Don't give up your car just yet...Public transportation options for
getting to Ski Country
by Doug Antelman
IN this day and age of turning Green, I decided to see if it would be possible to get to the lodge using public transportation, rather than driving my own car. The answer is yes- sort of. But no matter what mode of transportation you use (i.e. rail, bus) when you get to Vermont you are going to still be 20+ miles from Waitsfield and will need either a ride or a car to make the final leg to Ramapo.
Before I even tell you about bus or rail options, there is really no substitute in terms of travel time, convenience and cost for driving your own vehicle. Unless you have a behemoth gas guzzler, your cost in fuel to make the 600 mile round trip from New Jersey to Mad River will be $90. Thats because you will consume about 30 gals. of fuel at 20 mpg and $3 a gallon for fuel. Of course if you have a Prius or you split the driving with at least one other person, it could cost you a lot less. If you wanted to figure in the actual cost of driving at about 0.42/mile, then the trip really cost you $240 in terms of gas, oil and wear and tear on your vehicle.
So what are the mass transit options?
Air- you can fly from Newark, NJ (EWR) to Burlington, VT (BTV). Assuming you book well enough in advance, the round trip flight on Continental airlines will cost you as little as $164. The flying time itself is only 90 min, (wow). But of course, you will need to drive to Newark and park (allow 1 hr for that) and then be there an hour ahead of departure. Parking for 3 days at Newark is going to cost you about $50. Then you have the issue of getting from Burlington to the lodge. Its going to take you another 90 min to get your bags, rental car and drive approx 1 hr to the lodge. The rental car will cost you at least $150 plus fuel. Total cost $384, total time: 5 hours.
Train- Did you know there are three different Amtrak Trains you could take to Vermont? The fastest of the three is the Ethan Allen that runs from NY-Penn Station to Rutland (6 hrs). Then there is the Vermonter, which runs from various stops in NJ and NYC to Montpelier or Waterbury, VT. But this train will take almost 9 hours to get there! At least its a bargain at $56.00 (one way). Lastly there is the Adirondack, which you could take to Ticonderoga, NY (5 hrs). Of course with the Champlain Bridge out, you would need the ferry to get across the Lake. Ferries are not exactly the fastest mode of transit! And who knows if they run in the winter? So, the trains range from 5 to 9 hrs and cost $50-60 each way. However, you will again need time to drive or take a local train to get to NY Penn Station or the departing train station. Figure at least an hour for that. And then once you get to Rutland, Montpelier or Ticonderoga, you would again need a rental car or a ride to the lodge. The round trip train will cost you $120, plus $170 for your rental car and gas. And figure in another $20 to park at the train station in New Jersey or take the local train to NYC. Total cost: $310, total time: 7 to 11 hrs.
Bus: The only bus line I could find that goes to Vermont was Greyhound. Their newest buses boast wireless internet, power outlets and more legroom. A one way bus ticket from NYC to Montpelier is $52 and the travel time is 8.5 hrs. Once again you would need a rental car or ride from Montpelier. Total cost $274, total time: 10.5 hours.
Conclusion: None of the mass transit options offer the convenience of your own vehicle. In all cases, it won't be cost effective, unless you have a friend that lives in Rutland or Montpelier that could give you a lift to the lodge (and back!). The fastest option is by air, and barring delays you might even get door to door faster than driving the whole way. If money is no object, then fly. The bus and the Amtrak options are a toss up. Rail will be more comfortable, you have the option of a dining car, bathrooms and to move around, as well as power outlets or internet. You could watch a lot of movies on a 8 hrs train ride. If high speed rail existed- which is doesnt- you could go from New York to Burlington in less than 3 hours. Its nice to dream.
The bus and rail options could make sense if you take them one way and then can get a ride the other way. But none of these options really makes much sense unless you don't own a car, or you don't like driving long distances. In terms of time, the rail and bus are going to take a lot longer, unless you live very close to the station. At the end of a holiday weekend, when the traffic on 87 Southbound is snarled, the train MIGHT get you home faster.
The train makes the most sense for city dwellers going to Killington. These are people who may not own a car, and they can relax on the train and have drinks with fellow skiers. Now that's something to toast to.
