Mason Shuttles and Parking Services want to make sure that you and your student have all the important information you need in the spring semester. For Spring Break and beyond, there are a number of options that will work well for your student regardless of whether he or she is driving, flying, taking the bus, or riding the train.
Transportation Options for Spring Break
The following are great and affordable transportation options for your student to travel back home for Spring Break. Encourage your student to book his or her seat early as tickets sell out.
Buses from Mason to Regional Cities and Dulles Airport
Mason offers affordable transportation to regional cities and Dulles Airport during Spring Break. Shuttles will depart from the Fairfax Campus on March 10-11 and return on March 19. Cities include Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, New York City, and many more. For updated destinations, dates and to buy tickets, visit the Mason Shuttle website.
Ridesharing with Zimride
Ridesharing is a great and affordable way to travel home for breaks. Zimride is the University’s free rideshare network for students, staff and faculty. Your student can sign up with his or her Mason NetID to find others in the area to carpool with and save money on gas.
Online Transportation Network Company services: Like Uber or Lyft.
Uber and Lyft are taxi services that provide on-demand rides. The applications are available for android and iPhone. These are great options for making connections for travel to/from the airport.
Zipcar
Does your student need a car? Mason now has Six Zipcar vehicles on campus, which can be rented by the hour, day, or even for a one-way trip (NEW!). Sign up here. Gas and insurance are included in the rental rate.
Other Transportation Connections
Burke Centre VRE and AMTRAK: Mason’s Burke Centre VRE shuttle travels to the station and your student can take a connecting AMTRAK or VRE train from there.
UNION Station in DC: Your student can board Amtrak and Marc trains, buses like Bolt Bus, Megabus, Greyhound, and Peter Pan, and get a rental car from Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Alternative Transportation at Mason
Close to 18% of the University’s carbon footprint comes from commuting. That means, eEvery student has the power to help lower that number. Below are a few transportation tips to share with your student for a green and affordable commute to campus:
Burke Centre VRE Shuttle: Mason has five different shuttle routes to on-campus and off-campus locations, including to the Burke Centre VRE station. Free garage parking is available at the VRE station. The shuttle runs Monday through Friday. Visit Mason Shuttles for more info.
Bike to Mason Day: Mason was recently renamed a bicycle-friendly university. Students are changing bike culture across the nation. Bike to Mason Day celebrates existing cyclists and invites all to try biking to campus. The event takes place during Earth Week in April and participants are greeted with a breakfast, complimentary bike repair and goodies. Students can register their bike here to receive a free U-lock, bike lights, and maps.
Mason Transportation Updates
Keep up with the latest construction and other impacts here. You and your student can also keep up with parking and transportation news on social media:
Twitter: @MasonShuttles and @MasonParking
Facebook: MasonParkingTransportation
If you have any questions, please email us at transpo@gmu.edu or call 703-993-2828.
Glenn Hiner
Transportation Programs Manager
Parking and Transportation