What to Wear on a Polar Express Train Ride: Warm Matching Pajamas for the Whole Family

The short answer

Wear pajamas, because the ride invites it, and dress for the platform rather than the train. The organizers of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride say families are encouraged to wear warm pajamas, and they also warn that you may spend time on an unheated platform while boarding and getting off. So the outfit is a sandwich: a thin base layer, two-piece fleece pajamas or a regular knit set, warm socks and real boots, and a winter coat, hat and mittens that come off once you are inside a heated coach. Save the hooded onesie for kids old enough to manage a small train restroom on their own.

Layer	What we would choose	When it comes off
Base	Thin long-sleeve top and leggings, or nothing extra above about 40°F	Stays on
Pajamas	Fleece two-piece for little kids; knit set for a heated coach	Stays on
Feet	Warm socks plus boots or sneakers, never slippers alone	Stays on
Coat	Winter coat that zips over the pajamas	On the platform; off on board
Extras	Hat, mittens, a small blanket for a baby carrier	Off on board, back on for the walk out

PatPat is not affiliated with the train ride or any host railroad. We sell family pajamas, and everything below about the ride comes from the organizer's and host railroads' own pages, linked in the text.

What the Polar Express Train Ride Says About Pajamas, Timing and Weather

The ride is licensed to host railroads across the country, and each one sets its own dates, tickets and rules. Rail Events Inc., which coordinates the licensed events, answers the basics on its FAQ page. Four lines from it shape what you wear:

• Pajamas: "Families are encouraged to wear warm pajamas just like passengers from book and film."
• The platform: "Passengers may spend time on an unheated platform as they board and disembark from the train, so appropriate winter attire is also recommended."
• Length: trips "are generally no less than 60 minutes and no longer than 75 minutes per round trip."
• On board: passengers are served hot chocolate and a treat, hear a reading of the book, and receive a silver sleigh bell after Santa boards the train.

The host railroads add the details that matter for clothing, and they don't all say the same thing. That is why we would read your own railroad's FAQ before you buy anything. Here is what three of them say:

Host railroad	What its page says	What it means for your outfit
Durango & Silverton (Colorado)	"All cars are heated." It says to layer so you are warm outside while waiting and "able to shed a coat while riding." Restrooms in most coaches. Arrive about 30 minutes early; about 2 hours in total.	Coat off on board, so the pajamas are what everyone sees in photos.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad	The train is "climate controlled," with "multiple restrooms on board." Arrive 40 to 45 minutes early. Ages two and under ride free on an adult's lap.	Plan for up to 45 minutes outside or in a station before you board.
Vermont Rail System	"Pajamas are encouraged, but don't forget warm layers!" Arrive 45 minutes early. No strollers or large diaper bags because of limited seating. Two-person benches.	Wear the baby in a carrier, and pack small.

Put together, the pattern is clear. You will spend more time standing outside, in a parking lot, a ticket line and on a platform, than most families expect, and then about an hour in a warm coach. An outfit built for the coach alone gets cold children on the platform. One built for the platform alone gets sweaty children on the train. Layers solve both.

Questions to check on your host railroad's page

• Are the coaches heated, and is there an indoor waiting area?
• How early should you arrive, and is there a pre-boarding event outside?
• Are there restrooms on board?
• Are strollers allowed, and do children under 2 need a ticket or a seat?
• Is there a coat hook or space under the bench for coats and bags?

How to Layer Christmas Pajamas for a Cold Train Platform

The AAP's winter safety advice for children applies directly here: "Wearing several thin layers will help keep kids warm and dry. Insulated boots, mittens or gloves, and a hat are essential." Pajamas are one of those thin layers. They are not a coat, and on an unheated platform in December they should not be treated like one.

The temperature bands below are our own suggestion for a 30- to 45-minute wait outside, not a medical guideline. Children vary, and wind or damp air makes any temperature feel colder.

Evening forecast	Under the pajamas	Pajama choice	Over the pajamas
Above 45°F	Nothing extra	Regular knit set	Light jacket or hoodie, hat optional
30°F to 45°F	Thin long-sleeve top for kids	Fleece or knit set	Winter coat, hat, mittens
Below 30°F	Thin base top and leggings for everyone	Fleece set	Winter coat, hat, mittens, scarf or neck gaiter, snow pants for small kids
Rain or wet snow	As for the temperature	As for the temperature	Waterproof shell; keep a dry spare pair of socks in the bag

Base layers that don't spoil the look

A base layer under pajamas should be thinner than the pajamas and hidden by them. A fitted long-sleeve top and leggings in a dark or neutral color work for kids. Avoid a thick sweatshirt underneath, because it stretches the pajama top out of shape and makes the child too hot the moment the coat comes off in a heated coach. If you are choosing between a warmer pajama and a warmer base layer, choose the warmer pajama, since it is the layer that stays on in the photos.

