A Guide to Public Transportation on the Long Trail

The public transportation options along the Long Trail are surprisingly plentiful. Public transportation is a great way to get to trails and not have to be limited to getting back to a car, which can be great for section hiking. If you're flying into the area, not having to rent a car can keep the costs for the trip down. Albany, NY and Burlington, VT airports would both work. If you're willing to spend a few hours on a bus to get a cheaper flight you could fly into Boston or the New York City area and take a Peter Pan bus to Williamstown, MA or Megabus to Burlington and connect to Richford. Additionally, I assume most people interested in recreating in the outdoors are also concerned with protecting the environment. Public transit is a great way to get to the trails with a very low carbon footprint.

The number listed before each town is the number of miles from the MA border. These mileages were calculated using this site: LT Distance Calculator. I'm not sure if they are still up to date with the Winooski River Footbridge reroute, so some of the mileages may be a little off. Reroute info.

·       0 (3.8 mi on AT to start on LT) – MA 2/North Adams 
- Berkshire Regional Transit Authority. Connection to Pittsfield, MA and Williamstown, MA. BRTA stop is at Phelps Ave and MA 2. 
- Peter Pan Bus Lines. Connections to Albany, NY and NYC. 
Bus station address: Williams Inn, 1090 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267

·         14 – VT 9/Bennington, VT 
5 mi W on VT 9
- Green Mountain Express Transit Services.  Connections to Willamstown, MA and Manchester. 
- Vermont Translines. Connections to Rutland, Burlington, Brandon, Albany, NY and Syracuse, NY.
- Yankee Trails. Connection to Albany, NY. 
Bus station address: Transit Center, 215 Pleasant Street, Bennington, VT

·         54 – VT 11 & 30/Manchester Center, VT
- The Bus from Manchester, VT to Rutland, VT. Closest stop to trail is People's Bank 5 mi W on Main St. 
- Green Mountain Express Transit Services.  Connections to Willamstown, MA and Manchester. 

·         87 - VT 103/Shrewsbury, VT
- Flag stop for The Bus to Rutland where the trail crosses the road. 

·         104 - US 4/Killington, VT
- The Bus stops at Inn @ Long Trail and Pico Resort Hotel. Connections to Rutland, Brandon, and Middlebury.
- Vermont Translines. Connections to Bennington, Brandon, Burlington, Albany, NY and Syracuse, NY. 
Bus station address: Transit Center, 158 Spruce St, Rutland, VT 05701
- Amtrak
Train station address: 25 Evelyn Street, Rutland, VT 05701

·         124 - VT 73/Brandon, VT
- The Bus stops at the Brandon Post Office. Connections to Rutland, Killington, and Middlebury.
- Vermont Translines. Connections to Rutland, Bennington, Burlington, Albany, NY and Syracuse, NY. 

·         134 - VT 125/Middlebury, VT
- ACTR provides limited service from trail crossing to Middlebury.
Middlebury is 14 mi W via VT 125 W and US 7 N.
- The Bus stops at Merchant's Row. Connections to Rutland, Brandon, and Middlebury.
- ACTR also provides connection to Burlington. 

·         185 - US 2/Jonesville, VT
Richmond Park & Ride is 6 mi W on US 2 and Waterbury is 9 mi E on US 2. Connections to Burlington and Montpelier.
- GMTA provides service to Richmond and Waterbury.
Waterbury-Stowe Amtrak station is 9 mi E on US 2.
Train station address: US Highway 2 and Park Row Waterbury, VT 05676

·         208 - VT 108/Stowe, VT
Stowe is 8 mi E via VT 108 N.
- GMTA connection to Waterbury. Bus stop is at Stowe Town Hall.

·         270 - VT 105/North Jay, VT
Richford, VT is 11 mi W on VT 105. 
- GMTA connection to St. Albans.
St. Albans has GMTA connection to Burlington and Amtrak service.
Train station address: 40 Federal Street St Albans, VT 05478