Amtrak’s Auto Train carries you and your car between Lorton, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. For a solo traveler or a couple heading south from the Northeast, it usually costs less than shipping the car and flying, and about the same as driving the whole way, minus roughly 900 miles of I-95. It stops making sense when your vehicle is over Amtrak’s size limits, when you live far from northern Virginia, when your Florida home is a long drive from Sanford, or when you don’t want to travel with the car at all. This guide compares the three options with 2026 fares, our own shipping estimates and Amtrak’s official on-time data.
Key findings
- Auto Train is cheapest for travelers who go with the car. One person from New York City to Orlando: about $400–$1,000 all in by Auto Train, against $1,175–$1,900 to ship the car and fly.
- Shipping only wins on cost when nobody needs to travel with the car, or the car can’t go on the train. Auto Train has no car-only option: every vehicle travels with its owner.
- The vehicle limits are strict: 85 inches high, 84 inches wide including mirrors, 18 feet long. Dual-wheel trucks and gull-wing or scissor-door cars are refused.
- Fares move a lot. Published 2026 fare checks put a standard vehicle anywhere from about $225 to $570 one way, before the passenger fare.
- On-time record: 66.4% of Auto Train passengers arrived within 15 minutes of schedule in the 12 months to August 2026, better than Amtrak’s long-distance average of 56.4% but below the 80% federal standard. Late passengers averaged 86 minutes late.
What the Auto Train is
The Auto Train is the only passenger train in the US that carries your vehicle. It runs nonstop for passengers between two dedicated stations, once a day in each direction, with cars, vans, SUVs and motorcycles loaded into enclosed auto carriers at the back of the train. You ride in a coach seat or a sleeper room, eat dinner and breakfast on board, and drive away the next morning.
| Detail | What Amtrak says |
|---|---|
| Stations | Lorton, VA (Washington, DC area) and Sanford, FL (Orlando area) |
| Frequency | Daily, in both directions |
| Scheduled trip time | 17 hours 29 minutes, overnight |
| Driving it replaces | About 900 miles |
| Check-in opens | 11:30 a.m. on the day of departure |
| Check-in closes | 2:00 p.m. for motorcycles, oversized vehicles, special vehicles and Priority Offloading; 2:30 p.m. for standard and extended vehicles. No exceptions. |
| Meals | Dinner and breakfast included on the trip |
| Seats and rooms | Coach seats, roomettes, bedrooms, bedroom suites, family and accessible bedrooms |
| Access to your car | None during the trip |
Two consequences follow from that design. First, you have to get the car to Lorton by mid-afternoon yourself, so the train only replaces the middle of the trip. Second, it is not a shipping service. Amtrak does not sell a car-only ticket, so if you want the car in Florida and yourself on a plane, you need a car carrier. Our guide to snowbird car shipping covers that side.
Play video: Amtrak Auto Train vs Shipping Your Car to Florida: Which Costs Less? (2026)Vehicles the Auto Train won’t take
Check your vehicle against these limits before comparing prices. Many full-size trucks and vans fail on height or on width with mirrors out.
| Limit | Standard vehicle | Extended vehicle | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length (including racks) | 192 in (16 ft) | 216 in (18 ft) | 102 in |
| Height | 85 in | 85 in | 72 in |
| Width (including mirrors) | 84 in | 84 in | 51 in |
| Ground clearance | 4 in or more | 4 in or more | 5 in or more |
| Tire width | 14.5 in | 14.5 in | 7 in wide, 2.5 in deep |
- Refused outright: dual-wheel vehicles, gull-wing and scissor-door vehicles, Can-Am motorcycles, Rewaco trikes and Polaris Slingshots.
- Over 18 feet: needs a second vehicle space, an extra payment and a phone booking.
- Over 84 inches wide with mirrors: you must remove at least one mirror before loading. Amtrak staff won’t do it.
- Roof racks: factory racks are fine if empty and count toward height. Temporary roof boxes and roof bike racks are not allowed. Rear bike racks are allowed if you sign a damage waiver.
