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Trains: The go-to method of transport between many Northeast cities is Amtrak. However, seats are nearly sold out and fares rival those of most flights. For example, round-trip fares between Boston and DC reach upwards of $340, only $20 less than a flight for a much longer ride. In addition, seats aren't always guaranteed. You could be required to stand or sit in the aisles on overcrowded trains. Also, in order to avoid overcrowding at stations, Amtrak is requesting that visitors not arrive more than an hour before their scheduled departure.

Automobiles: Road tripping to the inauguration could be one of the more cost-effective modes of transport if you're willing to brave DC's notorious-even-in-good-conditions traffic. A new website called TripVerde is helping to match up those looking for rides and those driving to DC. Riders pay a certain amount per mile based on the price of gas, a portion of which the company then pays to the driver. If you have a full car, the cost per person ends up being less than the cost of gas, and a portion of the money is donated to Teach for America. Craigslist is full of people looking for and offering similar ride shares. But neither site pre-screens people, so use caution.

Buses: Discount lines like Jaunted Award winner BoltBus have added extra buses but nearly all seats are sold out. Your best bet might be the Chinatown buses, which run between major East Coast cities like Boston, New York and Philadelphia. They don't guarantee seats when purchasing, so the buses never sell out ahead of time. However, you should plan to arrive at the buses extremely early (at least an hour ahead of scheduled departure) to be sure that you get a seat.

Cruise: You can take care of lodging, transportation and a tropical getaway by booking a berth on the Yes We Can 2009 Cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale on January 16 and returning on the 24. Rates start at $2,000 for the all-inclusive trip, which ends with a short stop-off in the Bahamas. But beware: Due to lack of bookings, the sailing could be canceled at any time.

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