Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in Sedona, United States
Sedona, United States

Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad

Outty Ranking 72 4.7 · 142 traveler reviews4 hoursFrom $186
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Outty Ranking

72/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.7/5

Based on 142 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad worth booking?

Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad is a 4-hour experience in Sedona, United States, from $186 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 142 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
72 / 100
Rating
4.7/5 (142)
Duration
4 hours
From
$186 per person

Hop aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad for a 4-hour rail journey through the untouched and unspoiled Verde Valley. With first class seating, you will enjoy unobstructed views of Arizona’s geological wonders, wildlife, and archaeological finds of the ancient Sinagua people who once lived in the area. The Verde Canyon Railroad offers Starlight and Moonlight excursions on select Fridays and Saturdays May through September, departing the depot during the cooler temperatures of later afternoon and traveling through sunset and into the moon glow of twilight. Sandwiched between two protected national forests and adjacent to the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Verde Canyon Railroad brings its passengers into a untamed and unspoiled terrain, the exceedingly rare ribbon where high desert meets the river.

What you get

    About this experience

    Hop aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad for a 4-hour rail journey through the untouched and unspoiled Verde Valley. With first class seating, you will enjoy unobstructed views of Arizona’s geological wonders, wildlife, and archaeological finds of the ancient Sinagua people who once lived in the area. The Verde Canyon Railroad offers Starlight and Moonlight excursions on select Fridays and Saturdays May through September, departing the depot during the cooler temperatures of later afternoon and traveling through sunset and into the moon glow of twilight. Sandwiched between two protected national forests and adjacent to the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, Verde Canyon Railroad brings its passengers into a untamed and unspoiled terrain, the exceedingly rare ribbon where high desert meets the river.

    What's included

    Included

    • Appetizers
    • First class seating
    • Bottled water
    • Snacks
    • Lunch
    • Champagne toast

    Not included

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

    What you'll see and do

    1. Verde Canyon Railroad

      Make your way to the Verde Canyon Railroad Train Depot in Clarkdale, Arizona, not far from Sedona, to begin your Verde Canyon Railroad Starlight adventure. This rail adventure offers a wilderness train ride through the remote Verde Canyon which is known for its picturesque setting and abundant wildlife. Though it’s possible to hike in the canyon, by far the easiest way to experience it is by riding this scenic wilderness train. The train is made up of exquisitely-renovated passenger coaches and open-air viewing cars pulled by vintage locomotives and travels a route along the Verde River between Clarkdale and Perkinsville. After embarking from the Clarkdale depot, sit back for a 4-hour, 40-mile round trip that includes views of historic mining sites, geological wonders, Sinagua Indian cliff dwellings and wildlife from bald eagles to antelope.

      240 minutes here · Admission included

    2. Verde Canyon Railroad

      At the depot, be sure to visit the John Bell Museum, home to the railroad's history and artifacts from its early days, as well as a wealth of information on Clarkdale, Jerome and the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

    3. Verde River

      The train runs on the same tracks that were created following the Verde River back in 1911. The river is visible for most of your journey.

      Pass by without stopping

    4. SOB Canyon and the 150 ft tall bridge are highlights of the trip. Looking back from the bridge and down the canyon is simply gorgeous!

      Pass by without stopping

    5. Perkinsville Ghost Town

      Discover the history of Perkinsville Ghost Town through on-board commentary on your train journey. This is the turn-around point of your trip.

      Pass by without stopping

    6. Tuzigoot National Monument

      You'll ride past Tuzigoot National Monument on your train journey.

      Pass by without stopping

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Sedona

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

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

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

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Paper
    Runs on
    Sat
    Group size
    Up to 30 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Verde Canyon Railroad

    Know before you go

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • 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

    Photos

    Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in Sedona, photo 2Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in Sedona, photo 3The red rocks of the Verde Canyon basking in a sunset glow during the train's summer Starlight rides., Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in...Enjoying open air car during the sunset., Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in SedonaMagnificent Arizona sunset seen from Verde Canyon Railroad's special Saturday Night Starlight rides on select summer dates., Starlight Ride on...Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad in Sedona, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 140 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Food and drink

    6 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Photo opportunities

    5 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    3 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Value for money

    2 mentions

    Travelers feel they got more than they paid for.

    Traveler reviews

    140 verified traveler reviews for Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    115
    4 star
    15
    3 star
    5
    2 star
    4
    1 star
    1
    Sort
    Nancy_K · September 2026

    Nice and Relaxing

    We took a relaxing Starlite Ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad. We booked the first-class seats through Viator for 4 people and they sat us together on two, two-person comfy couches facing each other. We had meal vouchers so upon checking in we were able to order a sandwich, side, and a drink, which we ate prior to boarding, so glad we got there 1 hour before. We all decided on the Turkey Sandwich which was HUGE and delicious. I wish I had taken a picture of the menu. There were probably about 10-12 choices. Upon boarding the train there was a charcuterie plate, waters, and a bottle of champagne per couple. There was a bar in our car and Shay was a great bartender who we ordered our drinks from. There was plenty of time and room to visit the open-air car that we did periodically during the trip. Craig was outside narrating what we were seeing or about to see. Not sure how he has his voice after leaving for the day. It was a little cloudy and a full moon, so were not able to see many stars unfortunately, but still enjoyable.

