Great analysis of the cost. If you book early, you can get a full bedroom for 2 at nearly the cost of a roomette for 2. Overall, it's a great experience! Remember, the journey is just as important at the destination. When on vacation, everything beats being in the office (just don't tell my boss that).
answer: YES 10/10 key is to arrive EARLY or as I did, and you do with cruises, arrive THE NIGHT BEFORE. Stayed in their Holiday Inn. ON BOARD TRAIN BY 1PM. LOVED ALL OF IT. Had room on "2nd floor" so much quieter and full bathroom. Did not pay extra for getting car first and still got car within the hour. Please remind viewers that, like any restaurant or cabin, remember to TIP the server and steward.
Being snowbirds from New England, we tried the Autotrain once years ago. The loading process was efficient and the dinner was good. Back then, the railbed wasn't in good shape, and with all the lurching we got very little sleep, so we had to head for a hotel rather than continue to our destination. We decided that the Autotrain bypasses the easiest part of I-95 to navigate, and given its cost we were better off to drive. If we could eliminate the Boston to Washington part of the journey, the train might be a better choice!
Thanks for your feedback! The overall ride was pretty smooth when we travelled on it but the beds were not very comfortable so it was not the best sleep. I do think for us, travelling with little ones and avoiding the long overnight drive, it is a great option. If you have the leisure of travelling without little ones and stopping frequently, it isn't a bad drive. I agree with you, bypassing the northeast traffic would be GREAT!
Unfortunately, Amtrak's "Northeast Corridor" is height restricted, which wouldn't allow for standard double-decker Auto Train vehicle transport cars. It would be very costly to try and upgrade the entire route section to accommodate an Auto Train route between the Boston area & Lorton, VA. A new AutoTrain could potentially be engineered to operate between Niagara Falls, NY & Sanford, FL: Niagara Falls - Cleveland - Cincinnati - Chattanooga - Atlanta - Jacksonville -Sanford. Which would avoid the height-restricted NE Corridor. Thus enabling Canadians & other Florida-bound travelers getting their cars to & from Florida.
"eliminate the Boston to Washington part" That was my thought. The 450 miles from Boston to NOVA is the worst part along with the most expensive gas, tolls and lower speed limits. The section from NOVA to FL is mostly 70. Sounds great if you're starting from DC or Baltimore. Otherwise you have a long drive plus the cost of a train with no time savings.
I've taken the Auto Train to and from Disney with my family of 8 in 2021. It was good. I had no complaints. We were in coach. The seating was comfortable. The ride was fine. We brought a cooler with us onboard with food and drinks to save on cost. We all were pleased with the Auto Train. I will say that I'm an Amtrak employee BUT I'm also a fan and customer. I was impressed by the efficiency of the whole process. I would definitely do it again. I also love watching Amtrak reviews. Especially when they're good ones. I just makes me feel good knowing that enjoy riding with us.
Thanks so much for your feedback! That’s an excellent tip about bringing a cooler onboard! My family and I will most definitely take the train again! :)
My husband and I have taken the Autotrain many times and have definitely decided that saving a few $$ and just using the regular train seats is the way to go! And I have a bad back! The regular seats provide plenty of room for your legs and you can elevate your legs like a recliner chair. No privacy of course, but the only place privacy was needed was in the bathrooms anyway.
I agree! I don’t need a tiny closed in room for 15 hours or so. There are 3 of us taking the auto train in September and this cuts our driving up into Canada in HALF! Half a tired of driving by the time we get there, win win!
Very informative. I did it once, about to do it for the 2nd time. It's very nice that u are open to help others with information on central Florida.i lived in the area for 8 years and love it. Keep helping people. That is a blessing to have someone like u .
Took it a few months ago, decided to go coach. Upper level had people going all through it at all hours, lower level you had to deal with people heading to the bathrooms at all hours. Also had a tool on the phone pretty much all night. Roomette may be different, but coach is going to depend on who else is in there and how well you can sleep through anything!
Thanks for the feedback. Yes sleeping factors can definitely vary. I’m a light sleeper so I didn’t think I would do well in Coach overnight. Our roomette was very quiet.
My Late Wife and I used to take this train in a Bedroom twice a year. We enjoyed it. Because when we first started and at 3 pm the Train used to have a Wine and Cheese Party. And the Train also used have a Smoking Room in the Bottom of the Club Car. And of course the Train Stopped that. And the Train used to show movies. But know the Train has Wi-Fi in the Club Car only. But most of all we enjoyed our train ride to and from Va to Fl and back in reverse.
Thanks for your feedback. It sounds like it was a great experience. I had access to Wi-Fi in our roomette this past trip. Outside of that, there weren’t any “extras”. I appreciate your post :)
Glad you had a great experience! I also had a great trip a few years ago. I traveled from NY to Miami. But I have heard horror stories of trains being multiple hours late! If you book a bedroom do not get room A. This room is at the end of the train car and has a slightly smaller compartment. It makes a difference!! I was lucky enough to get to do my homework and stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn which is literally 2 minutes away from the Lorton station. There is also a wonderful shopping center also minutes away from the station. I had a great night sleep at the Holiday Inn. Had a very nice complimentary breakfast. Went to the shopping center. Bought a bottle of Irish Whisky and a few snacks as well as a meatball parm hero and a salad. The food and drinks at the station and on board are very expensive! I was able make some ice at the hotel and brought my own cooler. I booked a bedroom, so I had the dinner and breakfast. I was lucky to have a very nice server for dinner and got a lot of free wine! The reason I slept at all?!! It's a very bumpy ride! (A few shots of whisky helped as well)! Bring very little on the train!! Just the essentials. A change of clothes, if you want to clean up or take a shower. Bring some kind of entertainment. I brought my portable DVD player with me and a few movies. The WIFI is spotty! Also bring a plug multiplier, there is usually two in the bedrooms. Take your valuables with you as you walk through the train.! There are no locks on the outside of the room doors! And no secure places in coach!
First time we took the Auto Train we went with just coach seats. Even though our lower level car was only half full, we were unable to get comfortable enough to actually sleep. My husband’s health and mobility was deteriorating so from then on we requested an accessible room, and that was wonderful. We had a toilet and sink in the room and quite a bit of space. Of course, I had to sleep on the upper bunk but I did manage to get some sleep.
My family and I took our first Auto Train trip to Florida in the late 1980's back when the passenger cars were single level that were inherited from other passenger railroads when Amtrak was formed in 1971. The sleepers actually had the old "pass through" door at floor level where passengers could leave their shoes to be shined by the sleeper car attendent overnight. That service had long been discontinued by then. The service was impeccable, coach passengers also received meals in a buffet type service and sleeper passengers were in a traditional dining car. We've taken Auto train probably a dozen times since then, in later years just the wife and I and always in the sleepers, the most recent being a few years ago. When we first started, there were flowers on the dining car tables, sleeper passengers received complementary wine in your room upon boarding and there was a wine and cheese happy hour for sleeper car passengers that commenced about 90 minutes before departure. I also believe that there was a movie shown after dinner. Dinners were fantastic and breakfast was pretty informal and pretty decent as well. Beds were made up completely by the sleeping car attendant and you were told in no uncertain terms NOT to touch the bunks to bring them down to sleeping position. It truly is a shame that Amtrak has cheapened the experience since those days, especially since that is their flagship train. The concept is great though. drive on, sleep your way to florida and get off, leaving behind almost 900 miles of highway driving. If you live close to either terminal, say a few hours drive, it is a no brainer in my opinion as to the benefit of using it, especially having your car with you at your destination with the surge in rental car pricing. Being from CT, it's a long drive just to get to Lorton, but just that experience of sitting in the diner having dinner watching the scenery go by, well to me it never gets old. Where it gets messy is if the train is severely delayed. They only have two train sets for this run so if you're late into one terminal, it will be late leaving on it's return run and those delays can cascade to the point they cancel the service for a couple of days to reset everything. I've enjoyed the experience every time we've used it. To me, the trip is part of the vacation :) Oh and the family room will work with two little ones, (don't try it with two teenagers though, those kid bunks ARE small). You just have to keep them occupied for a LONG trip. But that's why they make bar cars :)
Thank you so much for your feedback! It sounds like it was an incredible experience back then! We live about 20 minutes from Sanford but are from just north of Philadelphia so this train is a perfect option for us when traveling back and forth to visit family up north. And I agree, I feel the train is most definitely part of the vacation experience :)
Pro tip; There are more sleeper rooms on the upper level than on the lower level. Thus the upper level rest rooms see more people than the lower level. The lower level rest rooms stay cleaner, longer than upper level rest rooms.
Fun fact I’ve used the auto train to pick up cars I’ve purchased in Va twice and Pa. Over the years. It was less expensive to fly one way and purchase a Auto train ticket than using a truck delivery service and of course I had the car at my house within 24 hrs. Normally if you have it delivered it can take couple of weeks.
It’s funny you share that, that’s exactly what we did from Pennsylvania. We researched delivery and this was the best option. That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love the auto train. The last time I drove NY to FL, I was almost involved in an accident and was stuck in traffic due to two separate car fires. On the drive before someone rear ended the car in the next lane and I missed it by mere inches. I love not having to deal with that for a large portion of the trip. I also like not having to drive through the night and worrying that something may happen in the middle of the night or trying to find an open gas station when you are driving in the middle of nowhere at 2 AM. I love just sitting back and being able to relax versus worrying about driving in the rain, traffic, etc. I agree that it is SO much less stressful than flying even though I was traveling alone. You really don't need to take that much on the actual train with you since you are sleeping for most of the trip. I have never had a delay on the auto train as opposed to delays almost every trip I've taken on the Silver Meteor or Silver Star. I arrived early for my auto train trips and I was once one of the first cars off and once one of the last cars off - it all depends on where your car ends up on which train - you could be the last car on the first train or the first car on the second train since they are offloading multiple trains at once. I was happily surprised with the meals - they were good (as opposed to the TV dinner type meals that they are serving on the Silver Meteor now that are not tasty) The bathrooms in the sleeper cars were clean each time I used them on the auto train (and also the Silver Meteor). The bathrooms on the Silver Meteor when I was in a coach seat were so disgusting I would wear a scarf doused with perfume before I would enter them. The cost of the roomette was worth it for that reason alone. Oddly my absolute favorite part of the auto train - the in room radio! There was something so great about listening to oldies over the radio on the train. No phone, no ipad, no streaming - just pressing a button and listening to the radio. It was like a step back in time and the only thing missing was Bing and Danny singing with Rosemary and Vera in the cafe car.
