July 6, 2011

When you think of Missouri, phrases like “middle of the country,” and “smack dab in the Midwest,” come to mind. On the contrary, Columbia has a variety of places for students to travel to and from and campus. Whether by bus, plane, train or car, there is always a variety of ways to get home for breaks and for even just a weekend away from school.

**1. Megabus**

The Megabus travels from Columbia to Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago. This is a very common form of transportation for students coming to and from Chicago, a source for approximately 10 percent of MU’s student population. The Megabus includes WiFi and has two levels for passengers.

**2. Airplane**

For international students or those located on the East or West Coasts, flying is typically the most popular way to go. The main airports are about two hours east or west of Columbia. To the east is St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and to the west you’ll find the Kansas City International Airport.

To get to either location, many students take the MO-X, a daily shuttle that goes from Columbia to either St. Louis or Kansas City. The MO-X travels to St. Louis about 12 times a day and travels to Kansas City about five times a day, according to the shuttle’s website. It offers door-to-door service for students, where they can be picked up at their dorms. Students can also take the cheaper route of getting on board at the Mo-X offices in Columbia. The service is also available from the airports to Columbia.

Another option is to fly out from the Columbia Regional Airport, whose flights go to the Memphis International Airport, where students can then take connecting flights to wherever they choose.

**3. Amtrak**

The Amtrak train station’s main locations in the area are in Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital about a half hour south of Columbia, and in St. Louis. The fares vary over the course of the year but are typically around $40 each way. Though the Amtrak goes across the country to various cities, this is another popular form of transportation for MU students from the Midwest, since it would be a day trip. Also under Amtrak is the Greyhound bus service, which takes similar routes.

**4. Carpooling**

You may not have a car with you when you show up to MU, but there is a good chance a few of your friends will. Once you get acclimated to the MU community and start getting immersed into new groups of people, you will find that many of your new friends are probably traveling to the same place. You might be able to get creative and go home with a friend on the agreement that you will split the gas money between the two of you. This is most common for MU students from across Missouri and in neighboring states.

You will find that Columbia is by no means located in the middle of nowhere, even though to MU students unfamiliar with the Midwest it might initially seem that way. There is a variety of transportation options to get to and from home. The most important idea to keep in mind is to plan everything early. That way, you will avoid high transportations fares, whether it be via bus, plane or train.

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