DC to Cumberland, buses or trains?
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DC to Cumberland, buses or trains?
I am going to ride from Cumberland back to DC starting the 19th, my issue is in regards to transportation to Cumberland. Is there any regular bus service or do any trains let you bring a bike on?
#2
Hooked on Touring
There is nothing other than $$$$ shuttle service.
Amtrak does not have baggage service in Cumberland.
Greyhound has stopped service to Cumberland.
You could ship your bike to a bike shop in Cumberland and take Amtrak.
But that is the only possibility.
Amtrak does not have baggage service in Cumberland.
Greyhound has stopped service to Cumberland.
You could ship your bike to a bike shop in Cumberland and take Amtrak.
But that is the only possibility.
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Hey anomaly, I'm gonna be doing the same ride starting on the 22nd. I just made my car reservation with Hertz today. I'm picking up a Corrola at National on Sunday and dropping it off at Wayne's Citgo in Cumberland (apparently about 1/2 mile from the canal) on Monday. Cost for the one-day one-way rental is a hair over $200 after taxes (ouch!). Oh well, should still be a good ride.
Oh, and from what I've read, a car or truck rental is probably your best bet for getting up there reliably. The Amtrak station up there isn't manned, so there's no way to get your luggage off, which is what the bike would have to be packed as.
Oh, and from what I've read, a car or truck rental is probably your best bet for getting up there reliably. The Amtrak station up there isn't manned, so there's no way to get your luggage off, which is what the bike would have to be packed as.
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Hey anomaly, I'm gonna be doing the same ride starting on the 22nd. I just made my car reservation with Hertz today. I'm picking up a Corrola at National on Sunday and dropping it off at Wayne's Citgo in Cumberland (apparently about 1/2 mile from the canal) on Monday. Cost for the one-day one-way rental is a hair over $200 after taxes (ouch!). Oh well, should still be a good ride.
Oh, and from what I've read, a car or truck rental is probably your best bet for getting up there reliably. The Amtrak station up there isn't manned, so there's no way to get your luggage off, which is what the bike would have to be packed as.
Oh, and from what I've read, a car or truck rental is probably your best bet for getting up there reliably. The Amtrak station up there isn't manned, so there's no way to get your luggage off, which is what the bike would have to be packed as.
You are correct that neither Amtrak nor MARC will allow checked baggage to Cumberland. MARC does allow bikes to Harper's Ferry, or so I was told on the trail two weeks ago.
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Closest the 'hound comes to Cumberland is Hagerstown, 85 miles away. Unless there's a stop in western PA that's closer.
#7
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Do shop around on the one way rental. My experience is that prices can vary WIDELY. I never tried carrentals.com, but if Neil had good luck with them recently they might save you some running around. The last time we were shopping for a oneway rental big enough to haul three of us and our bikes and gear it was on the West coast and at that time and place U Haul was the worst and Alamo was the best by a factor of 6X. In other locations or at other times the results may be completely different.
If you have time another option would be to extend the trip and do the GAP and the C&O big difference in mileage though.
If you have time another option would be to extend the trip and do the GAP and the C&O big difference in mileage though.
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Do shop around on the one way rental. My experience is that prices can vary WIDELY. I never tried carrentals.com, but if Neil had good luck with them recently they might save you some running around. The last time we were shopping for a oneway rental big enough to haul three of us and our bikes and gear it was on the West coast and at that time and place U Haul was the worst and Alamo was the best by a factor of 6X. In other locations or at other times the results may be completely different.
If you have time another option would be to extend the trip and do the GAP and the C&O big difference in mileage though.
If you have time another option would be to extend the trip and do the GAP and the C&O big difference in mileage though.
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Thanks for the advice everyone. Unfortunately it looks like things are severely limited due to the dropoff points available in Cumberland. From everything I've been able to find, there's a Hertz dropoff (Wayne's Citgo) and an Enterprise dropoff, which looks to be closed on Sunday and Monday (the days I plan to get started). Also it looks like Hertz doesn't have a pickup point at Union Station. And after checking on carrentals.com I got the same rates, so no love there either. Oh well, the price is a little on the steep end, but I can live with it.
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Thanks for the advice everyone. Unfortunately it looks like things are severely limited due to the dropoff points available in Cumberland. From everything I've been able to find, there's a Hertz dropoff (Wayne's Citgo) and an Enterprise dropoff, which looks to be closed on Sunday and Monday (the days I plan to get started). Also it looks like Hertz doesn't have a pickup point at Union Station. And after checking on carrentals.com I got the same rates, so no love there either. Oh well, the price is a little on the steep end, but I can live with it.