My family used to take the Auto-Train back in the 70`s... being a kid with my brothers it was a blast and took a lot of pressure off my dad as he did all the driving...but these days my wife and I just can`t justify the cost... in your case it seems to make sense especially if you have to rent a car, but you are making great memories for your children, I`m sure they will remember it like my brothers and I... and my dad loved the club car... not sure if they still have that.
Thanks so much for sharing! I didn’t notice a club car, only a lounge car and dining car. And yes I think the experience is worth it and the convenience factor as An alternative to driving is great, however flying is certainly what we prefer to do most often. Thanks for watching! :)
The first year me and my husband drove down to Panama City, Fl. as snow birds leaving just outside of Philadelphia, PA (stopping half way in Charlotte) the drive was horrible. Both days we drove about 10 hours and it felt like it was never ending journey. Not to mention the crazy drivers on the road made us feel like we were taking our life in our hands. Last year we decided to visit Jupiter, Fl and after reviewing the cost of a coach seat/car on the auto train we realized the cost was about the same when you add the cost of an overnight stay at a hotel, dinner out, Gas, tolls etc. to drive the full trip. I booked the auto train. We found the ability to be able to relax, read a book, watch a movie and sleep without the stress of the drive made this decision an excellent choice. And the fact that you are getting closer to you destination is also big perk. You depart Lorton, Va at 5 PM and if all goes well, you get into Sandford, Fl at 10 AM. This changes the trip from 2 full days to 1 day which is something I really appreciated. The coach seating is spacious and comfortable. Sleep can be difficult with all the snoring men, but I downloaded “white noise” on my phone and with the use of ear plugs that resolved that problem. You can bring a cooler with food, drinks and snacks. The seats recline back pretty far and we brought pillows and small blankets for additional comfort. Returning home we booked the roomette. The roomette is very tight space, but allowed us our own space and beds where you can sleep lying down. This is pricier, but felt like I did get a better sleep even with the rocking of the train.
One more thing you don't have to deal with when you take the train instead of driving -- those orange signs with those dreaded three words: "Road Work Ahead".
It really is the only way to go if you are living in the northeast. The thought of driving down I95 to Florida brings back memories of how dangerous that road really is. It's like the Indy 500.
The problem is .. The train starts/ends in VA .. so you still have drive the worst part of the trip through MD, Beltways, Tunnels, NJ Turnpike, NYC etc. south of Richmond the drive isn't bad, straight and flat with many places to stay, eat, rest.
Slight damage to an undercarriage rear-wheel air deflector on my Lorton-Sanford trip. I could not sleep on the train but did like the experience. I traded not sleeping on the train for the exhausting drive. I would use the auto train again just to avoid the stress of driving-traffic, road rage aggressive drivers, accidents,etc. I would not get the en-suite bathroom again unless traveling with my fiancé (who enjoyed the privacy ). It’s too small and the communal showers seemed clean and spacious. Our sleeping-car porter was great.
We rented the Family Car and it was very comfortable. When I drive it takes 2 days - so I also have a hotel charge plus several meals and gas. Auto train is the way to go!
Thanks so much for sharing! We plan to get the family car next time. And yes! My husband just drove back up last week with a truck and trailer and needed to stop overnight, so it’s definitely an extra expense to consider. I’m glad you had a great experience on the train. :)
I am so glad you mentioned the various expenses of driving. Many do not think of that. For my many travels (around two dozen trips so far) on the Auto Train in a private sleeping compartment, I have found the cost to be reasonably comparable to driving, eating at restaurants, hotel rooms, plus wear and tear on my auto, let alone the wear and tear on my mind from the stress of driving I-95. (I have come to loathe I-95.) I have learned to just enjoy the trip, and try not to be in a rush, to pretty much accept the delays that do happen thanks mostly to freight railroads.
I taken the Auto Train round trip and one way many, many times both in coach and with the small sleeper. Never been more then a half hour leaving nor an hour arriving late and that was due to freight traffic. I love to travel the auto train, you meet so many interesting people, have a lot of laughs and a great adventure every time. Wouldn't go any other way.
I am a person who lived in Naples and I used the auto train a couple of times, and it was well worth it... So thank you for making this useful video. It was well executed and very easy to follow. You covered all of the essential information that people would like to know. So here's a HUGE THANK YOU! VERY INFORMATIVE.👍
I rode the AutoTrain (twice) in 2008 and 2017 with no problems or issues. One of the southbound trips left 45m early and arrived 45m late, but other than that all was very good.
Back in the 80's I was living in NJ and wanted to take the auto train to Miami, when I added up the cost of 3 people plus a car and the fact that I had to drive 6 hrs to Va and then 4 more hours to Miami, it made more sense to fly and rent a car.
Nice report. Considering taking my motorcycle from Sanford to VA then riding it back down the Skyline Drive and Blueridge Parkway on the way back to Florida skipping the long ride up to VA.
I love and track I've been riding Amtrak since I was a little girl and I'm 60 now took it from Florida out La Florida to San Francisco and numerous of times from Pittsburgh to Tampa and Miami love it
Every thing depends on your values. If you include gas prices along with the possible use of a hotel, food, plus gas to and from the rices are quite comparable.
Direction of travel can change pricing as well. We did s/b in April (easter weekend) as part of a two week tour of Florida and wanted to do the train one way or another. The s/b was about 25% less than n/b . AmTrak rep told us at that time of year more demand for n/b so prices are higher. This might have changed , this was just our experience . BTW great experience both times , we too did the roomette ( Closette LOL) .
Thanks so much for sharing! That’s great to know! We travelled around the same time and were told many “snowbirds” were returning up north during that time, so that definitely makes sense. (Closette 😂😂😂😂😂)
I do the roomette and I bring snacks, drinks, sandwiches and breakfast stuff. The dining is nothing special and if you get stuck in "group three" you will have a very late dinner. I do love the ride, love sleeping on the train and the roomette is perfect for the solo traveler. Now that I have cars that stay in Florida for the summer, I fly first class to RSW......its cheaper :)
Thanks for the review. Unfortunately Amtrak has been downgrading this service over the last few years. I took it a few years ago in coach and we were served a nice dinner like you mentioned and continental breakfast the next morning. Now no diner for coach passengers and you have to buy mediocre food in the Cafe. I hope someone at Amtrak reinstates the perks of old. This has aways been a profit making train.
Thanks so much for your feedback. Many are sharing what you have regarding the downgraded services. It sounds like it was a really great experience in the past.
My family took the auto train for the first time in 2019 and back then it included a nice dinner for coach in the dining car. We are doing it again in two weeks and I did notice that dinner is no longer included which I was disappointed about. We had a good experience in 2019 especially since there were only two other people in our car with us (a very nice and quiet older couple). I’m already anticipating this time around to not be as enjoyable for some reason lol, hopefully I’m wrong 😃
I went to the AMTRAK site just tonight and clicked on the auto train link to see what it was...never heard of it. Now a few hours later, without searching for it, there are multiple AMTRAK Autotrain videos in my feed.
There may be settings in your browser to reduce the cross-site advertising that plagues web surfing these days, but a more effective and maybe less annoying technique would be to open up an "In-Private" window (MS Edge) / "Incognito" window (Chrome) / "Private Window" (Firefox) to search for topics/visit sites that may catch your attention while YouTubing.
I am a Snowbird and rely on Auto train to avoid the grizzly drive between Annapolis, Maryland and Fort Myers Florida. The tracks are awful and there’s a lot of shimming, but that’s what Ambien or Melatonin gummies are for. The drive is BRUTAL! 2 lanes on the Carolina’s with poindexter drivers blocking the passing lanes, exhausting! While the train ride isn’t smooth like European trains. It gets the job done. A couchette is a MUST! I’ve gotten those for a as low as $365 plus $285 for car. Well worth avoiding the dreaded drive.
Hi Stephanie. Just came across your channel. My wife and I took the Auto Train, and our experience was less pleasant than yours to be quite frank. 1. Departure from Lorton VA was 2 hours late and we were never informed why. 2. We had the bedroom which, although generally clean, was dingy, all fabrics were frayed, and metallic surfaces were worn and scratched. 3. The air conditioner controls did nothing in the room, and the attendant could not resolve it, so we were uncomfortably hot throughout the trip. 4. The cost of our ticket was substantially more than it would have cost to fly to Florida, more than double the price. We could have opted for the roomette as it was just the two of us, but we wanted an upper-tier experience so we decided to splurge a little. 5. Dinner service was delayed and chaotic, and the food was lackluster at best, although this could have come down to our meal selections. 6. Wifi was spotty at best, disconnecting constantly. 7. As you stared, the beds were not very comfortable, contributing to a less than pleasant sleeping experience. 8. Instead of arriving at 10 AM as scheduled, we arrived in Florida a little after 1 PM. Would we consider taking the Auto Train again? The only convenience of the entire experience was having access to our own vehicle after arriving in Sanford and not having to drive ourselves, but this, in and of itself, did not make up for the frustration of everything else, including the cost for what we received. It was a unique experience, but not one I would look forward to again.
Hi! Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m sorry you had such a disappointing experience. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your thoughts.
We have taken Auto train a few times and really like it. We have had both a roomette and regular seats and we prefer the roomette. Its not very big and sleeping on the top bunk is tight so you can't be a large person or you won't fit comfortably. Regular seats are larger than airplane seat and they recline a bit. They also have an electric plug so you can use electronics devices. Coach seated passengers use to get a free dinner however since Covid I heard that is no longer the case. Check with Amtrak before you go because you can bring food onto the train such as subs and sandwiches. The train is very full November thru April with Northerners go south and than heading back after the winter. The prices are also higher at this time. You can walk the train if your legs get restless and they do have a lounge car that sells adult beverages and snacks. Off loading of your car can take awhile depending on how full the train was. However in my opinion it really beats driving especially if you are going south. Just board the train go to the club car get a drink and as the train starts to leave look at all those car's on I-95 stuck in traffic not moving. Enjoy a relaxing trip.
Last time I was on the auto train it was 2002. I moved th FL from the Philly area. Packed the car with my belongings. I had a full bedroom and it worked for me.