    Response from the operator: Nancy, thanks for riding and relaxing with us aboard the Starlight, and for sharing this detailed recap of your adventure. We will share your compliments with our cafe team, and Shea and Craig from the train crew.

    via Viator

    James_K · September 2026

    Starlight Train ride

    Took my daughter on the starlight train ride and had an absolute blast. The scenery was absolutely stunning.

    Response from the operator: Thanks for riding with us, James! We love hearing that you and your daughter enjoyed the wild sunset views of our Canyon.

    via Viator

    Stephanie_K · September 2026

    Fun night

    We had a nice time on the train. The views on the way were beautiful!! The outdoor car was really packed at times so I spent more time at our seats to get a view of what we were passing. The staff were all very friendly and knowledgeable. We had plenty of food. We got a cafe voucher before we left which was a dinner portion (we picked the chicken sandwich with fries), and then the train had a charcuterie board container waiting for each guest at the table.

    Response from the operator: Stephanie, thank you for riding the Starlight with us and sharing this recap of your experience. We appreciate your kind words for the our crew, scenery and food.

    via Viator

    cms27703 · September 2026

    Very pleasantly surprised how nice it was !

    Was pleasantly surprised how nice the whole experience was. Honestly thought it was a good value for the money despite being over $100 per person. The seating was very comfortable and views from inside train car were very good. We did the starlight ride and so it was really nice to see part of the countryside in daylight and of course the dark star-filled sky at night. The stars were beautiful and easy to see, especially from the open/outdoor area. Please note that there is a nice/tasty charcuterie tray included along with a small bottle of water and a small bottle of champagne. Might not be enough of a meal for heavy eaters, but could be considered a meal for lighter eaters. It included a really delicious and fudgie brownie, so really no need to order the optional cupcakes if you are wanting a sweet treat. Actually think the brownies were tastier than the cupcakes anyway, but cupcakes were good, too. The website says to get there 2 hours before departure to shop and eat at cafe but that’s not really necessary unless you want more to eat than charcuterie tray onboard (note that you CAN bring food and beverages from cafe on board and also note that the ONE shop is small and doesn’t require much time to go through. Also note that cafe has very limited menu but that servings are quite huge-and pricey, but I guess decent price considering serving size: my salad was $20 but I thought was huge and I’m a big eater! Thought salad was really good). A little time is needed to stand in line to get your tickets, which you need to get even if you’ve already ordered your tickets online, so don’t get there too late because train will leave on time. Additionally, there is a full bar located in each train car, which is really nice! Plan to do this again next time in area. Highly recommend!!

    Response from the operator: We love that we exceeded your expectations! Thanks for sharing this detailed recap of your Starlight adventure with us. We look forward to welcoming you back aboard.

    via Tripadvisor

    FrLopezjr · September 2026

    Moms' birthday

    This was a gift for my mother’s 80th birthday, and she absolutely loved it! It made her special day even more memorable and added a wonderful touch to the celebration.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for celebrating your mom's birthday with us! We love being a part of special family memories.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    4 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Sat
    Price range
    $186 to $192
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    50
    Verdict
    Strongly Recommended

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Verde Canyon Railroad, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 71.7.

    See everything Verde Canyon Railroad runs

    Why this scores 72

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)80
    Review evidence (18% weight)66
    Booking momentum (14% weight)61
    Value for money (12% weight)73
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)37
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sedona.

    How much does Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad cost?

    +

    Prices start at $186 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sedona usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad take?

    +

    Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Sedona is not rushed.

    Is Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 142 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Sedona, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad?

    +

    Around 50 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Sedona can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Sedona and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Sedona within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Sedona?

    +

    Sedona's activity market is dominated by off-road jeep tours, and the difference between operators comes down to which trails they are permitted to run. Beyond that: vortex and energy walks, hot air balloon lifts at dawn, stargazing sessions in one of the darkest skies in the country, and Grand Canyon day runs north. We rank on permit access and group size. On Outty we rank every Sedona experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Small-Group Grand Canyon Complete Tour from Sedona or Flagstaff, Sedona’s ONLY Guided ATV Tour: Western Red Rock Backcountry, Kayak Tour on the Verde River. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Sedona?

    +

    March to May and September to November. Summer afternoons bring monsoon storms. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Sedona?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad?

    +

    Included: Appetizers; First class seating; Bottled water; Snacks; and Lunch. Not included: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase); Gratuities; DVD (available to purchase); and Hotel pickup and drop-off. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad?

    +

    Departure Point: Verde Canyon Railroad Train Depot in Clarkdale, Arizona Address: 300 North Broadway, Clarkdale AZ 86324 Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad offered in?

    +

    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Bring a printed voucher, as paper tickets are required.

    Is Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible; and Infant age is 0-1 year. Any guest aged 1 and over will be charged an adult rate. Guests ca. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad if the weather is bad?

    +

    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Sedona. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Starlight Ride on Verde Canyon Railroad?

    +

    Across 142 reviews averaging 4.7 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, photo opportunities, knowledge and storytelling. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

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