Greyhound Bus: Delaware Water Gap PA

For our 2011 section hike of the Appalachian Trail, we once again rode the Greyhound bus east to New York City. Greyhound buses arrive on the bottom level of the Port Authority building on 45th Street in Manhattan. After getting off the bus and claiming your backpack you'll enter into a dimly lit square waiting area with a food service and escalators in the middle. Skip the food service, as there's better and less expensive food upstairs, and head for the up escalator or stairs.

Coming up a level you should find the Greyhound ticket counter towards your left and just beyond and next door Martz Trailways. Delaware Water Gap, PA is served by Martz Trailways and a one-way ticket is about $35.00. (Recommend you have correct change as one of the male clerks of Indo-Asian ancestry seems something of a "change artist" and returns one dollar bills instead of five dollar bills.)

Martz Trailways also arrives and departs from the "basement", but from the "other building". If time permits, you might grab a bite from the bread shop under the main escalators in the center of the Port Authority. You can also find cheap snacks at the pharmacy which is also below the escalators. Veterans will find a USO two floors above the Trailways ticket counter, just take the escalators up to the 3rd floor. (Note: the USO does not offer the usual baggage closet due to post-9/11 security paranoia. Your backpack must remain with you at all times.)

The trip from New York City to Delaware Water Gap is about 3 hours or less, depending on traffic going through the tunnel under the Hudson River. The ride is fairly boring once outside of the urban area. Once the Delaware River comes into view, you might pay attention to the area before the bridge and the town of Delaware Water Gap to your left.

Martz Trailways maintains a bus station on the west backside of town. Once at the bus station you'll need to claim your backpack. As we use our food bag as a carry-on bag, we went inside the station to repack our backpack for the short walk to the Appalachian Trail. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of seating on which to rest our pack. There are public restrooms with adjacent water fountain just past the ticket counter. On the opposite wall are some vending machines.

Departing the bus station, make a right turn at the highway that runs past the bus station. Take the first right and follow the road through town to go directly to the Appalachian Trail or to the hostel. If you need alcohol fuel or some grocery items, follow the highway back towards the bridge and take the first exit ramp down to the two gas stations and convenience stores. Once done shopping follow the road back into town and take a left at the intersection to get to the trail or the hostel.

Greyhound Bus: Lynchburg VA

We arrived at the Greyhound bus station in Lynchburg VA around 8 a.m. on a Monday morning. The northbound bus from Knoxville, TN stops in Roanoke before continuing on to Lynchburg. The bus follows a very scenic route through a pass in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Coming in to Lynchburg from the south, the bus passes Liberty University and then the modern commercial area of Lynchburg with all the chain stores. The bus continues north and then exits the expressway, circles right and over, and continues up a large hill into the older historic Lynchburg. The bus then pulls onto a cobbled street and up to the train station.

The Lynchburg-Kemper Street Station is a multi-storied building set on the side of the hill with the parking and bus area above and the tracks below. Our bus took about a 20 minute break, just enough time to get fresh water, dump some water, and check out the station.

Entering the door finds ones self in a small, but nice lobby. The ticket counter is to your left and the restrooms are towards the right. There is no restaurant and we don't recall there being much food or drink available. We noted no stores or food services along either the immediate arrival or departure routes. Recommend you bring some food or snacks with you if Lynchburg is your final destination.

There seems to be a local bus that circulates near the station that also serves the Liberty University area and the big box stores area.

Greyhound Bus: Charlottesville VA

We arrived at the Greyhound bus station in Charlottesville, VA on a Greyhound bus arriving from Lynchburg and Roanoke, two towns further south and near the Appalachian Trail. The bus crosses north beneath I-64 and continues straight into town. Our bus arrived about mid-morning.

The Greyhound station in Charlottesville VA is an older building. There is no restaurant, but there are vending machines for soft drinks, salty snacks, and cold sandwiches. The restrooms were fair, which puts them at the upper end for Greyhound. The ticket counter is at the right-hand end when entering from buses.

Stepping out the main entrance we spotted an international food store just across the street and down to our left. As our bus had arrived late and we expected our interconnecting bus to arrive at any moment, we did not explore the store.

We did inquire of the ticket counter about shuttles to Rockfish Gap. They informed us that no such services exist. It seems these Greyhound employees are unaware of the underground transportation system that exists among Appalachian Trail hikers. As its about twenty miles to Rockfish Gap, recommend arranging a shuttle from one of the many people recommended by ATC or on Whiteblaze.com

Greyhound Bus: Harpers Ferry WV

First, there is no Greyhound bus service to Harpers Ferry, WV.

