Groome Transportation provides Auburn students and residents a way to travel to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport without having to drive themselves or pay for parking.
Groome Transportation is a nationwide transportation service that offers rides to airports across the country, including a route from Auburn to Hartsfield-Jackson.
According to the Groome Transportation website, pickups are available throughout Auburn, with a location on the University campus, in Opelika and available upon request in Tuskegee or Lanett, Alabama. Not all Auburn locations are available on game days, however. Cars can be parked at the Groome office for short periods.
All passengers are brought from these locations to Hartsfield-Jackson. No additional stops are made besides the previously listed pickup locations.
Tickets cost $43 for one-way or $86 for round-trip for all pickup locations except Tuskegee, which costs $63 and $126 respectively. Children have a reduced cost and pets are allowed for an additional cost.
According to Hartsfield Jackson’s website, domestic parking can be between $10 and $19 per day, depending on the lot. International parking is $14 per day.
Excluding gas prices, riding on a Groome shuttle becomes more cost effective than parking at the airport after six days, on average.
In addition to this, with gas prices currently around $2.20 per gallon, a car averaging 30 miles per gallon on the interstate would use an additional $7.26 worth of gas for the 99-mile drive in each direction.
The route runs every hour and fifteen minutes, said Cheryl Weatherley, dispatcher for Groome Transportation. The route runs 16 times per day on every day except Christmas, where it may run five or six times.
“When Auburn students are going home for the holidays, I would [book a ride] a month in advance,” Weatherley said. “Any other time, they could probably do it to the day of.”
Most days, Groome runs 10, 11 or 14 passenger vans, Weatherly said. They also have 21 and 25 passenger buses for busy days, and they occasionally rent 54 passenger charter buses when necessary.
“[On a Friday], we have 200 and something coming back from the airport, going to the airport we have about 60,” Weatherley said. “It’s not like that every day. We’re extra busy [Friday] with people coming in for the game.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
