Escape the Traffic: Amtrak AutoTrain (4K HDR)

[@NigelTufnel612]

make sure you bring matchbooks or something to use for wedges for the rattling door at night as the track has several rough stretches - we did and it worked.

[@benandkayla]

Thats is a great recommendation😅 that would have helped us get some more sleep!

[@dianerivera3222]

Just an FYI for anyone who travels in the bedroom. We always do. My husband and I only use the bottom bunk and sleep head to foot. It's more comfortable and no one has to climb up into the claustrophobic top bunk. We usually sleep 4-5 hours which is enough to function the next day. Lots of people do what we do. We've been taking the AT for 18 years, basically every one to two years and we'll be on again in Jan. I also carry on my own wine 🙂

[@benandkayla]

Thanks for the advice! I think we learned our lesson after one night of the bunk beds😂

[@sheram5949]

I just took this trip from Lortan to Sanford, in August. We also had a bedroom. I slept on the top bed and I'm 70. I didn't have any problems. My daughter and I slept well. It cost at least $60 to priory offload. It was a very good trip. It was a lot better than driving all that way.

[@benandkayla]

Yeah it is nice to be able to sleep instead of drive!

[@monarchmiracles]

My wife and I started taking the Auto train about a year ago and we absolutely love it. We live near Allentown PA so driving 3.5 hrs to Lorton vs all the way is simply amazing. We usually drive to Florida and train home. Thanks for sharing your journey. Also, we do not have the beds put down. I can sleep just fine on the floor so we opt for more space rather than have the beds put down and it works good for us.

[@benandkayla]

On the FLOOR?!?! You are hardcore, I don't think we would have gotten any sleep! 😅

[@mattbrewster8051]

Very slickly done!

[@benandkayla]

Thanks!

[@robkirk6623]

We tried the same trip back from Florida. We had a Roomate which was much smaller. We found it hard to sleep but did get some rest. It was our first trip by train.

[@benandkayla]

Yeah it’s definitely not a smooth ride 😅!

[@gregtrain1]

Best things about the deluxe bedroom on the train is your own bathroom and you can actually stretch out! I had one of those on the Empire Builder route. Both segments and directions.

[@benandkayla]

Agreed! this is exactly why we went with the deluxe! The shower is not half bad either!

[@gregtrain1]

@@benandkayla : The only bad thing about the shower is it keeps shutting off on you. But I got my business done.

[@Retiredtraveler1961]

I’ve done it four times, three times with a roomette once with an actual full room with an en suite toilet. It beats the drive, but barely, the ride is very rough because the rails are for freight, not like the smooth rails on European trains, so it’s very hard to sleep due to the shimming of the train. The staff are a bit curt at times but again it’s far better than the drive. The biggest problem Amtrak auto train suffers from is on time performance, they are always late.

[@benandkayla]

This is very true… the freight trains get priority and the rails are not like European rails at all😔

[@nelson6236]

Do you need to make reservations for dinner and/or breakfast? Are meals included with fare? We're traveling in August 2024 and have booked a roomette...

[@benandkayla]

Yes! They ask you as you check in what time you want to do dinner they normally have 2-3 times but sometimes they fill up! Also yes it was included with our fare.

[@marccourchesne1200]

How Much it cost for the train trip.

[@benandkayla]

It’s very dependent on which type of room or what day you go but it’s around $400-$1000!

[@sheram5949]

It starts at $95 per person, in coach. That is not the cost of the vehicle. In coach you do not get a meal at night.

[@ScopeGuardPony]

$95? Priority boarding was $190 when I booked the other day.

[@benandkayla]

We only booked the train one way and it was about $90 for priority off boarding. This was back in October 2023. Did you book a round trip?

[@ScopeGuardPony]

@@benandkayla .....Yes, that would definitely explain it. I'm an idiot, lol.

[@benandkayla]

lol no worries 😊 hopefully priority was still worth it on a round trip!

[@ScopeGuardPony]

@@benandkayla I'll find out come September.

[@nordisk1874]

It wasn’t that rough at 6’5 bigger then some tugboats wracks

[@TrimansWife]

We are taking this train in September (2024), with my 86 year old mama. heading up into Canada and taking this train cuts out 1,800 miles of driving, RT. We are riding in coach though - will save the sleeper car for when we take the California Zephyr in early 2025.

[@benandkayla]

Yeah it does save a lot on driving. Let us know how it goes with the trip!

[@cathylingo9521]

Probably should have put the pillow at the other end on the top bunk.🤔

[@benandkayla]

That might have helped 😅

[@Tryp-j9d]

I bring snacks when I drive to the airport to catch a flight. And I MAKE SURE i LEAVE my luggage IN the CAR!!! NO bag FEE for ME!!! When I arrive I’m NOT hungry, just need to buy LOTS of new CLOTHES!!!

[@benandkayla]

oh no that’s not good gotta bring the bag with you!! 😅