Take The Train From Orlando And Avoid The Summer Airport Crowds
The age of train travel in America seems to have faded out in comparison to the polished, en vogue fast trains in Europe and Japan. Train travel went the way of the dodo when Americans wanted to get to their destinations faster and cheaper, and until recently with Brightline’s new faster service to Miami, we really haven’t seen high speed train travel as an option here in Florida. And yet, taking the train from Orlando to travel with kids, is a great family vacation idea.
We’re sharing three ways to travel from Orlando by train as well as helpful tips on the two different train stations in Orlando.
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Updated June 2024 by Meghan Roth
Traveling by Train in Orlando
Amtrak has three amazing routes to choose from, all possible from right here at the historic Orlando Station.
A once whimsical way to cross the nation, train travel offers passengers a chance to slow down. With dining cars for midnight snacks or romantic meet-cutes, comfortable seating where it’s ok to get up and roam the aisles during travel, and beautiful passing scenery, this classic form of travel is starting to see a revival in the States.
Amtrak still rules the rails nationwide, so there’s no need to research different airlines, do cost comparisons or try to calculate how many loyalty program points the family has earned. With just one search to Amtrak’s website, travelers can get all the information they need to book tickets for their next trip.
Avoid the angry mobs of summer travelers at the airports and take to the railways for the next great American adventure with your family.
Amtrak Routes From Orlando
Three routes depart from the Orlando area including the Auto Train from Sanford and the Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes direct from Orlando station.
Visit places up and down the East Coast including Washington DC, Savannah, New York, Charleston, Philadelphia, and more.
Note that most routes will require overnight travel due to the length of the trip.
Let’s review options for these Amtrak trips:
- Auto Train from Sanford
- Silver Meteor Route from Orlando to Miami to New York (with stops in between)
- Silver Star Route from Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, and Okeechobee to New York (with stops in between)
Auto Train From Orlando/ Sanford
Travel Time: 17 hours + vehicle loading time
Where Does It Go: This route ONLY travels between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia.
The most direct of the three routes, this interesting overnight train is a trip in itself. With a cafe and dining car and multiple options for sleeping, consider this train for a unique getaway from Orlando.
It beats the holiday traffic and nightmare of gridlocked highways, and at the end of the journey no rental car is needed!
Note that the Auto Train departs from Sanford Station.
Things To Know
- There is one northbound and one southbound train a day
- Departures are always in the evening, arriving the next morning
- Only passengers traveling with a vehicle can board this train
- There’s WiFi on board for streaming movies or working late
Auto-Train from Sanford Average Trip Cost
Coach Seats
The most economical way to ride, coach seats average $100-200 for a one-way ride. If you don’t mind sleeping upright, this isn’t a bad option. The seats are larger than on airplanes and are always in a 2 by 2 format, meaning there is no one sitting in a middle seat to disturb you.
Meals can be purchased in the cafe or brought on board.
Roomettes
A cozier option, roomettes offer included meals and coffee for a maximum of two people. There is no toilet or shower. These rooms range from $500-700.
Both the bedrooms and the roomettes are part of the “Superliner” class, which is a two-level train car.
Bedrooms
At a steep $1000 for two people max, the bedrooms do offer en suite facilities including a shower and all onboard meals and coffee. All things considered, this is equivalent to two adult airfares, a one-night hotel stay, and dinner and breakfast costs.
Families seeking room and board must purchase two connecting bedrooms.
Other Fees
Be aware that there are also fees for transporting your vehicle, around $150-300 per vehicle.
Note: if the Auto Train is for you, be sure to review the vehicle requirements and other FAQ’s well before your journey.
Silver Meteor Route to South Florida and more
Travel Time: The Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes travel between Miami and New York in 28 hours. With many stops along the way, options for vacations are plentiful.
Where Does It Go: For a complete list of stations, visit Amtrak’s Silver Meteor Train page.
Things To Know
- This route has WiFi
- Coach seats are not assigned
- This route is faster for traveling to South Florida destinations
- Orlando to Miami takes just under 6 hours and averages about $40 each way
Silver Meteor Average Trip Cost
Sleeper Options
The viewliner class of sleeper options is a one-level train car (in comparison to the Superliner on the Auto Train). Choices include:
- Viewliner Roomette
- Viewliner Bedroom
- Viewliner Bedroom Suite
- Viewliner Accessible Bedroom
Example fare from Orlando to Savannah in June starts at $277 for a room and takes about 6 hours.
Example fare from Orlando to New York’s Penn Station in July starts at $598 for a room and takes about 22 hours.
Coach Seats
Coach seats start from $44 for an example fare from Orlando to Savannah in June. The route takes 6 hours.
Example fare from Orlando to New York’s Penn Station in July starts at $124.
Silver Star Route
The Silver Star is the only of the three routes listed that goes to Tampa, Lakeland, and Okeechobee. It makes all the same stops as the Silver Meteor with these three exceptions. It costs a little less than Silver Meteor because of the additional Florida stops.
Where Does It Go: For a complete list of stations, visit Amtrak’s Silver Star Train page.
Things To Know
- This route has WiFi
- Coach seats are not assigned
- Orlando to Miami averages about 8 hours and costs about $40 each way
Average Trip Cost for Silver Star
Sleeper Options
The Silver Star offers the same viewliner class of sleeper options as the Silver Meteor.