Socks and shoes

Feet get cold first on a platform, because you are standing still on concrete. Many of the family sets in this article come with a pair of buffalo plaid socks. Those are a fine top layer for the photo, but on a cold night we would put a warmer pair underneath and wear boots. Slippers alone are a bad idea: platforms can be icy, and a child in slippers who steps in slush will be cold for the whole ride. If your child insists on slippers for the look, pack them in the bag and swap once you are seated.

Coats, hats and mittens

Choose a coat that zips fully over the pajama top. Pajama tops are cut relaxed, and a fitted coat can bunch the fabric at the sleeves. Put the hat and mittens in the coat pockets before you leave home, so they come off and go back on as one unit. The Durango page puts it simply: dress to be warm outside, shed the coat on the train, and put it back on after the ride.

If the AAP's warning signs for frostbite ever apply, the trip is over: skin that hurts or burns and then goes numb, or turns white or pale gray. On most evenings at a heated station that will not happen, but it is the reason the hat and mittens are not optional for young children.

The drive to the station

Most families reach the ride by car, and that is where the winter coat rule changes. The AAP's car seat guidance says "bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness". Buckle kids in their pajamas and base layers, then put the coat on backwards over the straps or lay a blanket on top. Pajamas and a thin base are exactly the close-fitting layers the AAP describes. Coats go on properly in the parking lot.

Fleece or Regular Knit? Choosing Warm Matching Pajamas for the Ride

For most families, fleece is the right call for the youngest children and a regular knit is fine for everyone else, as long as the coat is warm. Here is how the sets we would consider compare, using only what the product pages say. We did not test their warmth, so treat the "Best for" column as our editorial judgment.

Set	Fabric, as listed	Who it covers	Best for
Gingerbread print, dark green	95% polyester, 5% spandex, described as "a soft and cozy fleece material"	Women and men to 3XL, kids 2Y to 12-13Y, baby 3-6M to 12-18M, pet bandana	A cold evening with toddlers and older kids
Santa and candy cane, dark green	100% polyester, described as "warm fleece"	Women and men to 2XL, kids 2Y to 8-9Y, baby 3-6M to 12-18M, pet bandana	Families with younger kids
Reindeer and tree, cream	100% polyester, with 94/6 polyester-spandex collar, cuffs and hems; sold as fleece	Women and men to 3XL, kids 2Y to 12-13Y; no baby size	Families with older kids and teens
Fair Isle print, red	Stretch knit, 96% polyester, 4% spandex	Women and men to 2XL, kids to 12-13Y, baby from 0-3M	A mild night, or a family with a newborn
Dinosaur onesie, multicolor	Stretch knit; 100% polyester in kids' and baby sizes	Women and men to 2XL, kids to 12-13Y, baby from 0-3M	Older kids and adults who want the costume look

The trade-off with fleece is the coach. A heated car full of passengers with hot chocolate can be warm, and a child in fleece pajamas and a thermal base layer may be too hot within 20 minutes. If you choose fleece, skip the base layer unless it is below freezing, and take the coat off as soon as you sit down. If you choose a regular knit set, add the base layer and keep a sweatshirt in the bag in case your railroad's coaches run cool.

All of the kids' and baby pieces in the sets above are described as flame-resistant on their listings, except the cream reindeer and tree set, whose listing doesn't say; read its kids' label when it arrives. For a fuller breakdown of fabrics by region and how warm a house runs, see our guide to choosing Christmas pajama fabric by climate.

Shop the look

For a below-freezing platform with a baby, a toddler and a 9-year-old, everyone wears the green gingerbread fleece: one listing, choose each member and size. For the same evening with a newborn, the red Fair Isle knit goes down to 0-3M, with a base layer under it for the walk out. The Frosty the Snowman blue set is listed as fleece in its title and as 100% polyester in its description, and it runs from 0-3M through women's and men's 2XL, with kids' sizes to 8-9Y.

Onesie or Two-Piece on the Train: What Actually Changes

A one-piece looks great on a platform, and for older kids and adults it is a fine choice. For children under about 6, we would pick a two-piece set. Three things on a train make the difference bigger than it is at home.

