Although I didn’t get much sleep on board, our overall experience in a private bedroom on the Auto Train was actually better than expected.
Our ride felt like solid value, especially since I was taking a longer trip and could avoid the cost of renting a car once we got to Florida, where I was staying for over a month.
The trip itself was just over 17 hours, but instead of sitting in traffic on the highway, we could spend time playing games, enjoying meals, watching downloaded movies on our laptops, and even getting some work done.
Unlike a road trip, we also didn’t have to stop to grab food, rest at a hotel, or use restrooms, which made this ride feel extra efficient.
As someone who tends to take longer trips and often needs a car at their destination, I would definitely take the Auto Train again. I’d also upgrade to a private room again, too, since I appreciated having a bed.
If you’re traveling for only a week, though, you’ll want to crunch the numbers. The cost of the Auto Train (and bringing your car on it) might not be worth it.
Business Insider reached out to Amtrak for comment.
