My wife and I would like to ride from Pittsburgh to DC or DC to Pittsburgh but really don't want to do a round trip. We don't live near DC or Pittsburgh. Any suggestions on shuttling back to where ever we started? Is there perhaps anyone who wants to do the trip from DC west who would be interested in driving our car home to DC while we ride the trail? We are looking at a possible mid June trip. Dan
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Hi, I'm planning from Pittsburgh to WA DC then on to North Carolina. I'm taking the train from West Coast (long haul) to PIttsburgh in September. Either direction you chose, you can get amtrak back the other direction but make sure to reserve a bike spot also. I've heard that Amtrak sometimes over books their bike reservations. Recommend you call Amtrak for details. When you call, just keep saying "agent" until you get a live person! I have read mixed opinions on directions. check out this great website if you haven't already: https://bikecando.com/
Safe travels!
Amtrak - amtrak.com - is the logical transportation choice between DC and Pittsburgh. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for your bikes since there is limited space and competition is high.
You should get the $10 Trail Guide for the GAP and the C&O Canal Towpath from the Great Allegheny Passage Conservatory at gaptrail.org. It's full of all kinds of practical information.
Thanks for the tips, David. Not planning to return to starting point. Well my starting point is near Seattle, so I'll take the train from Salisbury back to Seattle. I already have the trail guide. It's great and will be very helpful while traveling. I've also been using the bikecando.com which is another great resource.
Thanks again, and safe travels!
Angie,
I goofed! My message was meant for Dan.
We are looking at Amtrak but they get into Pittsburgh at Midnight with a history of being late. Someone also suggested renting a uhaul, so we some different options to look at. Thanks for suggestions on trip info we hadn't seen that yet. TTFN dtb
I hate those late night/early morning arrivals. Either way, I personally have slept in the Buffalo amtrak station as it was dark when I arrived and no one kicked me out. I'm sure there is staff all over the place, all night, at Pittsburgh, being the major station it is. Although you certainly won't get a comfortable sleep, at least it could be an option...also if you look at a map, there's a hotel about 3 minutes from the amtrak station, a Hilton I think.
Safe travels
You're welcome. Now, if you bike east to west and take Amtrak back to DC, then you get to catch the 5:20 am train!
Look into a one-way rental to the airport that's large enough for the bikes (just drop them off at your hotel before you drop off the car). Consider a shuttle service. When I biked just the GAP several years ago, we spent one night at the Holiday Inn Express in Homestead and got permission to leave the car there for a week. A shuttle service brought us back from Cumberland.
Here are the shuttle listings on the GAP's website: https://gaptrail.org/where-to-go/sites-amenities/shuttles/