The restroom is small and moving

Durango says restrooms are in most coaches, and Western Maryland says there are multiple restrooms on board. That does not make them roomy. A onesie has to come off both shoulders every time, and in a narrow restroom on a moving train, with a winter coat to hang somewhere first, that becomes a two-person job for a young child. A two-piece set lets a child pull down and go. We explain the general onesie bathroom problem, and how to test whether your child can manage a zipper alone, in our holiday movie night checklist; on a train it matters more, because you cannot pause the ride. Take everyone to the restroom at the station before boarding.

Coats sit differently over a hood

The dinosaur onesie has a hood with a 3D detail on top. Under a winter coat, that hood bunches at the back of the neck, and it competes with the coat's own hood. On the platform we would leave the onesie hood down and put a hat on, then put the onesie hood up for photos once you are inside and the coat is off.

The full zip is a plus on board

There is one advantage to the one-piece. The dinosaur listing describes a full-length front zip, so an older child who gets warm in the coach can unzip partway without taking anything off. Grown-ups who want the costume effect for photos will like it for the same reason. If you are looking at family christmas onesies for the ride, that is the age group we would choose them for.

Who	Two-piece	Onesie
Babies under 12 months	Baby pieces on these listings are rompers either way	Same
Toddlers and toilet-training kids	Our pick: quick restroom trips, easy layering	Needs an adult for every restroom trip
Ages 5 to 8	Easier with a coat over it	Fine if they can manage the zip alone
Ages 9 and up, adults	Fine	Fine, and the most fun in photos

If half the family wants onesies and half wants a two-piece, you don't have to choose one listing for everyone. Pick a two-piece for the youngest and onesies for the adults in colors that echo each other, or keep everyone in the same print by choosing a two-piece for all. Our matching christmas pjs include both styles, so you can filter by size before deciding.

Dressing Babies and Toddlers for the Polar Express Ride

The youngest riders need the most planning, because they can't tell you they are cold and they can't take off a layer when they are hot.

Babies

• Carrier, not stroller. Vermont Rail System says it cannot accommodate strollers or large diaper bags because seating is limited, and other railroads may say the same. A soft carrier keeps the baby warm against you on the platform and frees your hands on the steps.
• Lap tickets vary. Western Maryland lets children two and under ride free on an adult's lap. Check your own railroad, because rules on infants differ.
• Layers in the carrier. A baby in a carrier shares your body heat, so a romper, a footed layer or warm socks, a hat, and a blanket or carrier cover over the top usually do more than a snowsuit, which is bulky in a carrier. Take the cover and hat off once you are in the heated coach.
• Sleep. Babies often fall asleep on the way home. The AAP says that if your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier or sling, you should move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible. That means at home, in the crib, not in the car seat overnight.

Baby sizes on these family listings come as a romper. The red Fair Isle and the dinosaur print both list 0-3M, which only a handful of family prints carry, and most of the fleece sets start at 3-6M.

Toddlers

• Two-piece pajamas, as above, plus a spare pair of bottoms in the bag. Hot chocolate on a moving train is a spill waiting to happen.
• A lidded cup from home. Ask to have the hot chocolate poured into it, or let it cool before a toddler holds it.
• Snow pants over the pajama bottoms for the platform if it is below freezing. They come off on board in a few seconds.
• Mittens on a clip or string-free mitten holder that attaches to the coat, not around the neck.
• A plan for the bell. Every child receives one, and a toddler will ring it for the rest of the evening. A coat pocket that zips keeps it from rolling under a bench.

Getting Good Family Photos on the Platform and On Board

Most families want two pictures from the night: everyone in matching pajamas on the platform, and the kids' faces when Santa walks through the coach. Both are easier with a little planning.

On the platform

1. Take the photo before boarding, not after. Kids are fresh, hair is tidy, and nobody has hot chocolate on their top yet. After the ride, children are tired and the platform is crowded with every other family heading to the parking lot.
2. Coats open, not off. Unzip every coat and pull the sides back for ten seconds. The pajama print shows, and nobody gets cold. Zip up right after.
3. Use the station lights. Platforms are usually lit from above, which throws shadows under eyes and hats. Stand under a light and slightly in front of it, or face a lit station building.
4. Get low for the kids. Crouch to a child's eye level. The matching prints read better when the camera is not looking down at the tops of heads.
5. Keep clear of the platform edge. Follow staff directions, and take photos away from the train's path, not at the edge of the platform.

On board

Coats are off, so this is where the pajamas show. A heated coach is often lit with warm, low light, so turn off the flash and hold the phone still, or use night mode. The bell moment and the reading of the book are the two times kids sit still and look in one direction.

