Couple Pays $1,586 to Avoid 24 Hours in Traffic, Sleep on Tiny Train Bathroom Mattress Instead
KEY POINTS
- •Jay Silver and a friend took Amtrak’s Auto Train from Lorton, Virginia, to Sanford, Florida, paying $1,586 for a private bedroom and to bring their car.
- •The 17-hour nonstop ride featured a small private room with beds transformed by an attendant and complimentary meals including steak and a spinach-artichoke quiche.
- •Though cramped and challenging for packing, the journey’s lack of traffic and friendly passengers made the train a preferable alternative to driving the full 24 hours.
Jay Silver and a friend shelled out a dazzling $1,586 for one-way passage on Amtrak's Auto Train, bringing their car along so they could skip the soul-crushing I-95 traffic en route to Florida’s Keys. The 17-hour nonstop ride from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL featured a snug private room roughly the size of a large closet (about 7.1 by 6.8 feet), complete with a personal attendant who magically transformed chairs into bunk beds while they dined. Dining was surprisingly decent—not quite Michelin-star but steak, chicken, and even free wine hit the spot. Despite cramped bathrooms and the challenge of 'not overpacking,' the trade-off was waking up near Orlando without missing their stop or going stir-crazy in traffic. Friendly fellow travelers and a dimly lit dining car helped channel vintage train vibes, making the whole ordeal almost worth it—if you're into paying a luxury tax to not drive.
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(1 of 3)Who knew paying $1,586 for a claustrophobic bedroom, tiny bathroom, and lukewarm potatoes could convince you trains > traffic? Spoiler: we’re still terrible at travel choices.
Amtrak’s Auto Train: where you overpay to escape traffic, only to fight for floor space with a bed ceiling kidnapping your luggage.
17 hours, one private attendant, free wine, and forced socializing with strangers who also decided traffic was better left behind—or lost a bet.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 8/2/2026 | Author: Jay Silver
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