Lucky you. My wife and I tried it last year. We come down from from north of Boston, to make sure we get there on time we left early because people who know the traffic between Boston and NYC can be horrible. Got there at 12:30 pm. Early yes but I’m thinking at least the car will come of early, wrong. The train continuously had to stop to let CSX freight trains ( they own the tracks ) go bye. We choose not to take a sleeper because for over a thousand dollars we could not justify the expense, maybe if we had two small ones the option would have been different. The ride all the way down was horrible. Finally came into Sanford. At least the car will come off early, wrong, it took 1 1/2 hours to get our vehicle. Now we still have to drive almost two hours to our home in the Ocala area (Dunnellon). Right after we took the train , I heard on the news that the train broke down on the way , no air conditioner on board, finally arrived over 12 hours late. We can drive down , get a good nights sleep in a hotel and still be at our home sooner than this trip took. So thanks, but no thanks.
That sounds like an awful experience. I suppose it truly is a hit or miss and cost is definitely reflective of time of year/demand/capacity. Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback! :)
I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak became nationwide (formerly individual railroad passengers companies became no longer confused with many transfers) for over 55 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because train travellings are blasting with wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car that is including no extra cost eating in dining car is the best! And their real foods are great! Able to walk entire each cars or standing out of train car on platform if stop for 10 or more minutes (don't wonder away from platform then the train will left by catch up on schedule or be on-time a minute or two before). While monitoring the completely refueling in locomotives, done by exchanging suitcases in baggage car, finishing filling up water each car and less passengers hopping in or hopping out will be leaving early as a schedule. I used took Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose, now called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose). For you guys are taking a short trip on any long distance Amtrak to see if you like the train before taking longer trip. Also, check train status (keeping repeating if a train is catch up) for the arrival to save your waiting. Enjoy!
Be aware that the train is not always on time. Because of a medical problem and a mechanical problem on the train north, our train south was delayed. We didn’t board until five hours later than scheduled.
I've taken the Auto Train in both a roomette and coach seating and have enjoyed both very much. It's a great way to travel without having to worry about traffic, fuel, and being stuck with kids in the car for long periods. Just the access to a bathroom on demand and the ability to stroll around was a real blessing. One important lesson: If you have a larger vehicle such as a full-size pick-up, Amtrak is SERIOUS about the max width requirement! I had to actually unbolt one side mirror in order to have my truck accepted for loading. Fortunately I had tools and experience to do this, but just don't let this take you by surprise.
I can drive from VA to FL in 12 hrs. If the price of gas is $3.50 gallon and 800 miles (20 mpg =40 gallons = $140 !!! so much cheaper to drive.. stop when you want to , eat where ever you like ...no waiting and waiting. Cheaper to drive and I love to drive. If I was older, I would consider it. I am a night person , so driving at night ... its less traffic and cooler in the summer.
Makes sense! We made the overnight drive many times when we made the move down to FL (mainly because we had a toddler and wanted her to sleep for most of the trip). Definitely much less traffic. I’m not a night person so I didn’t love it 😆 but it certainly is the best time to beat traffic! Thanks for sharing!
My wife and I are snowbirds, traveling routinely between Annapolis, Maryland, and Fort Myers, Florida. The Amtrak auto train is hardly comfortable however… It beats the dreaded drive down 95. Tips for taking the auto train. -. if you're over 50, you definitely want the rooomette -if you're over 60, and your spouse is traveling with you, you definitely need the full-size room. The roommette is tiny. -Pack Ambien or Lunesta, you are definitely gonna need it. I've tried just using melatonin gummy, and it really didn't work. I love night train travel in Europe, but the Amtrak trains are designed for freight. They're not smooth at all. Unfortunately, on my way to Fort Myers from Sanford is a 3 1/2 to 4 Hour drive due to Disney traffic. -I highly encourage you to pay for the $95 early off car fee. I've had to wait almost 2 hours for my car in Lorton Virginia.
i can set up a transport from VA to FL for way less this time of year, it is seasonal this time of year "door to door" depending on sedan, suv, pick up, van 500 it is more if you are going from FL to VA snowbirds heading north
That’s great to know! Thanks for sharing. We priced it out one way down in early April and the train was slightly cheaper and we didn’t have to wait two weeks for the carrier to deliver. This is definitely a great factor to consider. Thanks for your feedback!
As a 42 year old native Floridian (originally from Ft. Pierce but have lived in Sumter County for 35 years), I always, always wanted to take this Auto Train. My late mother and I always talked about getting a room on there and traveling to Virginia just for the heck of it. We sadly never did, but I still like watching videos and reading articles about this train.
@@LivingInCentralFL407 Nah, with her death, it wouldn't be the same going alone. No fun anymore. But it still looks like a neat thing to do, a bucket list item.
You can start registering at 12:30 and last check in is 3pm. There wasn’t much a wait when we arrived around 1:45 but that can vary depending on day/delays etc.. I hope you enjoy your trip!
When we booked, it was last minute. (Literally the day before 😬) Flights were about $300/ticket one way before bags and seats (no car). We usually fly frontier (no first class) because they fly into the closest airport to our family up north. With that said, I usually recommend that people factor in the cost of two tickets, a car rental (assuming you need a car), the bags, and seats to have the same cost analysis. (Technically you could factor in food since it’s included with the rooms on the train but I didn’t factor that in.) If you don’t require a car, that will obviously factor in and save money. All in all it depends on many factors but it was quite similar in comparison when we booked. If you book early enough and do not require a rental car, I feel airfare would be cheaper. Hope that helps!
@@LivingInCentralFL407 Thanks so much for you quick reply. It really does help. When we looked at the cost to fly it was about $300 round trip per person from NY to Orlando. This seems like a great experience and that factors into the perception of the cost, for me anyways. I also advise my clients the same!
We've taken the Auto Train quite a few times. When you factor wear and tear on your car, plus hotels, plus rental car, plus wear and tear on YOU, the Auto Train is roughly a wash, cost-wise. It's even cheaper if you do not get a sleeper, but I highly recommend the sleeper. Down sides: you will have an hour or more to kill at the boarding end. In VA, there is nothing to occupy your time except a playground. There are numerous restaurants within a short cab ride - which is what we did our last trip south. In Sanford, at least certain days of the week there is a free shuttle bus that goes to the tourist / restaurant area of town. You likely will NOT sleep well on the train - but it's still less fatiguing than the drive would be.
I took the Auto train last year, But my trip really wasn't for the convenience of bring my car with me, I was more interested in the train experience itself and wasn't going to any tourist locations on this trip.. I've ridden on other Amtrak routes over the years, so I wanted to try the Auto train just for the different experience of watching the loading and off loading, in addition to checking out the new cars and dinner menu's post covid restrictions. Both the new, well-appointed dining cars and the new dinner menu's were pleasant surprises (I had the steak)! First let me offer up a dining tip that you didn't cover in your video. As you stated, when you check in you give the Amtrak representative your preferred meal-time in the dining car, but what I didn't know was that you could also tell them that you would like to have your meal delivered to your roomette. It's complimentary for sleeper cabin riders (other than a tip) and is quite a benefit if you're an anti-social curmudgeon like myself and don't care for communial dining, or if you have mobility issues. But it only applies to the dinner meal, as the breakfast is more of a continental grab-and-go breakfast. One other aspect of the trip that I found disappointing was the fact the train leaves pretty late in the day, and arrives early in the morning, which didn't leave very much daylight for sightseeing from either the dining car, as you eat, or from the "Observation" car. Just an FYI!
I never found it cost effective, but I have been taking Amtrak from Providence to NY and Providence to Richmond, Va ( Short Pump/Staples Mill) lately because I just don't enjoy the driving any more. As others have stated Boston to DC is the worst part of the drive (at least until you get to Florida and have to battle the trucks) :-) Costs have changed quite a bit since the last time I ran the numbers and of course you also have to take into consideration convenience and preferences.
Florida to Virginia is an easy drive. It's when you get to DC. NJ, NY , CT and MA that the drive becomes horrific. The auto train needs to go all the way to Boston before I would consider using it.
I been on the Auto Train 3 times. Calculate gas, food, and motel, etc. vs. airline ticket and rental car, and gas. With the Auto Train, it's all about the accommodations, coach seat, roomette, or sleeper. It's sad because i could do round trip first class and it's cheaper than one way on the train in a roomette or sleeper. All a matter of time of travel. I like trains.
Thanks so much for sharing! The train is a great experience but it comes down to time and money for most so it’s definitely smart to shop ahead and plan accordingly as you mentioned :)
At present, it costs over $3000 round trip for a family bedroom and a car. That's double what it costs to fly to Orlando from Philly, for my family of four. I could literally fly and rent a car for cheaper, even including airport parking and a meal at my connection. That's crazy.
Agreed. We are flying to Philly tomorrow for that same reason and my husband drove because the prices made more sense this way. It definitely is necessary to price it out depending on time of travel and capacity. Thanks for sharing!
This video is giving me flashbacks. I hate this train. I took this train for work 4-6 times a year and every damn time it would leave 2 to 6 hours late. Every time they would give the same excuses (either awaiting their logbooks, or that they didn't have enough parking attendants so the car loading process was slow). I started driving from DC to Tampa and it's faster start to finish from house to hotel than using the train was by far.
Won't use again. Travel to Lorton from the Boston area is the most "taxing" part of the trip. The trip through the "Northeast corridor" (Boston to Fredricksburg/Richmond) is the hardest part. After that it's just mundane, with plenty of road stops/motels/restaurants along the way. The train doesn't eliminate that.
PRO TIP- if riding in a coach seat bring your own dinner. There’s a pizza place just on the other side of I-95 and a restaurant (Glory Days) across from the Lorton station.
I, as a Dane twice used a, rented in Germany by the Swedish Railroads, auto train from Malmö to Umeå and Luleå in the north of Sweden. It was special to look at the growth changing to arctic during the 1500 km ride. I dont know far this American train goes?
The attendants load your vehicle into designated cars and they are connected to the passenger portion of the train so once you arrive at your destination, your car arrives with you. I’m not aware of any other cities other than Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida.
I have been on that train many times the bottom of the cars are for handy cap people an onefamily bed room the showers our down there also if your incoachor a roomat
As a Canadian, and also live in WestPalmBeach FL........I look Amtrack Auto Train and is to much a wasting time........The plane is better option.....3h30 and it's done... Uber from home....car is in the driveway......pool 85F....beach 82F......no waisting time... Also I have a choice of (3) airport for departure and (4) airport for arrival........and the whole familly (4) can travel for $650 total.......