A glow-in-the-dark print adds something to the walk out in the dark. The red reindeer and plaid set describes a glow-in-the-dark print that is charged under a light and then glows with the lights off. Leave it under a lamp or in daylight before you go, and look at it in the parking lot after the ride.

Shop the look

For the platform photo, choose a print with strong contrast, which reads well under station lights and against dark coats. The red and white Fair Isle set comes in women's and men's sizes to 2XL, kids' sizes to 12-13Y and baby sizes from 3-6M, with a pet bandana: one listing, choose each member and size.

Polar Express Night Checklist for Families

Copy this into your phone. It runs in the order you will need it.

The day before

• ☐ Read your host railroad's FAQ: arrival time, strollers, restrooms, infant tickets, heated coaches.
• ☐ Try on every pajama set with the base layer and the coat, so you know the coat zips over it.
• ☐ Lay out each person's stack: base, pajamas, warm socks, boots, coat with hat and mittens in the pockets.
• ☐ Charge the phone, and clear some storage for photos.
• ☐ If anyone has a glow-in-the-dark set, leave it near a sunny window the next day.
• ☐ Check the evening forecast for the station, not your home.

Leaving home

• ☐ Dinner first, before the pajamas go on, or with a bib or napkin over them.
• ☐ Everyone uses the bathroom.
• ☐ Kids buckled in pajamas and base layers, coats on backwards or a blanket over the harness.
• ☐ Bag: tickets, spare toddler bottoms, spare socks, wipes, lidded cup, a small blanket for the baby, a zip bag for wet things.

At the station

• ☐ Coats on properly in the parking lot, with hats and mittens.
• ☐ Restroom stop before boarding.
• ☐ Platform photo while everyone is fresh.

On board

• ☐ Coats off as soon as you sit down; feel the back of each child's neck after 15 minutes.
• ☐ Hot chocolate cooled or in a lidded cup before it reaches a small child.
• ☐ Bell in a zipped pocket.
• ☐ Coats, hats and mittens back on before the train stops.

When you get home, the pajamas may need a wash before Christmas morning, especially after hot chocolate. Our guide on how to wash Christmas pajamas covers cocoa stains and fabric care, and if the ride is part of a longer trip, our Christmas travel packing list for families covers the rest of the suitcase.

Frequently asked questions

Do you wear pajamas on the Polar Express train ride? Yes, if you like. The ride's FAQ says families are encouraged to wear warm pajamas, and host railroads also recommend warm layers for the platform.

Is the Polar Express train heated? It depends on the host railroad. Durango says all cars are heated and Western Maryland says its train is climate controlled, but the boarding platform may be unheated.

How long is the Polar Express train ride? The organizer says trips are generally 60 to 75 minutes round trip. Add arrival time; some railroads ask you to arrive 40 to 45 minutes early.

Should my toddler wear a onesie on the train? We would choose a two-piece for toddlers. A onesie has to come off the shoulders for every restroom trip, which is hard in a small restroom on a moving train.

Can I bring a stroller on the Polar Express ride? Check your railroad. Vermont Rail System says it cannot accommodate strollers because of limited seating, so a baby carrier is the safer plan.

Can kids wear a winter coat in the car seat on the way to the train? Not under the harness. The AAP says bulky coats should not be worn under car seat straps, so buckle kids in their pajamas and put the coat on backwards or a blanket over the top.

Are fleece pajamas too warm for the train? They can be in a heated coach. Skip the base layer unless it is below freezing, and take the coat off as soon as you sit down.

Sizes on each print sell out one at a time, not all at once. Check that every size your family needs is in stock before the ride week, so the pajamas arrive with time to try them on over a coat.

About this article

Written and fact-checked by the PatPat Editorial Team. How we research, source and review what we publish is set out on our editorial standards page.

Method. Product details, fabric content and in-stock sizes were read from PatPat product pages in November 2026. PatPat is the seller of these pajamas, and we did not wear-test any of them or ride the train for this article. Ride details were read from the organizer's FAQ and three host railroads' pages in November 2026; rules differ by railroad and can change each season. THE POLAR EXPRESS is a trademark of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.; PatPat is not affiliated with the ride. The temperature bands, the layering table and the onesie advice are editorial judgment, not research findings.

Sources. Ride basics: Rail Events Inc., THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride FAQs. Host railroads: Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, FAQs; Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, FAQs; Vermont Rail System, Plan Your Trip. Winter clothing: AAP, Winter Safety Tips. Car seats: AAP, Winter Car Seat Safety Tips. Baby sleep: AAP, A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep.

Last updated 10 November 2026 · Next review November 2027