Amtrak Floridian: Schedule, Stops, & Route Guide

The Floridian is a daily train service connecting Chicago and Miami, passing through Washington, D.C. It merges the Silver Star and Capitol Limited routes and uses Viewliner and Amfleet II equipment.

You can transfer in Pittsburgh to the Pennsylvanian. From there, you can explore the Pennsylvania countryside or stay on board to head up to New York after turning north in Philadelphia. If you are heading to the northeast, you can also transfer in Washington, D.C.

Quick Answer: What Is the Amtrak Floridian?

The Amtrak Floridian is a long-distance train connecting Chicago and Miami via major cities such as Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami.

This train combines sections of the former Capitol Limited and Silver Star routes, providing a continuous journey between the Midwest and Florida without changing trains in Washington, DC.

Unlike the previous Silver Star, the Floridian no longer operates on the Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC, and New York City.

The Floridian offers:

• Coach seating
• Private sleeper rooms
• Traditional dining for sleeping car passengers
• Café service
• Scenic views through parts of the Appalachians and the East Coast

👉 Best for travelers looking for a relaxed alternative to flying between the Midwest and Florida

Floridian At a Glance

• Route: Chicago ↔ Miami
• Travel Time: About 46 hours
• Frequency: Daily
• States Served:
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Maryland
  • Washington, DC
  • Virginia
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Georgia
  • Florida
• Major Stops:
  • Chicago
  • Cleveland
  • Pittsburgh
  • Washington, DC
  • Jacksonville
  • Orlando
  • Tampa
  • Miami
• Sleeping Accommodations: Yes
• Dining Car: Yes
• Café Service: Yes
• Wi-Fi: Limited on parts of the route
• Checked Baggage: Available at select stations
• Best For:
  • Midwest-to-Florida travel
  • Snowbirds
  • Overnight train trips
  • Travelers avoiding airports
  • First-time long-distance Amtrak riders

Tip: If you plan to book a sleeper room, compare roomette and bedroom prices before booking. Sometimes the price difference is smaller than expected.

Why should you take Amtrak’s Floridian?

The Floridian takes you on a journey through the Midwest and over the Allegheny Mountains and offers stunning views of Harper’s Ferry along the historic B&O Line. You will travel through the scenic Potomac Valley to Washington, DC.

From there, the train heads south toward Florida’s sunny beaches, vibrant cities, and a range of family-friendly attractions, including Disney World, Universal Studios, and more, ensuring a great time for everyone in the family. If you want to take Amtrak to Disney, check out my article, which will help guide you from the rails to Main Street!

This article includes the Floridian’s schedule, information on the train’s coach and sleeper accommodations, and details about the café and traditional dining cars.

Here is an article about my experience aboard the Floridian.

Why the Floridian Exists

Amtrak is temporarily combining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star trains to create the Floridian due to the upcoming East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York. During this project, one tunnel tube will be closed at a time, minimizing service impacts, maximizing construction access and modernizing the tunnel infrastructure to serve customers for another 100 years.

Amtrak’s Floridian Media Post

Another advantage of this temporary move is that it frees up Superliner equipment for use on western trains while the Railroad works on rehabbing cars.

The Floridian offers a unique way to see the USA, allowing you to relax and enjoy the journey.

Map of the Amtrak Floridian

How to Buy Amtrak Floridian Tickets

You can purchase Amtrak tickets through the Amtrak website or Amtrak app, by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL, at staffed Amtrak stations, or from ticket kiosks where available. You can also check with local or online travel agents.

For many travelers, using the Amtrak website or app is the easiest option. The Amtrak app allows you to store your eTicket, or you can print the PDF ticket that Amtrak emails to you. Conductors can also scan your eTicket directly from the email on your phone or another electronic device.

I recommend buying your ticket in advance, especially when traveling on weekends, during holidays, or at other busy times. Some trains, accommodations, and services can sell out quickly. It’s also a good idea to book early if you plan to travel with a bicycle or a pet, or if you want one of the limited premium accommodations on the train.

Accommodations on the Floridian

The Floridian offers a range of comfortable travel options, from spacious coach seating to private Viewliner sleeping accommodations, ensuring a pleasant journey for every traveler.

Coach Seating

Coach seating provides a comfortable and economical way to travel. Amtrak’s Amfleet II cars offer reclining seats with:

• Foot and leg rests
• Fold-down trays
• Individual reading lights
• 120V grounded outlets
• Overhead luggage storage and accessible areas
• Two restrooms per car

Seats are assigned shortly before boarding, typically on the platform. You may find yourself seated next to someone you do not know.