Oh definitely! If time is of the essence and flying is convenient, I definitely recommend that! I think this is a great alternative to driving (and if plane tickets are too expensive). We frequent back and forth to Pennsylvania and mainly fly for time-sake, but the stress free way of traveling with the train was super appealing to me once we experienced it.
I’ve been taking the auto train for over 20 years. It’s gotten to the point where the cost for a one bedroom is utterly ridiculous. It is almost 3 times what I used to pay just 10 short years ago. Since their new president, they have eliminated complementary wine and cheese, they have eliminated free newspapers, food choices have shrunk along with portion sizes, free coffee used be available in every car but now you have to walk upstairs then 3-4 cars on the second car level to find a coffee machine. to book on the website and modify your dates is an absolute disaster, and hold times on the phones, well you better order lunch first before you get on the hold time. They now charge $60 if you want to be a priority de-board of your car, at those numbers you should seriously run the numbers of flying and renting a car versus autotrain. No complaints about the staff, really nice people, but the current management has turned this into the equivalent of a mediocre airline experience.
Awesome! I’m helping a buyer in Miami right now. If you need any assistance, I’d love to connect and support you on your journey :) Feel free to shoot me an email at Stephaniekennedy.realestate@gmail.com
If you have creation 2020 and later vehicles like Tahoe’s , beware, they won’t tell you they don’t fit until after you checked in , no one in the reservation process will say squat. Guy says” oh yeah, we’ve known for years”. You have to take mirrors off completely, and they won’t do it or help you, nor does many have tools on hands, we said F U , git refund and splurged on trio and drove and got there sooner.
Idk if you're stuck yet but I've lived in fort Pierce from Vero Beach Palm Beach Jupiter St Lucie Palm City Jensen. 24yrs. If you have assets home family people that love you a good life somewhere else stay there! I kno you might be bored but don't fall for this! don't do it to yourselves it will destroy your family line one way or another. It'll degrade and destroy everything you've worked for. On top of that it's getting ready to change for the extreme worse and you'll never get out of here then. ❤🤙 Great video ... I'm taking my jeeps and going the other way😊 #GrassNOTgreener
Just wanted to know what is considered Central Florida; and is this area safe from storms and flooding? What are the homes going for like ranch style 3br 2 bath rooms
Central Florida is quite large and includes 18 counties. I personally specialize in the greater Orlando area with focus on Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Orange and Polk Counties. Generally speaking, the more inland you go the less Chance for flooding. However, there are many lakes throughout Central FL which can also factor in. I reside in Lake Mary (known as City of Lakes 😬) however we have not experienced flooding personally. The town right next to us had pretty significant flooding during the last 2 hurricanes though as it sits against Lake Monroe which is a large body of water connecting to the St. John’s River. All in all it really depends on your specific location. As for the 3br 2ba ranch, it depends on location, square footage, lot size, etc. Overall you can find that style starting in mid 200s and upward. If you’d like me to send you some to browse to gain a better idea of what to expect, feel free to shoot me an email/text and I’d be happy to send some your way. :) Stephaniekennedy.realestate@gmail.com
Yes it’s a bit deceiving because it’s quite large. There are certain parts I personally wouldn’t want to live but other parts that are extremely safe. We own property in Sanford and have never had any issues with safety/crime. Most of my friends live in Sanford on the border of Lake Mary and love it without issue also.
We did that but the worker came out and told us it’s almost always the opposite. So we left and loaded toward the end. We were offloaded in the first 1/3 of the vehicles.
I didn’t see any but I did read a review of someone taking a 5x8 uhaul behind a Mercedes. It’s my understanding that you can call to have it cleared by Amtrak ahead of time but shouldn’t be an issue as long as it’s 4 inches off the ground. Let us know if you do end up taking it. We’d love the feedback!
Well I did a search and the ONLY AUTO train is this ONE... from Virginia to Florida.... funny seeing how this is the ONE PROFITABLE route for AMTRAK..... GOBBERMENT 4 YA!!!
What is the cost and time difference if you just drive? Please include when you arrived at the station until the time you left the station at your destination.
This is difficult to answer because it depends on cost of fuel and type of vehicle you drive (we normally drive a truck which takes more). We just used 2 tanks driving to Virginia from Sanford last week and took about 12 hours. We stopped overnight. It’s definitely cheaper to drive if only factoring in fuel (not staying over night to stop). We arrived to load our car at 1:45pm in Virginia then left the Sanford station with our car at 11am the next morning. There were still cars after us unloading though. I hope this helps.
@@LivingInCentralFL407 I appreciate your response. I checked the price going from Norfolk, VA, to Jacksonville, FL, without a car, just as a passenger. It was more cost-effective to fly first class with American Airlines and spend four hours each way instead of 22 and 25 hours via train. For me, it would be impractical given where I live.
Good Morning America how are ya? Don't you know me I'm your second Native Son. I am called the Amtrak Auto Train I'll be eight hundred miles down by the day is done. When I was in Germany in 1984. They had something similar to this I was watching the guys load up the cars. The train was going to go from Stuttgart to Milan. And I saw the traffic it was jam-packed on the Autobahn. They still run the auto racks but they don't run the overnight train anymore kind of sad. Because my grandfather worked from Stuttgart to Hamburg and vice versa. I my grandmother told me that he would always pick up the new Mercedes-Benz from the factory. Or go to the BMW Factory. If you get to go over there it's a lot of fun. And if you get to go to the steam Fest your son will say hey that's Thomas the Tank engine's Big Brother. Because if you see the 05 or the 50 that was my grandfather's engines. Before they switched over to Electric. And he drove a 193 Siemens one the first Electric locomotives post-war. And she still running strong today.
Yes.. the prices vary depending on season, capacity, day of the week, like airfare. We paid just under $1000 for a roomette in early April. We travelled on a Tuesday. Hope that helps!
Driving 850 miles one way is $200 in gas. A room for 2 adults is $600 and up. Plus you have to hand your car to a stranger. Not to mention it will take up to 2 days to get there. I would prefer to drive in one day or stay in motel midway.
Great analysis of the cost. If you book early, you can get a full bedroom for 2 at nearly the cost of a roomette for 2. Overall, it's a great experience! Remember, the journey is just as important at the destination. When on vacation, everything beats being in the office (just don't tell my boss that).
Yes! Thank you for the tip! We booked very last minute (the day before 😬) so great to know about booking ahead of time!
If you are cheap you can book coach
answer: YES 10/10 key is to arrive EARLY or as I did, and you do with cruises, arrive THE NIGHT BEFORE. Stayed in their Holiday Inn. ON BOARD TRAIN BY 1PM. LOVED ALL OF IT. Had room on "2nd floor" so much quieter and full bathroom. Did not pay extra for getting car first and still got car within the hour. Please remind viewers that, like any restaurant or cabin, remember to TIP the server and steward.
Thanks so much for your feedback! Excellent tips! And yes- tipping is a must!
Being snowbirds from New England, we tried the Autotrain once years ago. The loading process was efficient and the dinner was good. Back then, the railbed wasn't in good shape, and with all the lurching we got very little sleep, so we had to head for a hotel rather than continue to our destination. We decided that the Autotrain bypasses the easiest part of I-95 to navigate, and given its cost we were better off to drive. If we could eliminate the Boston to Washington part of the journey, the train might be a better choice!
Thanks for your feedback! The overall ride was pretty smooth when we travelled on it but the beds were not very comfortable so it was not the best sleep. I do think for us, travelling with little ones and avoiding the long overnight drive, it is a great option. If you have the leisure of travelling without little ones and stopping frequently, it isn't a bad drive. I agree with you, bypassing the northeast traffic would be GREAT!
Mpls to Daytona is a little over 20 hrs, a very short drive
Unfortunately, Amtrak's "Northeast Corridor" is height restricted, which wouldn't allow for standard double-decker Auto Train vehicle transport cars. It would be very costly to try and upgrade the entire route section to accommodate an Auto Train route between the Boston area & Lorton, VA.
A new AutoTrain could potentially be engineered to operate between Niagara Falls, NY & Sanford, FL: Niagara Falls - Cleveland - Cincinnati - Chattanooga - Atlanta - Jacksonville -Sanford. Which would avoid the height-restricted NE Corridor. Thus enabling Canadians & other Florida-bound travelers getting their cars to & from Florida.
That would be amazing!!
"eliminate the Boston to Washington part"
That was my thought. The 450 miles from Boston to NOVA is the worst part along with the most expensive gas, tolls and lower speed limits.
The section from NOVA to FL is mostly 70.
Sounds great if you're starting from DC or Baltimore. Otherwise you have a long drive plus the cost of a train with no time savings.
I've taken the Auto Train to and from Disney with my family of 8 in 2021. It was good. I had no complaints. We were in coach. The seating was comfortable. The ride was fine. We brought a cooler with us onboard with food and drinks to save on cost. We all were pleased with the Auto Train.
I will say that I'm an Amtrak employee BUT I'm also a fan and customer. I was impressed by the efficiency of the whole process. I would definitely do it again.
I also love watching Amtrak reviews. Especially when they're good ones. I just makes me feel good knowing that enjoy riding with us.
Thanks so much for your feedback! That’s an excellent tip about bringing a cooler onboard! My family and I will most definitely take the train again! :)
My husband and I have taken the Autotrain many times and have definitely decided that saving a few $$ and just using the regular train seats is the way to go! And I have a bad back! The regular seats provide plenty of room for your legs and you can elevate your legs like a recliner chair. No privacy of course, but the only place privacy was needed was in the bathrooms anyway.
Thanks so much for your feedback! That’s great to know! :)
I agree! I don’t need a tiny closed in room for 15 hours or so. There are 3 of us taking the auto train in September and this cuts our driving up into Canada in HALF! Half a tired of driving by the time we get there, win win!
Very informative. I did it once, about to do it for the 2nd time. It's very nice that u are open to help others with information on central Florida.i lived in the area for 8 years and love it. Keep helping people. That is a blessing to have someone like u .
Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly appreciate it. Let me know how you make out on your next auto train trip! :)
Took it a few months ago, decided to go coach. Upper level had people going all through it at all hours, lower level you had to deal with people heading to the bathrooms at all hours. Also had a tool on the phone pretty much all night. Roomette may be different, but coach is going to depend on who else is in there and how well you can sleep through anything!
Thanks for the feedback. Yes sleeping factors can definitely vary. I’m a light sleeper so I didn’t think I would do well in Coach overnight. Our roomette was very quiet.
