Ride to/from Atlanta

[metalanarchist]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and have my weekend pass for the festival. I live near New York City and was planning to take the Greyhound, but it turns out I'm going to be moving to western Mass. in late summer and the bus trip from there is pretty hellish (even more so than from NY!). Wondering if there is anyone from the area driving down for the concert I could catch a ride with for gas $?

Sorry if there is a better place for this thread—I searched and didn't see any others of this type. Never too early to plan in my view. Thanks for any input.

 

[nailz]

Plan for around 16 hours of drive time from up there to atlanta. I've done it twice. It's just easier to catch a plane.

 

[mëtålspëd]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and have my weekend pass for the festival. I live near New York City and was planning to take the Greyhound, but it turns out I'm going to be moving to western Mass. in late summer and the bus trip from there is pretty hellish (even more so than from NY!). Wondering if there is anyone from the area driving down for the concert I could catch a ride with for gas $?

Sorry if there is a better place for this thread—I searched and didn't see any others of this type. Never too early to plan in my view. Thanks for any input.

Whereabouts in the "wild west"? There is a major bus terminal hub in Springfield if memory serves.

 

[DAVETHEMETALGUY]

man, i always take amtrak, 4 hours from tuscaloosa, al.
you could take the south bound crescent line directly to atl.
cheap and comfy. more comfy than the bus!
i did greyhound to progpower once. due to hurricane ivan everything was fucked up. i will NEVER do it again...
plus the amtrak station is only like a mile from the venue/hotels

 

[Kathy]

man, i always take amtrak, 4 hours from tuscaloosa, al.
you could take the south bound crescent line directly to atl.
cheap and comfy. more comfy than the bus!
i did greyhound to progpower once. due to hurricane ivan everything was fucked up. i will NEVER do it again...
plus the amtrak station is only like a mile from the venue/hotels

That's a great idea, especially when the station is so close to the venue. How are the accomodations? Do they keep the trains pretty clean, etc.? Surely has got to be better than a bus...

 

[Jibrille]

Well....
Flight from Boston to Atlanta according to Travelocity: $285 pp (travel time: 8 hrs)

Bus according to Greyhound: $220 pp (TT: 26 hrs)

Train according to Amtrak: $346 pp (TT: 22 hrs)

I imagine he's looking to drive to split the costs 4 ways or more and keep it lower than taking a bus or flying.

 

[Pellaz]

8-hour flight from Boston to Atlanta? What are they flying, a Cessna single-prop?

I love Amtrak in principle, but that fare pretty much sucks, the Crescent almost never runs on time, and you'd have to change trains in New Yawk.

 

[Jibrille]

8-hour flight from Boston to Atlanta? What are they flying, a Cessna single-prop?

I love Amtrak in principle, but that fare pretty much sucks, the Crescent almost never runs on time, and you'd have to change trains in New Yawk.

Layover somewhere for like 2 hours. Was just the cheapest flight.

 

[General Zod]

We've gone back between flying and driving. It seems that whenever we do one, we wish we had done the other. Flying has become such a giant hassle. From the time we leave our place, drive to the airport, get through security, fly, get out of the airport, and get to the hotel, it's usually 7 - 8 hours. It's 12 if we drive. But it's so much more comfortable and hassle free.

I think we're going to drive this year.

Zod

 

[metalanarchist]

Hey folks,

Thanks for the thoughts shared. You're right, I will be near Springfield... looked into Greyhound from there, and it's about 25 hours trip (!!!) but just about $120 round trip, believe it or not. I have no car (never have, actually) so this is the most economical (yet torturous, ha ha) method of travel. Amtrak always charges so much more—$334 for this round trip. Agh! All I want is to see Riverside, Andromeda, Iced Earth and co. Do I have to lose an arm and a leg, too? So right now I'm planning on the bus, unless I can find someone from the area who will be driving...