A car carrier has none of these limits in practice. Oversized trucks, lifted vehicles, cars that don’t run and multiple vehicles all ship, at a price. If your vehicle fails any line above, the comparison ends here: price the trip in the car shipping cost calculator.
What the Auto Train costs in 2026
Amtrak prices the Auto Train like an airline: fares change by date, direction and how far ahead you book, and the vehicle is a separate charge on top of every passenger fare. There is no fixed price list. These are the ranges published fare checks found in 2026 for a one-way trip.
| Item | Typical 2026 one-way price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coach seat | From about $95 per person | Holiday weeks can pass $300 |
| Roomette (sleeper for up to two) | About $400–$1,400 | Varies the most by date and lead time |
| Standard vehicle (up to 16 ft) | About $225–$570 | Charged on top of the passenger fare |
| Extended vehicle (up to 18 ft) | About $255–$650 | Trucks, vans, three-row SUVs |
| Motorcycle | About $146–$310 | |
| Priority Offloading | About $60–$250 | Optional; your car is among the first 30 off the train |
For context, Amtrak’s own summer 2024 sale advertised coach from $75, a standard vehicle from $208, an extended vehicle from $239, a motorcycle from $146 and Priority Offloading at $60. Those were sale floors. Fall travel south and spring travel north are the busy directions, so October and November departures sit toward the top of the ranges, and vehicle spaces on peak days can sell out before seats do.
What shipping the car costs instead
A car carrier picks the car up at your home and drops it at your Florida address, so the price covers the whole distance, not just Virginia to Orlando. These are our estimates for a running sedan on an open carrier in October, when southbound snowbird demand adds about 15% to normal rates.
| From | To Orlando, open carrier (October) | Enclosed carrier | Road miles to Orlando | Drive to Lorton first |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $1,025–$1,500 | $1,550–$2,250 | 1,110 | about 260 mi |
| Newark, NJ | $1,025–$1,500 | $1,550–$2,250 | 1,110 | about 250 mi |
| Philadelphia | $1,000–$1,450 | $1,500–$2,175 | 1,030 | about 170 mi |
| Boston | $1,125–$1,575 | $1,700–$2,350 | 1,320 | about 480 mi |
| Hartford, CT | $1,075–$1,550 | $1,600–$2,325 | 1,230 | about 380 mi |
| Baltimore | $950–$1,400 | $1,425–$2,100 | 940 | about 60 mi |
| Washington, DC | $925–$1,400 | $1,400–$2,100 | 900 | about 20 mi |
| Cleveland | $1,000–$1,475 | $1,500–$2,200 | 1,070 | about 360 mi |
| Detroit | $1,050–$1,500 | $1,575–$2,250 | 1,150 | about 470 mi |
Enclosed transport costs about 50% more and is what most owners of classic, luxury or freshly restored cars choose. Expect 3–5 days in transit once the car is picked up from the Northeast, plus a pickup window of a few days. If you need the car on a set day, read how long car shipping really takes before booking.
Total trip cost: Auto Train vs shipping vs driving
Comparing the train ticket with a shipping quote is misleading, because the two buy different things. What matters is the full cost of getting you and the car to Florida. For one person going from New York City to Orlando in October, the typical one-way cost looks like this.
The same comparison for five common trips, as ranges:
| Trip (one way, October) | Auto Train, all in | Ship the car and fly | Drive all the way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo, New York City → Orlando | $400–$1,000 | $1,175–$1,900 | $625–$1,000 |
| Couple, New York City → Orlando (roomette) | $700–$2,100 | $1,325–$2,300 | $725–$1,150 |
| Couple, Philadelphia → Tampa | $500–$1,300 | $1,325–$2,275 | $550–$1,150 |
| Couple, Boston → Fort Myers | $700–$1,625 | $1,450–$2,450 | $825–$1,575 |
| Solo, Washington, DC → Orlando | $325–$900 | $1,075–$1,800 | $425–$900 |
Three patterns hold across every trip we priced:
- Auto Train beats shipping and flying for anyone traveling with the car, by roughly $500–$900 for one person. A couple in a roomette narrows the gap, because the sleeper room alone can cost as much as a car carrier.
