Tips on Riding the SunRail in Orlando

I edited this post 5/5/2021 to better reflect the costs involved.

During my birthday week in Florida, I took the opportunity to ride the SunRail train from Kissimmee to Winter Park, FL. It was a rainy spring day in Florida, so riding around on the train and listening to podcasts was kind of a nice way to spend the afternoon. Plus, it’s cheap!

The SunRail

What is SunRail? The SunRail is a local commuter train that runs north-south through the Orlando area. The northernmost stop is in DeBary and the southernmost stop is in Kissimmee. At three stations along the way, you can connect to the larger Amtrak train system.

Being a commuter train means the SunRail doesn’t run on weekends or holidays. It’s mainly geared to get people to and from work, so there are more trains during the morning & evening hours, less during the day. But there’s nothing keeping you from parking at one of its FREE parking lots and riding into Orlando for dinner or an event. (Or if you’re a dork like me, just riding it for fun on a rainy day.)

Tickets

I rode the SunRail from the Poinciana station in Kissimmee–at the bottom of the line–up through Orlando to Winter Park, stops P to G. The round trip ticket cost $5.50 and I bought my ticket at a kiosk on the platform.

TAP ON/TAP OFF

Make sure to validate your ticket before you board by tapping your ticket against the ticket validator–there are several on each platform. There is one next to the ticket machine at and are generally around the platform entrances/exits. Then when you exit the train, tap off the same way. Do the same for the return journey–tap on when you board the train, tap off when you exit.

Discounted Fares

Reduced fares are available for all passengers over 65, for kids 7-18, and for the disabled. For instance, my $5.50 fare would be $2.75 on a reduced fare. And kids under 6 are FREE with a limit of three kids per paying adult.

If you are a local and need to ride the SunRail frequently, consider a SunCard pass. For an initial cost of $5, you can pre-load the card with funds and get a 10% bonus value on your money. Or you can purchase a weekly, monthly, or annual pass for unlimited use within the zones you need to travel. For instance, a weekly pass within one zone costs $17, and an annual pass across all four zones is $1400. The reduced-fare folks (65+, 7-18, and disabled) get a 50% discount on those rates.

The Experience

Riding the SunRail is fun! The trains are bright and clean, as are all the stations. The trains are double-decker, and most folks sit upstairs where there is more light. There are also official “quiet zones” downstairs if that’s what you prefer. The seats are comfortable, and most pairs of seats face each other. Many have tables between.

Loading at the Poinciana Station took the longest–I was able to board quite a bit before the departure time. But time in each station along the way is fairly quick. If you need to board at any non-terminal station, make sure you’re there on time and ready to go.

My SunRail trip was around lunchtime. I took the 12:15 train from Poinciana, which landed me in Winter Park at 1:06. I found a place to eat but realized during lunch that to get back home in time, I’d need to take the 2:06 southbound train because there wasn’t going to be another one until 3:00 that would be too late for my evening plans. I had intended to get into Winter Park much earlier but “for various reasons” (a wonderful excuse!) that didn’t happen, so I ended up a little short on time. And while I love train travel, it doesn’t offer the total freedom of car travel. So maybe save this kind of trip for a day when you have a lot of time to kill.

Winter Park

Winter Park is a great place to explore. Its foundation as a resort community built in the late 19th century is evident in the charming parks and squares between the pricey shops and restaurants. It’s also the kind of place you’ll find a snug bookstore hidden down a side alley.

I won’t speak too much on Winter Park because I really didn’t get to explore on this trip. One day I’d love the chance to really check it out. (I find this is the driving force behind my desire to travel more–giving myself enough time to explore everything. But alas, sometimes one has to choose.)

Winter Park Boat Tour

One thing I really did want to do (though it wouldn’t have been fun on my rainy day) is the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. This $14 cash-only tour kicks off every hour from a dock about an 8-minute walk from the train station. 18-passenger pontoon boats tour through the Winter Park chain of lakes, viewing the shore and wildlife along the way. It’s been in operation since 1938 and it looks like a unique and natural alternative to the expensive shops and restaurants in town. I’m a little determined that I will fit this in on a future trip. (Edit – I did, see this post. I really enjoyed it!)

