18 best Amtrak trips from Tampa

If you want to take a train trip from the Tampa Bay Area (including Clearwater and St. Petersburg), Bradenton, Sarasota and nearby cities, plan to depart from the Tampa Amtrak Station. There is one northbound and one southbound Silver Star train each day, which can take you as far south as Miami or north to New York City (pictured above). To explore all your travel options with good arrival and departure times, see the list below of the best Amtrak trips from Tampa.

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Disney World

EPCOT Spaceship with topiaries — *Photo by Brett Kiger*

Book your tickets to Kissimmee to reach Disney World by train and avoid traffic on I-4. Travel time is 1.5 hours and we recommend getting a Lyft or Uber ride from the station. You can also rent a car from Turo or Miriaj— the car will be brought to you. Drive time is about 30 minutes to Disney Springs, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Orlando

Almost two hours away from Tampa on Amtrak, downtown Orlando is full of restaurants and nightlife. You can also go to a professional basketball, soccer or ice hockey game at Amway Center, check out a festival, walk around Lake Eola or take the kids to the hands-on Orlando Science Center. Trains arrive just south of the Central Business District (5-minute drive away) and Lyft and Uber are easy transportation options.

Winter Park

Charming Winter Park is an easy Amtrak trip from Tampa, about 2.5 hours travel time. Trains stop in walking distance of restaurants, the Saturday farmers market, Winter Park History Museum and the Park Plaza Hotel. Don’t miss the scenic boat tour, and art lovers should visit The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which has a large collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

West Palm Beach

For an upscale getaway, travel to West Palm Beach on the Silver Star. There’s fine dining, shopping, museums, performances and events (including the South Florida Fair in January). Kids and adults will also enjoy visiting McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary and the Manatee Lagoon, which has an area for viewing the large animals. Travel time is almost four hours from Tampa.

Delray Beach

Known as the “Village by the Sea,” Delray Beach, Florida has a walkable downtown near the Atlantic Ocean. There are many restaurants, boutique shops, art galleries and even a retro arcade. The Festival of the Arts takes places in January and there are other downtown events to check out. Enterprise has pickup service (call in advance to confirm) if you’d rather not use rideshare services. Travel time from Tampa is just over four hours.

Deerfield Beach

Deerfield Beach in Florida is a great vacation destination for outdoor recreation. The International Fishing Pier and Deerfield Island Park are top attractions, plus there are multiple places to rent boats, surfboards, bodyboards, paddleboards, jet skis and kayaks. You can also plan a trip around the Florida Renaissance Festival, which takes place in Quiet Waters Park. Travel time from Tampa is almost 4.5 hours.

Fort Lauderdale

Known as the “Venice of America,” Fort Lauderdale is a vibrant city full of canals, restaurants and nightlife. Boat tours and water sports are great ways to enjoy the sunny weather, plus there’s a Riverwalk and beaches (Fort Lauderdale Beach pictured above). Don’t miss Las Olas Boulevard for dining and shopping or the local museums if you like history. Travel time is almost five hours.

Hollywood

Hollywood Beach is a vintage Florida vacation spot that was established in the 1920s. Hotels and motels built in different decades lookout over the ocean, and a 2.5-mile boardwalk makes it easy to walk, bike and skate to local markets, restaurants and bars. The Sun Shuttle also travels to and from downtown Hollywood, where you’ll find more places to eat, a large park and cultural center. Travel time is five hours from Tampa.

Miami

Miami and Miami Beach are known for nightlife and fun annual events, including Art Deco Weekend in January, South Beach Food & Wine Festival in February and multiple music festivals throughout the year. Trains do not arrive in downtown Miami, so you’ll need to get a taxi, Uber or Lyft to reach your final destination. Travel time from Tampa is 5.5 hours.

Jacksonville

About 5.5 hours from Tampa on Amtrak, Jacksonville has 22 miles of beaches and multiple riverwalks to explore. A unique attraction is the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, or visit the animals at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. If shopping is more your thing, stop by St. John’s Town Center and the Riverside Arts Market. Plan to use Uber or Lyft after you arrive (the station is not downtown) or rent a car with Turo or Enterprise.

Raleigh

North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh is a family-friendly destination with a variety of things to see and do. There are many parks and formal gardens, including the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the United States. You can also visit live music venues and top-rated museums, including the North Carolina Museum of Art and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Travel time is 15.5 hours and you’ll spend a night on the train.

Richmond

Richmond is over 19 hours away from Tampa on Amtrak. It is a great city for historic sights, museums, gardens and outdoor adventures. Highlights include whitewater rafting, the Maymont mansion and gardens, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (which is especially popular in the spring), Carytown neighborhood and the White House of the Confederacy.

Trains arrive in the afternoon at the Staples Mill Station, which is about 15 minutes away (via car) from downtown Richmond. It’s easiest to use Lyft or Uber to get around. You can also rent a car from Enterprise. Pickup service is available, but call ahead to confirm.

Alexandria

For easy access to Washington D.C. and Mount Vernon, travel to Alexandria, Virginia. George Washington considered Alexandria his home town, and you can experience his colonial life in the well-preserved Old Town historic district. The National Harbor, The Wharf and Georgetown are also accessible via water taxi or board a train at the King Street-Old Town Metro Station to reach all the sights in Washington D.C. Travel time from Tampa is 21 hours.

Washington D.C.

With free museums, stately monuments, events, sightseeing tours and Potomac River cruises, there is always something to do (and eat) in Washington D.C. The train trip from Tampa is almost 22 hours and you’ll arrive at DC’s Union Station, which has a direct connection to the WMATA red subway line, or get a taxi, Uber or Lyft ride. Visit late March to see the cherry blossoms.

To continue your rail journey, you can transfer to other Amtrak routes in Washington D.C., including the Cardinal for a trip through the beautiful New River Gorge (travel in summer to see the most scenery). You can also transfer to the Capitol Limited to reach Chicago (and Amtrak trains that travel to the West Coast). The Cardinal also goes to Chicago, but travel time is longer (learn more).

Baltimore

Baltimore is 23 hours away from Tampa via train. Once you arrive, you can connect with a taxi, Lyft or Uber for a ride to the Inner Harbor or attraction of your choice, including the National Aquarium, Fort McHenry and Fell’s Point neighborhood. Consider a boat tour for a unique way to see the city, and rail fans should consider visiting the B&O Railroad Museum.

Wilmington

A small city getaway with parks, museums (including Nemours Estate pictured above) and nightlife in Trolley Square, Wilmington, Delaware is a almost 24 hours away from Tampa on the Silver Star. You can rent a car at the train station or use Lyft and Uber to get around. With a rental car, you can easily explore the area, including trips to the beautiful Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania Amish Country and the New Jersey coast.

Philadelphia

Travel to Philadelphia to eat an authentic Philly cheesesteak and visit the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and hang out at the waterfront. Amtrak travel time is over 24 hours, with the option to connect with commuter trains, subway, Lyft, Uber, tourist trolleys and bikeshare once you’re in the city. The Schuylkill River Trail is an especially beautiful place for a bike ride.

New York City

For big city fun, travel to New York City. It’s the last stop on the northbound Silver Star route, almost 26 hours away from Tampa. You’ll arrive in Penn Station with easy access to the subway, commuter trains, taxis and rideshare services, which makes it easy to visit the many museums, attractions, restaurants, Broadway shows and shopping destinations. You can also transfer to other Amtrak routes here for a trip through the beautiful Hudson River Valley, including to Niagara Falls, Vermont and Canada.