However, there is Greyhound bus service near Harper's Ferry WV.

How to Get to Harpers Ferry by Greyhound

Greyhound serves three relatively nearby cities. Greyhound currently serves Hagerstown MD, Fredrick MD and Washington DC. Of these three, it is far easier to get from the Greyhound stations in Washington DC to Harpers Ferry WV. Here's how we did just that for our 2010 section hike from Harper's Ferry WV to Harrrisburg PA.

Arriving at Union Station

Being in the southwest, Greyhound routed us to Washington DC via Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Charlottsville VA. (We'll add posts on their bus stations shortly). This bus stops at Union Station minutes before stopping at the Greyhound station up the street. The Greyhound bus we were on came in behind the U.S. Capitol and entered on the right (north) side of Union Station. The bus goes up a ramp in the rear of Union Station to the second floor deck level. This is were most buses including tour buses arrive and depart from.

After claiming your bags, you proceed east towards the building and the ramp. Follow the crowds down the escalator into Union Station proper. At the bottom of the escalator, you should see McDonalds ($1 value menu offered) to your far left at the north end of the departure area. The MARC departures are at gates one through four (1-4) to your far right and just before the liquor store and the men's room. You likely need to purchase a MARC ticket for the train to Harper's Ferry, so just continue straight ahead and then turn to your right where the ticket counters start. A ticket to Harper's Ferry is currently $11 one-way on the MARC. The Harper's Ferry MARC is an express which skips about a half dozen early stops.

As you're likely early, you might like to back track and locate the exact location of the MARC gates. There is a MARC waiting area just to the right of the gates with a departure video display.

If there's still time and you're hungry, just walk past the liquor store and hang a left. There a series of cafes along the west end of Union Station. Prices are largely the same from eatery to eatery. If you'd like some fresh fruit or bread, just continue south past the bookstore and outside. There are about a dozens stalls on the west porch that offer water, fruit, bread, flowers, and other commuter favorites. This is also the smoking area if you venture much further.

Boarding the Train

Closer to boarding time, head on back to the waiting area. Note that commuters line up just outside the MARC gates and then rush the trains as they open for boarding. Don't feel compelled to join the stampede as there are plenty of seats. Many of these early arrivals are regulars and are competing for seats on the upper deck.

When your train begins boarding follow behind the crowd. We jumped in the first door we found open. You might take a moment and confirm with a commuter that you are in fact on the train to Harper's Ferry. Find a seat on the lower level and get comfortable. (We sat on the left hand river side and it didn't seem to matter. There wasn't much to see on this leg.) Slide your ticket into the metal clip on the top of the seat in front of you. The conductor will be by around departure or just after to check your ticket. Don't be surprised to see a police officer at the far end near the stairs. Its post 9/11 after all. No one searched our pack, but we were given an eyeballing a few times.

Arriving at Harpers Ferry

The train arrives at the foot of Union Street and much of Harper's Ferry business district will be closed.

Lodging & Camping

There are two bed and breakfast inns across the street from the ATC office and the post office is just a few blocks past them on the same side of the street.

If you'd like to stay at the Comfort Inn, then just follow the AT south to the Shenandoah River bridge. The AT heads south at the bottom of Union Street and goes up stone steps past the Catholic Church. Jefferson Rock is along this short section of the AT. Comfort Inn will be just to your right at the bridge. Hikers give the Comfort Inn mixed reviews, so caveat emptor.

If you want somewhere free to stay, then just head back to the train bridge you just rode across and walk back into Maryland. Hang a left on the C&O canal and walk two miles upstream (left) to the Huckleberry Hike & Bike camp. We had it to ourself mid-week. There are several tent areas, a picnic table and a BBQ grill. We found several good trees to hang our hammock from which gave us a nicely framed view of the Potomac River.

Greyhound Bus: Appalachian Trail Stops

Here's the list of Greyhounds bus stops near the Appalachian Trail as of June 2010. We've stopped at all the Virginia bus stations and will link those cities to our upcoming reviews.

Atlanta, GA

Gainesville, GA

Knoxville, TN

Bristol, VA

Roanoke, VA

Lynchburg, VA

Charlottsville, VA

Washington, DC [details]

Frederick, MD

Harrisburg, PA

Delaware Water Gap, PA

West Point, NY

New York City, NY

Bangor, ME