HINTON, WV (SWVO) – Visitors heading to Hinton Railroad Days this fall have an opportunity to make the journey part of the experience by traveling through West Virginia aboard Amtrak’s Cardinal.
The Hinton Railroad Days Festival is scheduled for Oct. 9-11, 2026, celebrating the city’s longstanding railroad heritage with dozens of vendors, live musical performances and other activities throughout the weekend.
For visitors looking for a unique way to reach the festival, Amtrak’s regularly scheduled Cardinal provides passenger service through the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, offering views of the gorge during the height of West Virginia’s fall season.
The Cardinal operates through West Virginia on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with an eastbound train traveling toward New York in the morning and a westbound train heading toward Chicago later in the day.
That schedule makes a same-day round trip to Hinton possible on Friday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 11, during the festival.
Passengers making the trip would first board the eastbound Cardinal for Hinton before catching the westbound train later in the day for the return trip.
Charleston or Montgomery offer particularly scenic options for those hoping to see more of the New River Gorge by rail. Passengers can also board at Thurmond or Prince for a shorter journey, while starting in Huntington provides a longer trip that also includes views through the Kanawha Valley.
In previous years, shuttle buses have transported arriving rail passengers from Hinton’s Amtrak station into town for the festival.
Those interested in making the trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as trains during Railroad Days have historically filled up ahead of the festival.
As of Friday, Aug. 28, a round-trip ticket from Charleston to Hinton was priced at approximately $50 for one passenger. Amtrak fares can fluctuate and may increase as the travel date approaches.
Tickets can be purchased through Amtrak by selecting Hinton as the destination and choosing an available boarding station, including Huntington, Charleston, Montgomery, Thurmond or Prince.
The trip offers visitors a chance to combine two of southern West Virginia’s best-known attractions, the region’s railroad history and the fall scenery of the New River Gorge, before spending the day celebrating in one of the state’s most historic railroad towns.
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