Getting around the Upper Valley does not have to involve owning a car. Learn about the growing array of bus options and safe biking and pedestrian routes as well as carpooling and ride services!
Bike & Walk
Webinar: Everyday Bicycling: Tips and Tricks for Riding for Transportation
Webinar: Winter Bicycling 101: Tips for Riding Year-Round and Loving It!
More Tips for Safe and Comfortable Cycling
Bus & Train
The Upper Valley enjoys one of the best rural transit systems in the country — and it’s getting better by the month! Explore taking the bus for work, school, shopping, or appointments!
Are you a senior, veteran, person with a disability, or Medicaid recipient? Scroll down to “Volunteer Drivers.”
Four companies collaborate to move people in and around the greater Upper Valley:
- Advance Transit (Canaan, Enfield, Hanover, Hartford, Lebanon, Norwich; track your bus in real time at Advance Transit or download the Transit app)
- Tri-Valley Transit (I-89 and I-91 north of White River Junction / Lebanon; local trips in Orange and northern Windsor Counties)
- Southeast VT MOOver (I-91 south of White River Junction; local trips in southern Windsor County )
- Southwestern Community Services (serving Claremont, Charlestown, and Newport)
Three companies link the Upper Valley to other regions:
- Dartmouth Coach (service from Hanover, Lebanon, and New London to Boston and New York City)
- Greyhound (national intercity bus service)
- Amtrak (national intercity train service)
Find your route on Google Transit, or the Go! Vermont Trip Planner.
Not Sure HOW to Ride the Bus?
Don’t be embarrassed! Many Upper Valley residents are new to public transit — or are at least new to the public transit serving this region. Check out these “How to Ride” videos co-created by Advance Transit and Junction Arts & Media!
Carpool
Several services exist for residents looking to meet people who can carpool with them:
- GO! VERMONT helps people looking to carpool in the Green Mountain State (whether you live or work in Vermont). Download the GO! VERMONT APP!
- COMMUTESMART NEW HAMPSHIRE provides carpool matching for people in the Granite State. Former UPPER VALLEY RIDESHARE members can access your commute information and find carpools by going to NEW HAMPSHIRE RIDESHARE and using your UVRS login and password.
When you register a carpool with one of these services, you become eligible for EMERGENCY RIDE HOME (see below), which covers the cost of a cab or rental vehicle if an emergency arises and you don’t have a car.
Zipcars are another local resource. If you need a car during the day, you can rent cars on an hourly or daily basis in certain Upper Valley locations through this link.
Need a meeting spot? Find Park & Ride lots in New Hampshire and Vermont.
Emergency Ride Home
If you carpool, vanpool, take the bus, bike, or walk to work, EMERGENCY RIDE HOME reimburses the cost of a cab or rental vehicle if an emergency arises and you need to get home, to the park & ride, to the hospital, or to your child’s school or daycare.
- If you live OR work in Vermont, register at Go! Vermont to qualify. The benefit offers reimbursement up to $70 per trip (maximum six times per year).
- New Hampshire residents working within Advance Transit’s New Hampshire service area qualify for the Upper Valley TMA’s Emergency Ride Home program. The benefit offers reimbursement up to $50 per trip (maximum six times per year). Download the UVTMA ERH Reimbursement Form here.
Zipcars are another local resource. If you need a car during the day, you can rent cars on an hourly or daily basis in certain Upper Valley locations through this link.
Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer driver programs connect volunteer drivers with seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and Medicaid recipients who need rides to get essential services. Get to know your community better!
Get a Ride
New Hampshire
- MEDICAID TRANSPORTATION: New Hampshire residents enrolled in Medicaid who do not have a vehicle or a friend/family member who can drive them can call 844-259-4780 to request a ride. Please call at least 48 hours in advance. More details can be found here.
- DIAL-A-RIDE: available in Claremont only, through Southwestern Community Services. Call 603-542-9609 or email tcurtis@scshelps.org.
