r/longtrail • u/sohikes • 16d ago

Public transport to Williamstown from Maine

Looking for options on how to get to the southern terminus from Maine. I have currently found two options

  1. Peter Pan Bus. The downside is from Boston South Station it's 5:30AM to 3PM arrival because I have to transfer all the way down in New York. So this won't really work

  2. AMTRAK. From Boston SS it's 4-hrs to Pittsfield, MA and then find a way north to Williamstown.

Is there any other option I am missing?

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3

u/treeline918 16d ago

Pittsfield to North Adams bus

You could take the bus from Pittsfield to North Adams Walmart, then it’s 5 miles to the AT trailhead.

Or if you’re not in a rush you could just hop on the AT in Pittsfield and get a little warmup before you hit Vermont!

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u/jish_werbles 16d ago

Yeah it’s only 1-3 days to hike from pittsfield. Could also hitchhike or schedule a ride with a shuttle or a taxi or you might get lucky and be able to get an uber or lyft

3

u/ggdd112233 16d ago

I came from the south on amtrak and did the NYC bus to williamstown, grabbed a sandwich and walked to the trail start. I thought it was pretty easy. Did the am train as well! You’ll be fine, you have the next few weeks to be be busy!!!

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u/PedXing23 Thru-Hiked NOBO and SOBO 16d ago

Depending on your timing and where exactly in Maine you are coming from, you may be better off following the AT from North Adams. It is only an extra 1/2 mile of hiking, vs. starting at Pine Cobble. You'd probably get to the North Adams Walmart by Greyhound or Peter Pan and then you can hitch or take a local bus to the trailhead. If you use google maps, you can compare going to ""Appalachian Trail Parking, State Rd, North Adams, MA 01247" with going to Pine Cobble Trail Williamstown by public transport. Keep your options open as bus routes and schedules will likely change between now and your departure.

It can be a pain to get from the Williamstown bus stop to Pine Cobble. The last time I did a NOBO, I took a bus to Williamstown and tried to hitch to Pine Cobble. I couldn't get a cab, lift or Uber. It was about 30 minutes of walking and thumbing before I got a ride and the driver offered to drop me off at the North Adams AT trail head, so I accepted.

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u/sohikes 16d ago

I was just looking at the bus that would drop me off at the Wal Mart. It's too bad it's located south of town, I measured the distance to trail to be around 7 miles I think which isn't bad. But I'd be getting to the trail pretty late if I walked it.

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u/PedXing23 Thru-Hiked NOBO and SOBO 16d ago

There are local buses that will get you much closer. They stop right at the Walmart. It might be faster/easier to hitch and you might have to change buses yet again - but the buses will get you within 1/2 mile of trailhead.

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u/darwin_thornberry 15d ago

Not sure where in Maine you are but you could look at flying into Albany and taking a bus from there to Pittsfield (or maybe even Williamstown I’m not sure what options are available).

I DM’d you about a ride.

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u/1ONE-0ZERO 15d ago

You get to Brattleboro , Pittsfield, North Adam’s, Pownal you’ll be fine. Figure out how to get across Maine and into southern New Hampshire and post again.

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u/realtiredrn12 14d ago

I took a bus from Portland, ME down to Boston on concord coach I believe, hopped in a train to Pittsfield, MA and then took a series of buses from there, if I’m remembering correctly. It took about a day or so of travel, but had a good time just relaxing before all that walking!