We've flown and taken long road trips with my toddler. A 9-hour Amtrak ride tested our parenting skills.

Taking a long Amtrak train trip with my toddler wasn't easy, but I would do it again.

Jessica Pate Thibault My husband and I recently took a nine-hour Amtrak trip with our 3-year-old daughter.

We loved that the restrooms were easily accessible, especially since our toddler is potty training.

Entertaining a child on a long train ride wasn't easy, but the price and views made it worth it.

I've traveled a lot with my 3-year-old daughter, Allie.

Whether it's flying from California to the East Coast , taking short train rides, or driving from Virginia to South Carolina, my husband and I are still trying to figure out which travel method is the least painful for this season of life.

So, when we decided to take a nine-hour Amtrak trip during a holiday weekend, we wondered how this mode of transportation would work for a toddler who is still potty training.

There may have been some tantrums along the way, but it went much more smoothly than I anticipated.

We loved that our toddler qualified for a half-price ticket.

Jessica Pate Thibault Even though my husband and I were going to make different stops along this journey — my final destination was Pennsylvania to see some friends, whereas he and Allie were traveling an additional 80 minutes to see his pals in New Jersey — our total fare was reasonably priced.

Since I bought the tickets about three months before the trip, mine was only $48 one way, and my husband's — including my daughter's half-price ticket — was just over $70.

Trying to find seats together in coach was a bit stressful.

Jessica Pate Thibault Once the train pulled up to the station in Norfolk, Virginia, we split up to find some seats in coach: my husband and daughter were somehow first in their boarding line, while I was in a slower one, but I got on just seven minutes after the train arrived.

My husband texted me that he had found seats, but soon realized they were in a "quiet car," a designated space that requires guests to limit conversation.