Train travel is booming. In the last fiscal year, The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) served 32.8 million customers, and in 2024, Orlando Station served 123,598.
The more sustainable, often scenic, and middle seat-less cousin to flying, train travel could play a part in your next vacation — here’s how to do it locally.
Meet the Floridian
If you’re leaving from Orlando Station, you may end up riding on the Floridian (a relatively new route):
- WiFi | Floridian trains come equipped with free WiFi, so you can keep reading ORLtoday. Pro tip: Outlets are more accessible in first or business class + sleeper cars.
- Food + Drink | This train offers cafe service (snacks and drinks for purchase) and traditional dining (chef-prepared meals for first class travelers).
- Accommodations | The Floridian features coach seats + various private roomettes and bedrooms.
Where it takes you
Maybe you’ll take the midnight train, but you don’t wanna go just anywhere. Check out a few places you can get from Orlando. Prices may vary.
- Lakeland | ~1-hour trip | Coach: $10+ | Private rooms: $170+
- Miami | ~8-hour trip | Coach: $20+ | Private rooms: $230+
- Washington, DC | ~20.5-hour trip | Coach: $80+ | Private rooms: $520+
- Chicago | ~39-hour trip | Coach: $110+ | Private rooms: $950+
*Price and trip length change if you choose to get to these locations via a different train or by multiple trains.
First stop: The ticket counter
Purchase one-way tickets online, or buy a pass — the $499 USA Rail Pass, for instance, gets you 10 rides over 30 days.
Next, getting to the station. Orlando Station offers free same-day and overnight parking.
Just down the track…
The Floridian is, for now, a temporary route that combines the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains while rehabilitation work takes place in New York. Amtrak has not released a closing date for the Floridian.
