Trip to Mass, one way?

I have a few days off while my wife is out in Burlington MA for work. I'm free for the second half of her trip. This is 300 miles each way.

Option 1 is drive out. Simple and strait forward. Only down side is we drive back in both cars. Leave 9pm, get in 3am. $80~in gas+tolls

Option 2 is a one way car rental. Budget has a Prius for $80. Get out there, turn the car in and drive with my wife. Same drive times. $105 gas+tolls+rental

Option 3 is the bus. $50 gets me a bus to Boston and then a train to Burlington. Travel time would be 3am-3pm. Train station is 5 or 6 miles from my final destination and I would either need a cab or see what the local city bus is. $50~ in fairs.

Public transit wins on cost, but loses big on time. Driving my own car is a nice middle ground, but we have to drive back in 2 cars. A rental would cost the most, but make good time and have it so SWMBO doesn't have to drive the return leg.

So, WWGRM do?

Prices updated with tolls

While no faster than the bus the Amtrak would be less painful if you could get to Syracuse. Train 448, Lake Shore Limited would take 9.5 hours and cost $47.00 in coach, or $181 for a sleeper.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd go for the Prius.

Second choice would be the train.

Or you could just sit back and enjoy a quiet house for a few days.

Cheap plane ticket? I know its totally not worth flying that distance, but I got a one way from MN to DC for 72 bucks all in, and I don't have to turn in a car.

Woody wrote: I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd go for the Prius.

This.

Don't forget the tolls, parking, and general wear and tear on your vehicle.

I know the mileage is only 300 each way, but the if you park on the street in Boston, there is plenty of wear and tear from other drivers parked in front or behind you.

Only the bus would take me into Boston, my final destination is on the 95 corridor NW of Boston.

Tolls, $7.50 one way, $15 total, that closes the gap for the prius a little.

I looked at the train as well, but the first one I could catch is the 11:30 am sunday morning, I would lose my entire sunday to travel. Otherwise that would be a no brainer.

Just do what is easiest for you. The differences in cost aren't enough to take your comfort out of the equation.

I'm thinking I will take the rental. The extra $25 over driving my own car is worth it for swmbo to not drive another 6 hours on her own. Thankfully her car isn't going out with a dying starter THIS time

I live pretty close to Burlington, if you end up taking the train or bus and need a ride up there from Boston let me know. I work in Cambridge so depending on timing could be pretty easy.

Have a good look at your rental. Some charge one way rental mileage, others do not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7Z7fj441xw

And here you can nerd out with all sorts of tips and tricks concerning the operation of a Prius. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius/Driving_tricks

Rent.

What ever keeps the wife happy. Forget about $$$$$