[njbchbum]

if you do decide to take the autotrain you might want to consider trying to be among the last cars loaded onto the train...if among the early arrivals, it can be a long wait in sanford before your car is retrieved!

i don't know where you must depart in order to get to lorton, va - but you might have to consider a motel room for the nite prior to your autotrain departure - another expense to consider.

when we head south, we have learned to relax and enjoy the drive. we do it in two days and by now have our rest stops pegged as well as favorite motels picked out. we play russian roulette with the restaurants lots of times! on one trip we encountered at least a 30 min delay on 95...so we turned off the ignition and left the car to stretch and take pix of the lines of stopped dead cars! so we get to talking with the passengers of the jersey car in front of outs - and doncha know - they were on their way to the villages! such a drive could be tough if you are on a limited schedule...but we are retired and have all the time the lord has planned for us!

friends of ours used a car carrier which worked well...loaded their car, flew out the next day and carrier met them near spanish springs the day after that with their vehicle. using a carrier means you are working with the carrier's schedule rather than yours - can be tough if there are cars to gather after yours and you are in the villages waiting.

good luck with your decision and enjoy your trip!