Amtrak From NYC to Miami: How I Passed Time on the 30-Hour Ride

Does it look like I’m wearing pajamas? That’s because I pretty much am. These are the most pajama-like trousers I own that I’d wear in public, although my mother would argue that they should only be for sleeping. 

But who cares? Once you get on the train, you’ll be happy you’re comfortable, no matter what you look like. 

After years of overpacking, I have a new rule: one pair of shoes per week of travel. That meant I could only bring the shoes on my feet for my six-day trip to Miami, so I picked the comfiest ones I had. 

I picked up these memory foam babies at T.J. Maxx for only $20, and they slip on and off very easily. This was great for being able to leave my room quickly with shoes on.

This is an old trick my mom taught me when I would get train sick during day trips from our home in Stamford, Connecticut, to NYC.

Going against the motion of the train made me feel sicker, so I stuck to one chair my whole trip.

A decade ago, I may have had a bigger problem with the toilet situation next to my bed in the roomette. But thankfully, I had packed some Poo Pourri, a spray that goes in the toilet just before you poop to eliminate odors.

Adjusting the lighting throughout the trip helped me feel like I was changing environments even though I wasn’t.

Trail mix and granola bars kept me full in between meals. My meals were included with my ticket purchase, which cost $557.

There were about five options for meals. I went with short ribs and mashed potatoes for dinner, and it was decent. The next day, however, I tried the salmon and rice for lunch and found the salmon tough and dry. The rice also tasted like the salmon, which threw me off.

Even though eating in my room was an option, I didn’t want my bunk to smell like food all night. It was also nice to sit in a different environment for parts of the ride.

The train took a short break every few stops, and passengers could walk around the platform for about 10 minutes.

Getting up to stretch my legs and take in some fresh air made the next few hours crammed in a room with a window that didn’t open a little more bearable.

I tried to make the train feel like home, and at home, I dance periodically pretty much every day.

Shutting the curtains gave me a moment of privacy to be my goofy self, which also helped me keep moving.

I brought my own devices and didn’t rely on the spotty internet connection to watch movies and listen to music and podcasts. Downloading these beforehand helped, and made the time go by a little faster. 

Looking out of the window was a constant reminder that I was on my way to somewhere new, and it helped me stay excited about my trip.