Hi, Barbara: Traveling by train takes the hassle out of traveling up and down the East Coast. Technically, it makes a brief stop in Florence, South Carolina for rewatering, refueling, and a crew change. Was it a good option for you? Shipping a car by train may seem like a solid choice, but no other rail companies regularly transport individual vehicles in a manner similar to Amtraks Auto Train. If you need a way to ship a car a long distance, shipping a car by train is a great option. Its easy to get instant. Thank you for the information about the car train, and all your great tips! As with any other travel appointment, its best to book tickets on the Auto Train in advance since spots can fill up quickly. Thats because the Auto Train only moves between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, with no stops in between. The Sanford station has curved glass walls and seating for 600 passengers. Everything I wanted to know to make an informed decision. An upgrade to a Bedroom offers a trip with twice the space as a . For a limited time, customers can experience the Auto Train in a private room for as low as $129 or Coach for as low as $29 - plus the cost of your vehicle. : Inoperable vehicles cost more to ship because theyre more difficult to load and unload from trucks. The Auto Train measures more than three quarters of a mile, making it the longest passenger train in the world! You may bring your car, but not your pet, so if you have a pet you may need to rethink this form of travel. You could drive this route in 12 hours, so taking the train does not save time. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. And theres only one scheduled stop: a short 15 minutes just south of Florence, South Carolina, for a crew change and refueling. For that reason, it makes sense to load your car closer to the loading deadline of 2:30. You can buy your tickets online or at the station. Bedroom. On the lower level it could be a little noisier, but youll have access to more bathrooms. You Can Book a Private Room on Amtrak's Auto Train for Just - Travel Amtrak Viewliner Sleeper Car Roomette Review - Insider Our review team has spent hundreds of hours researching car shipping companies to help consumers choose the best providers for transporting their vehicles. Small boats and jet skis are also allowed on board for an additional fee. Personal effects and baggage remaining in your vehicle during transit are solely your responsibility. Tickets on Amtrak's Auto Train Are Just $39 Right Now - AFAR Media If you chose coach, the meal must be paid for separately and you eat in your seat although we were told that in future, holders of coach tickets could eat in the dining car. Ride Your Car to Florida on a Train: Amtrak Auto Train - Mad Over Exploring Yes, you can eat traditional dining meals in your room. The Amtrak Auto Train is a non-stop train. Amtrak Car Shipping: How To Use the Auto Train - MarketWatch Thats a $392.00 difference compared to the auto train. Prices range from $150 to $300 per vehicle. Strong reputation, customer satisfaction, and industry ratings, No real-time tracking or mobile-app; must contact company for tracking info, No specialty shipping services for recreational vehicles (RVs), boats, trailers, or other watercraft. Amtrak Superliner Bedroom Review and Video - Cruise Maven : Shipping your car on an open trailer is cheaper than if you use. For others, its likely smarter to compare prices from top auto transport providers to find a cost-effective rate on a route that suits your needs. offer quality services and efficient transport, drivers often wonder whether Amtrak car shipping could work equally well. Amtrak policy states that all automobiles should be standard factory models at their originally manufactured lengths. Subscriber Agreement & Terms of Use, Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable. often mention the companys willingness to price match the rates from any company with an A+ rating from the, Affordable rates and several discount opportunities available, Excellent reviews on BBB; A+ rating and accreditation. It was not comfortable on coach, the seat was big and reclined but not good enough for comfort. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Auto Train prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure youre getting the best deal on your tickets! Sleeper car passengers get to enjoy dinner in the dining car which includes a complimentary glass of wine or bottle of beer. Passwords are case sensitive. The car has a domed ceiling with great views out of both sides and includes seats that face out and tables where 4 passengers can sit together. Skip I-95 with Ultra-Low Auto Train Fares to Florida What kind of vehicles are allowed on the Auto Train? Everything in the roomette plus. It is meant to provide service between the greater Washington D.C. and Orlando areas. All vehicles must be checked in by 3:00 pm. In each, pillows and blankets are provided and you can control the temperature. To ship an operable 2021 Toyota RAV4 from the D.C. area to Orlando using open transport, we received quotes ranging from $829 to $975. Does Amtrak Auto Train offer any premium features like extra legroom or movies? Even if Amtrak car shipping isnt the right option for your needs, there are plenty of ways to quickly and effectively ship your car. How much does it cost to put your car on the Auto Train? The train travels