 

[DAVETHEMETALGUY]

i've NEVER had trouble with the Crescent running late.
thanks for jinxing me, dammit
The trains are always clean and they give you pillows and blankies and you have outlets for dvd players etc. no seatbelts, lots of leg room (im 6'5")
changing trains is no problem, it's not like nothing is labeled.
amtrak is only $84 from here though

 

[Kathy]

i've NEVER had trouble with the Crescent running late.
thanks for jinxing me, dammit
The trains are always clean and they give you pillows and blankies and you have outlets for dvd players etc. no seatbelts, lots of leg room (im 6'5")
changing trains is no problem, it's not like nothing is labeled.
amtrak is only $84 from here though

Cool ! I love pillows and blankies! Never thought about taking the train before. We always fly everywhere; but like Zod said, it's getting to be a huge hassle to fly... not to mention you can only check one bag now for free. It's $25 for an extra bag. Also, they've changed the dimensions on the size of your suitcases. I got charged $100 for my suitcase being too big when I went out to Aspen this year !!! How do they expect you to pack ski jackets and all the garb that goes with skiing in a tiny little suitcase! :zombie:

 

[AngraRULES]

Hey folks,

Thanks for the thoughts shared. You're right, I will be near Springfield... looked into Greyhound from there, and it's about 25 hours trip (!!!) but just about $120 round trip, believe it or not. I have no car (never have, actually) so this is the most economical (yet torturous, ha ha) method of travel. Amtrak always charges so much more—$334 for this round trip. Agh! All I want is to see Riverside, Andromeda, Iced Earth and co. Do I have to lose an arm and a leg, too? So right now I'm planning on the bus, unless I can find someone from the area who will be driving...

I've taken Greyhound once. DO NOT DO THIS!! You will have the worst 22 hours of your life!!!! Not to mention that, when we switched buses on the way back (in Richmond, VA), they mistakenly placed our luggage in a bus heading to Montreal. Thank god we were able to track it and get our stuff back. I seriously recommend you spending an extra few bucks and flying. It just makes more sense.

 

[Metaldrumz]

Any other year you might have a driving option as I live about 90 minutes from Springfield MA. Sadly after 4 years in a row I have to miss this year due to a job layoff, and other unforeseen situations (money related).

Pretty bummed out but shit happens.

Good luck!

 

[DAVETHEMETALGUY]

we took Greyhound from Tuscaloosa, Al to Atlanta, it took 8 hours.
we got behind a chicken truck and the bus was covered with chicken shit....we stopped literally every twenty minutes at some dump ass town for crack ho's to get on and off. Oh my God...it really could have evolved into some X Files episode or bad porno...
no blankies and pillows either...

 

[AngraRULES]

we took Greyhound from Tuscaloosa, Al to Atlanta, it took 8 hours.
we got behind a chicken truck and the bus was covered with chicken shit....we stopped literally every twenty minutes at some dump ass town for crack ho's to get on and off. Oh my God...it really could have evolved into some X Files episode or bad porno...
no blankies and pillows either...

I'll never forget the fat ladies who sat next to me eating (literally) a bucket of stinky fried chicken from Charlotte to Atlanta. And there was barely any air circulation in the bus.

Simply unbelievable.

 

[Pellaz]

i've NEVER had trouble with the Crescent running late.
thanks for jinxing me, dammit

You must be the luckiest intercity rail passenger in the Southeast.

 

[metalanarchist]

Thanks anyway, DrumRman! Sorry about your layoff. Hope that doesn't last too long and you can get back on your feet.

 

[metalanarchist]

So, is there really no one going to the concert from the MA/CT/NY area, and driving down? I'm surprised that I seem to be the only guy from the area who considered going to the fest as a road trip. I'm still looking to hook up with someone for transportation... if no one steps up, I may have to consider selling my ticket because the costs following my move to MA in August are looking more and more prohibitive. I could meet you somewhere in the general area... Please respond or PM me if you exist. Thanks!