Like many people who travel back and forth from the northeast USA to Florida, I wondered if the Amtrak auto train was a good option. What are the pros and cons of the car train vs driving? Should I forget about those options entirely and just fly?
I determined to find the answer. Planes, trains, automobiles or a combination thereof? Should I fly and rent a car or take my own car on the Amtrak car train? The answers to these questions are here.
The Amtrak auto train to Florida vs other transportation
The Amtrak car train leaves from Lorton, Virginia, 20 miles (32km) southwest of Washington DC. It arrives at Sanford, Florida, about 28 miles (45km) southwest of Orlando. For purposes of comparing apples to apples as much as possible, I’ve selected Washington DC and Orlando, Florida as points of departure and arrival and February as the month all research was done. The trip is also for 2 people and would need to be adjusted for more or less travelers. Of course, these estimates will change depending on time of the year and other factors.
Flying from Washington DC to Orlando, Florida
Flights from Washington DC to Orlando, Florida average $70 one way with some budget airlines even cheaper. Flight time is 1 ½ hours. Add to that the cost of transportation to and from the airport and the cost of a car rental when you arrive at your destination. Clearly with such a short transportation time there is no opportunity for sightseeing along way. Flying is the best option for getting to your destination quickly. I like to use the following search engines when evaluating flight options: Momondo, Google Flights and Skyscanner. Using these search engines are some of my 50 tips for saving money while traveling.
Amtrak auto train from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida
First, consider why you even want to take the auto train. Most travelers will say they don’t want the stress of driving down I-95, sitting in traffic, finding a hotel, figuring out what exit to take for the nearest gas station and constantly concentrating on the road. Understandably, some travelers want someone else to worry about the travel logistics while they relax and sip a cocktail while they look out the train window at the beautiful American countryside. There is a lot to be said for that.
Since the Amtrak auto train leaves from Lorton, Virginia, unless you live in the immediate vicinity, you need to factor in your transportation cost to Lorton. In my case I had to drive from New York City to Lorton. The train starts loading cars at 11:30 am and closes at 2:30 pm. Not wanting to be stressed out before loading the car on the train, I stayed at the Lorton Holiday Inn Express about 7 minutes from the Amtrak train station which was an additional expense.
As Lorton is so close to Washington DC and other important points of interest, you may want to spend a few days in the area before getting on the train.
The trip takes 17 ½ hours not including the time it takes to load and unload the car. This means you’re going to have to sleep on the train. The Amtrak car train offers several sleeping options. Coach is the cheapest option but you’re really just in a reclining seat for almost 18 hours. The next option is the roomette suitable for 2 people – although it’s tiny at 3”6” X 6’6”, so you better REALLY like your traveling companion!
The seats turn into beds, one an upper bunk, for flat back sleeping. The bathroom is in the hall. This is the option I choose as we were two people and, honestly, it was just fine. We slept well and had no complaints. Insider tip: Whoever uses the bathroom the most should take the bottom bunk.
The auto train offers a dining car with perfectly suitable – through certainly not gourmet – meals and a cocktail lounge with reasonably priced drinks.
Upon arrival in Sanford, Florida, your car needs to be unloaded. The closer you load your car to the 2:30 shut off time, the sooner they will unload your car at your Sanford destination. Grab your car and off you go on your south Florida sojourn to visit vacation hot spots like Disneyworld, Miami, South Beach, Tampa and the other vacation destinations near Miami.
For two people, we paid $542.00 plus $200.00 to transport the car. That included dinner and breakfast.
For the detailed description of the trip including the menu in the dining car and tips for making your trip more comfortable, visit Amtrack auto train to Florida.
Driving from Washington DC to Orlando, Florida
If you love road trips, Washington DC to Orlando is a good one. The fastest and most convenient route is I-95 from Washington DC all the way down to Daytona Beach then I-4 south to Orlando. If you opt this route, make sure to follow the 10 safe driving tips for a healthy and worry-free road trip.
The trip takes about 12 ½ hours by car. Yes, you could drive straight through. Personally, I refer to limit driving to 8 hours/day max. That means a hotel stay on the way and two to three meals. A mid-range hotel off I-95 would run an average of $150.00/night.
Since this route from Washington DC to Orlando is about 850 miles (1,368km), you’ll need about 2 tanks of gas. Calculate price per gallon times number of gallons in your tank to get the cost. Our drive took 2 tanks at a total of $105.00 total gas cost for the trip.
The total cost for this typical road trip would be about $350 including food, hotel gas and tolls. The Amtrak auto train trip cost was $742.00. That’s almost a $400 difference.
Was the train worth it? I think it is a good idea to experience the Amtrak car train occasionally if you really don’t want to drive and if you do this trip regularly as so many travelers do. However, I would not take the auto train regularly.
I enjoy road trips and like stretching them out for a leisurely trip visiting interesting cities in the area like Savannah, Saint Augustine, Charlotte and many more. There are so many wonderful activities and things to see on the way and at your destination.
Before heading south, or north as people take the car train north too, make sure to bring enough reading material to keep you busy as you learn about your next stop. Here are some suggestions.
Have you gone to Florida on the Amtrak auto train? Have your driven the route? What suggestions do you have? Let us know in the comments.
TO PINTEREST!
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