non-stop from Lorton, Virginia in the Washington DC area to the city of Sanford, in Central Florida just outside of Orlando, a major tourist destination since that is where Disney World is located. Please enter a valid station, city, or address. Passwords should be at least 10 characters long and include 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase alpha character, 1 number and 1 special character. There is no checked baggage with the Auto Train. A question regarding a scheduled dinner in the dining car: Can we bring the meal to our roomette, due to concerns about the more contagious virus? Thank you for reading and commenting. # $ % & ' ( ) * + , - . Those beginning in the Orlando area should drive to the Auto Train terminal in Sanford, Florida. : Even including the cost of passenger rail tickets, youll have a hard time finding cheaper auto transport rates between Washington, D.C. and Orlando. Motorcycles must adhere to a maximum length of 102 inches, maximum height of 72 inches, maximum wheelbase of 51 inches, maximum tire width of 7 inches and maximum tire depth of 2.5 inches. Even after factoring in the cost of passenger tickets, Amtrak car shipping costs are often far lower than prices from leading auto transport companies. Enter a valid Guest Rewards number or email address. There is also a family bedroom for two adults and two children and bedroom suites, which are connecting bedrooms (youll need to purchase two rooms). After trying several different dates, I did find a $89.00 coach fare but that was waaaaay in the future. By using this site you agree to the I did a bit of research and this is the closest I came up with. Its a difficult question to answer, as Amtraks Auto Train provides affordable transport for a very specific group of drivers. EM. An Armchair Note that Amtrak has frequent sales and promotions if you want to snag a deal on your future Auto Train journey. Ground clearance: 4+ inches. So we began our research and explored options on the auto train. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. For an additional $60, drivers can opt for priority offloading to ensure their cars are among the first 30 taken off the train when it arrives. This Is the 43rd Tallest Building in the World, but It's the Most Famous ofAll, Access Trails and Hot Springs From These Airbnbs Near Olympic National Park, Central at 5th Is the Best Reason To Give Timeshares aShot, These Trains Will Take You From Lisbon To Porto Through Portugal's Wonderful Landscapes, This Sleeper Train Will Take You From London To the Wilds of Scotland in a Double Bed, The Complete Guide To Paris' Train Stations, Ride the Train Between London and Brussels in the Worlds Longest Undersea Tunnel, Ride This Train for 994 Miles Across South Africa's Mountains, Deserts, and Biggest Cities, This High-Speed Train Between Paris and Barcelona Takes You Through the Best of Southern France, These High-Speed Trains Will Take You Between Madrid and Barcelona for Just$9, These Trains Will Take You From Rome To Venice for the Ultimate Trip Across Italy, You Can Ride This Train for 2775 Miles Across Canada's Cities, Prairies, and Rocky Mountains, This High-Speed Train Will Take You From Amsterdam To Brussels in Less Than TwoHours, Download the Hi, Claire: For customers seeking plenty of comfort and room, Bedrooms provide twice the space as a Roomette and feature a sofa and armchair by day and upper and lower berths by night. There are also a number of sleeper car options but these tend to be significantly more expensive - expect to pay upwards of $300 per person for a roomette. Auto shipping providers rarely allow people to move valuables in their cars, and a traveler who drives may have a tight squeeze when their vehicle is filled to the brim. on April 20, 2023, 5:30 PM EDT. At dinner the menu was certainly adequate with options of steak, fish, chicken, and pasta. Sometimes, you want to take a road trip, but don't want to . Auto Train tickets usually cost $89 for coach class, one way. Taking the Amtrak auto train to Florida from the northeast is an option for traveling to the Sunshine State. Hi, Mary. Amtrak provides several options for the Lorton, Virginal to Sanford, Florida route. The public bathrooms were dirty. Get up and running with ChatGPT with this comprehensive cheat sheet. There was another window from the top bunk, plus curtains for both sets and a (lockable) door, ensuring darkness and privacy when needed. It takes approximately one hour to get your car back. Update: We took the Auto Train back up to Washington D.C. from Florida in April 2017 and the cost was higher for the same room and car at $963.00 (one-way). The Amtrak Auto Train is a Superliner train and has the following sleeper car rooms: Priority offloading on the Auto Train means that your vehicle will be among the first 30 to be brought off the train after arrival. There are two daily trains, one headed in each direction, that follow this schedule: Can you pick up will call tickets at the station? A coach seat is one which reclines a bit but not totally flat. Amtraks Auto Train offers fast and affordable rail service, but its only available on a single line that runs from. This Amtrak Auto Train Sale Has Private Rooms for Just $109 - TripSavvy Boston Amtrak stations: Which station is best? In the middle of the car youll be away from the wheels and opening doors. With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. If