- Auto Train and driving cost about the same. The ranges overlap almost completely. What the train buys you is about 900 fewer miles at the wheel, one or two fewer nights in hotels, and a car that arrives with 900 fewer miles of wear.
- Distance from Lorton matters more than distance to Florida. From Boston or Detroit you still drive 470–480 miles to reach the train, which usually means a hotel the night before. From the DC area the train is almost door to door.
Want your own numbers? The ship or drive calculator prices driving against shipping for any route, with this week’s fuel prices.
Time: one night on the train vs several days on the road
| Auto Train | Car carrier | Driving | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your time, New York City → Orlando | About 5 hours driving to Lorton, the overnight train, then the wait for your car | A 2–3 hour flight; the car follows | About 20 hours at the wheel over 3 days |
| When the car arrives | With you, the morning after departure | 3–5 days after pickup, plus the pickup window | With you |
| Fixed deadline | Check-in by 2:30 p.m. (2:00 p.m. for motorcycles) | Pickup window of 1–5 days | None |
| Door to door? | No: Lorton to Sanford only | Yes | Yes |
The Auto Train’s scheduled arrival is not when you drive off. Cars are unloaded after the train arrives, in no particular order unless you paid for Priority Offloading, which puts your car among the first 30 off. Plan the first morning in Florida loosely.
How often the Auto Train runs on time
| Measure | August 2026 | 12 months to August 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Train passengers on time | 68.6% | 66.4% |
| All long-distance train passengers on time | 44.1% | 56.4% |
| Average delay for late Auto Train passengers | 80 minutes | 86 minutes |
| Federal minimum standard | 80% | 80% |
Most of the train’s delays are caused on tracks Amtrak doesn’t own. On CSX, which hosts most of the route, freight train interference is the largest cause; on the Florida section, commuter trains are. In practice, about one passenger in three arrives late, on average by about an hour and a half. That rarely matters on a one-way move south, but don’t book a tight connection on arrival day.
Damage and what you can pack
| Auto Train | Car carrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Belongings inside the car | Allowed; luggage rides in the car at your own risk | Usually limited; many carriers allow a small amount in the trunk |
| Who pays for damage | Amtrak, only if you report it to an Amtrak representative before leaving the terminal and Amtrak agrees it happened in its custody | The carrier’s cargo insurance, after you note damage on the bill of lading at delivery |
| Exposure to weather and road debris | None: enclosed rail carrier | Open carrier: exposed; enclosed carrier: none |
Being able to pack the car is one of the train’s real advantages for snowbirds moving a season’s worth of clothes. Carriers are stricter, as our guide to packing a car for shipping explains. On both, inspect the car before you leave the lot or sign for delivery. If you do find damage after shipping, our car damage claim guide walks through the claim.
Which one to choose
| Your situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You and the car are both going, and you live within a day’s drive of northern Virginia | Auto Train | Usually the cheapest way to arrive with the car without driving 900 miles |
| Only the car is going, or you’d rather fly | Car carrier | Auto Train has no car-only option |
| Truck, van or lifted vehicle over 85 in high or 84 in wide | Car carrier | It won’t fit on the train |
| Your Florida home is in Miami, Naples or the Panhandle | Usually a car carrier | Sanford leaves you 200–260+ miles of driving to South Florida |
| You start in the Midwest | Car carrier or driving | The detour east to Lorton erases most of the train’s savings |
| Two or more cars | Car carrier | Multi-car loads get discounts and only one driver is needed |
| Classic, exotic or freshly painted car | Auto Train or an enclosed carrier | Both keep the car out of the weather |
| You want the cheapest possible trip and don’t mind driving | Drive | Close to the train on cost, with no deadlines |
How to book either one
Auto Train
- Book the vehicle together with the seats; on peak days vehicle spaces can sell out first.
- Measure the car with mirrors out and any rack fitted before booking an extended or standard space.
- Southbound fall and northbound spring are the busy directions. Traveling against the flow is usually cheaper.
