College student & transportation

My daughter is looking at colleges. She doesn't want to own a car. In the midwest there's not a lot of transportation options. And we're pretty remote, so there's not a lot of college options nearby that we could easily just go pick her up and bring her home on her breaks.

Looks like the standard rental places require you to be 21 (and then you pay a surcharge), so that might be an option later, but until then is it not possible for her to rent a car? Her first choice right now is Missouri S&T in Rolla, MO which is 3.5 hrs from home (Kirksville, MO). Looks like there's ground shuttle to St. Louis and then she could take the airplane shuttle to Kirksville, or another ground shuttle to Columbia and then we could pick her up. That would turn a 3.5 hr trip into an all day travel, and it would be pricey.

Thoughts? suggestions? ideas?

I'd say a car would be the best option, but you stated she didn't want a car. I had a car when I was in college and commuted a half hour each day. My sisters, on the other hand, didn't want a car and stayed on campus (same college).

What about bus? My son rides the bus home regularly. It's much cheaper than air travel.

When I was in college and afterward until I got a car, I took Greyhound to the nearest city and a local bus to my hometown. It was about a 12 hour trip with two transfers. Really not a big deal.

I went to college in NYC and went home to Pittsburgh for holidays and breaks. No point owning a car in NYC. I tried every mode of transportation available to Pgh.

Mostly I flew (2 hrs. in the air plus 2 hours on the ground), and I also signed up for frequent flyer miles, so that helped alleviate a bit of the pain.

The train and bus were usually about 9 hours. Cost a lot less, and easier to buy tickets on short notice. I really liked the train -- it took a beautiful historic route through Pennsylvania, and it got me home in time for turkey.

Is there anyone else in your community who is going or has gone to the school that your daughter is interested in? What do they do? Would they be willing to carpool if your daughter were to chip in for gas?

I didn't have a car in college, because there was no point--everything I needed was within walking distance, and parking is outrageously expensive. My parents picked me up for breaks (which wasn't all that often)--it was an 8-hour round trip, but we added up the costs for gas and my parking there (and time), and it made more sense to do it that way. I had friends my first year who lived in my hometown, so I carpooled with them a few times. DBF and I did take Greyhound once, but my parents (and I) weren't really comfortable sending me by myself.

Once DBF and I turned 21, we just rented a car and drove down.