Never go long distance by coach. Sleeper is the only was to go
Yes! 👌🏻
Take the lower level, Train doesn't sway as much, there's less people so there's less movement, and the bathroom are closer.
That’s an excellent tip. Thank you!
My Late Wife and I used to take this train in a Bedroom twice a year. We enjoyed it.
Because when we first started and at 3 pm the Train used to have a Wine and Cheese Party. And the Train also used have a Smoking Room in the Bottom of the Club Car. And of course the Train Stopped that.
And the Train used to show movies.
But know the Train has Wi-Fi in the Club Car only.
But most of all we enjoyed our train ride to and from Va to Fl and back in reverse.
Thanks for your feedback. It sounds like it was a great experience. I had access to Wi-Fi in our roomette this past trip. Outside of that, there weren’t any “extras”. I appreciate your post :)
Glad you had a great experience! I also had a great trip a few years ago. I traveled from NY to Miami. But I have heard horror stories of trains being multiple hours late! If you book a bedroom do not get room A. This room is at the end of the train car and has a slightly smaller compartment. It makes a difference!! I was lucky enough to get to do my homework and stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn which is literally 2 minutes away from the Lorton station. There is also a wonderful shopping center also minutes away from the station. I had a great night sleep at the Holiday Inn. Had a very nice complimentary breakfast. Went to the shopping center. Bought a bottle of Irish Whisky and a few snacks as well as a meatball parm hero and a salad. The food and drinks at the station and on board are very expensive! I was able make some ice at the hotel and brought my own cooler. I booked a bedroom, so I had the dinner and breakfast. I was lucky to have a very nice server for dinner and got a lot of free wine! The reason I slept at all?!! It's a very bumpy ride! (A few shots of whisky helped as well)! Bring very little on the train!! Just the essentials. A change of clothes, if you want to clean up or take a shower. Bring some kind of entertainment. I brought my portable DVD player with me and a few movies. The WIFI is spotty! Also bring a plug multiplier, there is usually two in the bedrooms.
Take your valuables with you as you walk through the train.! There are no locks on the outside of the room doors! And no secure places in coach!
Thanks for your feedback! These are all excellent tips!
First time we took the Auto Train we went with just coach seats. Even though our lower level car was only half full, we were unable to get comfortable enough to actually sleep. My husband’s health and mobility was deteriorating so from then on we requested an accessible room, and that was wonderful. We had a toilet and sink in the room and quite a bit of space. Of course, I had to sleep on the upper bunk but I did manage to get some sleep.
Thanks so much for sharing! I personally have a difficult time sleeping sitting up so a room with a bed is also my preference.
My family and I took our first Auto Train trip to Florida in the late 1980's back when the passenger cars were single level that were inherited from other passenger railroads when Amtrak was formed in 1971. The sleepers actually had the old "pass through" door at floor level where passengers could leave their shoes to be shined by the sleeper car attendent overnight. That service had long been discontinued by then. The service was impeccable, coach passengers also received meals in a buffet type service and sleeper passengers were in a traditional dining car. We've taken Auto train probably a dozen times since then, in later years just the wife and I and always in the sleepers, the most recent being a few years ago.
When we first started, there were flowers on the dining car tables, sleeper passengers received complementary wine in your room upon boarding and there was a wine and cheese happy hour for sleeper car passengers that commenced about 90 minutes before departure. I also believe that there was a movie shown after dinner. Dinners were fantastic and breakfast was pretty informal and pretty decent as well. Beds were made up completely by the sleeping car attendant and you were told in no uncertain terms NOT to touch the bunks to bring them down to sleeping position. It truly is a shame that Amtrak has cheapened the experience since those days, especially since that is their flagship train. The concept is great though. drive on, sleep your way to florida and get off, leaving behind almost 900 miles of highway driving. If you live close to either terminal, say a few hours drive, it is a no brainer in my opinion as to the benefit of using it, especially having your car with you at your destination with the surge in rental car pricing. Being from CT, it's a long drive just to get to Lorton, but just that experience of sitting in the diner having dinner watching the scenery go by, well to me it never gets old.
Where it gets messy is if the train is severely delayed. They only have two train sets for this run so if you're late into one terminal, it will be late leaving on it's return run and those delays can cascade to the point they cancel the service for a couple of days to reset everything. I've enjoyed the experience every time we've used it. To me, the trip is part of the vacation :) Oh and the family room will work with two little ones, (don't try it with two teenagers though, those kid bunks ARE small). You just have to keep them occupied for a LONG trip. But that's why they make bar cars :)
Thank you so much for your feedback! It sounds like it was an incredible experience back then! We live about 20 minutes from Sanford but are from just north of Philadelphia so this train is a perfect option for us when traveling back and forth to visit family up north. And I agree, I feel the train is most definitely part of the vacation experience :)
I have taken the auto train 7 times. Every trip has been great.
Thanks for your feedback! That’s great!
Pro tip; There are more sleeper rooms on the upper level than on the lower level. Thus the upper level rest rooms see more people than the lower level. The lower level rest rooms stay cleaner, longer than upper level rest rooms.
Wow! That’s a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing! :)
Thanks
Like listening to paint dry.
Fun fact I’ve used the auto train to pick up cars I’ve purchased in Va twice and Pa. Over the years. It was less expensive to fly one way and purchase a Auto train ticket than using a truck delivery service and of course I had the car at my house within 24 hrs. Normally if you have it delivered it can take couple of weeks.
It’s funny you share that, that’s exactly what we did from Pennsylvania. We researched delivery and this was the best option. That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love the auto train. The last time I drove NY to FL, I was almost involved in an accident and was stuck in traffic due to two separate car fires. On the drive before someone rear ended the car in the next lane and I missed it by mere inches. I love not having to deal with that for a large portion of the trip. I also like not having to drive through the night and worrying that something may happen in the middle of the night or trying to find an open gas station when you are driving in the middle of nowhere at 2 AM.
I love just sitting back and being able to relax versus worrying about driving in the rain, traffic, etc. I agree that it is SO much less stressful than flying even though I was traveling alone. You really don't need to take that much on the actual train with you since you are sleeping for most of the trip.
I have never had a delay on the auto train as opposed to delays almost every trip I've taken on the Silver Meteor or Silver Star.
I arrived early for my auto train trips and I was once one of the first cars off and once one of the last cars off - it all depends on where your car ends up on which train - you could be the last car on the first train or the first car on the second train since they are offloading multiple trains at once.
I was happily surprised with the meals - they were good (as opposed to the TV dinner type meals that they are serving on the Silver Meteor now that are not tasty)
The bathrooms in the sleeper cars were clean each time I used them on the auto train (and also the Silver Meteor). The bathrooms on the Silver Meteor when I was in a coach seat were so disgusting I would wear a scarf doused with perfume before I would enter them. The cost of the roomette was worth it for that reason alone.
Oddly my absolute favorite part of the auto train - the in room radio! There was something so great about listening to oldies over the radio on the train. No phone, no ipad, no streaming - just pressing a button and listening to the radio. It was like a step back in time and the only thing missing was Bing and Danny singing with Rosemary and Vera in the cafe car.
I love this comment! You mentioned so many great points. Thank you so much for your feedback! And I agree, the in room radio was a great feature! :)
My family used to take the Auto-Train back in the 70`s... being a kid with my brothers it was a blast and took a lot of pressure off my dad as he did all the driving...but these days my wife and I just can`t justify the cost... in your case it seems to make sense especially if you have to rent a car, but you are making great memories for your children, I`m sure they will remember it like my brothers and I... and my dad loved the club car... not sure if they still have that.
Thanks so much for sharing! I didn’t notice a club car, only a lounge car and dining car. And yes I think the experience is worth it and the convenience factor as An alternative to driving is great, however flying is certainly what we prefer to do most often. Thanks for watching! :)
The first year me and my husband drove down to Panama City, Fl. as snow birds leaving just outside of Philadelphia, PA (stopping half way in Charlotte) the drive was horrible.
Both days we drove about 10 hours and it felt like it was never ending journey. Not to mention the crazy drivers on the road made us feel like we were taking our life in our hands.
Last year we decided to visit Jupiter, Fl and after reviewing the cost of a coach seat/car on the auto train we realized the cost was about the same when you add the cost of an overnight stay at a hotel, dinner out, Gas, tolls etc. to drive the full trip.
I booked the auto train.
We found the ability to be able to relax, read a book, watch a movie and sleep without the stress of the drive made this decision an excellent choice. And the fact that you are getting closer to you destination is also big perk. You depart Lorton, Va at 5 PM and if all goes well, you get into Sandford, Fl at 10 AM. This changes the trip from 2 full days to 1 day which is something I really appreciated.
The coach seating is spacious and comfortable. Sleep can be difficult with all the snoring men, but I downloaded “white noise” on my phone and with the use of ear plugs that resolved that problem. You can bring a cooler with food, drinks and snacks. The seats recline back pretty far and we brought pillows and small blankets for additional comfort.
Returning home we booked the roomette. The roomette is very tight space, but allowed us our own space and beds where you can sleep lying down. This is pricier, but felt like I did get a better sleep even with the rocking of the train.
Thank you so much for sharing! We had a similar experience. Where outside of Philadelphia are you from!? We are originally from Bucks County! :)
langhorne pa@@LivingInCentralFL407
One more thing you don't have to deal with when you take the train instead of driving -- those orange signs with those dreaded three words: "Road Work Ahead".
It really is the only way to go if you are living in the northeast. The thought of driving down I95 to Florida brings back memories of how dangerous that road really is. It's like the Indy 500.
Yes this is definitely a great alternative. Thanks for watching! :)
The problem is .. The train starts/ends in VA .. so you still have drive the worst part of the trip through MD, Beltways, Tunnels, NJ Turnpike, NYC etc. south of Richmond the drive isn't bad, straight and flat with many places to stay, eat, rest.
Slight damage to an undercarriage rear-wheel air deflector on my Lorton-Sanford trip. I could not sleep on the train but did like the experience. I traded not sleeping on the train for the exhausting drive. I would use the auto train again just to avoid the stress of driving-traffic, road rage aggressive drivers, accidents,etc. I would not get the en-suite bathroom again unless traveling with my fiancé (who enjoyed the privacy ). It’s too small and the communal showers seemed clean and spacious. Our sleeping-car porter was great.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I agree, sleep was minimal but definitely worth the tradeoff of driving.
