Getting from Woodstock VT to Stowe
 

I would like to inquire on the best way to get from Woodstock VT to Stowe VT. My husband and I and another couple will be traveling in Oct for 2.5 wks. We have a rental car for the duration of our trip but the other couple we are travelling with have to split off with the car on Sat 10/5 for a family event. This is the day we check out of Woodstock and move to Stowe. That means my husband and I need to get from Woodstock to Stowe somehow. This is the opposite direction that our friends need to go and would add 2.5hrs on their travel time so that is not an option. We first considered Uber (or Lyft), but do you think Uber is a reliable source due to the duration (1h20+min)? We are worried no one will want to pick up that trip request. We are considering renting a car for the day but there aren't any rental car agencies in Stowe to allow for the car drop off. Closest car drop off point is Montpelier. If we rent, we'd have to drop off in Montpelier & take Uber from Montpelier to Stowe. I also looked at taking a bus but that takes 5 hrs and doesn't leave until 1130am so is a waste of our entire day. Any other suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Google "Woodstock to Stowe" and you will find a 5 hour public transportation option using at least 3 different buses.

I am not sure what bus route you are looking at but if you decide to pursue it be sure the bus(es) run on Saturday. Many are only M-F.

VT does not have good public transit options and Woodstock to Stowe is not on any regular route.

You might be able to rent a car to the Burlington airport and get a shuttle service to Stowe.

I am guessing you are right that Uber would be hard to use.

The other couple is re-joining you later - right? If so, thinking outside the box a bit . . . You could keep the group's rental car and drive to Stowe, and the other couple can rent a different car for their side trip. They can drop it at Burlington Airport later and you can drive over and pick them up . . .

Just a thought.

I believe that while there are service area limits (pretty wide), as long as start/end are within the limits Uber drivers can't reject a ride (otherwise they get a ding on their record). I also believe that Uber drivers do NOT see the destination before they pick you up. It's only AFTER they pick you up will they see where you want to go.

That said,

I do not know if rural VT is actually serviced by Uber, so you may be out of luck with rideshare, period. If you put pick up/drop off points into your uber app to see what drivers are available you'd be able to test the waters.

Edit:
I checked on my uber app, and they are currently showing the price from Woodstock to Stowe of $120, but no drivers available. Pickup time 2hrs from now. So it looks like it's possible, and if you can advance schedule then it's a solution to your problem without having to wait around.

Thanks everyone for the options to consider. I definitely will ponder the idea of us keeping the original rental car and picking up our friends in the new rental in Burlington after their family event. That might work if we can't get Uber for ourselves. Our B&B host gave the contact # for an Uber Lyft partner so I am waiting to hear back from them. Again, appreciate all your input. I think I'll also reach out to Montpelier Chamber of Commerce and inquire w/them to see if they can give me any info on Uber from there. Best to all of you!

I live near Montpelier and unfortunately really don't know about Uber options here. I know there are taxis.

the car rental agency in the area is Enterprise which could be limiting. There are obviously more companies at the Burlington airport.

Uber drivers are allowed to reject any ride they want if it is estimated to take over 45 minutes, and that one would. They are told if that is the case and can reject it, no penalty.

Yes, we're from California where Uber is highly used. I know they can reject it and most likely would since it's quite a drive. And even though you can schedule it and get confirmation on it, it is just a confirmation that it is "scheduled" - not that you have an actual driver willing to do it. We've gotten burned on that before. I never did hear back from the Uber Lyft Partner I got from our B&B host or the Montpelier Chamber. I think our best bet is to rent a car from Lebanon/White River - there is an Enterprise there. Drop car off in Monpelier since that's the closest Enterprise drop off and hopefully Uber from Montpelier to Stowe or taxi if we have too. Or have our friends rent a 2nd car to go to Serratoga Springs NY, have them drop off the car near Willinston/Burlington on way back and we can pick them up there w/the original car. We're meeting w/our friends this weekend and will talk this through. Nice to have options. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Happy to help out your friends with any Saratoga Springs info needed...

Thank you J62 but their daughter's fiance lives there so they have the scoop on that already & they'll be spending the day at their wedding reception. She's getting married here in CA in Sept but having a second reception there w/his NY family. Thanks again for the offer.