Time to spend in Lorton, what to do. (Mount Vernon, Cana: restaurants, shops) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

Canadian GP · 03-10-2015, 02:43 PM

I'm taking the car train to Orlando and will be arriving in Lorton mid afternoon on April 22 and will be catching the train the following day at 2:00PM. We are looking for things to do and places to eat in the surrounding area.

Thanks in advance.

ChristineVA · 03-10-2015, 03:02 PM

Lorton has a very small town center that has a few restaurants and that's about it.

Your best bet is to head south (two exits) and shop at Potomac Mills (if you like to shop). There are several restaurants surrounding the mall area.

If you don't like to shop, you could go south one exit and hit the small town of Occoquan. They have restaurants, a wine bar, small specialty shops. It's fairly small so it won't take you much time.

The other thing you could do is the head north and take a tour of Mt. Vernon. It's probably a 20 minute ride from Lorton.

Flamingo13 · 03-10-2015, 03:54 PM

Can you unload and reload the car in Lorton or are you going to be on foot?

ChristineVA · 03-10-2015, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

Can you unload and reload the car in Lorton or are you going to be on foot?

When I took the Autotrain, you boarded your car a few hours before the train departs. I'm thinking the OP has to board his car at NLT 2PM. Prior to that, they have possession of the car.

Flamingo13 · 03-10-2015, 05:12 PM

I've never taken Autotrain - I picture it like a ferry - tons of cars crammed in - maybe I'm wrong... (I have been before

- it sounds like there is a "layover" in Lorton overnight?

weezycom · 03-10-2015, 05:29 PM

Lorton used to be the DC prison, and some of the original buildings were saved and made into community areas. There is an artspace in one of the old prison buildings that might be worth checking out. Occoquan is another good suggestion, if you like quaint. And Potomac Mills to shop til you drop.

lqda4 · 03-10-2015, 05:40 PM

Is this your first time taking the Autotrain to FL? Have fun. We found out that a lot of people doing this to avoid I-95 stress (makes sense). I would try to visit Mount Vernon if I were you (just off Route 1 about 5-8 miles away, north of where the train station is. By late April the weather should be perfect.

ChristineVA · 03-10-2015, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

I've never taken Autotrain - I picture it like a ferry - tons of cars crammed in - maybe I'm wrong... (I have been before

- it sounds like there is a "layover" in Lorton overnight?

Not a layover. Lorton is the origination point of the Autotrain so people drive to Lorton, have their cars loaded, and then start their trip to Florida from there.

The train has passenger cars and auto cars. I guess it is like a ferry, except that once you board, you aren't aware of cars being on the train with you like you do in a ferry.

Flamingo13 · 03-10-2015, 06:05 PM

Thanks Christine - I took it to mean Autotrain from Canada to Lorton and then a "layover" then onto Florida. Glad you are here to help. Maybe he/they should check out Fredricksburg?

lqda4 · 03-10-2015, 07:18 PM

Autotrain starts in Lorton and only go south to Orlando (outside Orlando to be exact). Was told the reason it cannot go further north of DC (hence a lot of folks from PA/NY/NJ come down here and ride the train) is because all overpass/bridges north of here are too low for the double-deck car carriages.

It's a very pleasant ride with great service (much better than what you get from the airliners). Cabins and bathrooms are clean. The only drawback is the time it might take to retrieve your car at destination (randomly I believe, no particular order what car will be unloaded first).