Originally Posted by
Odd Man Out
Bus times and fares are not out for March yet. Assuming they stay the same and you purchase well in advance, based on today's schedules you could do this:
Megabus non-stop from Portland Transportation Center to Boston South Station. Dep 9:30 AM - Arr 11:25 AM for 1$
Boston SL1 (Silver Line) bus from South Station to Logan Airport. Departures every 10 minutes - 15 minute trip for $2.50
Southwest Airline flight 5308 (operated by Air Tran) nonstop from Boston to Atlanta. Dep 3:00 PM - Arr 5:44 PM for $133. This fare is available on most Tuesdays and Wednesdays in March. It's a non-stop flight with two free checked bags, so probably no need to ship your bag.
Take the MARTA rail Red Line from the Airport to the North Springs Stations (end of the line). $2.50
If you are going to use the Hiker Hostel Thru-Hiker Deal, they will pick you up there, take you to the hostel, one night's lodging, breakfast in the morning, 8 oz of alcohol, and a shuttle to the trail head the next morning for $80
If you wanted to save a few bucks, you could take an afternoon bus to Boston, then take the 6:30 PM bus from Boston to NYC arriving at 10:45 PM (3$) then take the 1:30 AM bus to DC (1.1 mile walk between bus stops). You'll have a 2.5 hr layover in DC and then get the 9 AM bus to Atlanta, arriving at 10:00 PM. The BOS-ATL bus is $79 so this saves $51 over the SW flight, however, you end up in downtown ATL at 10 PM. I don't know if the Hiker Hostel would pick you up this late so you might have to stay in Atlanta which will cost much more than $51. Even if you sleep on a park bench, since the bus trip takes an extra day, you have an extra day of meals to pay for which would eat up more of the potential savings.
If you have some other way of getting from Atlanta to the trail, that would save you the $80 from the Hiker Hostel.
Bus and air fares seem to be best on Tues and Wed.
Have fun.