In certain situations, you may be assigned a car instead of a specific seat, depending on the train’s occupancy and your location along the route, and you may be told to sit wherever you please.

Kev’s Coach Class Tips
From my many trips, I’ve learned that packing an extension cord can be a lifesaver! Since the outlets are by the window, an extension cord will save you from disturbing your seatmate if you’re in the aisle seat. I also recommend bringing snacks, water, and a pillow and blanket for those overnight trips—you’ll thank me later!

Coach Car Layout

Sleeping Accommodations

The Floridian offers three types of sleeping accommodations—Roomettes, Bedrooms, and Accessible Bedrooms—where you can relax during the day and sleep comfortably at night. As a sleeper car passenger, you’ll enjoy complimentary meals, fresh linens, and exclusive access to Amtrak’s lounges in significant stations like Chicago and Washington, DC, where you can unwind before or after your trip.

Each room has daytime seating that converts into cozy lower beds at night. A second bed conveniently folds from the ceiling.

Feel free to click the links below to learn more about each accommodation.

• Roomette: Perfect for one person and cozy for two. It includes seats that convert into beds, a sink, and access to shared showers.
• Bedroom: Spacious, featuring a private in-room restroom and shower.
• Accessible Room: Designed for passengers with mobility needs and their companions

Kev’s Sleeping Car Tips

Pack light! The Viewliner cars feature handy storage above the door for larger suitcases, keeping essentials within easy reach. An extension cord is necessary, especially in older sleeper cars with limited outlets.

And don’t forget your snacks, drinks, and entertainment—those little comforts go a long way on an overnight journey.

Floridian Sleeping Car Layout

This diagram shows the older Viewliner I cars, commonly referred to as the “blue ones,” and the Viewliner II, which are similar. There is a bathroom at the end, but the room numbers are the same.

Onboard Staff Change

When you travel by train, conductors and engineers change at various points along the route, but the onboard service staff usually stays with you for the entire journey.

If you remain on the Floridian train through Washington, D.C., the staff of the coach, café, sleeper, and diner cars will change there.

Luggage and Wi-Fi on the Floridian

Each passenger may carry on:

• One personal item, up to 25 pounds (12 kg), and 14 x 11 x 7 inches
• Two carry-on pieces of luggage, 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches each

If you transfer to the Pacific Surfliner at any point during your journey, the baggage size limit for that train is 28 x 22 x 11 inches per piece.

Charges apply to additional and oversized luggage; see Amtrak’s carry-on bag policy for more information.

Wi-Fi On The Floridian

Wi-Fi is available, but due to limited bandwidth, it supports only basic web browsing and other restricted functions. Streaming or downloading large files is not supported. For more information, check out my Amtrak Wi-Fi page.

Please be aware that Wi-Fi may not be available in some sections of the route. However, cellular service might still be accessible. Since Wi-Fi relies on cellular signals, there may be areas where the train does not receive a connection, which could also cause your phone to lose signal.

Additional Features of the Floridian

• Bikes: Full-sized bicycles are permitted on the train and stored in designated racks. Be sure to check Amtrak’s bike policy before booking. Learn more about Amtrak’s bike policy.
• Pets: Small dogs and cats are permitted on board for trips of up to 7 hours, with a combined weight limit of 20 pounds for pets and their carriers. Learn more about Amtrak’s pet policy; check with Amtrak to ensure your service or comfort animal qualifies.

The Floridian Café Car

Whether you’re traveling in coach or a sleeper, you’ll enjoy a variety of meal options during your journey. From quick bites to more substantial meals, the Floridian caters to a variety of tastes, ensuring everyone stays well-fed and refreshed.

The Café Car, open to all passengers, offers a selection of hot and cold meals, snacks, and beverages, including beer, wine, and cocktails. It’s a convenient spot to grab a coffee, sandwich, or snack while stretching your legs during the trip.

The Café Car is conveniently located between the coach and dining cars, making it easy to stop by during your trip. It opens early and remains open for most of the day, with closures at night or during crew breaks. Keep an ear out for announcements about specific hours.

Bringing Food on the Train

Note: While you can bring food and non-alcoholic beverages onboard, Amtrak can’t heat or store your items. Additionally, according to FDA regulations, you cannot consume the food you brought onboard in the Café or dining Car.