Example fare from Orlando to Savannah in June starts at $277 for a room.
Example fare from Orlando to New York’s Penn Station in July starts at $720 for a room and takes about 24 hours.
Coach Seats
Coach seats start from $36 for an example fare from Orlando to Savannah in June. The route takes 6 hours.
Example fare from Orlando to New York’s Penn Station in July starts at $124.
Consider a Day Trip from Orlando to Tampa
Recently I’ve been struggling with driving long distances and looked into my options for bus and train travel. I hadn’t realized, but there is a once-a-day train to Tampa (and back) from Orlando, suitable for a great day trip or overnight adventure. With friends in the Tampa Bay area, it seemed like an exciting new way to make I-4 traffic less of a headache and to enjoy the “travel of it all”.
When a girlfriend told me she had met some day-trippers at lunch the other day doing exactly that, I had to know more. So, I booked a ticket to Tampa to find out for myself.
What I can tell you about taking a day trip on Amtrak from Orlando to Tampa:
- Trains leave Orlando in the morning before noon and return before 8pm
- Round-trip costs run about $25 per person
- Seats are assigned upon boarding
- Luggage is included as needed
- Trips can take 2-4 hours each way depending on delays
- There’s a cafe car for drinks (alcoholic too!), snacks, and even sandwiches
- You can bring your own snacks and drinks onboard too! (There’s no bag check)
- Seats are spacious and comfortable
The trip itself was actually quite lovely, and full of nostalgia. Amtrak has some work to do making consistent and timely schedules, but if you aren’t in a hurry I recommend this trip to anyone. Whether with families or just as a date day, the time spent on the train was much more enjoyable than any day sitting in traffic.
Watch the world go by, count the cows, and spot the small-town cafes as they zoom by your window. We passed Plant City and its train museum, we passed farms and factories, and numerous adorable brick-lined main streets for Polk County and Lakeland towns.
The people we spoke to were all traveling for different reasons – some were day trippers like ourselves, and others were making their way all the way up or down the Eastern seaboard. Some even took the train to catch a cruise ship! (Which, by the way, if you do this I advise you go one day in advance to be sure you don’t miss the boat!).
If you decide on a little train adventure from Orlando to Tampa, I recommend booking only your outbound train. Because of delays we only had 2 hours in Tampa before we had to turn around again, and I wish I had booked the next day train for returning instead. Take your time and enjoy the whim of traveling by train. Perhaps spend the night or take the bus back. You have plenty of options. At $12 one way, it’s a super unique option for shaking up the norm.
About Orlando Station
Located at 1400 Sligh Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32806-3905 just north of the SODO shopping center and the Orlando Health hospital complex.
Hours: 10am – 8pm every day
Orlando Station, built in 1926, was built in the historic Mission Revival style found in many homes across Central Florida. With plenty of old-school charm, this station has whispers of the past echoing through its walls.
Routes Serviced
- Silver Meteor
- Silver Star
- SunRail
Transportation Information
- Parking is free (daily or overnight), but limited.
- Arrive by SunRail from any of the SunRail stations (Monday-Friday only)
- Ridesharing (Uber or Lyft) is a recommended method of arrival/departure
Things To Know
- Check-in times:
- If checking bags or needing assistance: arrive 60 minutes before your departure time
- If you don’t have bags or need assistance: arrive 30 minutes before your departure time
- Bag storage is available as needed
- It is a 5-minute walk to a Subway sandwich shop, should you need to purchase food for on-board, or there is a hot dog cart by the tracks and vending machines inside.
For more information visit Amtrak’s website.
About Sanford Auto Train Station
Located at 600 South Persimmon Avenue Sanford, FL 32771-2385
Hours: 9am – 5pm every day
Routes Serviced
- Auto Train
Transportation Information
- Station parking is not available
- SunRail does NOT travel to this station, although they have similar station names
- Travelers boarding without a vehicle are not permitted to ride the Auto Train.
- It is advised to simply drive your car to the auto train station at the check-in time.
Things To Know
- Check-in times:
- Arrive more than 2 hours before departure
- There is a cafe at the station waiting room
Additional Amtrak Secrets And Tips
- Their online kids activity center offers coloring pages, word searches, games, and even videos in both English and Spanish for little train engineers. These are great on board with their WiFi or in advance of the trip to get hyped up.
- Booking earlier gets you better fare prices
- Discounts are available. Seniors, military, and students automatically save 10% and kids are 50% off!
- Subscribe to their email list and get additional discounts
- Long haul routes can be delayed, typically due to yielding for freight trains. Time-sensitive travel is not advised.
- Are you a fan of flight tracking? Track your train on their website!
- Look for the “red cap” assistants to help you board with your luggage (tipping is appreciated and common)
- You can bring your own cooler full of food and snacks on board (this counts as a carry on)
- You can bring and consume your own alcohol if you have a bedroom or roomette
- Pets are allowed on the Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes
- Bag limits are pretty relaxed compared to airlines. Read more about them here.
In a day and age when travelers want to get there faster, cheaper, and more directly than those travelers of yesteryear, it is understandable that air travel makes more sense.
However, if you have time, enjoy the journey, and have a bit of adventurous (and patient) spirit, then train travel may be just the ticket for your family this summer and beyond.
Skip the lengthy security lines, the fights over elbow room and personal space, and relax aboard America’s OG train line – the Amtrak.
