This trip was last spring break... Auto Train from Lorton, VA > Sanford, FL, then Sanford > Key West > Vero Beach > Kingsbay, GA > Myrtle Beach > Nags Head > Maryland (2000 miles in saddle). Can't remember the price of the AT, amtrak.com can help you out there. They will ding you during Bike week (fall and spring). Highly recommended one of the sleeper cars rather then a seat rental. The sleeper was not much more then a bunk. We did not make much use of it, because we fully exploited the benefits of the bar/ smoking car, but it was still nice to get a little shut eye before the 400 mile haul to KW. And so I don't get beat up for a tread highjack, here's a pic of the SERK3 at the Iron Horse.