Best ride-on trains for kids (with tracks), including Thomas and Friends, and more. These come with interactive features and some even come with tracks that can be safely placed in any room (on hard floors or carpet). You get battery-operated electric models as well.
Introduction
It’s a joy to watch kids grow, right from the early days when they are learning to balance, and eventually walking and running, and once they have a sense of freedom and independence, ride-on toys can provide them with hours of funs.
Ride-ons are available in various types, including trains.
Ride on train toys are popular with small kids, including toddlers, as they allow kids to be the conductor of their very own locomotive train (and these look bigger than cars and bikes).
These trains can be ridden of the track as well, but if you don’t want your little ones to go off the track, just tell them that the train doesn’t come off the track so that they stay indoors under your watchful eyes.
A ride-on-train can keep your child engaged while also improving important motor skills and activities. As they grow up, they can take the train off the track as well (just don’t tell the kids that it comes off the track, else they’ll take it all over the house unless of-course you want to allow them to do so).
Toddlers can learn to walk by pushing around the toy and as they grow, start to develop coordination and balance while riding on the train.
- Types: Battery-powered ride-on trains, manual pedal ride-on trains, Ride on trains with tracks
- The manual ones are either pedal ones or ones that are propelled by pushing it forward with your legs.
- Most ride-on trains are suitable for toddlers (1 to 3 or 4 years)
- Battery powered ones come with realistic lights, engine sounds, and some even give out steam.
- Tracks are easy to assemble
- These riding trains can also be taken outdoors
To keep your kids safe, make sure you adhere to manufacturer’s age guidelines and supervise kids closely during use.
Best Ride-on Trains
Best Push Ride-on Train:
Thomas & Friends Engine Ride On
Best Powered Ride-on Train:
Rollplay Steam Battery-Powered Ride-On Train
Safest Ride-on Train:
Peg Perego Santa Fe Train Ride On
Lucky Doug Ride on Train with Track
Best Interactive Ride-on Train:
VTech Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train
More Options:
- Power Wheels Kawasaki Lil’ Quad with Track
- Step2 Thomas the Tank Engine Up and Down Roller Coaster
- Morgan Cycle Pedal Train Express 95
Riding Trains for Kids: Reviews
Peg Perego Santa Fe Train Ride On
Peg Perego is a popular manufacturer of baby products, so you can expect good build quality and nice looks.
Ages – 1.5 – 3 years, holds up to 40 lbs.
Included curved track (76″ circular layout)
This battery-powered ride-on-train comes with working headlights, sound effects (train sounds), and a steering wheel.
Lucky Doug Ride On Train with Track
Suited for kids 2 to 5 years old, this ride-on toy train can be used on the tracks (included) or it can be used off-the track as well. There is storage space in the train to keep small toys. Another great thing is that you have the option of buying and additional carriage (bought separately) in case you wish to carry an additional little passenger.
This is a battery powered ride-on train, and the max speed of the train does not exceed 1 mph. It comes bundled with a rechargeable battery and a charger (6V).
Max weight capacity of 55 lbs. Dimension of the single seat train 18.5″×13.5″×8.5″, tracks form a circle with a diameter of 11ft.
Power Wheels Kawasaki Lil’ Quad with Track
This one is suited for kids aged 12 months to 3 years; its a bit smaller in size and has a lower height to suit lesser aged children. The battery-operated 6V train works on as well as of the track.
It has a push-button operation for easy stop-and-go. Up to 1 mph (1.6 km/h) max. speed on track and up to 2 mph (3.2 km/h) max. speed off track. The train comes with 17 feet of easy to assemble track. Includes 6-volt battery and charger.
Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train
This is one of the best ride-on toys for toddlers. Ages: 1-3 years old
Young ones can use this train during floor play, and when they grow up they can use it for ride-on fun.
The train includes activities to engage role-play, encourage motor development, and encourage educational learning (numbers, animals, colors and more). It comes with 100 songs, melodies, sounds and phrases.
Rollplay Steam Battery-Powered Ride-On Train
This is 6-Volt battery powered ride-on train designed to look like the freighter trains of the Old West, making it a great choice for little cowboys and cowgirls as well as pint-sized kids.
The Rollplay Steam is a battery-operated riding train that comes with a long track and provides a real train experience to kids. It comes with working headlights, built-in engine train sounds, and a detachable caboose can be used to carry your child’s favorite toys. 1 MPH maximum speed makes it safe to ride and steer.
Releases real steam and features realistic sounds. Push-button activates a train whistle or chuffing noise. The track can be assembled in a 24-foot oval or a 14-foot circle. Recommended for children ages 2-5 years weighing up to 45 lb.
Power Wheels Thomas and Friends Thomas with Track
For the earliest riders, this ride-on train features push button operation for easy stop & go. This set comes with tracks but the child may use the train on or off the track. For the very young riders who are unable to steer yet, you can use the tracks so they can still enjoy this awesome ride.
Age Range: 1 – 3 years
Dimensions: 27.75 x 13.1 x 17.5 inches, Item Weight: 26 pounds
The only downside is that in order to charge the battery, you need to take the battery off (requires unscrewing). But the good thing is that there are not many choices for young toddlers, and this is something that toddlers can ride alone without needing any help.
Step2 Thomas the Tank Engine Up and Down Roller Coaster
The Thomas the Tank Engine is an Up & Down Coaster, so the kids will have to climb up the steps and take a ride down the coaster.
The car has a high back, handrail and two foot rests for a secure and fun ride down the track. Some assembly is required.
- Over nine feet of up and down track
- Maximum Weight: 50 lbs (22.7 kg)
- Recommended age: 2 to 5.
Morgan Cycle Pedal Train Express 95
The Morgan Cycle Pedal Train Express 95 is an elegant looking pedal ride-on train, its made of solid metal and painted in red and black finish to give it a vintage look.
Adjustable, non-slip pedals; solid rubber tires provide strong grip on the surface.
Thomas The Tank Engine Power Wheels
Thomas The Tank Engine Power Wheels ride on train for kids
Ride-on (Riding) Trains: Buying Guide
A ride-on (Riding) train is another type of riding toy for kids that can provide them with hours of fun.
As parents, you can even use these toys to encourage their interest in locomotives by showing them online videos, using model train sets, and referring to some books. The ones without tracks can be used indoors or outdoors, around the block.
Safety tips for using a Riding Train
While these are designed keeping safety in mind, as parents, it’s best that you oversee your child when they are playing with riding train toys.
If you have more than one kid, it’s important to caution the other child (who might be lying on the floor while the other one is on the ride-on train) against placing any fingers, toes near the riding train’s wheels.
Adhere to the max weight capacity for these trains (as mentioned in the user’s manual).
Read: How to Build a Ride-on Train (DIY backyard train, home railways)
Checkout more toy trains here.
Funtoyworld is a family-managed website with me (Ben), and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing toys. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical suggestions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.
Peg Perego santa fe train ride on .Kiddos (4 & 2) love it. worked especially well at our bday party. tracks are adorable. keeps the train in one place. just don’t tell the kids it comes off the track, or they’ll go all over the house, lol caution, it does tip over if the kiddo gets excited and leans. it’s hilarious to watch. our kids only cried because when they fell they hit the wall. the fall isn’t that bad. plus the train stops as soon as they stop pushing the button.
I think I will buy Rollplay steam train for my niece for her birthday in January because I quite like the train’s design, can put things in the back carriage. Thank you for writing this, it’s useful for me.