Auto Train With Kids: Car Check-In, Family Bedroom and Kids Tickets

Oct 12

11 min read

The Auto Train carries your family and your car between Lorton, Virginia, near Washington, and Sanford, Florida, near Orlando, and yes, it works with kids if you plan around its strict rules. Check in the car by early afternoon, pack a carry-on overnight bag and settle in for about 17 hours on board. Kids 2 to 12 pay half the rail fare, and the double-decker Superliner cars include a Family Bedroom, a room the single-level Florida trains don’t have. There are no passenger stops in between, so everyone rides the whole way.

The short version

Car check-in opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m. (2:00 p.m. for motorcycles, oversized vehicles and Priority Offloading), with no exceptions.
Trains leave both ends at 4:00 p.m. and are due at 8:59 a.m., and you can’t get to your car along the way.
Kids 2 to 12 pay half the rail fare, but room charges are not discounted.
The Superliner Family Bedroom fits two adults and two kids ages 2 to 12.
Rooms include dinner and a hot breakfast; coach riders get a free continental breakfast and buy dinner in the cafe.

Watercolor page from Rally Takes the Train: Rally the corgi wakes up early on the morning of the big train trip. — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Auto Train at a glance

Runs between: Lorton, Virginia (Washington, D.C. area) and Sanford, Florida (Orlando area)
States: Virginia and Florida, rolling through North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia with no passenger stops
Distance: about 855 miles
End to end: about 17 hours, 4:00 p.m. to 8:59 a.m.
Trains: one per day each way (52 and 53)
Train cars: double-decker Superliner coaches, sleepers, dining car, Sightseer lounge and cafe, plus enclosed autoracks for up to 340 vehicles
Four-seat tables: not in coach; tables are in the dining car
Upstairs seating: yes, coach seats on the upper and lower levels
Quiet Car: none listed on Amtrak’s Auto Train page
Food: dinner and hot breakfast included for private rooms; coach buys from the cafe and gets a free continental breakfast
Sleeper rooms: Superliner Roomette, Bedroom, Bedroom Suite, Family Bedroom and Accessible Bedroom
Checked bags: no checked baggage; pack a carry-on overnight bag, since your car is locked away

Look inside the book

Packing for the Auto Train? Rally rides in the carry-on.

Rally’s story starts with an early morning, and an Auto Train trip ends with one. Flip through a few pages here.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Do kids need a ticket on the Auto Train?

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw while Rally sits on a red seat holding his ticket in his mouth. Text: Hello Mr. Conductor, are you a new friend? Rally hoped this ride wouldn't end. — Kids 2 to 12 pay half the Auto Train rail fare, and the Family Bedroom is sold for two adults and two kids.

Every person pays a passenger fare, and your vehicle has its own charge. Kids 2 to 12 pay half the adult rail fare when traveling with an adult 18 or older on the same reservation, and one baby under 2 can ride free on each grown-up’s lap. Amtrak’s child discount doesn’t apply to sleeping room charges.

The Auto Train runs its own kids promotions. This fall Amtrak ran “Kids STILL Ride Free!”, which let kids ride free in coach and First Class with one adult fare, using promo code C507, through October 11. It has ended as of this writing, so keep an eye on Amtrak’s Auto Train sale page for the next one.

The car rules count your kids too. Amtrak requires a seat belt for each person traveling in the vehicle, except on motorcycles, and you can’t go over the vehicle’s seating capacity. Family of five? You need a car with five belts.

Pick your room by your kids’ ages. The Family Bedroom is sold for two adults and two children ages 2 to 12. Want a Bedroom Suite instead? Amtrak says you can only book it by phone at 1-877-SKIP-I95 (1-877-754-7495).

Free for train families

A free activity book made for the Auto Train

Screen-free fun for the whole ride: track all 2 Auto Train stops, spot landmarks out the window, play train window bingo and earn an “I rode the Auto Train” certificate. Free to print at home.

Get the free Auto Train activity book

Every Auto Train stop, from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida

The Auto Train has just two stations. It makes one scheduled stop in the middle of the night, at Florence, South Carolina, but only to change crews, refuel and take on water, and nobody gets on or off there.

Virginia

Lorton Auto Train stationLook for: Walk the 1,480-foot platform and tell them why the station is out here: the tall autoracks would not fit through the First Street Tunnel into Washington.

Florida

Sanford Auto Train stationLook for: This train is so long that passengers board on two tracks here, and a railroad crossing runs right through the middle of the yard. See if your kids can spot it.

What kids can see from the Auto Train

Watch the cars go on

Your car rides inside an enclosed auto carrier, and the train can hold up to 340 vehicles. A typical Auto Train has six sleepers, four coaches, a dining car, a Sightseer lounge, a cafe and 23 or more autoracks, about three quarters of a mile in all. That makes it one of the longest passenger trains in the world, so challenge your kids to count the autoracks from the platform.

