<p>My daughter will be attending Oberlin this Fall. We live in Central NJ. What are the transportation options for getting home during the breaks and various holidays if she doesn't have a car?</p>
<p>The Cleveland airport is about 35 minutes away, and buses to and from Oberlin are provided during breaks and holidays ([Oberlin-CLE</a> Airport Shuttles - Oberlin College](<a href=“http://new.oberlin.edu/transportation/shuttles.dot]Oberlin-CLE”>http://new.oberlin.edu/transportation/shuttles.dot)). There is also a Greyhound station in Elyria about 20 minutes away. Also, at the beginning and the end of spring break this year, there was an Oberlin student-only bus to and from New York City, which if continued this upcoming year might be a good option for her. I took it on the way back to Oberlin from visiting a friend in New York, and it was quite convenient (though the 8-hour trip was long!).</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Or find other students or students with parents driving back and forth during those times. I think once your D is registered as s student she can start placing ads for a ride online. There is a site for “classifieds” on one of the Oberlin web pages. </p>
<p>Our D was a freshman this past year. Either my wife or I or both drove back and forth several times from our home in eastern PA. It takes about 7 hours with one stop for gas and potty. You get used to the drive. I didn’t mind it at all. This year our D will have a car, but we’ll be driving out for parents and family weekend and other occasions like Fall break, Thanksgiving, etc. We won’t let her drive that distance by herself. </p>
<p>Driving is about 80 bucks round trip. It’s cheaper, faster and far more convenient than a bus, and significantly cheaper than a plane. Believe it or not, it’s also as quick as taking a plane. Both Newark Airport and Philly are the same distance from where we live–about an hour and 40 minutes. Add that time to the time it takes to line up on campus to get on the bus, waiting for the bus to leave for the Cleveland airport, travel to the airport in Cleveland, getting through security to get to your gate, waiting to board your plane, then the flight time itself —IF you don’t encounter a delay that leaves you languishing in the airport for hours, then waiting for your luggage, then an hour and 40 minute drive home—after you get to your car. If she’s lucky she’d save a total of 30 minutes by flying–only if she flew nonstop, of course, and the plane ticket would be multiple times the cost of gas. </p>
<p>We’d just as soon go and get her than put up with all that aggravation. Besides, with Satellite radio the time goes by really fast when you drive. Listening to classical music, 80s, comedy stations, 70s, 60s, sports talk, etc., I don’t even notice the time. I’ve gotten to know the Service Plazas on Interstate 76 very well, and it’s a much more interesting drive than Interstate 80. 80 throug PA to Jersey will put you to sleep and in the ditch. :)</p>
<p>Lots of students drive between Oberlin and Northern NJ / NYC for breaks and holidays. It may be possible to hitch a ride with one of them if you can arrange to meet her somewhere along route 80 (Rockaway Mall, for example). There are frequently people looking for and offering rides on the classified ads section of the Oberlin website. </p>
<p>I made the drive many times to either pick up or drop off my daughter (including one round trip of 16 hours on the same day) before we let her drive herself in her senior year. We usually wound up taking another student or two, or another students belongings, a deal that was often arranged within an hour or two of heading one way or the other. When she was doing the driving, she always had someone else along.</p>
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<p>You are clearly the better man. My same day round trip would be about 14.5 hours, including one stop each way for gas. I just can’t do that anymore. When I was young, I frequently drove nonstop from New Jersey to Chicago, to visit my brother. I stopped for gas only, no food, no rest. I kept fruit and water in the car. I once drove nonstop, alone, from New Jersey to Minnesota. That was nuts, but when you’re young, male and full of juice, what the heck. I did the trip in 21 hours. Normally, it should take about 22.5 hours. I was tearing through the countryside in a Chevy Camaro V8, at 2, 3 am at about 90 milies per hour, windows down, stereo blasting. I never saw a cop. Those were the days. Ah, to be young enough to do that again.</p>
<p>Plainsman – have you not yet discovered the wonders of Viagra, et al?</p>
<p>I don’t know about this better man stuff - it was not my intention to return the same day. I was all set to stay in a local motel. When I got to Oberlin, daughter asked if we could head straight back that afternoon if she did some of the driving. Before it came her turn to take the wheel, we were in the hills of western PA on route 80 in the middle of a pod of trucks and it had started to snow. Not wanting to put a fairly inexperienced driver in that situation, I just kind of kept going. By the time we got to the other side of the state, down out of the Poconos and the snow stopped, she was sleeping and it was less than an hour to home, so I wound up doing the whole trip myself. Never again.</p>
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<p>LOL! I need more than Viagra. I need whatever Sly Stallone injects. Isn’t he on HGH? That’s what I need. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the useful information. I will pass the Viagra suggestion on to my husband!</p>