[Cross-posted from Budget Travel Thread because of obvious California content]


For those of you new to the forum, you may have missed the epic saga of public transit follies in "San Diego - Los Angeles : $5.15 on public buses ~6 hours" where a band of intrepid budget travelers demonstrated the lengths one could go, relying solely upon local public travel, in exploring California.

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In our latest episode, I'd like to offer a new one day trip that may push the limits of how far one can actually get in one day's travel on local transit. Incidentally, as long ago alumni of UC San Diego (class of '83), it amuses me that this might put some of the current generation of students within range of weekend ski trips to Mammoth w/o a car. So without further ado, here's the info:

<-> (***Operates only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday***)

Transit Agency Websites for current fare and schedule info:
NCTD - North County Transit District
(http://www.gonctd.com)
Metrolink
(http://www.metrolinktrains.com/)
Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
(http://easternsierratransitauthority.com)

The routing:
- Catching the first NCTD Route 101 bus of the day from UCSD heading north (departs UTC at 5:36 am), pay the $2.00 fare and ride it all the way to its end at Oceanside Transit Center, at about 6:56 am

- Buy a Metrolink ticket from Oceanside to Lancaster at the automated kiosk. ($14.00) Catch Metrolink train #850 northbound to Orange where it will terminate at about 8:32 am. Transfer to train #687 when it arrives at roughly 8:52, and ride it to its termination at Union Station at about 9:45 am. You will have a 1.5 hour wait before train #207 departs for Lancaster at 11:20 am on the Antelope Valley line...arriving at Lancaster station at 1:20 pm. (Metrolink schedule works only M-F)

- Catch ESTA Crest Bus at the Lancaster train station at 2:30 p.m. (ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED) (Operates M-W-F ONLY) Pay the $34.00 fare. Ride it all the way North arriving at the McDonalds at Mammoth Lakes at roughly 7:35 pm.


(the return routing is left as an exercise to the student)

Total fare: $50 one-way... Which may not seem like such a bargain, until you figure that the routing stretches 500 miles and ends up as a cost-per-mile of $0.10....which is a lot less than the AAA estimates of the $0.35 per mile that it costs to operate a car.

Given that all of the respective transit agencies forbid the consumption of food or drink on the buses or trains, I'd use the breaks at Oceanside, Los Angeles, and/or Lancaster to seek sustenance. Oceanside is just down the street from a Burger King; L.A. Union Station has vending machines, several small cafes, and a restaurant, and is across the street from Olvera Street; and Lancaster station is across the street from a pleasant Thai restaurant that will prepare food to-go.