What you see from the window

With a 4:00 p.m. departure, you get the afternoon and sunset out the window: Virginia going south, Florida going north. Southbound, the afternoon sun is on the right-hand (west) side. By breakfast you’re back in daylight, and the morning sun comes in on the left as you roll south toward Sanford.

Superliner cars are two stories tall, so an upper-level coach seat sits high above the tracks. There’s also a Sightseer lounge car, which we think is the best spot on the train to watch the sunset with kids.

A train with a comeback story

A private company, the Auto-Train Corporation, started this service on December 6, 1971, and stopped in April 1981 after money trouble and derailments. Amtrak brought it back on October 30, 1983, three days a week, and made it daily about a year later. It still uses the same route, almost all on CSX tracks, with the last 16 miles on track owned by SunRail.

Where to sit with kids on the Auto Train

Coach is a Superliner seat on the upper or lower level, with a wide recline, no middle seat, a tray, a reading light and an outlet. It’s the cheapest way to go, but it means sleeping upright next to your kids. A lap baby sleeps on you, since car seats can’t be fastened to Amtrak seats.

The Superliner Family Bedroom is the room made for this trip. It spans the width of the car, about 9 feet 5 inches by 5 feet 2 inches, with seating for four by day, two upper and two lower beds at night, and two big picture windows. There’s no private bathroom, so the middle-of-the-night potty run goes to the shared restrooms and showers in the car.

A Roomette fits one or two people, with shared restrooms and showers. A Bedroom has its own sink, restroom and shower. All private rooms get access to the First Class lounge on board.

If the Auto Train seats you apart

A private room is the easy answer, and the Family Bedroom puts four of you behind one door. In coach, one booking for everybody is your best shot at seats side by side, though a coach fare buys you a seat, not one you pick. Mention the kids as you board and ask about sitting together, because once the train leaves at 4:00 p.m., nobody gets on or off until morning, so no seats free up later.

Still apart? Look upstairs and down in your Superliner coach, then try the next car. Settle a row apart or over the aisle while you search, and never leave a young child alone on another level. Want a stranger to switch? Ask before dinner: “Hi, would you switch so I can sit by my toddler tonight?” Trade like for like, same level, and a window if they’re at one. Accept a no graciously.

Your car attendant or the conductor can help on this long-distance train. Let them know the size of your family and how young the kids are when you board, and ask whether another car has room. They can guide you to open spots and get luggage cleared off seats, since one ticket is good for one seat, but they won’t move anyone already sitting.

Watercolor of Rally's dad lifting Rally up the steps into a red train car. Text: Little legs and some very big stairs, meant he needed a boost from his Dad who cares. — Superliner cars have an upper and a lower level, so once you are aboard the Auto Train, hold small hands on the stairs between them.

The best first Auto Train ride with kids

Watercolor of a red train car on a cliffside track heading into a dark tunnel, with Rally peeking out a window. Text: But then he saw some darkness ahead. Suddenly he wished he was back in his bed! — The Auto Train rolls into sunset and then darkness. A familiar blanket and a quick read of Rally's tunnel page make the dark less scary.

There’s only one Auto Train ride, end to end, so here’s how the day goes with kids.

Late morning: drive to the station. Check-in opens at 11:30 a.m. It closes at 2:00 p.m. for motorcycles, oversized vehicles, trailers and Priority Offloading, and at 2:30 p.m. for all other cars. Amtrak says no exceptions, so plan lunch near the station; Lorton is about a half-hour drive south of Washington, near I-95.
4:00 p.m.: depart. Drop off the car, keep your overnight bag and board. Dinner happens on the train.
Overnight: Florence, South Carolina. Somewhere around midnight to 1 a.m. the train stops to change crews and refuel. Most kids sleep right through it.
8:59 a.m.: arrive, then wait for your car. Cars come off after arrival, and Priority Offloading, bought at booking or check-in, puts yours among the first 30 off. Wikipedia notes the train often runs late, so don’t plan anything tight that morning.

Food, bathrooms and naps on the Auto Train

Meals depend on where you sleep. Private room passengers get dinner and a hot breakfast in the dining car, included in the fare. Coach passengers pay for meals, snacks and drinks at the cafe and get a free continental breakfast before arrival.

Your car is sealed away the whole ride, and there’s no checked baggage. Everything the kids need goes in your carry-on: pajamas, toothbrushes, a change of clothes, diapers and wipes, medicine, chargers, snacks and a few free printable Rally pages. And don’t leave valuables in the car.

For a smooth check-in, take off luggage racks, turn off the car alarm and know your size: standard cars go up to 16 feet long, 85 inches high and 84 inches wide with mirrors. Vehicles over 18 feet need special arrangements.