- Volunteer Driver Program for Sullivan County, NH: through Southwestern Community Services. Call 603-542-9609 or email tcurtis@scshelps.org.
- Easter Seals New Hampshire: Door-to-door transportation with passenger assistance available in certain areasfor the frail and isolated elderly, as well as individuals with special needs and disabilities
- Granite State Independent Living: Services, including transportation, for people with disabilities and brain injuries.
Vermont
- MEDICAID TRANSPORTATION:
Orange & Windsor (northern) Counties: Tri-Valley Transit (formerly Stagecoach) – 802-728-3773
Windham & Windsor (southern) Counties: Shared Transportation Services – 888-633-4001
Washington County: Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMT) – 802-223-7287
Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille & Orleans Counties: Rural Community Transportation (RCT) – 802-748-8170 - DIAL-A-RIDE (For seniors, people with disabilities, Medicaid recipients, and people & families in need)
- Tri-Valley Transit offers several Dial-A- Ride options. Call 802-728-3773 or email info@stagecoach-rides.org to find out whether you’re eligible for the following free or subsidized services:
- Senior Meal Program provides transportation for seniors from their homes to meal sites in Randolph, Bethel, Chelsea, Royalton, Hancock, and Bradford. Call your local senior center for details.
- Ticket to Ride Program provides door-to-door transportation to grocery stores, medical appointments, work, errands, and social events. It is free for riders over age 60 and those with disabilities when there is no other transportation available in the household.
- Medicaid/Non-Emergency Medical Transportation provides free transportation to medical appointments for Medicaid recipients living in Barnard, Bethel, Bridgewater, Hartford, Hartland, Norwich, Pomfret, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, Stockbridge, and Woodstock, and who do not have access to a vehicle.
- Rockingham MOOver provides free door-to-door transportation for riders age 60 or over and for persons with ADA-defined disabilities. They also provide Medicaid transportation to non-emergency medical appointments for resident of Windham or southern Windsor County without access to a vehicle. For more information call 1-888-869-6287 or 802-460-7433.
- Tri-Valley Transit offers several Dial-A- Ride options. Call 802-728-3773 or email info@stagecoach-rides.org to find out whether you’re eligible for the following free or subsidized services:
- Vermont Law School’s Legal Help Website for health care transportation
Be a Volunteer Driver
Many people in our community have no transportation of their own, cannot use the bus and yet need to access healthcare and other critical services. Interested in becoming a volunteer driver? Contact your senior center, faith group, or health or community center to find out how you can help neighbors get where they need to go. You’ll find it a rewarding experience!
Join the Tri-Valley Transit Volunteer Driver team
Tri-Valley Transit (formerly Stagecoach) coordinates many of the volunteer drivers here in the Upper Valley.Click here, call 802-728-3773, or e-mail info@trivalleytransit.org to get started as a Volunteer Driver. Volunteers are reimbursed for mileage and play a crucial role in the organization.
Join Volunteers in Action!
Are you able to drive a senior to a medical appointment, hairdresser, bank, or be willing to take a neighbor along with you when you do your grocery shopping? A small amount of your time will help our elders remain healthy and independent. We will work within your schedule. Please call us at 802-674-5971.
Become a volunteer driver for Southeast VT MOOver (formerly The Current)
The MOOver works with volunteer drivers to provide rides for those in need. Volunteers can drive as little or as much as they wish, and they are reimbursed at the current GSA mileage rate which is not considered taxable income. Volunteer drivers must have a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and a good driving record. Most trips are for medical appointments for those without transportation, so our volunteers derive the satisfaction of knowing they make a difference in people’s lives. Download the MOOver Volunteer Driver Packet.
Become a volunteer driver for Sullivan County Transit (Southwestern Community Services)
Call 603-542-9609 or email Terri Curtis at tcurtis@scshelps.org. You can also download the Application Packet here. (Note that it’s the same application as is used for paid bus drivers, which is why it’s titled “application for employment.”)