Florida Train Service: Five Tips to Travel to Florida by Amtrak

Florida is an ideal vacation location. It has many major metropolitan areas and thousands of miles of oceanfront beauty. Of course, Disney World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens provide fun and adventure for the whole family.

Fortunately, you can travel to most of the major Florida vacation areas by Amtrak. Three daily trains travel to and through the state from the east coast. As a relaxing and affordable method for travel to Florida, the train is preeminent. Given the rising cost and hassle of air travel, a land alternative may be the most enjoyable way to get to the Sunshine State.

Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from Florida by Amtrak:

One: You must decide which long-distance train you wish to take to Florida. If you wish to stay in the Jacksonville-Orlando-Miami corridor, the Silver Meteor that originates in New York (with great connections from Boston) will be your train of choice. You can leave New York or Washington in the afternoon and arrive in Orlando or Miami the next afternoon. If you wish to go Florida’s Gulf Coast, you will be best served on the Silver Star. At Tampa, there is connecting Thruway Motorcoach service to Sarasota and Fort Myers. Finally, if you wish to bring your car along for the ride, the Auto Train runs from Lorton, Virginia (outside of Washington, DC) to Sanford, FL (45 minutes from Orlando.) (more…)