- Arrive at Lorton or Sanford well before check-in closes. Late arrivals don’t board.
- Turn off the car alarm before handing over the keys, and pack an overnight bag: there is no access to the car during the trip.
Car carrier
- Book two to three weeks ahead with a flexible pickup window; October and November fill fast on Florida lanes.
- Ask who will actually carry the car. Our guide to brokers and carriers explains the difference.
- Check the carrier’s operating authority and insurance before paying a deposit. Our company lookup does it from the USDOT or MC number.
- Compare car shipping companies serving Florida and price your exact route in the calculator, which needs no email or phone number.
Methodology
- Auto Train rules, schedule and vehicle limits come from Amtrak’s Auto Train and boarding requirement pages, checked on October 14, 2026.
- Auto Train fares are not published as a fixed list. We used the ranges reported by 2026 fare checks (see Sources) and Amtrak’s 2024 sale fares as a floor. Your price depends on your dates.
- Shipping estimates come from our car shipping cost calculator: running sedan, open carrier unless stated, door to door, standard pickup window, with the October southbound season adjustment (+15%).
- Driving costs use the same model as our ship or drive calculator: a 29 mpg car, EIA regular gasoline prices for the week of October 5, 2026 ($4.36 in the Central Atlantic region, $3.97 in Florida), 22 cents a mile for wear, hotels at about $135 a night and $40 a day per person for food.
- Auto Train totals add driving to Lorton and from Sanford, one standard vehicle ($225–$570), coach at $95–$300 per person or a roomette at $400–$1,400, and one hotel night ($100–$170) for trips starting more than about 350 miles from Lorton. Meals on the train are included in the fare.
- Flights are one way at $150–$400 per person.
- On-time data is Amtrak’s customer on-time performance: the share of passengers arriving within 15 minutes of schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Auto Train cheaper than shipping a car to Florida?
For people traveling with the car, usually yes. One person from New York City to Orlando pays about $400–$1,000 all in by Auto Train, against $1,175–$1,900 to ship the car on an open carrier and fly. If nobody needs to travel with the car, shipping is the only option, because Amtrak doesn’t carry cars without their owners.
How much does it cost to put a car on the Auto Train?
The vehicle is charged on top of the passenger fare. Fare checks in 2026 found about $225–$570 one way for a standard vehicle up to 16 feet, about $255–$650 for an extended vehicle and about $146–$310 for a motorcycle. Coach seats start around $95 per person.
Can I ship my car on the Auto Train without riding?
No. The Auto Train only carries vehicles that travel with their owners. To send a car to Florida on its own, book a car carrier.
Where does the Auto Train go?
Only between Lorton, Virginia, about 20 miles south of Washington, DC, and Sanford, Florida, about 25 miles north of Orlando. It runs once a day in each direction with no stops for passengers in between.
What vehicles can’t go on the Auto Train?
Anything over 85 inches high, 84 inches wide including mirrors or 18 feet long without special arrangements, plus dual-wheel trucks, gull-wing and scissor-door cars, Can-Am motorcycles, Rewaco trikes and Polaris Slingshots.
Is the Auto Train on time?
In the 12 months to August 2026, 66.4% of Auto Train passengers arrived within 15 minutes of schedule, according to Amtrak. That beats the 56.4% average for Amtrak’s long-distance trains but falls short of the 80% federal standard. Late passengers averaged 86 minutes late.
Can I pack my car for the Auto Train?
Yes. Luggage can stay in the car at your own risk, but you can’t get to the car during the trip, so pack an overnight bag. Temporary roof boxes and roof bike racks aren’t allowed.
Sources
- Amtrak: Auto Train
- Amtrak: Auto Train boarding and vehicle requirements
- Amtrak: Host Railroad Report, data through August 2026 (PDF)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: weekly retail gasoline prices
- Potomac Local: Amtrak reduces Auto Train fares from Lorton (May 2024)
- Kurway: Lorton to Sanford fares for 2026
- On Track On Line: Auto Train fares and costs (updated March 2026)