Advice for moving from Baltimore MD to Ithaca NY? (calculation, buses)

[timlee]

I am a grad student moving from Baltimore MD to Ithaca NY. I will have 3 suitcases, a briefcase, one or two backpacks, and some boxes of books. Do you recommend move all the things together with me, or leave somethings later (for example, to be mailed to the new address)?

What economic ways of moving would you recommend?
Airplane may be too expensive. I now have heard of two alternative options by taking buses:
taking Grayhound from Baltimore directly to Ithaca;
taking Megabus from Baltimore to NYC, and then take Shortline from NYC to Ithaca.
I was wondering which way might be better?

I found that Google doesn't have information for public transportation within Ithaca. So once I arrive in Ithaca, how can I find out what buses can take me to, for example, Maplehill?

Thank you for your information!

[ckhthankgod]

Home : TCAT Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit

[tchemgrrl]

As ckh has linked, the local bus system is the TCAT.

One advantage to taking the Shortline would be that the bus actually drops you off on Cornell's campus and not at the bus station. From the bus station to campus is not convenient by city bus, and would be an awful slog with bags. From the Schwartz Center where Shortline drops off, it's a long but perfectly doable walk. If you take a bus that drops off at the bus station, call a cab. The cab would probably run about 12-15, if you need to add that into your calculation.

If it's more than you can carry, it is not practical to take it by the bus; you'll be changing buses in NYC no matter what and will need to walk your stuff through Port Authority wherever you go. I'd ship the books and luggage and stuff the backpack with clothes etc that will be needed for the first few days.

Another alternative would be to post in the Baltimore and Ithaca-area Craigslists for a ride share. That would be the cheapest option, though with more safety concerns.