I’m from South Central Florida. Glad you love & live in our Great State. Keep up the great experiences.😎❤️
Thanks so much for your welcoming feedback! We are so happy here! 🥰
We rented the Family Car and it was very comfortable. When I drive it takes 2 days - so I also have a hotel charge plus several meals and gas. Auto train is the way to go!
Thanks so much for sharing! We plan to get the family car next time. And yes! My husband just drove back up last week with a truck and trailer and needed to stop overnight, so it’s definitely an extra expense to consider. I’m glad you had a great experience on the train. :)
I am so glad you mentioned the various expenses of driving. Many do not think of that. For my many travels (around two dozen trips so far) on the Auto Train in a private sleeping compartment, I have found the cost to be reasonably comparable to driving, eating at restaurants, hotel rooms, plus wear and tear on my auto, let alone the wear and tear on my mind from the stress of driving I-95. (I have come to loathe I-95.) I have learned to just enjoy the trip, and try not to be in a rush, to pretty much accept the delays that do happen thanks mostly to freight railroads.
@stephenkistler9651 yes! Those are all excellent points. Thanks for sharing! :)
@@stephenkistler9651 you are smart. That is a very good way to look at things. So basically you are going with the flow.
I taken the Auto Train round trip and one way many, many times both in coach and with the small sleeper. Never been more then a half hour leaving nor an hour arriving late and that was due to freight traffic.
I love to travel the auto train, you meet so many interesting people, have a lot of laughs and a great adventure every time. Wouldn't go any other way.
Thanks so much for your feedback! We enjoyed our experience as well :)
This is a fair and balanced review. Worth the $$$. Swaying and train noise a negative. Overall a good value.
Thanks for sharing and for your feedback! :)
My wife and I used the AutiTrain many times and loved it. Usally in April.
I am a person who lived in Naples and I used the auto train a couple of times, and it was well worth it...
So thank you for making this useful video. It was well executed and very easy to follow. You covered all of the essential information that people would like to know. So here's a HUGE THANK YOU!
VERY INFORMATIVE.👍
Thank you so much!
I rode the AutoTrain (twice) in 2008 and 2017 with no problems or issues. One of the southbound trips left 45m early and arrived 45m late, but other than that all was very good.
Back in the 80's I was living in NJ and wanted to take the auto train to Miami, when I added up the cost of 3 people plus a car and the fact that I had to drive 6 hrs to Va and then 4 more hours to Miami, it made more sense to fly and rent a car.
Yes. The drive before and after the station is definitely a big factor. Thanks for sharing!
Nice report. Considering taking my motorcycle from Sanford to VA then riding it back down the Skyline Drive and Blueridge Parkway on the way back to Florida skipping the long ride up to VA.
Sounds like an excellent trip! Thanks for sharing!
I love and track I've been riding Amtrak since I was a little girl and I'm 60 now took it from Florida out La Florida to San Francisco and numerous of times from Pittsburgh to Tampa and Miami love it
That’s amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!
Every thing depends on your values. If you include gas prices along with the possible use of a hotel, food, plus gas to and from the rices are quite comparable.
Direction of travel can change pricing as well. We did s/b in April (easter weekend) as part of a two week tour of Florida and wanted to do the train one way or another. The s/b was about 25% less than n/b . AmTrak rep told us at that time of year more demand for n/b so prices are higher. This might have changed , this was just our experience . BTW great experience both times , we too did the roomette ( Closette LOL) .
Thanks so much for sharing! That’s great to know! We travelled around the same time and were told many “snowbirds” were returning up north during that time, so that definitely makes sense. (Closette 😂😂😂😂😂)
Thank you for a great informational review of the Audi Train. Great job!
Absolutely! I’m glad to hear that you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
I do the roomette and I bring snacks, drinks, sandwiches and breakfast stuff. The dining is nothing special and if you get stuck in "group three" you will have a very late dinner. I do love the ride, love sleeping on the train and the roomette is perfect for the solo traveler. Now that I have cars that stay in Florida for the summer, I fly first class to RSW......its cheaper :)
Thanks for sharing! And I agree, it’s definitely easier to have cars in both places :)
Thanks for the review. Unfortunately Amtrak has been downgrading this service over the last few years. I took it a few years ago in coach and we were served a nice dinner like you mentioned and continental breakfast the next morning. Now no diner for coach passengers and you have to buy mediocre food in the Cafe. I hope someone at Amtrak reinstates the perks of old. This has aways been a profit making train.
Thanks so much for your feedback. Many are sharing what you have regarding the downgraded services. It sounds like it was a really great experience in the past.
My family took the auto train for the first time in 2019 and back then it included a nice dinner for coach in the dining car. We are doing it again in two weeks and I did notice that dinner is no longer included which I was disappointed about. We had a good experience in 2019 especially since there were only two other people in our car with us (a very nice and quiet older couple). I’m already anticipating this time around to not be as enjoyable for some reason lol, hopefully I’m wrong 😃
@@nicoledavis6344 Let us know how you make out! I hope you have a nice trip!
@@LivingInCentralFL407 thank you so much! 😊
@@nicoledavis6344 so, how did your trip on the auto train turn out?
I went to the AMTRAK site just tonight and clicked on the auto train link to see what it was...never heard of it. Now a few hours later, without searching for it, there are multiple AMTRAK Autotrain videos in my feed.
Yes.. UA-cam is a search engine like google so once you show interest in something, it will feed you more content related to that topic.
@@LivingInCentralFL407 Except I didn't do a google search or a UA-cam search. I just went to the AMTRAK website and went to the page on their site...
Hmm I’m not sure 😬🤷🏼♀️
There may be settings in your browser to reduce the cross-site advertising that plagues web surfing these days, but a more effective and maybe less annoying technique would be to open up an "In-Private" window (MS Edge) / "Incognito" window (Chrome) / "Private Window" (Firefox) to search for topics/visit sites that may catch your attention while YouTubing.
@@sdarms111doug9 it's cookies
I am a Snowbird and rely on Auto train to avoid the grizzly drive between Annapolis, Maryland and Fort Myers Florida. The tracks are awful and there’s a lot of shimming, but that’s what Ambien or Melatonin gummies are for. The drive is BRUTAL! 2 lanes on the Carolina’s with poindexter drivers blocking the passing lanes, exhausting! While the train ride isn’t smooth like European trains. It gets the job done. A couchette is a MUST! I’ve gotten those for a as low as $365 plus $285 for car. Well worth avoiding the dreaded drive.
Hi Stephanie. Just came across your channel.
My wife and I took the Auto Train, and our experience was less pleasant than yours to be quite frank.
1. Departure from Lorton VA was 2 hours late and we were never informed why.
2. We had the bedroom which, although generally clean, was dingy, all fabrics were frayed, and metallic surfaces were worn and scratched.
3. The air conditioner controls did nothing in the room, and the attendant could not resolve it, so we were uncomfortably hot throughout the trip.
4. The cost of our ticket was substantially more than it would have cost to fly to Florida, more than double the price. We could have opted for the roomette as it was just the two of us, but we wanted an upper-tier experience so we decided to splurge a little.
5. Dinner service was delayed and chaotic, and the food was lackluster at best, although this could have come down to our meal selections.
6. Wifi was spotty at best, disconnecting constantly.
7. As you stared, the beds were not very comfortable, contributing to a less than pleasant sleeping experience.
8. Instead of arriving at 10 AM as scheduled, we arrived in Florida a little after 1 PM.
Would we consider taking the Auto Train again?
The only convenience of the entire experience was having access to our own vehicle after arriving in Sanford and not having to drive ourselves, but this, in and of itself, did not make up for the frustration of everything else, including the cost for what we received.
It was a unique experience, but not one I would look forward to again.
Hi! Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m sorry you had such a disappointing experience. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your thoughts.
If you had contacted them and complained you may have gotten a partial refund.
We have taken Auto train a few times and really like it. We have had both a roomette and regular seats and we prefer the roomette. Its not very big and sleeping on the top bunk is tight so you can't be a large person or you won't fit comfortably. Regular seats are larger than airplane seat and they recline a bit. They also have an electric plug so you can use electronics devices. Coach seated passengers use to get a free dinner however since Covid I heard that is no longer the case. Check with Amtrak before you go because you can bring food onto the train such as subs and sandwiches. The train is very full November thru April with Northerners go south and than heading back after the winter. The prices are also higher at this time. You can walk the train if your legs get restless and they do have a lounge car that sells adult beverages and snacks. Off loading of your car can take awhile depending on how full the train was. However in my opinion it really beats driving especially if you are going south. Just board the train go to the club car get a drink and as the train starts to leave look at all those car's on I-95 stuck in traffic not moving. Enjoy a relaxing trip.
Thanks so much for your feedback. All excellent tips!
Thank you for this. Doing it for the first time.
I’m glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!
Last time I was on the auto train it was 2002. I moved th FL from the Philly area. Packed the car with my belongings. I had a full bedroom and it worked for me.
Thanks for sharing! We also moved from Philly area (Bucks County) to Florida and used the auto train to transport a classic car. :)
@@LivingInCentralFL407 yeah i could tell by the accent haha
@MitchC357 😅
Lucky you. My wife and I tried it last year. We come down from from north of Boston, to make sure we get there on time we left early because people who know the traffic between Boston and NYC can be horrible. Got there at 12:30 pm. Early yes but I’m thinking at least the car will come of early, wrong. The train continuously had to stop to let CSX freight trains ( they own the tracks ) go bye. We choose not to take a sleeper because for over a thousand dollars we could not justify the expense, maybe if we had two small ones the option would have been different. The ride all the way down was horrible. Finally came into Sanford. At least the car will come off early, wrong, it took 1 1/2 hours to get our vehicle. Now we still have to drive almost two hours to our home in the Ocala area (Dunnellon). Right after we took the train , I heard on the news that the train broke down on the way , no air conditioner on board, finally arrived over 12 hours late. We can drive down , get a good nights sleep in a hotel and still be at our home sooner than this trip took. So thanks, but no thanks.
That sounds like an awful experience. I suppose it truly is a hit or miss and cost is definitely reflective of time of year/demand/capacity. Thanks for watching and sharing your feedback! :)
I've travelling on Amtrak train even before Amtrak became nationwide (formerly individual railroad passengers companies became no longer confused with many transfers) for over 55 years. I hopped once or twice a year acrossing any part of USA as I love it and no matter if the train is delays or on time because train travellings are blasting with wonderful socially different people from all over the places and a beauty by looking views passing different areas too. And I'm using mostly sleeper car that is including no extra cost eating in dining car is the best! And their real foods are great! Able to walk entire each cars or standing out of train car on platform if stop for 10 or more minutes (don't wonder away from platform then the train will left by catch up on schedule or be on-time a minute or two before). While monitoring the completely refueling in locomotives, done by exchanging suitcases in baggage car, finishing filling up water each car and less passengers hopping in or hopping out will be leaving early as a schedule.