youre planning to bring many possessions on your trip, the ability to fill your vehicle with personal items comes as a bonus. Content on Jalopnik Advisor is commercial in nature and independent of Jalopnik Editorial and Advertising. Hi, Debbie: You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. For example, a bedroom on the Southwest Chief from Chicago to L.A. in mid-September is $1,299 for the two-night trip. It keeps the noise out and provides privacy. To give you a rough idea of typical fares, for November 2020 Amtrak was quoting a round-trip price in coach of about $800 for two adults with one child and one standard-size car. There are no exceptions, so its smart to get to the station far earlier. Check-in starts at 11:30 am on the day of departure. View latest schedules and timetables on Amtrak.com. Montway Auto Transport and Sherpa Auto Transport are excellent options for car shipping services to or from California. Unlike many long-haul Amtrak trains, theres no observation car because most of the scheduled 17-hour trip is done at night. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by traveling on weekdays instead of weekends. : Auto shipping companies with affordable rates, locked-in pricing and discount opportunities scored highest in this category. By booking through these sites, the small commission we earn at no cost to you helps us maintain this site so we can continue to offer our readers valuable travel tips and advice. Yes, the Auto Train offers free WiFi onboard. All trains depart early evening and arrive the next day in the morning. If your Amtrak ticket is eligible for change or cancellation, you can do that by calling Amtraks customer service phone number at 1 (800) 872-7245. In addition to booking way ahead, different seasons and holidays affects how much you'll pay for a Superliner Bedroom. Youll find plenty of positive reviews for Montway Auto Transport on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site, as seen by its 4.6-star rating. The museum is very well curated and interesting. For this comparison, however, were just starting from Lorton. : Youll need to purchase a passenger ticket as well to reserve a space for your vehicle on the Auto Train. Talek, Very helpful information. Hi, thank you for the great info! Another option is a family room suitable for 2 adults and 2 kids. At the time of writing, the fare is $89 per passenger and $269 per car. : Long-distance shipments come with lower per-mile rates but significantly higher costs overall. Auto train cost, tickets and reservations. Just to Recap: https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/how-to-book-two-roomettes-across-from-each-other.27519/. : Companies that offer a variety of choices for car transport, strong insurance coverage and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs. Thanks for reading. Amtrak Auto Train | Amtrak Vacations Do you know if Amtrak would allow us to have our family of 5 in the family sleeper room? The final option is a bedroom which is twice the size of a roomette with in-room bathroom, sink and shower. On the upper level of the Auto Train youll have a much better view out of the windows than the lower level. You can only book a ticket if you are transporting a vehicle (if you arent bringing a car or other vehicle with you, book a ticket on the. Youll also have to pay for a passenger ticket to use Amtrak car shipping services, and rates are typically $95 per person. Each Auto Train departure includes a limited number of spaces to carry specialized vehicles. For $1,000, I booked a bedroom, which is about the size of a King-size bed with a . It is a pleasant ride to Florida as you sit by the window and see the marshes, rivers, farms and towns go by. Sleeper car accommodations can cost $300 per person or more as amenities increase. between the Northeast and Florida, the Auto Train might be worth consideration. Montway Auto Transport is a reputable auto transport broker offering several car shipping services and cheap car shipping rates. Each level has its benefits and limitations. Cars, vans, SUVs, trucks, and motorcycles are accepted on the Auto Train. Since Amtrak Auto Train might sometimes use replacement vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. You can reserve coach seats, roomettes or bedrooms on the Auto Train. If you drive, will you linger and take a leisurely, several-day road trip from the northeast to Florida or try to make it in one non-stop drive? Links in this article may result in us earning a commission. In college I determined that whatever I studied would have to lead to the ultimate goal of traveling. This blog was created to inspire your travels and to explore experiences in fascinating locations. AMTRAK.COM We paid $742.00 for 2 people to go from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida. 4. The regular starting price for a coach class ticket is $89 and the sleeper car rooms start at $301. Do you have to print your Amtrak Auto Train ticket? I have clostrophobia do you think a roomette will be a problem? I am also 6 feet tall and weigh 330 pounds. The continental breakfast for coach was free and very nice. While Amtrak car shipping offers exceptional rates for rail transport, drivers can also find affordable pricing when they choose AmeriFreight due to its impressive array of discounts. The number you were given when you checked in will be called when your car is ready.