The Silver Meteor is one of three long-distance Amtrak routes that stop in Florida. Trains travel between New York City and Miami, with stops at major East Coast cities and popular vacation destinations in Florida. While it isn’t known for dramatic scenery, the gradual changes in landscapes along the East Coast make for an interesting journey in both directions. It’s best thought of as a vacation train, a vintage rail experience, or way to reach cultural landmarks.

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Silver Meteor Overview

  • Distance: ~1,300 miles
  • Duration: ~28 hours (2 days, 1 night)
  • Frequency: 1 daily train in each direction
  • Best time to ride: Fall, winter, spring
  • Scenic highlights: City skylines, bodies of water in Virginia and Maryland, Florida countryside
  • Popular Destinations: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Jacksonville, Savannah, Charleston, Washington D.C., New York City

Popular Stops

Schedule Highlights

  • Travel time between New York City and Miami is about 28 hours.
  • You’ll spend a night on the train if you’re traveling between Florida and the Northeast.
  • If you’re traveling south, Jacksonville is the first Florida stop and you’ll arrive in the morning.
  • All Florida stops are during the day.
  • Trains depart New York City in the afternoon.
  • Trains depart Washington D.C. in the early evening.
  • Southbound trains travel through the Carolinas overnight.

Tickets and Onboard Options

When booking tickets, you can select coach seats or private rooms on the Silver Meteor. Coach seats are the most affordable option, but you’ll need to sleep sitting up if you’re traveling overnight. On the plus side, you’ll have a comfortable reclining seat and power outlets for your devices.

In comparison, private rooms are more expensive, but make a long-distance trip more comfortable. Based on availability, you can choose from the following private room options:

  • Roomettes
  • Accessible bedrooms
  • Standard bedrooms

If you choose a private room, water, coffee and meals are included in the ticket price. Explore Amtrak’s room types to see which one is best for you.

Other Things to Know

  • There is WiFi on the Silver Meteor.
  • A café car available to all passengers.
  • The Silver Meteor has one-level Viewliner rail cars.
  • Trains on the Palmetto route stop at some of the same stations and may offer better arrival/departure times. But the Palmetto only has coach and business class seats, and trains only travel as far south as Charleston, SC.
  • The Floridian train stops at many of the same stations in Florida as another option. But since this train travels to Tampa before going to Miami, travel times from South Florida to other cities is generally longer compared to the Silver Meteor.
  • Depending on your starting location, you may need to transfer to the Silver Meteor train in New York City or Washington D.C.
  • Ticket prices can be elevated during the last week of the year. Travel at a different time for cheaper fares.

Travel Tips

  • If you’re heading to Disney World, you can exit the train at either the Orlando or Kissimmee Station. Both are about 35-minute car ride away. Get off at the first station you encounter to speed up your journey. Or if you want to avoid interstate driving and Orlando traffic, Kissimmee Station is the better option, especially if you are staying near Animal Kingdom.
  • If you are traveling to Miami, we recommend exiting at the historic Hollywood Amtrak Station. It’s about the same distance away from downtown Miami and Miami Beach as the Miami Station (plus you’ll get off the train faster).

Stations

Explore the full list of Silver Meteor train stations in route order. Click the station names to view amenities and additional details on the Amtrak website.

More Information