I used took Southern Pacific (SP) Peninsula Commuter trains for years. SP ran between San Francisco and San Jose, now called Caltrain extended to Gilroy (south of San Jose).
For you guys are taking a short trip on any long distance Amtrak to see if you like the train before taking longer trip. Also, check train status (keeping repeating if a train is catch up) for the arrival to save your waiting. Enjoy!
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing! It sounds like you’ve had great experiences on the rails. I look forward to traveling them more frequently. :)
Great informative video and the best I've seen.
Thanks so much!
I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH AMTRAK GOING TO FLORIDA BROUGHT MY OWN LUNCH
Thanks for sharing!
Be aware that the train is not always on time. Because of a medical problem and a mechanical problem on the train north, our train south was delayed. We didn’t board until five hours later than scheduled.
Thanks for sharing! Some other viewers have said the same and it’s a great to know! I hope you had a nice remainder of the trip.
From Sanford to Lorton was worth it for me. I loved it!!
Such a great video! Thank you!
I’m so glad that you found it helpful. Thanks for watching! :)
I've taken the Auto Train in both a roomette and coach seating and have enjoyed both very much. It's a great way to travel without having to worry about traffic, fuel, and being stuck with kids in the car for long periods. Just the access to a bathroom on demand and the ability to stroll around was a real blessing.
One important lesson: If you have a larger vehicle such as a full-size pick-up, Amtrak is SERIOUS about the max width requirement! I had to actually unbolt one side mirror in order to have my truck accepted for loading. Fortunately I had tools and experience to do this, but just don't let this take you by surprise.
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing! Glad you were able to take care of it before boarding!
I can drive from VA to FL in 12 hrs. If the price of gas is $3.50 gallon and 800 miles (20 mpg =40 gallons = $140 !!! so much cheaper to drive.. stop when you want to , eat where ever you like ...no waiting and waiting. Cheaper to drive and I love to drive. If I was older, I would consider it. I am a night person , so driving at night ... its less traffic and cooler in the summer.
Makes sense! We made the overnight drive many times when we made the move down to FL (mainly because we had a toddler and wanted her to sleep for most of the trip). Definitely much less traffic. I’m not a night person so I didn’t love it 😆 but it certainly is the best time to beat traffic! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this great tutorial and for the helpful tips!
You’re very welcome!
I'm not good at flying so when my husband decides he wants to go to Vegas we go from Virginia to Vegas by train and it's nice.
Oh that’s a great idea. We are traveling to Vegas next month. I wish they had an autotrain out west! 😆
@@LivingInCentralFL407 is
Traveling by train from Orlando to Las Vegas takes 88 hours starting at $543 dollars
I just looked it up 😆 thanks!
Great report, thank you!
This is def a trip I plan on taking.
Great! Thanks so much for your feedback! Let me know how you make out! :)
My wife and I are snowbirds, traveling routinely between Annapolis, Maryland, and Fort Myers, Florida. The Amtrak auto train is hardly comfortable however… It beats the dreaded drive down 95. Tips for taking the auto train.
-. if you're over 50, you definitely want the rooomette
-if you're over 60, and your spouse is traveling with you, you definitely need the full-size room. The roommette is tiny.
-Pack Ambien or Lunesta, you are definitely gonna need it. I've tried just using melatonin gummy, and it really didn't work. I love night train travel in Europe, but the Amtrak trains are designed for freight. They're not smooth at all. Unfortunately, on my way to Fort Myers from Sanford is a 3 1/2 to 4 Hour drive due to Disney traffic.
-I highly encourage you to pay for the $95 early off car fee. I've had to wait almost 2 hours for my car in Lorton Virginia.
Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.
Glad you found it helpful!
Auto train isn’t for everyone but for someone who needs their car its a fantastic option! I like Amtrak, it’s relaxing
Absolutely agree! Thanks for your feedback! :)
Yes I took the auto train loved it
Thanks so much for sharing! :)
i can set up a transport from VA to FL for way less this time of year, it is seasonal this time of year "door to door" depending on sedan, suv, pick up, van 500 it is more if you are going from FL to VA snowbirds heading north
That’s great to know! Thanks for sharing. We priced it out one way down in early April and the train was slightly cheaper and we didn’t have to wait two weeks for the carrier to deliver. This is definitely a great factor to consider. Thanks for your feedback!
Done this a few times years ago when it was affordable, now out priced itself
Thanks for the feedback!
As a 42 year old native Floridian (originally from Ft. Pierce but have lived in Sumter County for 35 years), I always, always wanted to take this Auto Train. My late mother and I always talked about getting a room on there and traveling to Virginia just for the heck of it. We sadly never did, but I still like watching videos and reading articles about this train.
Thanks so much for sharing! I think you should definitely take the trip! :)
@@LivingInCentralFL407 Nah, with her death, it wouldn't be the same going alone. No fun anymore. But it still looks like a neat thing to do, a bucket list item.
Yes definitely a great experience. I’m Sorry for your loss.
We are in Sumter county too! I hope you get to take the train someday!
Hello. I will be taking the Amtrak Auto Train from Virginia. At what time should I get there to register my car? Its my first time. Thanks.
You can start registering at 12:30 and last check in is 3pm. There wasn’t much a wait when we arrived around 1:45 but that can vary depending on day/delays etc.. I hope you enjoy your trip!
Curious about the assumptions that made it comparable with air travel. Can you explain what classes you compared?
Looks like a fun trip!
When we booked, it was last minute. (Literally the day before 😬) Flights were about $300/ticket one way before bags and seats (no car). We usually fly frontier (no first class) because they fly into the closest airport to our family up north. With that said, I usually recommend that people factor in the cost of two tickets, a car rental (assuming you need a car), the bags, and seats to have the same cost analysis. (Technically you could factor in food since it’s included with the rooms on the train but I didn’t factor that in.) If you don’t require a car, that will obviously factor in and save money. All in all it depends on many factors but it was quite similar in comparison when we booked. If you book early enough and do not require a rental car, I feel airfare would be cheaper. Hope that helps!
@@LivingInCentralFL407 Thanks so much for you quick reply. It really does help. When we looked at the cost to fly it was about $300 round trip per person from NY to Orlando. This seems like a great experience and that factors into the perception of the cost, for me anyways. I also advise my clients the same!
Of course! I hope you have a great trip! :)
We've taken the Auto Train quite a few times. When you factor wear and tear on your car, plus hotels, plus rental car, plus wear and tear on YOU, the Auto Train is roughly a wash, cost-wise. It's even cheaper if you do not get a sleeper, but I highly recommend the sleeper. Down sides: you will have an hour or more to kill at the boarding end. In VA, there is nothing to occupy your time except a playground. There are numerous restaurants within a short cab ride - which is what we did our last trip south. In Sanford, at least certain days of the week there is a free shuttle bus that goes to the tourist / restaurant area of town. You likely will NOT sleep well on the train - but it's still less fatiguing than the drive would be.
Well said. Thank you for sharing!
Outstanding video
Thank you! :)
I took the Auto train last year, But my trip really wasn't for the convenience of bring my car with me, I was more interested in the train experience itself and wasn't going to any tourist locations on this trip.. I've ridden on other Amtrak routes over the years, so I wanted to try the Auto train just for the different experience of watching the loading and off loading, in addition to checking out the new cars and dinner menu's post covid restrictions. Both the new, well-appointed dining cars and the new dinner menu's were pleasant surprises (I had the steak)!
First let me offer up a dining tip that you didn't cover in your video. As you stated, when you check in you give the Amtrak representative your preferred meal-time in the dining car, but what I didn't know was that you could also tell them that you would like to have your meal delivered to your roomette. It's complimentary for sleeper cabin riders (other than a tip) and is quite a benefit if you're an anti-social curmudgeon like myself and don't care for communial dining, or if you have mobility issues. But it only applies to the dinner meal, as the breakfast is more of a continental grab-and-go breakfast.
One other aspect of the trip that I found disappointing was the fact the train leaves pretty late in the day, and arrives early in the morning, which didn't leave very much daylight for sightseeing from either the dining car, as you eat, or from the "Observation" car. Just an FYI!
Thank you so much for sharing! That’s a great tip and I will keep that in mind.
I never found it cost effective, but I have been taking Amtrak from Providence to NY and Providence to Richmond, Va ( Short Pump/Staples Mill) lately because I just don't enjoy the driving any more. As others have stated Boston to DC is the worst part of the drive (at least until you get to Florida and have to battle the trucks) :-)
Costs have changed quite a bit since the last time I ran the numbers and of course you also have to take into consideration convenience and preferences.
Thanks for your feedback! And thanks for watching! :)
Yes , convenience and comfort are a big factor 👌
Most definitely!
Florida to Virginia is an easy drive. It's when you get to DC. NJ, NY , CT and MA that the drive becomes horrific. The auto train needs to go all the way to Boston before I would consider using it.
That would be amazing! I agree that DC traffic is awful. We stop in PA but when traveling up to MA, traffic is also terrible. 😬
Priority is now up to $90. Surprising it sells out fast
Thanks for the update! Great to know!
Moved years ago and had to move 3 automobiles, this train was easy however the delays were many.
Thanks for your feedback! Definitely a nice option to have! :)
Great review very informative thank you
Thanks so much! :)
I been on the Auto Train 3 times. Calculate gas, food, and motel, etc. vs. airline ticket and rental car, and gas. With the Auto Train, it's all about the accommodations, coach seat, roomette, or sleeper. It's sad because i could do round trip first class and it's cheaper than one way on the train in a roomette or sleeper. All a matter of time of travel. I like trains.
Thanks so much for sharing! The train is a great experience but it comes down to time and money for most so it’s definitely smart to shop ahead and plan accordingly as you mentioned :)
If you apply for the Amtrack preferred credit card the reward points offset the cost significantly!!
That’s great to know. Thanks for sharing!
In 19o0s my coworker and his mom took the auto train to Florida. I thinknk he's taken it before.
Awesome! It’s a great option to have!
Great video
Thank you!
