Bus Service Along The Oregon Coast? (Portland: rental car, rental, to buy)

[tijlover]

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Oregon, saw a good chunk of central and coastal Oregon via rental car.

I dream of returning next year and spending time on the coast, going from one town to the other, but I would like to do it by bus, not car.

Is it possible to fly to Portland, bus over to the coast, bus from coastal town to coastal town?

I'm trying to break my Central America travel habits where they have these nifty chicken buses which run so frequently from small town to small town,
and I don't have to burden myself with a rental car and the accompanying expenses and stress.

[sayulita]

Since nobody has answered, I'll chime in. I have never heard of buses that run on the coast. No chicken buses here, drat the luck! You might Google Greyhound and see what they have. Or just Google "buses oregon coast" and see what happens. I would think, however, that a rental car would offer more control over where and when you stop to enjoy the beauty.

[oregonn8v]

I would have to agree. I lived and travelled around Central America for about 6 months and the buses ran (or didn't run) regularly, and you could get off and on where ever you pleased and for however long you pleased. If you did not get back onto your bus, anotherone would be along at some point.

Even if you had to buy another ticket it was inexpensive.

The main reason for all of the above statements is that buses are a primary means of transportation for many in Central America. The smae is not true of North America when everyone likes to confine themselves in their little glass egg and pod around to wherever the whant without having to interface with the rest of society (sorry...little soapbox moment there).

Anyway, you will not have the flexibility on a bus as you will in a car. Sorry.

[tijlover]

I just googled Oregon Coast Buses and there are 4 different bus systems available. Cool! But I probably won't be sharing a seat with a woman carrying a couple chickens to the market.

Yes, well agreed, with the flexibility of having a rental car. But I saw a good deal of the coast and I know now precisely where I want to spend more time, and some areas I'd prefer to skip.

So next year I'll try the buses. And if I get frustrated with the service I can always rent a car.

[oregonn8v]

tijlover:

You know that we all will expect a full report at the end of this experience.

[tijlover]

Yes, I'll let you know how it goes next year. Sound like an adventure to me.
And I like the comaraderie of buses. In a car, you only have yourself to talk to, if traveling alone.