If your little one loves trains as much as ours does, the Inland NW Rail Museum in Davenport, Washington is a must-visit destination!
Just a 45-minute drive outside of Spokane, the Inland NW Rail Museum the perfect day trip for the whole family. With a double warehouse full of real, miniature, and historic locomotives and interactive exhibits, you can easily spend an entire morning here.
We recently came back from a trip here with the whole family (including grandparents, adults, and toddlers!) and everyone has such a fun and memorable time.
In this post, we’re covering what to expect, our experience, and things to do nearby for a fun, activity packed day!
About the Inland NW Rail Museum
Admission costs are $14 for adults and $7 for kids ages 5-13. Kids 0-4 are free. For the latest prices, double check their website here. They are open Saturdays from 10:00am – 4:30pm but their open dates change seasonally so check their website soon for 2026 spring/summer opening days and times.
Located in Davenport, Washington, right off Highway 2, the Inland NW Rail Museum showcases restored railcars, interactive model displays, and hands-on exhibits for kids.
The story of the rail museum started with The Inland Empire Railway Historic Society, when they formed their chapter in 1967. Their goal was to preserve railroading in the Inland Northwest and come together for a shared love of locomotives. Beginning with a major restoration of a retired locomotive 3206 in 1970, their collection and projects had grown to 30 rail cars, engines, and countless railroad memorabilia on display at the Spokane Fairgrounds.
They moved to their new Davenport, WA location in 2002, on a 30-acre piece of land for greater expansion of their growing collection and restoration projects. They laid display tracks for easy car viewing, and host daily train rides, special events, and are open to train lovers of all ages.
Today, the Inland NW Rail Museum is community-supported, volunteer-run, and powered by a passion for preserving history!
Who is the Museum Best For?
The museum is perfect for families with toddlers, train lovers of all ages, and anyone interested in Northwest railway history. Our family fit the bill for all of these checkboxes!
During our trip, Berty and I came with out nearly two year old son, his grandparents, and his aunt. There was something here for everyone. Our little guy LOVED playing with the train toys in the sun-lit corner (so many accessories and toy cars!) and my dad loved seeing the memorabilia and old photos of Spokane railroads.
We could also see this as a lovely excursion for school groups (they give group discount rates!), or outings with your grandparents. It’s an easy, low-cost day trip from Spokane!
What To Expect During Your Visit
During your time at the museum, you can expect a hands-on visit with real train cars to explore, model trail setups, and interactive exhibits. Our personal favorite parts of the museum were the rail cars outside, which you could go in and explore yourself. We also loved the model train setup – one locomotive even had steam coming from it!
The size of the museum is manageable (around two warehouses big) but packs a ton into its space. The main floor hosts the restoration projects, train shop, and library while upstairs holds the model trails, memorabilia and the kid’s corner. Plan to stay here for about 2 hours to see everything at a leisure pace, and leave time to make one of their outdoor train rides.
Photo opportunities are around every corner – from the model train exhibit to standing in front of real train cars outside on the property!
Seasonal Tip: If you’re coming in the winter time, you can be spending quite a bit of time outside. Check out our guide to toddler winter gear to bundle up properly for this adventure!
Tips for Families Visiting with Toddlers
Looking for fun toddlers activities in the Inland Northwest? Families with littles will love this space. While you can take a stroller inside (they have an elevator) we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. There are so many things to interact with, you would be taking your child in and out of the stroller too much!
There is a picnic area with tables and chairs right outside on the back patio. it’s perfect for a quick snack break! Restrooms are clean and big, and the parking lot is large (gravel) and easy to navigate.
They also have a ‘train toys’ section that are technically for sale, but can serve as another place for your toddler to enjoy the museum. I know our son loved opening the trail books and playing with train-centric toys. Our party even purchased some vintage Thomas The Train engines to take home as a souvenir!
Our Family’s Experience
As a Christmas gift to my parents, we wrote little coupons for family-friendly museums in the Spokane area. During my research, I came across this place so I decided to gift them “A Day At the Rail Museum” to spend time with our son, their grandson. Berty and I paid for everyone to visit, and it was 100% worth every penny!
All of our favorite parts were exploring all the vintage rail cars outside on the property. It was really cool to see what train cars used to look like, and we were surprised and delighted with all the preserved trinkets like conductor outfits, sleeper car accessories, and dining sets.
If we were to do our trip differently, I think we would pack a lunch and eat outside on their patio. This way we could spend more time at the museum and take our time exploring the property!
Nearby Places To Eat
If you didn’t pack a lunch (like us) and want to know where to eat nearby, here are a few places we can suggest. You could also drive back to Spokane for a way wider selection of food and dining.
- Some Like It Hot Espresso (Davenport): Great breakfast bagel sandwiches, and perfect for a quick meal on the go.
- El Ranchito (Davenport): Highly reviewed Mexican restaurant in a casual setting
- The SpeedTrap Taphouse (Rearden): Dive-y and comforting bar food for lunch – great for group seating.
- d’bali Asian Bistro (Airway Heights): Asian fusion restaurant with fresh ingredients (and we love the Indonesian flair!)
Final Thoughts
The Inland NW Rail Museum is one of the region’s best family-friendly destinations. Not only is it affordable, educational, and full of nostalgia, but it’s a fun way for all ages to be entertained.
We hope this post encourages you to take your own family trip out to this epic Davenport, Washington train museum! Living in Eastern Washington, we find so much joy in discovering these places and sharing them with you!
FAQs about the Inland NW Rail Museum
Is the Inland NW Rail Museum good for toddler?
Yes, it’s stroller-friendly with interactive model train displays and real and toy train cars kids can explore.
How long should I plan to spend there?
Most families spend 1–2 hours exploring the exhibits and enjoying hands-on activities.
Is parking free?
Yes, free parking is available on-site. Note that the lot is gravel, making it difficult if you’re navigating wheels like on a stroller or wheelchair.
Are snacks or food available?
There’s no café inside, but you can bring your own snacks to eat out on their patio. They also have a vending machine with a few drink options. Alternatively you can visit nearby restaurants in Davenport, Rearden, or Airway Heights.
Looking for more baby and toddler adventures and travel tips in the Inland Northwest?
Check out our other guides to family-friendly vacations in the Inland Northwest, Pacific Northwest, and beyond!