SunRail to Trails: A car-free Orlando to Blue Spring adventure

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve gotten held up at a railroad crossing or shuddered at the surprising blast of a train horn, I could afford a good handful of SunRail tickets.

Maybe it’s not the trains that are the problem, but the sheer amount of traffic-stopping cars on the road — those many metal vessels filled with congestion-weary drivers who would rather be anywhere but staring at another person’s brake lights.

As soon as I step onto the SunRail for my first ride, I feel the serenity of gilding right past traffic, away from the horn-blaring madness of I-4, my hands free to read a book or text a friend. There’s plenty of room to spread out, too.

It was a sunny, warm Tuesday when I decided to test how far I could travel from Orlando without a car. After biking about 2.5 miles from my apartment to the Sand Lake Road SunRail station and buying a $7.50 round-trip ticket, I’m on my merry way to DeBary, my two-wheeled steed stowed near my seat.

Riding the rails provides a unique perspective on Central Florida as we zip through downtown, Ivanhoe Village, then onto Winter Park and Maitland. Before I know it, we’re crossing into Seminole County and just an hour after stepping aboard, I’ve crossed the St. Johns River and over the Volusia County line, arriving at the SunRail’s current northern terminus.

After unbuckling my bike from its secure storage (built-in to the first level of SunRail cars), it’s a quick jaunt up a canopied road and I’m on the Spring-to-Spring Trail. Rolling hills take me through high and dry scrubby habitats, where I spy gopher tortoises meandering down the trail and take in views of Konomac Lake.

After 9 miles of winding down paved trail, I arrive at a familiar oasis: Blue Spring State Park. While many families and friends unfurl inflatables from the trunks of their cars, I pull up on my sleek, steel-framed ride with my backpack full of snacks and water. I eagerly shed my shirt in preparation for the most welcome dip.

I rest my tired legs in the soothing spring waters, swimming past crowds of tourists and students who suddenly have too much free time on their hands. While my travels weren’t long or arduous, the bike ride in the open sun left me sweaty and sticky, and the springs were the perfect way to cool off.

As the afternoon drags on, I dry off and gather my belongings for the 9-mile ride back to the station. I encounter a few other cyclists (and tortoises) as I speed back to DeBary, eager to make it for the 4:30 p.m. train. I make it just in time, breathless, as I scan my ticket and plop down in my seat, a sweaty mess. The few other passengers don’t seem to mind as I feel my heartbeat slow and the train accelerates back toward Orlando.

This is the kind of excursion that would be perfect for families seeking an adventurous day trip on the weekends, except the train only runs Monday-Friday right now. But there are hopes for future service expansion.

SunRail is adding a DeLand station, which is expected to open by summer 2024. A recent free SunRail Saturday saw 11,000 riders come out, compared with an average of 4,000 on weekdays, according to WFTV. International Drive business leaders have formed a coalition, Orlando’s Right Rail, to advocate for expanding the line from Orange County Convention Center and I-Drive to Orlando International Airport.

There may come a time when mass transit on Central Florida railways is used by more than just a handful of weekday commuters. I can fathom hopping on the train to go to Winter Park for brunch or heading up to Sanford for a night out, but only if the service ran on evenings and weekends.

Until then, it’s fun to test the limits of Orlando-area public transit and dream about what the future might hold.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.