It's doable, but I have no idea howto schedule a Greyhound or amtrak ride. 

ThatDudeintheHoodie wrote :

It's doable, but I have no idea howto schedule a Greyhound or amtrak ride.  -end quote

Just find your local station and buy it there, or go online. My Greyhound pickup was at a nearby gas station, I got both my trip there and return tickets a few days before at the gas station.

I mean like, when to schedule my departure and return. 

Look up the convention's dates, and then see what available trips they have around those dates.

So I'll get there by the date I set it to?, so if I set it to the Friday before the con, I'll get there that Friday. Am I right?

Basically yes. You get a ticket for departure from point A to point B for whatever date you want, and then you get a ticket for your return trip. Last time on the Monday before the trip I got a ticket for Friday and a return ticket for Sunday.

It was a blast last year, and very tempting to do again this year, but I will pass this year. I already have a dozen other trips lined up before then, so I don't think it would be possible.

I'll get my full of retro goodness at Fanboy Expo in Knoxville TN at the end of this month. They have some fun guests lined up including Gene Simmons, Ralph Machio, Lou Ferrigno, C. Thomas Howell, William Zabka (sweep the leg!), Brent Spiner, Loni Anderson, Kevin Sorbo, the cast of CHiPs, Amy Jo Johnson, Jason David Frank, Tony Dow (Wally), Jonathon Ke Quan, Sting, Lita, Scott Steiner, Jim Duggan, Alan Oppenheimer, George Lowe (voice of Space Ghost), Melendy Britt (voice of She-Ra), and a G.I. Joe cartoon voices cast reunion! It's quite the retro lineup.

Once I get the transportation sorted, There is a very good chance I'll be going. 

I'm only an hour away, so thankfully transportation won't be an issue. I'd probably only take advantage of the lodging if enough of you guys showed up. 

I wasn't available last time...I'll be looking to see how I can work this into my summer schedule!