When it comes to seeing the East Coast at a slower, more laid-back pace, few experiences rival Amtrak’s Silver Meteor and Palmetto routes. Both trains travel from the northeast to the southeast, linking major cities and passing historic towns and scenic landscapes along the way.
The journey starts surrounded by New York’s skyscrapers and quickly moves through energetic cities like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. As it continues, the scenery gives way to Southern cities, marshes, and palm-lined streets.
The Palmetto Route ends in Savannah, Georgia, making it roughly 17 hours, while the Silver Meteor continues all the way to Miami, offering a true long-haul rail experience that lasts about 28 hours.
Although the two trains have different final destinations and slightly unique onboard offerings, they share most of the same stops, making them a natural pair to explore together.
With comfortable seating, sleeping accommodations on select trains, onboard dining, and convenient city-center Amtrak stations, the journey is as much about the ride as it is about the destination itself.
Here’s everything you need to know about riding Amtrak’s Silver Meteor and Palmetto routes.
Highlights Along the Routes
Travelers can board both train routes in either direction, but for this piece, we’ll follow the route from north to south, starting in New York City. Departing from Moynihan Train Hall, directly across from Penn Station, the trip immediately pulls you into the energy of the Northeast. As it glides past the bustling streets of New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., you get a sense of the electric cities you’re leaving behind.
The journey feels like it slows down as it passes historic Alexandria, Virginia. From there, the landscape and pace shift from urban to idyllic. You’ll pass Richmond and Petersburg before entering the rolling countryside of North Carolina.
The scenery slowly softens, and by the time you cross into South Carolina, small Southern towns begin to appear.
The charm of Charleston shines through as the train winds past, and as night falls, the skies darken over Savannah, marking the end of the Palmetto route. For travelers aboard the Silver Meteor, the journey extends into Florida.
While in the Sunshine State, the scenery quickly signals a new vibe. Jacksonville introduces palm trees and a distinctly Floridian feel, while Orlando showcases twin bell towers and Spanish Mission-style architecture at its Amtrak station.
By the time you reach West Palm Beach, the scent of the sea breeze is a cue you’re nearing the coast. Passing several East Coast Florida beach towns, excitement builds as the train nears its final destination: colorful, sun-soaked Miami.
Sleeping and Seating Options
The most affordable and straightforward option on the Silver Meteor and Palmetto routes is coach class. Travelers simply hop aboard and choose any available seat in the section. The seats provide a comfortable amount of legroom, dining trays, electrical outlets, and reading lights, and there are no middle seats. Each car also includes a restroom.
On the Palmetto route, a step up from coach is business class. Here, passengers can enjoy reserved seating, extra legroom, and complimentary nonalcoholic beverages. It’s a great choice for those who want a bit more comfort without a major upgrade.
For those traveling on the Silver Meteor route and seeking greater privacy and amenities, there are several first-class options. The first is the Viewliner Roomette, ideal for two passengers, featuring two cozy seats that convert into upper and lower beds at night. Guests receive bedding, pillows, towels, and linens, and share access to restrooms and shower facilities. A dedicated first-class attendant is also available, and complimentary meals are included.
The Viewliner Bedroom offers roughly twice the space of a Roomette, featuring a sofa and separate chair that convert into beds, along with a private in-room sink, restroom, and shower. It includes all the amenities of a Roomette, plus attendant service and meals.
The most luxurious option is the Viewliner Bedroom Suite, which doubles the Bedroom layout, providing two sofas and separate chairs that convert into beds, along with two private sinks, restrooms, and showers. Like the Bedroom, it includes a first-class attendant and complimentary meals.
There’s a Viewliner Accessible Bedroom option as well. This space includes seating that converts into beds, an in-room restroom with a sink, toilet, and shower, and all the same amenities as the Bedroom, including bedding, an attendant, and meals.
Dining
Both the Silver Meteor and Palmetto routes offer cafe service, where passengers can pick up an array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, as well as snacks, wine, beer, spirits, and nonalcoholic beverages.
As part of the first-class experience on the Silver Meteor, passengers can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Dining Car. Breakfast includes favorites like French toast and omelets, while lunch offers sandwiches, salads, and burgers. Dinner has hearty options such as steak, chicken breast, salmon, and pasta primavera. It also caters to its younger guests with kid-friendly meals like grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs, and mac and cheese, making it great for families as well.