15 best Amtrak trips from Orlando

Orlando is great pace to start a train trip. You can choose from three different rail services: Brightline (high-speed service to South Florida), SunRail (regional service) and Amtrak, which can take you as far north as New York City. Trains on two long-distance Amtrak routes (Silver Meteor and Silver Star) stop at the downtown station each day and you can also drive to Sanford and board the Auto Train with your car.

Read on to learn about the 15 best Amtrak trips from Orlando with good departure and arrival times to get ideas for your next adventure. For longer trips, you can transfer to other Amtrak routes in Washington D.C. and New York City. We recommend a summer trip on the Cardinal through the New River Gorge and trips to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Montreal and Vermont.

Note that the Brightline is the faster option for reaching West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, so these destinations are not on the list. The SunRail also provides more frequent service than Amtrak if you want to travel to Kissimmee or Winter Park.

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Tampa

Avoid I-4 and book tickets on Amtrak to reach Tampa in about two hours (a short day trip is possible). Trains arrive in the Channel District near downtown and Ybor City. Lyft, Uber and streetcar are easy transportation options. Top things to do include Busch Gardens, the Tampa Riverwalk and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. There’s also a ferry to St. Petersburg where you can visit the Dali Museum and check out the great restaurants.

Sebring

Home of the Sebring International Raceway, Sebring is fun getaway for car racing fans. The Amtrak station is about a 10-minute walk away from the historic downtown and slightly further away is Lake Jackson (pictured above), which has a fishing pier. There are also other lakes for all types of water activities. Travel time is about two hours on the Silver Meteor. Plan to use rideshare after you arrive or rent a car.

Jacksonville

Just over three hours from Orlando on Amtrak, Jacksonville has 22 miles of beaches and multiple riverwalks to explore. Other top attractions include the zoo and Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. Or 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) and make arrangements to stay in the city at least one night.

Delray Beach

Known as the “Village by the Sea,” Delray Beach 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 offers pickup service from the station (call in advance to confirm) if you’d rather not use rideshare services. Travel time is just over fours on the Silver Meteor.

Hollywood Beach

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. Travel time is five hours on the Silver Meteor. Plan to use Uber, Lyft or taxi. If you’re staying on the beach, you don’t need to rent a car due to the walkability and sun shuttle.

Savannah

Romantic Savannah, Georgia is six hours away from Orlando on Amtrak (books tickets on the Silver Meteor for best arrival time). We recommend staying in the historic district, which is a 10-minute Lyft, Uber or taxi ride away from the Amtrak station. Once there, you can easily walk to restaurants, parks, charming squares and River Street. Don’t miss the ghost tours, river cruises (pictured top of page) and St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Charleston

Almost eight hours away from Orlando via train, Charleston, South Carolina has charming architecture, delicious Southern food and historical attractions. It’s about a 20-minute Uber or Lyft ride to downtown Charleston after you arrive or if you prefer to rent a car, plan to use a rideshare service to reach rental car options at the airport. View the list of the top things to do and best places to stay in Charleston to start planning your trip.

Raleigh

*Photo by 4512 Image Hosting (Creative Commons)*

North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh has a variety of things to see and do. Unique attractions include the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the United States and the Raleigh Beer Garden, which has over 350 beers on tap. You can also check out festivals, live music venues and top-rated museums, including the North Carolina History Museum, North Carolina Museum of Art and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Travel time is about 13.5 hours on the Silver Star.

Richmond

Richmond is a great getaway for history buffs and nature lovers. Top activities include whitewater rafting and visiting gardens and museums, including the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the White House of the Confederacy. Trains stop at the Staples Mill Station, which is about 15 minutes away (via car) from downtown Richmond. Use Lyft or Uber to get around or rent a car from Enterprise (pickup service is available). Book tickets on the Silver Star for the better arrival time.

Alexandria

For easy access to Washington D.C. and Mount Vernon, travel 17-19 hours to Alexandria, Virginia depending on the train you select. 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.

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is full of museums, monuments, year-round events and restaurants. Consider a sightseeing tour to easily explore the many attractions, and plan your trip in March to view the cherry blossoms. Travel time from Orlando is 18 hours on the Silver Meteor and you’ll arrive at Union Station where you can transfer to the WMATA red line or get a ride with Uber, Lyft or a taxi.

Baltimore

Baltimore is 19 hours away from Orlando on the Silver Meteor. Once you arrive, you can connect with 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 and nightlife in Trolley Square, Wilmington, Delaware is a almost 20 hours away from Orlando on the Silver Meteor. 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 20 hours on the Silver Meteor to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers established the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Other top things to do include exploring the waterfront, eating cheesesteaks and visiting museums. Bikeshare rentals, the sightseeing trolley and a variety of tours are great ways to see the sights.

New York City

New York City is the last stop on the Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes (the Silver Meteor is two hours faster). You’ll arrive at Penn Station‘s new train hall with easy access to the subway, commuter trains, taxis and rideshare service. There are many museums, attractions, restaurants, Broadway shows and shopping destinations to check out while you’re in town. Consider a trip over the holiday season to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and go ice skating.