10 Great Tips For Adding Rail Travel to Your Family Vacation Plans
Traveling by train is such a great way to get to some of the best family vacation destinations. Sleeper trains, auto trains, and short haul trains provide lots of options for fun trips. Here are 10 tips from our family to yours to make whichever rail travel option you choose fantastic.
There’s just something nostalgic about riding the rails. It conjures up images of a bygone era when life may have seemed a little simpler. A time when cell phones and screen time weren’t yet even imaginable.
Even though these might be romanticized snippets of a bigger picture, rail travel in the United States is still a great way to vacation.
There are lots of benefits to skipping the airport or highway and catching an Amtrak train instead. (Other than commuter trains like metros and subways, Amtrak offers the only interstate passenger rail service in the U.S.)
In fact, traveling by train is one of the best ways to embrace the more modern idea of “slow travel”. The idea of traveling more purposefully as opposed to hurriedly checking off the vacation to-do list is quickly catching on. And what better way to do that than on a train.
But just like with every way to vacation, rail travel has its positives…and its negatives. And a few know-before-you-go tips can make all the difference.
Here’s how to skip the plane and create one of your most memorable family vacations yet with rail travel.
Book rail travel early if possible… but don’t discount last-minute options.
Just like other travel modalities, rail travel options increase given the more time you allow for booking them. Seats book up and fares can increase closer to your travel dates. You’ll find greater flexibility in terms of travel days and times when you schedule your trip in advance.
This is especially true with looking for a sleeping train. Availability for the sleeper accommodations on Amtrak vacations can be limited, most notably during peak times.
But…
If your family is like mine, you’re juggling sports, school, work and the plethora of other family obligations. And booking family travel way in advance isn’t always a realistic option.
So also know that we’ve booked last minute train trips, especially on shorter routes like Baltimore to New York, many times. With a little flexibility and avoiding holidays, finding a seat on the train is usually doable, even when booking late.
And, occasionally, your fair may even go down with last-minute deals.
You can check availability for all Amtrak vacation routes at Amtrak.com.
2. Set a realistic budget for your Amtrak vacation.
When we started planning our first train trip I assumed this lesser-used method of travel would be cheaper. Fewer people who want to do it means lower demand. Which equals lower cost, right?
The short answer is… sometimes.
The cost of rail travel depends on the destination, ticket options, time of travel, and type of train.
For example, we typically pay about $100 per person roundtrip to New York City from Harrisburg, PA. (That’s the closest Amtrak to us for this route). Plane tickets from one of the Washington, D.C. airports (our closest big airports) to NYC typically run slightly more. They tend to start at about $150 when purchased in advance. They tend to go up from there, sometimes significantly. (Although they vary widely.)
However for a recent one-way trip from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Maine, we paid $236 per person. We compared that to one-way nonstop flights and found we could fly for under $100 each.
So for some routes, know that you’re going to pay more than you would to fly. Rail travel is often not the cheapest option.
Other things that affect cost:
The speed of the train (Acela trains tend to be more expensive.)
Parking (Sometimes small train stations have free parking while this is rare at airports. And it can really add up.)
Dates (High volume travel dates tend to affect airline prices more than train ticket prices.)
Available discounts (Amtrak Vacations offers deals on some routes, which can be a great way to save money on rail travel.)
3. Know what to expect at the train station.
Traveling by train is unique and different than airline travel from the very beginning. And there are a few things you might want to know before departing.
Know that there are no worries about the kids being burnt out on traveling before you even depart. Because you don’t need to arrive particularly early.
Rail travel doesn’t involve long security lines or lengthy departure procedures. Unlike airline travel, there’s really no need to get to the train station 1-2 hours before your departure.
If you depart at a large Amtrak train station with more than one railroad, your train track number will be posted shortly before departure. (As in like, 15 or 20 minutes before. So don’t panic and think you’re doing something wrong when you’re not sure which track until the last minute.)
At a smaller train “station”, there may be no building at all, but rather just a shelter resembling a bus stop. That will be where you wait for your train.
In both instances, the train arrives and you have a few minutes to hop on before you leave. The conductor will scan your ticket after the train begins moving.
Some of the large train stations have restaurants and shops located inside. So finding a bite to eat can be done at the station. You’ll want to stock up ahead of time if you’re departing from a train stop with just a shelter.
4. Allow extra time to get to your destination.
You don’t need to spend a lot of pre-boarding time at a train station or prior to rail travel. But you usually do need to allow extra time to get where you’re going once you’re on the train. In fact some of America’s best train journeys are routes that are measured in days rather than hours.
You certainly don’t need to allow that long for all trips. But rail travel often does take significantly longer than plane travel to get to your destination.
Flights to Orlando from Washington, D.C., for example, are about 2 hours. Train trips to Orlando from D.C.? Between 17-19 hours.
Some shorter routes are comparable in time to flights when time allotted at the airport is taken into consideration. (Like that Harrisburg, PA to New York City trip I mentioned? That’s the quickest way to New York for my family. Driving to a D.C. airport and flying to New York is longer with pre-boarding time and airport commutes.)
But most often, it takes extra time to get your destination via train.
5. Know what amenities are offered on your train.
Wondering if there’s food available on the Amtrak? Or Wifi? The answer is… it depends.