The alcohol brought aboard must stay in your bag unless you are in a sleeper car—if you get caught drinking your alcohol in coach, you risk getting removed from the train.

Dining Car: Traditional Dining Experience

Step into the dining car for a more formal dining experience. Sleeper passengers enjoy chef-prepared meals included in their fare. Coach passengers can also use the dining car; each meal costs a flat fee, but seating is limited.

In the dining car, you can enjoy hearty dishes—chicken, beef, or vegetarian entrees —paired with fresh sides and delicious desserts.

Meals include non-alcoholic drinks, and for dinner, the first alcoholic beverage with dinner is on the house.

The Dining Car Meal Times

Meal times may vary, so please check with the train staff for the most up-to-date information. Sleeper car passengers must make dinner reservations, while coach passengers should listen for announcements regarding their entry times.

• Breakfast: 6:30 AM – 9:30 AM
• Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
• Dinner: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Dining Car Meals Served on the Floridian

The meals offered can change based on the train’s on-time performance.

Breaking Down The Floridian Route By The Day

Not everyone travels the entire train route at once—not always me—but some prefer to know the daily breakdown of the trip.

Floridian On-Time Performance

In June 2026, the Floridian reported a Customer On-Time Performance (OTP) of only 5.4%, significantly lower than the trailing 12-month average of 32.2%. This performance was the worst among Amtrak’s long-distance routes and fell well short of the minimum standard of 80%.

In June, passengers who arrived late had an average delay of 158 minutes. Over the past 12 months, the average delay for late passengers was 105 minutes.

The Floridian operates across four host railroads between Chicago and Miami, with leading causes of delay varying by segment.

• CSX: In June, the largest category of delays was interference from freight trains, followed by temporary slow orders.
• Norfolk Southern: Delays were primarily caused by interference from freight trains, with delays from other passenger trains following closely behind.
• Florida Department of Transportation: The primary issue was interference from commuter trains, followed closely by interference from other passenger trains.
• Florida Rail: Delays were primarily caused by interference from commuter trains, followed by temporary speed restrictions.

Because the Florida route crosses various host railroads between Chicago and Miami, delays may occur along the route. It’s advisable to allow ample flexibility when scheduling flights, cruises, rental-car pickups, separate train reservations, or any other time-sensitive activities upon arrival.

These preliminary figures are sourced from Amtrak’s June 2026 Host Railroad Report. Customer On-Time Performance (OTP) measures whether passengers arrived on time at their destination, rather than measuring if the train arrived at every station on schedule.

40 & 41 Amtrak Floridian Schedule

The Floridian operates daily, serving major cities along its route. Be sure to confirm the schedule with Amtrak near your travel date, as times are subject to change.

The times listed below are departure times unless otherwise noted. Trains may arrive before the listed times. All information is sourced from Amtrak.com. The Floridian timetable below was last updated on November 2, 2025.

If you’d like to track your train in real time, the section below will help you do just that.

Floridian Printable Schedules

Amtrak did not have both schedules on one page, but I found a workaround. Here are the schedules separated into North/West and South/East. To ensure you have the latest info, check out my post on printing out Amtrak timetables.

Tracking The Floridian, where is it now?

If you’re interested in tracking the Amtrak Floridian along its route, my guide makes it simple to follow its progress from Chicago to Miami and beyond. Learn how to track Amtrak trains to stay informed and when to expect their arrival!

Taking the Floridian to Florida Attractions

If you are traveling from the Midwest, the Floridian simplifies access to many of Florida’s most popular destinations.

One of the biggest draws is Orlando, where travelers can connect to:

• Walt Disney World
• Universal Orlando Resort
• SeaWorld Orlando
• and other Central Florida attractions

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World by train, check out my guide on taking Amtrak.

Final Thoughts on the Floridian

The Floridian provides travelers with a long-awaited direct train service connecting the Midwest and Florida, eliminating the need to change trains in Washington, DC.

While it may not be the quickest mode of travel, for many passengers, the journey itself becomes part of the experience. Travelers can relax, enjoy meals, meet fellow passengers, and watch the landscape gradually change outside their window.

I have personally taken this train and found it to be one of the most relaxing ways to travel between Chicago and Florida.

If you prefer slower travel, overnight train journeys, or avoiding airports, the Floridian is a great option.

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Safe Travels and Happy Planning!

Kev