, etc.
Adult-Sized Robes in all four House colors - work great for teens and adults
Gryffindor Scarf and HP glasses (this is slightly different than the ones we ordered, which are sold out, but have good reviews)
Gryffindor Quidditch tee - if you just want a t-shirt, not a full costume, my daughter wears this to all sporting events, haha
Be prepared for heat. Unsurprisingly, July - September in the Inland Empire is HOT. I’m honestly not sure why they scheduled the event for late summer, when 100+ degree days are commonplace here… I think January - March would’ve been perfect. We were actually scheduled to go for the Media Preview on the 1st day, but they cancelled our train because they were having a/c issues and it was too hot. Thankfully, these seem to have been mostly resolved, but if you have a handheld or neck fan, I’d bring it just in case. I’d also bring plenty of ice water, plus wear something cool and presentable under your Hogwarts robes so they can be removed if you get too hot.
Get there early! Your train time is when the train actually departs, and there are no late arrivals. Plan to arrive an hour early so you can find parking, get settled, check out the pre-boarding area (lots of photo opps and merch), and see the short pre-show.
Buy parking in advance. When you buy your ticket, be sure to buy parking too. if you already purchased tickets, be sure to give them a call before you go.
Eat ahead of time. There is butter beer for sale, but otherwise there’s no food provided or available. You can expect to be there for about two hours, so eat before you go!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hogwarts Express Train Adventure
Do you need to buy tickets in advance?
Yes, purchase your tickets ahead of time through their web site so you can pick your seats.
Is the Hogwarts Express Train Adventure worth it?
It depends on your budget and your family’s interest in Harry Potter.
If you’re a Riverside-area family… it’s the only Harry Potter experience I’ve found in the Inland Empire. It’s cheaper than going to a theme park for the day, and definitely easier with busy schedules than a full theme park day - you could go on a Friday evening after school, or in the afternoon before an evening soccer game.
If my kids hadn’t read Harry Potter, watched all the movies, etc. - I’d probably skip it. But it’s definitely fun for fans!
Is the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Adventure appropriate for young kids?
In terms of content, overall, yes. There is a big dementor puppet that you can see in some of the videos online - that would likely be the scariest.
Personally, we waited on Harry Potter till our children were in elementary school, so if you have little ones who are unfamiliar with the story, they may not enjoy!
They’ll also need to sit through the hour-long train ride.
While You’re in the Area:
Make the most of your trip — here are some other spots nearby!
Motte Historical Car Museum has been hosting kid-friendly activities recently and looks really sweet!
SoCal Railway Museum - the Harry Potter event takes place at the SoCal Railway Museum, which has lots of other exhibits and fun activities. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to visit both on the same day (the rest of the museum is closed while Harry Potter goes on). But consider coming back another day for one of their museum days or events!
Lake Perris is a pretty man-made reservoir “State Recreation Area” with walking and biking trails, playgrounds, campgrounds, boating, a small museum, and a few swimming beaches. Reviews here can be a little mixed - we’ve personally always had nice days here exploring. Water quality can vary (check current conditions here), and it can get pretty busy on weekends and holidays (loud music, trash, people partying, etc.)
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Riverside Area Museums for Families - a round-up of kid-friendly museums in Riverside and the Inland Empire
Hi - I'm Kelly! I'm a mom of four kids here in Riverside, and I created Riverside Fun Kids to help local families find fun, simple, and affordable things to do in our city.
From free events and kid-friendly activities to the best playgrounds, libraries, and museums, I'm here to help you make the most of life in Riverside.
I’m so happy you’re here! You can find me on Instagram @RiversideFunKids!
