Navigating Colby College: A Guide to Transportation Options
Colby College, located in Waterville, Maine, offers a variety of transportation options for students to navigate campus, the local area, and travel to regional hubs like Portland and Boston. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these options, including college-provided services, public transportation, and private alternatives.
Arriving at Colby: Check-in and Transportation from Portland
Check-in Procedures
For the academic year 2025-2026, first-year students will arrive on campus on Thursday, August 28, 2025, and will first go to the Harold Alfond Athletic & Recreation Center (HAARC). Check-in will take place between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM during designated arrival windows. Students must arrive at the designated arrival window to ensure a smooth and efficient check-in process across campus. While at the HAARC, students will check in with members of the Office of Residential Experience and receive their student ID and key(s).
All returning students (sophomore, junior, and senior class year) will check in at the lobby of Grossman Hall (DavisConnects) on Monday, September 1, 2025, and Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Check-in will begin at 8:30 AM (EST) and will end at 4:30 PM each day. To ensure a smooth and efficient check-in process, arrive and immediately check in before traveling to your assigned residence hall room. All students will be required to provide their student ID at check-in, so please make sure to have this available.
Fall pre-season athletes must first be approved for early arrival through Colby Athletics. The names of approved student-athletes will be provided directly to the Office of Residential Experience. All approved fall semester pre-season athletes will arrive during the following dates/windows of time (as determined by Colby Athletics). When arriving on campus, please prioritize the check-in process to ensure you receive your residence hall key(s) and any additional information necessary for a smooth and efficient process.
Students must first check-in with the College prior to moving into their fall assignment. Students are strongly encouraged to arrive within the designated times above to ensure all aspects of check-in can occur efficiently and effectively. We understand that some students might face extenuating circumstances preventing this. Unfortunately, due to the significant processes required to prepare the College for student arrival and the fall semester, the College is not accepting requests for early arrival. Only students who are sponsored for fall pre-season athletics, designated student leader position training, or Pre-Orientation participants will be approved for on-campus housing prior to move-in. Students, families, and support persons must determine what possible options and alternatives might exist outside of arriving early on campus.
Read also: Waterville's Colby College
Colby Transportation Shuttles from Portland
Colby College and the Office of Residential Experience offer transportation shuttles from Portland to campus for the fall semester. This service provides a convenient option for students arriving at the Portland International Jetport (PWM). To book a ride, students can use services like ShuttleFinder to find shared shuttle, private van, or town car options. These options offer reliable and stress-free transportation to Colby College.
Package Pick-Up and Storage
Packages cannot be accepted at the College until after August 11, 2025. During arrival, package pick-up will be in the field house of the Harold Alfond Athletic Center (HAARC). Colby College has storage rooms located in several of the residence halls across campus. These spaces are known as Trunk Rooms and are only utilized for storage when students study abroad, and/or at the end of the academic year (over the summer). All items must be removed by the second Thursday following the start of the Fall Semester (September 11, 2025). Any items remaining in trunk rooms after this date (with the exception of those with prior approval, such as study abroad and leave of absence status) will be removed and discarded without notice. There will be staffing available to help support students with access to trunk rooms on September 1 and September 2. Community Advisors work to provide support in accessing trunk room spaces for students throughout returning student arrival.
On-Campus Transportation
Parking Permits
All student vehicles on campus are required to have a parking permit. There is limited student parking on campus. Each year, Colby College publishes key dates for the academic calendar. The 2025-2026 academic year dates can be found here.
Mule Express and Mule Shopper
Colby College provides shuttle services for students to access various locations on and off campus.
Mule Express: Operates from 7:30 AM to 1:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday, and from 7:30 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday. This shuttle provides general transportation around campus.
Read also: Colby's Campus Life
Mule Shopper: Operates from 1:30 PM to 10:30 PM Thursday through Sunday. Stops include:
- The Pugh Center
- Thayer Center for Health
- Walmart Plaza
- Flagship Cinema (on demand, please call ahead for drop off AND pick up)
- JFK Plaza (Hannaford Supermarket, Mirakuya Sushi and Steak House, T.J. Maxx, Old Navy, etc.)
- Bill and Joan Alfond Main Street CommonsThe route takes about 60 minutes. The last drop offs will be between 8:30pm and 9:30pm and the last pick ups will be between 9:30pm and 10:30pm.
Colby Jitney
The Colby Jitney is a free shuttle service available to students for specific needs:
- Jitney: Operates from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday for medical appointments, prescription pick up, hair cuts, etc. It also supports the Education Department with student teachers for schools that are not within walking distance to the shuttle route. Rides can be requested through the ColbyGo! App.
Regional Transportation Options
Shuttle Request Form
Groups of 5 or more students can request a shuttle trip within 25 miles of campus using the Shuttle Request Form.
Colby Shuttles to Portland
Colby offers shuttles to and from Portland, providing a direct connection to the city. The cost is $30 per ticket. Registration links for these shuttles are available for different times of the year:
- Spring Semester Shuttle - deadline to register is 1/29/26 at 12 PM (noon).
- Departing Spring Break Shuttle - deadline to register is 3/16/26 at 12 PM (noon).
- Arrival Spring Break Shuttle- deadline to register is 3/25/26 at 12 PM (noon).
- End of the Year Shuttle - deadline to register is 5/11/26 at 12 PM (noon).
Refunds can no longer be issued after tickets have been purchased. Both bus options go to Portland and riders then transfer/ride on to get to Boston. Often students will take a bus to Portland Transportation Center in order to connect them to a bus that will get them to Logan Airport.
Read also: Academics at Colby
Concord Coach Bus
The Concord Coach buses pick up from the Augusta Transportation Center at scheduled times and can take students to the Portland Transportation Center, Boston Logan Airport, or Boston South Station.
Amtrak Downeaster
The Downeaster train operates four daily round-trip routes between Brunswick, Maine, and Boston. Riders can board the train in Brunswick or at the Portland Transportation Center. Individuals wishing to utilize train service would first need to secure transportation from Colby to Brunswick or Portland. Train travel arrangements for College business can be made through Direct Travel.
KVCAP Van
The KV Van offers public transportation curb-to-curb, Monday through Friday (8:30am - 4:00pm) within the City of Waterville (and parts of Fairfield), the City of Augusta, the Town of Skowhegan, and between Waterville and Augusta by appointment. To schedule your trip, please call the day before by noon. Within each zone: $5.00, Intercity: $10.00
Private Transportation Services
Brothers Black Car Service
Brothers Black Car Service is a local business run by Don LeClair, is often used by Colby faculty, staff, and students to secure smaller modes of transportation to local or regional airports.
Limo Services in Maine
Limo Services in Maine provides another option for area transportation needs to transportation hubs or other destinations. Used often by Colby students.
Country Coach Bus Services LLC
Colby often contracts airport shuttles and buses for local programming with Country Coach Bus Services LLC. They may be able to assist smaller, self-organized groups with regional transportation. The best way to contact Country Coach is via phone at 207-563-5466.
The Belle of Belgrade
The Belle Bus provides safe, reliable, and elevated transportation for college breaks and special weekends.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car and CarShare
Colby has a long-standing relationship with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. If other options do not work, students might consider working with friends and fellow Colby students to carpool. The Enterprise CarShare program is a membership based program that allows Colby students, faculty and staff who have a valid driver’s license to rent a car for a short period of time.
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