You might want to post to the C & O Yahoo Group explaining you are driving up and offering to transport someone and his gear. Half the rental car expense, including gas, is less money than a shuttle.
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It looks like we are going to rent a moving truck and throw the bikes and 2 people in the back. A friend can get it discounted down to 15 cents per mile one way so it is much cheaper than any other option.
I would still pay more for the train, I wish the bikes didn't have to be boxed for it though.
I would still pay more for the train, I wish the bikes didn't have to be boxed for it though.
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Bud, a fellow BBC member has a transportation service and is licensed for Maryland and may be worth a call. https://www.superpages.com/bp/Essex-M...2038849151.htm
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It looks like we are going to rent a moving truck and throw the bikes and 2 people in the back. A friend can get it discounted down to 15 cents per mile one way so it is much cheaper than any other option.
I would still pay more for the train, I wish the bikes didn't have to be boxed for it though.
I would still pay more for the train, I wish the bikes didn't have to be boxed for it though.
I'm looking at doing this for March, '09. Looks like the cheapest hertz is ~$209, while the U-HAUL website is quoting $136 for a truck, though this includes a max of 152 miles. Google gives me 145 miles from union station to cumberland. Probably another $20 - $30 in gas.
Any other options for one guy? I will check, but I'm assuming that the shuttle services work much better for more than one.
pete
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yet another possibility ( assuming you own a car) is to make arrangements at one of the two(?) bike shops in Cumberland to store your bike for a few hours. Drop off the bike,then drive your car to national airport in DC to park in the economy lot .Catch a metro to Union station and then Amtrak to Cumberland.
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I want to make sure you're aware that when temperatures are cool, the towpath stays muddy after rain for much longer than when it's warm. You have a much better chance of encountering messing towpath conditions in March than during warmer months.
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Sorry for the thread drift ...
And be prepared to carry your own water and/or leave the towpath to find it... NPS doesn't return the pump handles until mid-April...
Back on topic -
- or ship to/drop off at a local B&B or hotel. Be advised that Amtrak isn't scheduled to arrive until after 7 pm.
Judy
Back on topic -
Originally Posted by velonomad
yet another possibility ( assuming you own a car) is to make arrangements at one of the two(?) bike shops in Cumberland to store your bike for a few hours. Drop off the bike,then drive your car to national airport in DC to park in the economy lot .Catch a metro to Union station and then Amtrak to Cumberland.
Judy
Last edited by jagraham; 01-08-09 at 08:54 AM. Reason: apology for thread drift
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Sorry for the thread drift ...
And be prepared to carry your own water and/or leave the towpath to find it... NPS doesn't return the pump handles until mid-April...
Back on topic -
- or ship to/drop off at a local B&B or hotel. Be advised that Amtrak isn't scheduled to arrive until after 7 pm.
Judy
And be prepared to carry your own water and/or leave the towpath to find it... NPS doesn't return the pump handles until mid-April...
Back on topic -
- or ship to/drop off at a local B&B or hotel. Be advised that Amtrak isn't scheduled to arrive until after 7 pm.
Judy
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There is an alternative, albeit not quite complete. MARC trains (DC Commuters) travel to Brunswick, MD which is on the trail and do take bikes. last I researched. That's roughly half the distance between DC and Cumberland.
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Sorry, I beg to differ... Brunswick is at mile 55; Cumberland at 184.5. Last I checked, halfway would be closer to Lock 43, about halfway between Williamsport and the infamous on-road detour.
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Yeah, brainfart after the post. You are absolutely correct sir! The MARC however does go through to Martinsburg WV. Unfortunately that puts you a bit south of the trail but a nice ride into Williamsport. I think that's where I was thinking halfway.
Last edited by CCrew; 01-09-09 at 12:56 PM.
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Don't know if it is still the case but when I did it in '07 one way car rental was cheaper in the Cumberland to DC direction. Originally I wanted to ride "down hill" and finish at home in DC though I gave up that idea and did it in reverse. The tow path is pretty flat and the "up hill" was felt more in the head than my legs.
Hope you have fun it's a great ride...
Hope you have fun it's a great ride...
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Don't know if it is still the case but when I did it in '07 one way car rental was cheaper in the Cumberland to DC direction. Originally I wanted to ride "down hill" and finish at home in DC though I gave up that idea and did it in reverse. The tow path is pretty flat and the "up hill" was felt more in the head than my legs.
Hope you have fun it's a great ride...
Hope you have fun it's a great ride...