There are plenty of ways to see Christmas lights around Indianapolis, but Nickel Plate Express is adding one that requires a little more effort than sitting in the car. The Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure sends families pedaling along the historic Nickel Plate rails in Noblesville, past holiday light displays and through a 60-foot light tunnel.
The one-hour outdoor ride starts in Forest Park and includes a stop for hot chocolate and a cookie before families pedal back to where they started. Tickets are $24.95 per rider or $89.95 for an entire four-person railbike.
 Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure in Noblesville
The outing starts at Santa’s House in Forest Park, where families check in and can spend some time around the fire pits before their scheduled departure. From there, riders board four-person railbikes and pedal toward downtown Noblesville along the Nickel Plate tracks.
The route is lit with holiday displays, including a 60-foot light tunnel. At the turnaround point, everyone gets off the bikes for hot chocolate and a cookie while Nickel Plate Express staff reverses the seats for the return trip.
This isn’t a holiday train ride where everyone settles into a heated coach and watches the scenery go by. The railbikes are pedal-powered and open to the weather, so families are doing some of the work themselves.
How hard is it to pedal a railbike?
That part may sound more intimidating than it actually is. Indy’s Child tested Nickel Plate Express’s regular railbikes with two adults and two young children, and the adults found the bikes surprisingly easy to pedal even without the kids helping.
Each bike seats up to four people. The seats adjust while you’re sitting in them and are designed to fit everyone from small children to adults up to 6 feet 4 inches. Nickel Plate Express lists the Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure as an all-ages ride, though children must remain seated and supervised throughout the trip.
Children under 3 may ride free when securely fastened to an adult in an infant carrier the family brings.
Yes, this one requires bundling up
The railbikes are outdoors and exposed, and this is a December ride in Indiana. In other words, this is the holiday outing where the good gloves and thick socks actually matter.
Nickel Plate Express tells riders to bring a coat, scarf, thick socks and comfortable closed-toe shoes, and small blankets are encouraged. This is an open-air December ride, so layers are worth overdoing.
The cocoa stop comes at a useful point. Each ticketed guest gets one cup of hot chocolate and one cookie. Gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free cookie options are available, and families with allergies should mention them at check-in.
What it costs, and how it compares
At $24.95 a seat, this is less expensive than Nickel Plate Express’s other Noblesville railbike experiences. The Forest Park Rail Adventure starts at $40 per person on weekdays, while the White River Family Cruise is $30 per person. Both are longer rides without the holiday lights.
The math also favors booking the full bike. Four single seats run $99.80, while the quad bike is $89.95 for up to four passengers. For a family of four, booking the full bike saves nearly $10.
Good to know before booking
- Ride length: About one hour, including the refreshment stop
- Tickets: $24.95 for one seat or $89.95 for a quad bike with up to four passengers
- Ages: All ages. Children must remain seated and supervised throughout the ride. Children under 3 may ride free when securely fastened to an adult in a passenger-provided infant carrier.
- Check-in: Santa’s House inside Forest Park, 825 Forest Park Drive
- Included: Holiday light displays, a 60-foot light tunnel, access to the check-in area and fire pits, one hot chocolate and one cookie per ticketed guest
- What to bring: A coat, scarf, thick socks, comfortable closed-toe shoes and a small blanket if you want one
- Arrival: Rides depart at their scheduled time. Nickel Plate Express does not admit late arrivals on its railbike excursions, so build in time to park and check in.
Plan Your Visit
Holiday Lights Railbike Adventure
Nickel Plate Express
825 Forest Park Drive
Noblesville, IN 46060
Dates: Select dates Nov. 19–Dec. 31, 2026
Duration: About one hour
Price: $24.95 per rider or $89.95 for a four-person quad bike
Website: nickelplateexpress.com/holiday-lights-railbike-adventure/
For families who’d rather let someone else do the pedaling, Nickel Plate Express also runs its Reindeer Express holiday train from Forest Park. Indy’s Child also keeps a guide to holiday train rides in Indiana.