Watercolor of Rally's big ears as he dreams about a toy turtle, a green bone and a ball. Text: A suitcase must mean they are going away! So he packed his favorite things to make sure they could play. — Your car is locked away until morning, so every favorite toy, pajama set and toothbrush has to fit in the Auto Train carry-on.

A train book for the ride

Watercolor of Rally standing on a red train seat, looking out an arched window at the ocean and a white bird. Text: Choo choo! The train starting could be heard. Hello cute white bird! — From an upper-level Superliner seat or the Sightseer lounge, kids get a high view of the afternoon and the sunset.

Rally Takes the Train opens with an early wake-up on the morning of the trip. On the Auto Train, the big wake-up happens on the train itself: your kids fall asleep in Virginia and open their eyes to Florida morning light. Save that first page for breakfast on board.

Put the book and the free Rally activity pack and coloring pages in your carry-on, not the car, because you won’t see the car again until Sanford or Lorton.

A wake-up story for the Auto TrainRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in watercolor, and it slips easily into a carry-on. Ages 0 to 8, $13.99 on Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach, cliffs and the train track. Text: And with his big ears, Rally heard the sound of happy cheers. Goodbye tunnel! You caused us no trouble. — Kids fall asleep in one state and wake up in another. By the time breakfast comes, the long part of the night is behind you.

More for train families

Every Amtrak route with kids: find another train by city or station
The complete guide to Amtrak with kids: tickets, car seats, changing tables, family tables and what to pack by age
Free Rally activity pack and coloring pages to print before your trip
Silver Meteor with kids
Floridian with kids
Palmetto with kids

Sources

Checked against Amtrak and partner railroad pages in October 2026. Schedules and policies change, so confirm on amtrak.com before you ride.

Auto Train with kids: questions parents ask

Do kids need a ticket on the Auto Train, and is there a kids deal?

Yes, every passenger has a fare, plus a separate charge for your car. Children 2 to 12 travel for half the adult rail fare alongside an adult 18 or older, but room charges get no discount. This fall’s Kids STILL Ride Free! promotion, code C507, ended October 11, so watch Amtrak’s Auto Train sale page for the next one.

Do babies ride free on the Auto Train?

Yes. Lap babies under 2 are free, limited to one for each grown-up who pays an adult fare. Extra babies, or a baby in a paid seat, pay the child fare. If you’re eyeing the Family Bedroom, Amtrak sells it for two adults and two children ages 2 to 12. Pack the baby’s whole kit in your carry-on, since the car is locked away.

Do I need a car seat on the Auto Train?

Not on the train itself, since Amtrak can’t secure car seats to any of its seats. The nice part here: your car rides along, so the car seats can stay installed in your vehicle for the drive at the other end. Amtrak also requires a seat belt for each person riding in the vehicle, and you can’t go over its seating capacity.

Are there changing tables on the Auto Train?

We couldn’t confirm changing tables in the Auto Train’s Superliner cars, and Amtrak has no formal policy on them. Your best bet is a fold-up changing pad and the accessible restroom, the biggest one in the car. There’s no toilet inside the Family Bedroom, so overnight changes happen on your pad in the room or in the car’s shared restrooms.

What are the bathrooms like on the Auto Train with kids?

Each Superliner car has at least one restroom, with a light that tells you someone’s in there. Superliners have two levels, so getting there from an upper-level seat may mean the stairs; hold small hands on the way. Go with young kids and warn them about the loud flush. Roomette and Family Bedroom riders use the car’s shared restrooms and showers; Bedrooms have private ones.

Can I bring a stroller on the Auto Train?

Yes, as a carry-on. There’s no checked baggage, so a folding stroller rides along as one of your bags, no fee. Parents of a child under 2 get to bring a stroller or diaper bag for the baby on top of the usual limit. A big jogging or double stroller you won’t need on board can stay packed in your car, since you’ll drive off with it in the morning.

Can I breastfeed or warm bottles on the Auto Train?

Yes. It’s legal to breastfeed in public in all 50 states, so nurse in your seat or your room. Ask the dining car crew about bottles; Amtrak says they can help families prepare them. Pack all the formula and bottles in your carry-on, though, because your car and everything in it is out of reach until morning.

What food is there for kids on the Auto Train?

Private room passengers get dinner and a hot breakfast in the dining car. Coach riders buy dinner, snacks and drinks in the cafe, then get a free continental breakfast before arrival. Either way, the train leaves at 4:00 p.m., so a late lunch near the station and a carry-on stocked with favorite snacks keep the evening calm.

How do I keep kids entertained on the Auto Train?

Start on the platform: a typical Auto Train has 23 or more autoracks, so have kids count them. Onboard, head to the Sightseer lounge for sunset, or grab an upper-level seat for a high view. Tuck our free maze, word search and coloring pages into your carry-on, because anything packed in the car stays there until morning.

Where should a family sit on the Auto Train?

