Transportation from NYC to Katahdin

[astafford]

Any ideas/suggestions about getting to Katahdin from NYC to start hiking south?

[4eyedbuzzard]

Get to Boston via air, Amtrak train ($74 and up), or bus (typically under $20 advance purchase web fares). From Boston, Concord Coach bus or Greyhound to Portland, ME, approx. $10 web fare / $25 standard. From Portland, take Cyr Bus http://johntcyrandsons.com/daily-service/ to Medway (approx. $22). Hitch or get a ride to Baxter.

[peakbagger]

If you elect to take Amtrak north from NYC, be aware that Amtrak South ends at South Station and Amtrak North to Maine starts at North Station with no rail connection. You have to take the subway or hoof it. http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/station/boston. Cyr bus out of Portland is the only bus that actually goes to Medway. The other firms code share and you may have to swap buses eventually to get on the Cyr bus. I believe the AT lodge in Millinocket http://www.appalachiantraillodge.com will pick you up in Medway and give you a ride to their facility in Millinocket. They also do runs to the Bangor airport if you want to fly in. They will then give you a ride into the park in the AM. If you note on the Cyr bus schedule you will arrive in Medway at 7:40 PM which is way too late to get to the park so you will need a place to stay and could waste a few hours in the AM hitching into the park if you don't use the AT lodge. Hitching isn't that bad to the Park as the majority of the folks' going to the park are driving through Medway.

[Bluegrass]

4eyedbuzzard's route is the one I took from Boston in 2005. I hitched from Medway to Baxter. You can actually buy your bus tickets (Greyhound and Cyr Lines) directly on Greyhound's site. This would make for a few transfers (NYC -> BOS -> Bangor -> Medway). It looks like you could do that in one very long day - Greyhound would leave NYC at 4:00am. If you have friends in Boson that would make your life a lot easier.

Be warned that the bus will get you into Medway in the evening (scheduled arrival of 7:40pm), so you will have to find a place to stay that evening. Cyr only runs one bus north a day, so the evening arrival cannot be avoided if you are on the bus.

I stayed in a campsite near the bus stop in Medway - http://www.katahdinshadows.com I got a tent site for the night and then hitched in to Baxter the next morning. A newer option is http://www.appalachiantraillodge.com/services/shuttles/ Appalachian Trail Lodge. Looks like they will pick you up in Medway and get you to Baxter the next morning.

[bemental]

I live in Orono, ME just north of Bangor and a drive south of Baxter.

Let me know if you need anything.


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[astafford]

Thank you folks! I am planning on a August 1st of 2016 hike from Katahdin to NY/CT border and really appreciate your information. Have a good day.