Amtrak Auto Train?

[R Doug]

I am considering a trip to Key West on my motorcycle and in the process of getting there, I am considering using Amtrak's Auto Train .  Apparently, you pick up the train at around 4PM just south of Springfield, VA and ride it overnight to just north of Orlando where you'll arrive around 9AM the next morning.

My thought is I can sleep overnight on the train and wake up in Florida.  I could then focus on the quality part of the ride which would start by touring NASA at Cape Canaveral then taking the A1A towards Miami then pick up US 1 (after skirting the Miami on the belt way) and take US 1 all the way to Key West.

I would ride all the way back home and will be sure to pick up some rural routes in the Everglades and head towards the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia which I'll stay in the entire way home zig zagging from ridge top to ridge top.

Does anyone have any experience with the Auto Train?  Any recommendations?

[Rincewind]

We took it down 8-years ago.  On the way down we had sleeper bunks, and did coach seats on the way back.  I preferred the sleeper bunks as they're much more comfortable and semi-private with washrooms and showers nearby.  We did a similar loop to Key West, though in a my wagon.  I recommend the autotrain.

[Marcster]

My parents did it a few years ago -- they had a Ford Windstar at the time.  I think they got the coach seats both ways.  They enjoyed it from what I recall -- it's a change of pace from the typical flight.  

[googus]

If you are a lite sleeper like me I HATED it.. I did it 5 times in my lfe and I would drive down and stay in a hotel to catch some sleep before I deal with that again. I did 3 time sleepers(had top bunk-rocked all night specially when he opens her up) Coach by the door that everytime people moved from car to car you here(take a guess-power door like star trek and the noise from the tracks -I am sure you can guess on that one. The smoking car forget it i couldn't even smoke there was like 3 ft from top of a cloud. At that time the sleeper and the car I believe was 800 or so back a couple of years.

If you take it down I can almost say you WILL ride back:)
This is just my experiance and remember i am a very lite sleeper.

[kendenton]

No experience with the Auto Train, but Key West is a hoot.  I rented a Harley in Miami and rode around down there a few years ago.

[jimmy]

A friend of our family has retired and bought property in Florida.  He took the Auto Train down this past winter.  He said that he couldn't sleep on the train due to the movement and noise.

I asked him if he would take it again, and he said he would take it travelling south, but never again travelling north, in the winter.  Due to heavy snow, and the delays in travelling the snow caused,  he ended up staying in hotels on the way home anyway, eliminating any gains from the train.

[R Doug]

Thanks for all the feedback.  I priced out the one-way ticket for me and bike with me in a private bedroom.  The total price came to $320.00.  That's not bad considering the train saves me two nights in a hotel (I'd stick to back roads all the way to FL.  I hate riding interstate to go anywhere), gas, and tires.  

The question for me is, will riding the A1A and making it to Key West for a few nights be worth it as I will take two days of riding mostly highways to get out of Key West and into the mountains north of Atlanta.  

[R Doug]

PS... Ken, thanks for the link to ride report.  That helps a lot!

[kendenton]

Your welcome.  

The A1A is really *pretty* in parts, but it's not what you would call a fun ride.  It was the perfect venue for the rented Harley.  Keep in mind it's one road in, one road out, with the majority being 1 lane each way.  I loved being in KW, but I'd never ride there again.