Coach seats are on the upper or lower level of Superliner cars, with wide recline, no middle seat, a tray, a reading light and an outlet. For a family of two adults and two children between 2 and 12, the Family Bedroom is made for this trip: four seats by day, four beds at night (two up, two down) and two big windows. Bedroom Suites are booked by phone only.

What if we can’t find seats together on the Auto Train?

Sort it out early. The Auto Train has no passenger stops between Lorton and Sanford, so no seats open up later in the evening. Check your coach and the next one, on both Superliner levels, for a free pair, and stay a row apart in the meantime. A small child shouldn’t spend the night in a seat away from you, and never on a different level of the car.

Can I ask the conductor to help us sit together on the Auto Train?

Yes, and boarding is the moment, before dinner and before people settle in for the night. Tell the conductor or your car attendant how big your family is and the ages of your kids, then ask if any other car has empty pairs. They can walk you there and get bags cleared away, one ticket meaning one seat, but they won’t ask anyone sitting down to move.

Is there a Quiet Car on the Auto Train?

Amtrak’s Auto Train page doesn’t list one. Since this is an overnight train, you’ll want your own quiet rules anyway: headphones for any show or game, and low voices once neighbors start settling in after dinner. If you have a restless sleeper, a private room gives you a door to close, which helps the whole car.

What should I pack for kids on the Auto Train?

Pack one carry-on per person, because your car is sealed away and there’s no checked baggage. Warm up with the suitcase page from our free activity pack. In it go medicine, diapers, wipes, a changing pad, pajamas, toothbrushes, spare clothes, chargers and snacks. Don’t leave valuables in the vehicle. If something isn’t in that bag by the 2:30 p.m. check-in cutoff, assume you won’t see it until the train arrives.

How do kids sleep on the Auto Train?

It’s an overnight ride, 4:00 p.m. to 8:59 a.m., so this is real bedtime. In coach, kids sleep in reclining seats or on a lap. The Superliner Family Bedroom spans the car’s width, about 9 feet 5 inches by 5 feet 2 inches, with two upper and two lower beds. A Roomette fits one or two people, and a Bedroom adds its own sink, restroom and shower.

Is the Auto Train a good first ride for kids?

It’s a big one, since there’s only one ride: Lorton to Sanford or back, about 17 hours, leaving at 4:00 p.m. and due at 8:59 a.m., with no passengers getting on or off between. Break it into pieces for kids: watching the cars, dinner, sunset in the Sightseer lounge, bedtime, breakfast. If they’ve never ridden a train, a short daytime ride somewhere first can help.

Can kids ride the Auto Train alone?

No child 12 or under may ride Amtrak alone. Amtrak’s unaccompanied minor policy for ages 13 to 15 covers daytime trips only, and the Auto Train runs overnight, from 4:00 p.m. to the next morning, so plan on an adult going along. Teens 16 and 17 may ride Amtrak on their own, but someone still has to drive the car off in Sanford or Lorton.

How early should we arrive for the Auto Train?

Much earlier than for other trains, because the car goes first. Vehicle check-in opens at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 2:30 p.m., or at 2:00 p.m. for motorcycles, oversized vehicles, trailers and Priority Offloading, with no exceptions. Lorton is about a half-hour drive south of Washington, near I-95. Sanford boards on two tracks, so follow staff directions with kids in hand.

What if my child gets scared on the Auto Train?

The tricky part here is the dark, not a tunnel. After a 4:00 p.m. departure, the train rolls into sunset and night, and somewhere around midnight to 1 a.m. it stops at Florence, South Carolina, to change crews and refuel, which could wake a light sleeper. Explain the stop beforehand, keep a small flashlight handy, and use Rally’s tunnel page to talk about the dark.

Is the Auto Train safe for kids?

Yes, with a few rules. Hold hands at check-in and on the 1,480-foot Lorton platform, and stay behind the line. Superliner cars have stairs between levels, so carry little ones or take it one step at a time, and keep a hand on something whenever the train is moving. Shoes on whenever you leave your seat or room, even for a sleepy late-night bathroom trip.

What if the Auto Train is late?

Before you drive to Lorton or Sanford, look at the travel advisories and the app’s live train map. Wikipedia notes the Auto Train often runs late, and after arrival you still wait for your car, so don’t plan anything tight that morning. Priority Offloading, bought at booking or check-in, puts your car among the first 30 off. Keep extra snacks, diapers and free Rally coloring pages to print in the carry-on.

Can we get to our car during the Auto Train ride?

No. Amtrak says vehicles can’t be reached during the trip; yours rides in an enclosed auto carrier, one of up to 340 vehicles. Before check-in, take off luggage racks, turn off the alarm and move the kids’ night things into your carry-on. Standard cars can be up to 16 feet long and 85 inches high, and anything over 18 feet needs special arrangements.

Kelsey Cecil