Cost to Ride the Whole SunRail Route

For $9.50, you can take a round-trip from one end of the SunRail line to the other for about 3 hours of staring-out-the-window time. (And who doesn’t need that now and then?)

If you get out and explore at each stop, it costs a bit more. On SunRail, you pay for each leg – every time you get on and off the train. My suggested itinerary below would cost $25. $20 on a prepaid SunCard, plus a $5 one-time activation fee. You actually need $22 worth of fare value, but a prepaid SunCard gives you 10% more value than what you pay, so $20 works out perfectly. (And of course, if you already have a SunCard, you can forgo the new-card fee.) If you plan a different day, make sure to use the SunRail website to calculate exactly what you need so you don’t put too much on your card that you can’t get back. Just make sure to subtract 10% for the prepaid discount!

Suggested Itinerary

I could see a day’s itinerary going something like this: After a reasonably early breakfast, park at the Poinciana station in Kissimmee and ride the SunRail all the way to DeBary during the less-crowded morning hours. The latest you should board would be 8:45 am, landing you in DeBary at 10:13, though trains leave every 30 minutes between 5:45 and 8:45.

DeBary

In DeBary, take a 2-mile Uber/Lyft to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens ($19.50, opens at 9 am) or a 10-mile drive to beautiful Blue Spring State Park ($6/car, opens at 8 am) where you might have a chance of seeing manatees, especially in the winter. (I’m not sure how the fee would work with a rideshare, you might have to get out, pay pedestrian rates ($2) and walk in.)

Sanford

Unless you’d like to take another 2-mile Uber to the waterfront, there’s not much to see here.

Lake Mary

If you land in Lake Mary around lunch, there are several places to eat and a small central park within walking distance of the train station.

Longwood

In Longwood, you could stop off and visit the Bradlee-Mcintyre House Museum, which is FREE to visit, but only offers docent-led tours from 1-4 on Sundays (when SunRail isn’t running) or on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. Otherwise, take a 30-45 minute self-guided walking tour of Longwood’s historic district.

Altamonte Springs

There doesn’t seem to be a lot in Altamonte Springs, though if you haven’t eaten lunch yet, Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ is nearby.

Maitland

Similarly, the Maitland Station is in a residential area. But you could walk 15 minutes (or a 1-mile Uber/Lyft) to the small Holocaust Memorial Resource Center. Admission is FREE but donations are welcome. Open 9-4, Mon-Thurs, 9-1 Fri, 1-4 Sundays.

Winter Park

The next stop is Winter Park, which I’ve already covered above. I’d wholeheartedly recommend the scenic boat tour with maybe a stop for an ice cream or coffee snack.

Advent Health

The stop below Winter Park is at the hospital, so stay on for this one.

Lynx Central/Church Street Orlando

These two stops are the central Orlando city stops. Get off here and walk to Lake Eola Park to the east or the Wells’Built African American Museum ($5) on W. South and Division streets. Depending on your timing, dinner in Orlando may be an option.

For an evening event, you would get off at Church Street for the Amway Center (for basketball games or concerts) or the Dr. Phillips Center/Walt Disney Theater (for theater/arts). Get off at Lynx Central for the smaller Bob Carr Theater.

Orlando Health

Orlando Health is another hospital stop, you can stay on for this one.

Sand Lake

The Sand Lake stop is similarly skippable, unless you want to take an Uber/Lyft to the Crayola Experience, the closest attraction in the area. Cost is $22 (bought online) or $30 for an annual pass.

Meadow Woods

Meadow Woods is entirely residential. Nothing to see here.

Tupperware

Tupperware seems entirely industrial, so unless you need to pop into Dollar Tree, stay on here as well.

Kissimmee

Hopefully, you’ll have made it to Kissimmee around dinner time where there are several charming places to eat downtown. Or if it’s after dinner, maybe a drink or dessert. There’s even a speakeasy nearby. After dinner/drinks, ride one more stop to your car at Poinciana. Southbound trains run until 9:30 pm.

It may not be as exciting as a day at Disney or Universal, but for another side to the vacation capital of the United States, it sounds like a fun and unique way to spend a day.