Amtrak’s Auto Train Sale Has Fares Starting at $39 — When to Book

The sale is running until Nov. 27.

By Alison Fox Alison Fox

Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on November 22, 2024

An Amtrak train surrounded by autumn colored trees . Photo: Courtesy of Amtrak

Amtrak is bringing some ease to the holiday season for East Coast travelers with discounted tickets to their Auto Train.

The sale, which must be booked by Nov. 27, is available on both North and Southbound travel between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, Amtrak shared with Travel + Leisure. As part of the promotion, travelers can book tickets for as low as $39 for adults, plus the cost of a vehicle, and receive 50 percent off children 2 to 12 years old.

The sale is valid on Northbound travel from Dec. 2 to March 26, 2025, and valid on Southbound travel from Jan. 16 to June 30, 2025.

“Amtrak guests can pack their bags and vehicles, eliminate nearly 900 miles of stressful driving on I-95, and save on their travel with the new Auto Train Flash Sale,” the rail company wrote in a statement shared with T+L. “The Auto Train offers daily, non-stop service offering guests the unique opportunity to travel with several types of vehicles – including cars, vans, motorcycles, SUVs, small boats, jet skis and more. This is the only such service in the U.S. and allows customers the convenience of having a vehicle at their destination and traveling by train is one of the most efficient modes of transportation.”

Travelers who want a bit of an upgrade can book a private room, which starts at just $239, plus the cost of a vehicle. With that, passengers will receive priority boarding, a dedicated attendant, and complimentary meals.

The Auto Train travels between Virginia and Florida over the course of about 17 and a half hours. Travelers must purchase a ticket as well as pay extra for their vehicle, which varies in cost depending on the type.

The sale offers a traffic-free way to travel up and down the coast, but there are several blackout dates on Northbound travel from Dec. 20 to Dec. 21, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 4, on Feb. 22, from Feb. 28 to March 2, and on March 15; and on Southbound travel from Jan. 30 to Jan. 31, on Feb. 14, and on Feb. 28.

The sale comes as a record-setting number of travelers are expected to hit the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday, clogging up traffic across the country. However, while 71.7 million people are forecast to travel by car, nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including trains, according to AAA.