Not all Amtrak vacation trains are the same. And not all amenities are available on every route.
To know what’s offered on your particular train, click on the train you plan to book on Amtrak.com. All available amenities will be listed. Rail travel amenities can include:
A cafe car (a walk-up counter where snacks and drinks are served)
A dining car (a car with tables where meals are served)
Wifi (when available, wifi is free)
A quiet car
A baggage car
A sleeper train car
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6. Book the sleeping train for overnight journeys.
Spoiler alert. Amtrak train seats are roomy and much more comfortable than coach airplane seats. (More on that later.) So, booking that roomy seat is a good way to save money on your trip. Room options are definitely pricier.
But, a private sleeping room on the train for overnight trips is even better. In addition to privacy, a lay flat seat can make for some actual shut-eye during your trip.
Rooms on the train come in variety of sizes, ranging from larger bedrooms to roomettes.
Bedrooms have one or two sofas that convert to upper and lower berths. Roomettes have two armchairs that covert to an upper and lower birth.
Sleeper train rooms come with an attendant, linens, towels, and a meal. All bedrooms and roomettes have a toilet and sink. Passengers booking a room also have access to lounges in the bigger train stations.
Traveling in the sleeper train is one of our favorite things about rail travel. It’s such a fun way to experience the train. We love that the train serves as our first night’s accommodation too.
Keep in mind though that there are a few to consider when booking space in a sleeping car. Remember that, for one, space is very tight. Rooms have significantly more space as well as a bathroom that is separated from the main part of the room.
Roomettes, on the other hand, only have space for one to stand when the berths are pulled out. (Think about the width of a train. And keep in mind that roomettes flank both sides of a hallway.) The toilet and sink are beside the lower berth, not separated with a privacy door or curtain.
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7. Pack light for rail travel, unless you plan to check your bags.
Wondering how to pack for a train trip? With a “less is more” mindset for sure. In fact, packing light when traveling by train is a kind of a win, win.
For one thing, most often you’ll be handling our own baggage getting on and off the train. And you’ll be required to store bags in the overhead space, which is just slightly larger than airline overhead space.
Remember that itty bitty space we talked about in regard to the roomette? That space is also where your carry-on baggage will remain if you book a roomette. There’s a spot across from the upper birth to store bags.
So keeping that luggage light and fairly small is often helpful.
If light lacking isn’t your travel style, check to see if your train offers checked baggage service. While it’s not available on all trains, some Amtrak’s do have checked baggage cars.
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8. Know what to bring onboard the train for the trip.
Rail travel is often meant for those hoping to enjoy the “getting there” part of great family vacations. And we parents know entertained kids are happy kids during this part.
One of the great parts of train travel is seeing more scenery than some other modes of transportation. But as Insider mentions in their list of things to know about long-distance train travel, it’s not always scenic.
So having a plan for what to do on the train is important, especially for family travelers.
While there are no apps with movies or seat back entertainment portals on Amtrak, there is free wifi. So, bringing your own device is the best way to stay entertained onboard. Seats are equipped with power outlets to keep devices charges.
Keep in mind though that wifi can be spotty with rail travel so you may experience some interruptions. However, cell service works, except in specific bad service areas, so hot spots and cell use is another entertainment option.
Because of the roomier set-up on Amtrak trains, small board games and card game are great options too. And of course don’t forget the books, coloring books or word puzzles. Some routes have train cars with tables to use for while all seats have small seat back tables.
In addition to entertainment, you might want to bring:
Noise-cancelling ear buds (Stops are announced on a speaker system. If you’re sleeping on the train or especially have a child sleeping, you may need to block the noise.)
Snacks (Not all trains have cafe cars and food and drinks are permitted to be brought on the train)
A small blanket (Like planes, trains can be slightly cold.)
Comfy clothes (Most routes mean you’ll be on the train for a while.)
A charger for devices
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9. Take advantage of the big seats and ability to move around.
This great part of rail travel isn’t just something my family and I notice. It’s also a top benefit highlighted by Travel and Leisure in their list of best train trips across America.
Because unlike airplane travel, rail travel doesn’t leave you confined to your seat. Being on a train gives you the option to move between cars a bit.
And just where is there to go while being up and about in the train? Like with most rail travel, the answer depends on the particular train you’re on. But lots of routes feature trains with have a quiet car, cafe car, dining car, and various seating options.
No matter which seating option you choose, you’ll find the seat size comparable to domestic first class on an airplane. Extra legroom and a true reclining seat make rail travel comfortable in that regard.
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10. Pay attention to the stops on Your Train Route.
Most train routes include lots of stops throughout the journey. And rookie mistake #1 is not paying attention to those and missing your stop.
In fact, bigger cities often have several train stops. So, not only do you need to know that you’re stopping in Boston, for example. You also need to know at which station in Boston you need to get off the train.
One of the best tips for train travel is to be sure to know which specific stop is yours. And pay attention to the stops throughout the journey.
We’ve found the conductors onboard really helpful in making sure passengers know which stops are coming up. Being aware of how long your trip is expected to be helps as well in making sure you don’t miss a stop.
But stay aware because delays and even early arrivals can happen. And nothing says vacation flop like ending up in Newark when you meant to go to NewYork.