For my most recent trip down to Disney World, I decided to check out a new-to-me mode of transportation – the Amtrak Auto Train! Never heard of it? Neither had I, but I was delighted to see that the one route it runs – from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL was close to where I was staying in Virginia!

At almost 3/4 of a mile, the Amtrak Auto Train is the longest passenger train in the United States. It can carry up to 330 vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, SUVs, and small boats. It runs between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, with two daily trains in each direction. Passengers can generally board the train at 2:30 pm, and it arrives at its destination at 9:00 am the following day. (If everything is on schedule).

Since I wanted to have my vehicle with me but was not looking forward to the multi-day drive, I decided to give it a shot!

I arrived at the station early just to make sure I had enough time to familiarize myself with everything. I sure did! The train was running a bit late, so I had ample time to wait to board from about noon to 4pm! You don’t have to arrive as early as I did, but they do stop taking cars a couple hours before departure, so check the Amtrak site for the most updated arrival time requirements!

The station itself is only used for the Auto Train, so it was easy to navigate – I dropped my car with no problem, then checked in at the counter inside. That’s where you get your boarding pass and select your dinner seating option if you’ve booked a sleeper (which I did). Note: there are 3 dinner seatings and they book first come first served at check in. You can also request dinner in your compartment when you check in. I then took a seat in the large waiting area (after perusing the small gift shop) and listened to a book. The staff were very friendly and kept us well updated on the delay.

We ended up boarding after 4 and the train left around 5:30. Because of the delay, the staff did everything they could to turn over dinner seatings quickly so no one was eating at midnight!

FYI: If you are traveling as a solo or in a pair, you will be seated with other passengers at dinner! If you like chatting with new people, it can be really fun – if that’s not your bag, you can eat in your sleeper.

As mentioned earlier, I had booked the sleeper car and chose a roomette. Designed for two people to sit across from each other while awake and for sleeping, the two seats convert to a single bunk and another comes down from the ceiling. I had brought on board with me a backpack, small purse, canvas tote and weighted blanket. It was too much for the space if I had not been traveling alone! I ended up storing some items on the “stairs” used to access the upper berth. (On the way back I left the tote in my car and it was MUCH better!) Since I was in a roomette, I shared a toilet down the hall (comparable to an airplane bathroom) with some of my fellow passengers.

If you book a sleeper, your meals are included, that’s dinner – comparable to airline fare and breakfast – more grab and go. You can get all the room specs and meal info here: Auto Train: Travel for You & Your Car | Amtrak

From Lorton to Sanford, we departed late, but the train did not make a usual stop in South Carolina and we made up lots of time – I believe we arrived only about half an hour later than scheduled. I was really lucky and my car was one of the first off the train, so I only waited about 10 minutes – NOTE: you can pay an upcharge to be one of the first 30 cars off the train – I was very happy I had decided not to pay it on the way down – but not so much on the way back. Getting to the station early DOES NOT guarantee your car will come off quickly. On my return trip, I arrived super early to the station again, but my car came off with the last 10 and I had to wait a little over an hour. SO, unless you book the upgrade, your car retrieval mileage may vary!

All in all, I’m really glad I had opportunity to try out the Auto Train – I slept well enough in my cozy bunk and was enchanted by the rolling and clacking of the train. The fact that I wasn’t worn out from driving by the time I got to FL (and home) was worth its weight in gold!

Prices tend to vary wildly on the sleepers, so check Amtrak’s site often. I was able to catch a couple of good deals and nab my sleeper for under $300 each way – (my car was another $250 each way).

If you like trains or the idea of trains or the idea of having your car without having to drive for days, this might be an fun journey for you. There are several sleeper options that would work for families with children and the novelty of a cross-country train ride cannot be discounted!

If you’re traveling to FL for vacation or if you’re a snowbird and need a vehicle with you – you might want to check it out!

Until next time!
M