After months of driving, sightseeing, unpacking, repacking, and adding more miles to the car, more than we probably wanted to think about, we decided to let Amtrak do some of the work for us. We boarded the Auto Train in Lorton, Virginia, bound for Sanford, Florida, with our car along for the ride. That alone felt rather luxurious. Instead of facing a long stretch of interstate, we handed over the keys, climbed aboard, and let someone else do the driving for about 850 miles. I could get used to that!

We had a berth for the overnight trip, which sounded wonderfully romantic in theory. In reality, the room was definitely on the cozy side. And by cozy, I mean that once the beds were made up, there was not a great deal of extra real estate left over! Still, there was something fun about settling into our little compartment for the night and watching the scenery slip by outside the window.

We were on the upper level of the train, which turned out to be a good choice. It was quieter than being closer to the tracks, and the gentle motion of the train was actually rather soothing. Sleeping on a train is certainly different from sleeping in our own bed, but it’s ‘almost’ as relaxing as spending the night in a roadside hotel after our months of driving.

Meals were included with our accommodations, and we had both dinner and breakfast on board. Neither meal was something we will be talking about years from now as a great culinary experience, but both were perfectly decent—and there is something enjoyable about eating dinner in a dining car while the train rolls south through the countryside.

The trip was also memorable for us because we had recently visited Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago. After learning about George Pullman, sleeping cars, railroad travel, and the enormous role passenger trains once played in American life, here we were actually spending the night on a train ourselves. Admittedly, however, our Amtrak room was probably not quite the elegant Pullman experience of another era, but the connection made the journey more interesting. It felt like a little continuation of the history lesson—only this time we were part of it.

One of the best things about the Auto Train is that you do not have to choose between traveling by rail and having your own car when you arrive. Our Lexus was tucked away somewhere behind us in one of the automobile carriers, making the same journey we were. When we reached Florida the next morning, we simply waited for the cars to be unloaded, climbed back into ours, and continued on toward home. No airports. No rental cars. No 850-mile drive. After close to three months on the road, that was a very appealing combination.

There are certainly some trade-offs. The sleeping quarters are small, the beds require a little flexibility and a sense of humor, and there is still some waiting involved while hundreds of vehicles are loaded and unloaded. But overall, at least one of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We could sit by the window, read, talk, eat dinner, and watch America roll past us.

And after traveling 8500 miles by car, having someone else take us the next 850 miles felt like a very good idea indeed. And….. 17 hours later, and a fairly decent night’s sleep, we arrived in Sanford, Florida!! In another hour and a half….we were home!! I would do this again in a heartbeat; the jury is still out with Pete!!!