Lorton Auto Train Station — Local services in Lorton

Update Dec 2024: We rode the auto train again in Dec 2024. They have had a slight schedule change where the train leaves and arrives an hour earlier. Last check-in is now 2PM for motocycles and 2:30PM for vehicles. We arrived around 2PM on a Thursday before winter break and had no problems. maybe 5 cars in front of us. We were lucky and our car was first 10 off after priority again in Sanford. Also on the southbound trip we stopped in the middle of the night for a smoke break (Florence, SC) which some people used for service pets to go to the bathroom and we used to just stretch our legs. No similar trip was offered on our northbound trip. I added more photos to my review including the shop within the Lorton terminal so you know what snack and food options you have incase you forgot to pack some or didn't want to buy on the train. We arrived in Sanford about an hour late the next morning. Our return trip to Lorton on New Years eve we arrived an hour early but limited staff at terminal meant cars came out very slowly. There is a sweet spot to purchase tickets which I think was 30 days after tickets opened up for a date and before 60 days after the opening, the price then went back up. Not sure if it random or not but keep checking prices on different days for different trip dates and you can find patterns. We paid $705 southbound (Thursday before winter break) and $635 northbound (arriving home new years eve) for 5 passengers in coach and extended vehicle (mini van).

• Arrived around 2:30 for 3PM check-in deadline on a Thursday evening in late December 2023. • Facility was packed indoors when we arrived but weather was nice we waited outside. • Small play area for younger kids (toddlers). • You can watch cars be loaded on as well. • Staff record video of cars before loading incase there are any damaged caused by the ride down. • We stayed in coach class. Seats were very nice. • Not very full of capacity. All 5 of us could have our own 2 seats which helped immensely with bedtime. Arm rest are surprisingly comfortable for head if you sleep sideways. • Bathrooms are all different sizes and not created equal. So, try different ones if you need some more space. There is one for breast feeding babies as well. • We also noticed they put all the kids together on the same train car furthest from the dining car (front of train). Not big deal for us as we’re used to it. But you may have other babies crying at night etc. which could be issue if you’re a light sleeper. Wife couldn’t sleep at night in general but I got 2-3 hr stretches and would wake up to rearrange myself. • Spoke to someone who had ridden more than once and got the sleeper room last time and said it was NOT worth it. • Internet was nice but did go in and out with cell phone service so be aware more rural areas you’re passing you may have internet hole. Our oldest had an online class meeting which worked well. • Breakfast was included and tip is to go early as we noticed later some items ran out and that was it. • We arrived about 20 mins late the next morning. Not too bad. We hit traffic in GA/FL. • We were lucky as we didn’t pay for priority off boarding of vehicle, but we were in the first 10 cars off the train after all 30 priority cars. They said it would be up to 90 mins for the last car to be unloaded. We were super lucky. Staff was very efficient and professional getting all the cars off. • We would take the auto train again. We didn’t ride it back up from FL because the cost of tickets in between Christmas and new years was 2-3 times the price. Making flying and rental car much cheaper. We decided to do a fun road trip back up the coast and stop at other points...

We were so surprised by the large comfortable reclining seats with fully extendable footrests! It was very interesting to travel thru all the tiny train towns of yesterday from behind the hurry-scurry scenes of the 21st century on the upper level of the auto-train. Our journey to Florida was enjoyable and restful. Instead of the stress of struggling to make arrangements to get to the airport on time, dragging around our luggage while hurrying up and down escalators and through long crowded corridors to our gates to board “Sardine Can Airlines”, we packed lots of luggage into our car, drove to the Amtrak Station, were met by a valet parking attendant, only steps from the station, and shortly afterwards boarded our train to Sanford (which is between Orlando and Daytona), and enjoyed a pleasant ride to Florida! We bought a bottle of bubbly from the Cafe Car and munched on our packed snacks. When they lowered the lights, we snoozed off and slept fairly well until we heard an announcement for continental breakfast pick-up in the cafe car. The pre-filled coffee cups contained cold coffee, but they gladly exchanged them for hot coffee when asked. The breakfast was a very limited choice of cold items, but we really didn’t want much more than coffee since we knew we would be arriving early to our destination. Leaving the train station was a breeze. The valet drove the car to the front of the station, we got in and were on our way! The restroom was in the lower level, so it was a little inconvenient to have to go up and down the narrow stairs between floors, but overall it was a great experience and we look forward to traveling on the Auto Train again in the future! I would suggest wearing long pants, a hoodie, slip-off shoes, and don’t forget to bring earplugs, an eye-mask, a compact pillow and a small blanket to be the most...

Always enjoy taking the auto train. This time my grandson and I had a roomette, was a little tight but we enjoyed the privacy and our attendant Angie was awesome. The roomette has two nice seats, that convert into one bed and there is a bunk up top, I took the bunk up top, was not too bad for an old gal like myself to climb up to it. I am used to a king size bed, but I managed. Dinner was included with our fare, I ordered the salmon and my grandson ordered the steak then we shared them, came with a salad, veggie and one came with rice and one with a baked potato, dessert was included we had lemon cake and a triple chocolate cake, plus I was given red wine😎

In the evening we went to the lounge where I bought a night cap and IPA beer for $7.50 did not think that was bad price, I have paid more. We sat in the lounge and played cards and talk with some of the other guest, everyone seemed to be enjoying the ride, I use to think the auto train was for the elderly, however, there is always a nice mix of all ages, I have noticed in the last 10 years I have been doing this.

We did not have our own bathroom, however the bathrooms we shared with a few others were nice and clean, my grandson even took a shower in the morning and said the water was nice and warm.

We booked last minute 5 days before we left and our total trip with two of us, one SUV and having a roomette, which I bidded on the night before we left was $404, I could not have flown us both to FLORIDA and rented a car at this price. Now going back the prices are much higher, not sure if we will drive back or jump back...