<p>I'll be a first year at UVA this fall, and I'll need to get to and from Johns Hopkins fairly frequently. I won't be able to arrange for a car- is there a good bus line or something that anyone can suggest? Thanks!</p>
<p>There’s a Greyhound bus station and a Amtrak station in Charlottesville. You can get to either one by taking the free trolley from central grounds. You’ll arrive at the Amtrak station first on the trolley, and then the Greyhound station is about a minute or two up the same road.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, the Baltimore Amtrak station is relatively close to Johns Hopkins. The Cville Amtrak station is a couple miles from most student housing at UVa, as noted above. I’m personally a big fan of Amtrak - the seats are comfortable, you can get up and walk around, you can grab a bite to eat, and most trains have electric outlets and wireless. Prices vary greatly by time of day and by day of the week (and maybe by how early you book the ticket??) There also are AAA discounts. You also can earn some free rides if you sign up for an Amtrak discount code and use an Amtrak credit card. </p>
<p>The only downside is that some of the service involves a bus from Cville to DC that connects to a train. The two times my son did that, the bus was very late, and he had to take a later train.</p>
<p>A bunch of discount bus companies run from DC north, but last time I checked they didn’t run to Cville. One operates from north of the DC Union Station (which also serves Amtrak). </p>
<p>As of last year, there also was a bus service that runs most weekends from the first year dorms to a N. Va. Metro station, but it is not cheap.</p>
<p>Amtrak would be the best option.</p>
<p>There are 2 trains that leave early in the day - Baltimore is a stop on both. It’s an easy ride - no need to change trains in DC (but there is a 30 min delay there). There are many students on the train, most sleep or work on their laptops.</p>
<p>Amtrak station in Charlottesville is a short (2 block) walk from campus and the town “trolley” will drop you off out front. Not sure where the Baltimore stop is in relation to JHU.</p>
<p>Can use student advantage discount if they offer that through UVA (15%off) or AAA for 10% off.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Because Amtrak is more comfortable than a bus, it is easier to get work done or to catch up on your sleep. That makes the time more productive, which is worth some extra cost. Also, beware of some of the discount bus lines running in the northeast. Some are reputable, but others keep getting shut down for major safety violations and open up the next day with a new name.</p>
<p>I know no one has pointed this out, but the reasons first years don’t have cars is so that you stay on grounds more (plus parking). What is it, a girlfriend? Honestly, either you would have chosen to go to the same college, or you will make the long distance work without frequent trips, or it won’t work. Best of luck, but seriously consider staying at UVA 80-90% of the weekends. You’ll need it for sleep, socializing, etc. Once I had a car, I went away probably 50% of the weekends, and I don’t regret it, but it was something I stopped doing after that first year with a car at college (my second year at UVa) because it was really detrimental to my life at UVa and the traveling is really taxing, no matter how fantastic the place(s) you are going (and the people you are driving so long to see) are.</p>
<p>Both the train and bus to Baltimore are more time-consuming than the car because there is generally a layover in Washington DC. But the Greyhound bus, in particular, tends to be slow as it generally meanders through Orange, Fredericksburg, etc. instead of heading straight up 29/66. Be aware too that some Amtrak service is actually by bus, not by train (if so, it will say so on the Amtrak site). If you are going to Hopkins to see someone, it might be easier to meet up in DC.</p>
<p>The train station in Baltimore is about a half-hour or 45 minute walk from the Hopkins Homewood campus. At night, at least if you are female, it’s wise to take a cab.</p>
<p>For holidays/breaks, it is often easy to share a ride with somebody who lives in northern VA or MD. There are lots and lots of people heading up to the DC area then . . . it’s bumper-to-bumper on 29 N leaving Charlottesville.</p>