When we went to Virginia two years ago for vacation, we stayed in Richmond and took the Amtrak to D.C. I was convenient and relatively cheap, but for anything longer than a few hour car drive, Amtrak IMHO isn’t worth it.
Oh, I am a HUGH Amtrak fan ... but given the choice between paying $50 RT to NYC from DC v. $138, I will opt for the bus. Takes pretty much same amount of time, and both arrive at same place in midtown Manhattan.
We used to take Amtrak to Florida, more often than not using Auto Train ... that was a great way to travel, especially with kids. You had your car when you got to your destination, but everyone wasn’t cooped up in a car for 17 hours, with the stress on the driver. Totally enjoyed that.
I disagree. We’re traveling from Atlanta to Boston over Christmas-willingly. Leave at 8pm, breakfast traveling through the VA countryside, NYC by 2pm, Boston by 8pm. Comfortable seats, room to walk around, no removing shoes or Lord knows what else for some TSA doofus, good meals in the diner, and best of all, no fighting Christmas airport traffic to/from ATL and BOS airports. Very very civilized. This is what happens the world over when energy prices are high-like ours. You go, Amtrak!! As predicted, it only took one good energy crisis to show your value to this country as an option to pumping $4/gallon gas into inefficient cars. You have a great opportunity to prove your worth. Don’t screw it up.