At present, it costs over $3000 round trip for a family bedroom and a car. That's double what it costs to fly to Orlando from Philly, for my family of four. I could literally fly and rent a car for cheaper, even including airport parking and a meal at my connection. That's crazy.
Agreed. We are flying to Philly tomorrow for that same reason and my husband drove because the prices made more sense this way. It definitely is necessary to price it out depending on time of travel and capacity. Thanks for sharing!
This video is giving me flashbacks. I hate this train. I took this train for work 4-6 times a year and every damn time it would leave 2 to 6 hours late. Every time they would give the same excuses (either awaiting their logbooks, or that they didn't have enough parking attendants so the car loading process was slow). I started driving from DC to Tampa and it's faster start to finish from house to hotel than using the train was by far.
Won't use again.
Travel to Lorton from the Boston area is the most "taxing" part of the trip. The trip through the "Northeast corridor" (Boston to Fredricksburg/Richmond) is the hardest part. After that it's just mundane, with plenty of road stops/motels/restaurants along the way.
The train doesn't eliminate that.
I agree that is definitely the most taxing part. It would be nice if they had it run further north. Thanks for your feedback!
Very interesting - thank you.
PRO TIP- if riding in a coach seat bring your own dinner. There’s a pizza place just on the other side of I-95 and a restaurant (Glory Days) across from the Lorton station.
Thanks for sharing! We will have to check that out next time! We did stop at the grocery store nearby to pack some snacks as well. Great tip! :)
Do they have microwaves available?
@@nicoledavis6344 There’s one in the Cafe car behind the counter. I’m not sure they would let you use it.
@@mgv00 ok thanks 😊
@@nicoledavis6344 I didn't notice any when I was on it..
I, as a Dane twice used a, rented in Germany by the Swedish Railroads, auto train from Malmö to Umeå and Luleå in the north of Sweden. It was special to look at the growth changing to arctic during the 1500 km ride. I dont know far this American train goes?
Thanks so much for sharing! I that sounds like an amazing experience! This train travels 855 miles (1376km) from Virginia to Florida.
Can you put your vehicle on this train with you actually taking the train. Is there other towns or cities besides Virginia ??
The attendants load your vehicle into designated cars and they are connected to the passenger portion of the train so once you arrive at your destination, your car arrives with you. I’m not aware of any other cities other than Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida.
I have taken the auto train with the roomette accommodations and find that the lower level rooms have less movement than the upper rooms.
That’s great to know! Thanks for your feedback and thanks for watching :)
I have been on that train many times the bottom of the cars are for handy cap people an onefamily bed room the showers our down there also if your incoachor a roomat
Ah that’s great to know and makes sense! I knew the showers were there but hadn’t used them. Thanks so much for sharing!
As a Canadian, and also live in WestPalmBeach FL........I look Amtrack Auto Train and is to much a wasting time........The plane is better option.....3h30 and it's done...
Uber from home....car is in the driveway......pool 85F....beach 82F......no waisting time...
Also I have a choice of (3) airport for departure and (4) airport for arrival........and the whole familly (4) can travel for $650 total.......
Oh definitely! If time is of the essence and flying is convenient, I definitely recommend that! I think this is a great alternative to driving (and if plane tickets are too expensive). We frequent back and forth to Pennsylvania and mainly fly for time-sake, but the stress free way of traveling with the train was super appealing to me once we experienced it.
How did you get your car to Florida?
You are a talented rail advocate.
😆😂 thank you!
Thank you so much for information. smile.
You’re very welcome :)
I’ve been taking the auto train for over 20 years. It’s gotten to the point where the cost for a one bedroom is utterly ridiculous. It is almost 3 times what I used to pay just 10 short years ago.
Since their new president, they have eliminated complementary wine and cheese, they have eliminated free newspapers, food choices have shrunk along with portion sizes, free coffee used be available in every car but now you have to walk upstairs then 3-4 cars on the second car level to find a coffee machine. to book on the website and modify your dates is an absolute disaster, and hold times on the phones, well you better order lunch first before you get on the hold time. They now charge $60 if you want to be a priority de-board of your car, at those numbers you should seriously run the numbers of flying and renting a car versus autotrain. No complaints about the staff, really nice people, but the current management has turned this into the equivalent of a mediocre airline experience.
Thanks for your feedback. It sounds like it was a really great experience back then.
Hey hun,I planning on moving out to Miami,soon.
Awesome! I’m helping a buyer in Miami right now. If you need any assistance, I’d love to connect and support you on your journey :)
Feel free to shoot me an email at Stephaniekennedy.realestate@gmail.com
If you have creation 2020 and later vehicles like Tahoe’s , beware, they won’t tell you they don’t fit until after you checked in , no one in the reservation process will say squat. Guy says” oh yeah, we’ve known for years”. You have to take mirrors off completely, and they won’t do it or help you, nor does many have tools on hands, we said F U , git refund and splurged on trio and drove and got there sooner.
That’s great to know as we have a Denali! Someone else mentioned about needing to remove mirrors too. Thanks for the feedback!
I wish I had bought a bunch of land around Orlando in the early 1970s, but alas, I was only two years old.😢
Wouldn’t that have been nice! 😀
Idk if you're stuck yet but I've lived in fort Pierce from Vero Beach Palm Beach Jupiter St Lucie Palm City Jensen. 24yrs. If you have assets home family people that love you a good life somewhere else stay there! I kno you might be bored but don't fall for this! don't do it to yourselves it will destroy your family line one way or another. It'll degrade and destroy everything you've worked for. On top of that it's getting ready to change for the extreme worse and you'll never get out of here then. ❤🤙 Great video ... I'm taking my jeeps and going the other way😊 #GrassNOTgreener
Thanks for your feedback. After 32 years up north and frequent visits back, I do not miss it 😆 (aside from the fall weather :))
Just wanted to know what is considered Central Florida; and is this area safe from storms and flooding? What are the homes going for like ranch style 3br 2 bath rooms
Central Florida is quite large and includes 18 counties. I personally specialize in the greater Orlando area with focus on Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Orange and Polk Counties. Generally speaking, the more inland you go the less Chance for flooding. However, there are many lakes throughout Central FL which can also factor in. I reside in Lake Mary (known as City of Lakes 😬) however we have not experienced flooding personally. The town right next to us had pretty significant flooding during the last 2 hurricanes though as it sits against Lake Monroe which is a large body of water connecting to the St. John’s River. All in all it really depends on your specific location. As for the 3br 2ba ranch, it depends on location, square footage, lot size, etc. Overall you can find that style starting in mid 200s and upward. If you’d like me to send you some to browse to gain a better idea of what to expect, feel free to shoot me an email/text and I’d be happy to send some your way. :)
Stephaniekennedy.realestate@gmail.com
Sanford Florida is high crime area
Yes it’s a bit deceiving because it’s quite large. There are certain parts I personally wouldn’t want to live but other parts that are extremely safe. We own property in Sanford and have never had any issues with safety/crime. Most of my friends live in Sanford on the border of Lake Mary and love it without issue also.
I wish they had more trains with different routes. Or, had stops in between the route.
I agree! That would be great! Thanks for your feedback!
Is there a benefit to arriving early putting the car on to get it off sooner?
We did that but the worker came out and told us it’s almost always the opposite. So we left and loaded toward the end. We were offloaded in the first 1/3 of the vehicles.
Did you happen to see any cars with small trailers (uhaul) attached?
I didn’t see any but I did read a review of someone taking a 5x8 uhaul behind a Mercedes. It’s my understanding that you can call to have it cleared by Amtrak ahead of time but shouldn’t be an issue as long as it’s 4 inches off the ground. Let us know if you do end up taking it. We’d love the feedback!
Well I did a search and the ONLY AUTO train is this ONE... from Virginia to Florida.... funny seeing how this is the ONE PROFITABLE route for AMTRAK..... GOBBERMENT 4 YA!!!
Interesting. Yes this is the only auto train that I’m aware of. Thanks for your feedback!
What is the cost and time difference if you just drive? Please include when you arrived at the station until the time you left the station at your destination.
This is difficult to answer because it depends on cost of fuel and type of vehicle you drive (we normally drive a truck which takes more). We just used 2 tanks driving to Virginia from Sanford last week and took about 12 hours. We stopped overnight. It’s definitely cheaper to drive if only factoring in fuel (not staying over night to stop). We arrived to load our car at 1:45pm in Virginia then left the Sanford station with our car at 11am the next morning. There were still cars after us unloading though. I hope this helps.
@@LivingInCentralFL407 I appreciate your response. I checked the price going from Norfolk, VA, to Jacksonville, FL, without a car, just as a passenger. It was more cost-effective to fly first class with American Airlines and spend four hours each way instead of 22 and 25 hours via train. For me, it would be impractical given where I live.
Agreed! If you do not need a car, it’s usually more cost and time efficient to fly :) thanks for watching!
Good Morning America how are ya? Don't you know me I'm your second Native Son. I am called the Amtrak Auto Train I'll be eight hundred miles down by the day is done. When I was in Germany in 1984. They had something similar to this I was watching the guys load up the cars. The train was going to go from Stuttgart to Milan. And I saw the traffic it was jam-packed on the Autobahn. They still run the auto racks but they don't run the overnight train anymore kind of sad. Because my grandfather worked from Stuttgart to Hamburg and vice versa. I my grandmother told me that he would always pick up the new Mercedes-Benz from the factory. Or go to the BMW Factory. If you get to go over there it's a lot of fun. And if you get to go to the steam Fest your son will say hey that's Thomas the Tank engine's Big Brother. Because if you see the 05 or the 50 that was my grandfather's engines. Before they switched over to Electric. And he drove a 193 Siemens one the first Electric locomotives post-war. And she still running strong today.
Thanks for that :)
@@LivingInCentralFL407 your welcome
Is there some reason you don't mention what the prices were?
Yes.. the prices vary depending on season, capacity, day of the week, like airfare. We paid just under $1000 for a roomette in early April. We travelled on a Tuesday. Hope that helps!
Driving 850 miles one way is $200 in gas. A room for 2 adults is $600 and up. Plus you have to hand your car to a stranger.
Not to mention it will take up to 2 days to get there. I would prefer to drive in one day or stay in motel midway.
Is the Auto Train a sensible travel option if you don't take a vehicle with you?
@@Robutube1 possibly if you take coach and price out the difference between airline tickets.
@@LivingInCentralFL407 Thanks. I wasn't clear on whether booking a seat/roomette but no car was an option.
As far as I’m aware it is :)