Quick Answer
How Do People Get to a Family Reunion?
Most guests drive themselves. For out-of-state family, suggest nearby airports with directions to the venue. Consider a group shuttle from the hotel to the venue if parking is limited.
The Realistic Breakdown: How Guests Actually Arrive
For most family reunions, especially those held in a central home-state location, the transportation picture is simpler than people expect. The vast majority of guests will drive — often carpooling from the same general area. Your main job is making sure everyone knows exactly where to go and has what they need before they leave home.
Drive (local, under 2 hrs)
~60% of guests
Carpool where possible; share driving directions in your invitation
Drive (road trip, 2–6 hrs)
~25% of guests
These guests often stay overnight — have hotel block info ready
Fly in
~10% of guests
Include airport options and rental car or shuttle info
Train / bus / rideshare
~5% of guests
Useful for guests who no longer drive — note nearest station
Planning for Out-of-State Guests
Out-of-state guests need more information than local ones. When you send your invitations, include:
Nearest major airports
List 1–3 airports with drive times to the venue. For example: 'Closest airport: Nashville (BNA), 45 minutes. Alternate: Huntsville (HSV), 75 minutes.'
Car rental options
Mention that car rentals are available at each airport. Most out-of-state guests already know this, but it removes ambiguity.
Hotel and shuttle info
If you have a room block, include the booking link and explain whether a shuttle runs between the hotel and venue.
Directions to the venue
Don't just give an address. Include which entrance to use, any GPS quirks, and where to park after arrival. Include a Google Maps link.
Should You Run a Hotel-to-Venue Shuttle?
A shuttle from the hotel to the venue makes sense when: (1) the venue has limited parking, (2) the hotel and venue are 1–5 miles apart, or (3) you have a significant number of elderly guests or guests who don't want to navigate an unfamiliar area.
A rented 15-passenger van driven by a reliable family member is the simplest and cheapest option. Run pickup from the hotel lobby 30–45 minutes before the reunion starts, then return trips at the end of the day. Two or three round trips is usually enough.
If the group is large or you want a more professional setup, many areas have charter van services that handle group transportation for a few hundred dollars per day. Get quotes from 2–3 services; prices vary widely.
Guests Who No Longer Drive
Older family members who no longer drive often need help attending reunions — and they're frequently the guests everyone most wants to see. A few things that help:
✓ Pair them with a nearby family member who can provide a ride
✓ Build hotel shuttle scheduling around their needs
✓ Let them know their transportation is handled in the invitation — reduce anxiety
✓ For very elderly relatives, consider having someone stay with them throughout the day
How Reunly Helps
Reunly's guest portal gives every attendee a single place to find venue directions, hotel booking links, shuttle schedules, and any other travel information you want to share. Instead of managing transportation questions through a barrage of texts and calls, you post the details once and guests check the portal. When plans change — and they often do — you update it in one place and everyone sees the latest.
🚀 With Reunly
Give every guest a travel guide in one link
Reunly's guest portal holds directions, hotel info, shuttle times, and everything else travelers need — no group chat chaos.
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Reunly makes it easy to keep every guest informed — from driving directions to shuttle schedules.
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