All about the Autotrain

[Aanna]

Aanna-- we did the tappenzee way back in the beginning and would never do it again. Felt like too many tolls to deal with (that or having DM drive!). Not sure where u are coming from but we leave central CT at 2am and arrive in Lorton at 10 am. We do stop for breakfast at a cracker barrell in MD. there are 2 of them about 28 miles apart. It depends on our time on which one we stop at. We have been very fortunate to bypass any type of rush hour traffic by leaving at this time. We do tend to make several pit stops along the way (which can take 20 mins of unloading/reloading of the DC).

2 am? LOL I feel like such a wimp. We're going down the day before so that we can take our time and goof off along the way. We're coming from near Waterbury. We'll stop at the Elizabeth, NJ Ikea for lunch, then the Delaware Children's museum for an afternoon break and dinner at Joe's Crab Shack next door. Last time we went to DC that kept us from hitting the worst of the rush hour traffic. Kinda makes the drive part of the fun. And this time we will know to take your advice and take 295!

As for GWB vs. Tappanzee... really, I know it's out of the way, but I grew up in the City and spent a year or two commuting back and forth between Manhattan and New Haven. Anytime I can avoid the Cross Bronx Expressway, I do! The Tappanzee just requires so much less adrenaline.

 

[Marshay]

Marshay-- I was very impressed with the playground that was in historic Sanford. There were 2 - one for older and one for younger children. It all looks relatively new. I am a Box tops for education Coordinator at my DC school and know how much $$ playground equipment cost and it is really nice and big. There is also a splash pad area ajacent to the playground. Restroom facilities are there too. A few pavalions with picnic tables and it all overlooks the water. We even found some park benches facing the water that were actually swings. Definitely keeping this place in mind. It is maybe 10 minutes from the station and I cant forsee running into any huge traffic issues to get back. The only drawback to the playground equipment is that none of it is shaded. So it was mighty hot and sunny while they were playing.

So you just continue on the road that Amtrak is on ... going past the trains?? Or is it on the main road before turning off to go to the train? Sorry, I forget the street names...

Thanks!

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Aanna-- yea 2 am!! it is soo much part of our trip. The very first time I did the autotrain w/ my mom and we spent the night near the station. We had soo much time to kill till we needed to bring the car in. We would rather have that day as a day in disney than an extra travel day. We seem to miss all the rush hour traffic. The cross bronx isn't really scarey at that time of the morning. Though a few years ago we had a wrong way driver on our side of the road!

If you go from waterbury down rt 8 pick up rt 15 in trumbull/stratford you would be good. You do seem to have your locations picked out good to break the trip up.

We did the outer loop in DC that very first trip and would never do it again! There is some construction on 295 in MD but it was doable the 4 times we drove thru this year.

Marshay--- it is the main road that you come in on from i4. The turn for the station is just over the bridge but dont' turn just continue straight. There will be a traffic light and a mc d's on the right. as you continue straight thru that intersection the road will change to a red brick surfaced road and you will see signs for historic Sanford. There are a bunch of stores and building and the park is on the left w/ the water behind that. We traveled to the end of the park and turned left towards the water and then took another left. This road is right btwn the park and the water. There is side of the street parking. To leave and go back to the station you continue straight along the water. I believe any side street to the left would bring you back to that main road. I do know if you keep following along the water you HAVE look for a sign that directs you back to the main rd you come in. The road along the water merges with the cross street from the intersection from McD's. There is no Left turn to head back to the station. I am sure if you followed it you would be able to eventually turn around. I know that sounds confusing sorry. if I confused you let me know and I will see if we can dig up on online map to help. It is all of 10 mins to the park.

 

[lindap1]

Does anyone know of any hotels that are close to the auto train terminal?
Thinking about driving down the night before. TIA!

 

[Aanna]

I always check TripAdvisor.

Here's a bunch in the area with reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/HACSearc...ar_10|near_11|near_12|near_13|near_14|near_15

 

[J3nn78]

Does anyone know of any hotels that are close to the auto train terminal?
Thinking about driving down the night before. TIA!

We are currently at the Springfield Best Western and enjoying our stay. It is about 10 minutes from the station. We checked in at 9:45am and our room was ready. We hit the continental breakfast today after we checked in. Then we took the free shuttle to the metro station, visited the Smithsonian Natural History museum and several monuments. We get the autotrain tomorrow!

 

[mjfisherdc]

I am coming from southcentral PA. Is there a "backway" to go without hitting 495? I am used to taking 15 South to get to Dulles Airport, wasn't sure if there was a route off of 15 to get to the Auto Train

 

[famouschinesec]

I am coming from southcentral PA. Is there a "backway" to go without hitting 495? I am used to taking 15 South to get to Dulles Airport, wasn't sure if there was a route off of 15 to get to the Auto Train

Where exactly in PA are you coming from and I can maybe suggest a route. FWIW the eastern half of the beltway is not nearly as bad as the western half. So if you enter the northern part of the Washington beltway from I-95 or I-295 on the north end and travel south (clockwise) the portion of the beltway that is considered I-95 and I-495 and follow I-95 south to Lorton, you will have less chance of traffic issues than the western half of the beltway. I would avoid at all costs the portion of the beltway from I-95 in the north, counterclockwise to I-95 on the southern end. (College Park to Springfield)Things really are much better since they built the new Woodrow Wilson bridge, and re-engineered the mixing bowl (I-95/395/495 interchange at Springfield). There is still a lot of construction just south of the bridge, but I just came through there yesterday about 2:30 PM and it moved just fine. Hope that makes sense.

 

[chartle]

Does anyone know of any hotels that are close to the auto train terminal?
Thinking about driving down the night before. TIA!

This also works (Its a Google map)

http://g.co/maps/876h

 

[mjfisherdc]

I will be coming from Bedford (about 1 hour west of Hagerstown)

 

[mjfisherdc]

My google maps (gps), gives me the following directions: I 70 East to 270 South, then 495 South, Exit 57A to Virginia 644, then 95 South to exit 163 for Virginia 642

Does this sound like the best route?

 

[Henlady]

I will be coming from Bedford (about 1 hour west of Hagerstown)

DH HATES traveling 495, so, we go thru Berkley Springs (rt 522) , around Winchester, to 50/17 east, then turn right onto 17 south/east to 66 east over to the Fairfax County Parkway (Rt 7100) to Ox road (Rt 123 south/east), then right onto SilverBrook road (Rt 600), to Lorton Road where you'll turn left, go under both north & South lanes of I-95 and on the left will be the AutoTrain terminal. It's a much less stressful drive than going 70-270-495-95. This route takes about 3.5 to 4 hours, which is about a half hour/45 minutes longer than the 70-270-495-95 route.
Actually, the 3.5 to 4 hours is from about 35 miles north of you, so you could cut half an hour off that travel time.

 

[famouschinesec]

I would say henlady has a viable alternate for you. My 495 route would take you well out of the way. If you are planning on being in Lorton before 2 PM then, you might be fine on the west side of the beltway. Anyway you go, tune into WTOP radio 103.5 FM for the best traffic updates in the area. Traffic and weather on the 8's. Good Luck.

 

[mjfisherdc]

Thanks for the route info guys!

Henlady - Hi neighbor!

 

[bdcp]

Rt 15 from PA down to VA and from there, you can take a couple of routes to Lorton without ever touching I-95. I gave these same directions several years ago either on this thread or another one, can't remember which but the person who used them loved them. He said it made it very easy to get there.

Page 13 and 14 on this thread.

 

[Henlady]

Rt 15 from PA down to VA and from there, you can take a couple of routes to Lorton without ever touching I-95. I gave these same directions several years ago either on this thread or another one, can't remember which but the person who used them loved them. He said it made it very easy to get there.

Page 13 and 14 on this thread.

Unfortunately, RT 15 would be about an 1 1/2 hours drive east of where OP is situated.

 

[Henlady]

Thanks for the route info guys!

Henlady - Hi neighbor!

Hi back at ya! We have used the 522 route many times when traveling to Lorton. In May I talked Dh into letting me drive via 495. He said that trip took 10 years off his life. He strongly dislikes that type of traffic. When we head back to the Auto Train in November we'll be doing the old 522 route. It is scenic and not a bad drive. We leave Altoona by around 8:00-8:30am and get into Lorton by 11:30/11:45, that's with a couple of bathroom stops. You'd be about a half hour off that time. Good luck in your travels.

 

[bdcp]

Unfortunately, RT 15 would be about an 1 1/2 hours drive east of where OP is situated.

And, they have to travel east anyway, correct? Rt 15 is used quite a bit by people all over PA. The other routes mentioned all require travel east so I'm not sure what the issue would be.

Rt 70 connects with 15 in Frederick, MD so a very viable route. Completely avoiding 95 and 495.

 

[kdka421]

ARGH!

Have been planning our first trip on the Autotrain, leaving this Sunday for our upcoming trip.

Just got an automatic call from Amtrak that they have canceled the train that day (presumably due to the hurricane). I'm on hold now to try to see what is going on....

Nothing like scrambling last minute to see now how we're going to get to Disney.

 

[christinou]

ARGH!

Have been planning our first trip on the Autotrain, leaving this Sunday for our upcoming trip.

Just got an automatic call from Amtrak that they have canceled the train that day (presumably due to the hurricane). I'm on hold now to try to see what is going on....

Nothing like scrambling last minute to see now how we're going to get to Disney.

it happened to us a few years ago, in february the train got canceled because of a snow storm, we drove down, and then came back on the train