The American Counties With No Public Transit At All
There are roughly 2,515 counties in the United States that don't have traditional public transit. There are no counties that have nothing, but many rely on a single private door-to-door service. In these cities, there are no scheduled stops, even fewer bus stops, and no trains to take people from one part of a city to another. Here are just a handful of the 2,515 counties, from rural ones like Custer County to a more populated area like Coffee County, Georgia.
White Pine, NV
White Pine County covers 8,905 square miles and accounts for nearly 8.1 percent of Nevada's total land surface area. It is a largely rural mountain county, with its county seat in Ely. It is home to Great Basin National Park and 14 federally designated wilderness areas. The county has no public transit system for the 8,661 people who live within its borders.
The only service is the Ely Bus Dial-A-Ride. It has no scheduled stops like a normal bus route, and you must schedule at least 24 hours in advance to ensure a ride.
Custer, MT
Custer County, Montana, is also a large rural county. The county seat is Miles City, where most residents live. When the county was formed, it was larger than the present state of Pennsylvania, but it has since shrunk. The county is now 3,783 square miles. Inside this county, there is no public transit, meaning that to get anywhere, a car is needed.
The only service is an on-demand small bus called Custer County Transit. It serves only the Miles City area unless you schedule it at least 72 hours in advance. There is a connection point in Miles City with Jefferson Lines, an intercity bus connection, but it must be booked in advance as well.
Holt, NE
A handful of counties in Nebraska don't have public transportation for residents. Holt County is one of them. The county covers 2,417 square miles, and its county seat is O'Neill. Most residents live in the county seat, where the main transportation hub is. However, it doesn't have a public transportation system like larger cities do. Everything is private or hospital-owned.
The three systems are Avera St. Anthony's system, Avera Creighton Hospital Transit Services, and Red Star Transport. Avera St. Anthony's serves mostly the elderly and disabled, but it is open to the general public. However, for each of them, you do have to call and schedule a ride, unlike a public transportation system.
Montgomery, KS
Montgomery County is located in Southeast Kansas and is one of the smaller counties on this list. It only has a land area of approximately 651 square miles. The county's most populous city is Coffeyville, while the county seat is Independence. There is no public transportation system, and everything runs on a schedule. There was at one point a start to a larger system, but it has since been suspended.
The ones now are the Four County Mental Health and the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, and each one requires a scheduled pickup.
Coffee, GA
Another populated area without a dedicated public transportation system is Coffee County, Georgia. It has 42,346 residents across 603 square miles. The county seat is Douglas, which is a metropolitan statistical area. It is another surprising member on this list with such a populated area because there is no standard public transportation system.
Coffee County relies on a rural demand-response public transit system. The SGRC Regional Transit is available to the general public on a scheduled system that requires a 24-hour notice.
Churchill, NV
Churchill County, Nevada, is also home to a micropolitan statistical area and still shares the fact that there is no public transportation. The county has a population of 25,851 as of 2025 and covers 5,024 square miles. Churchill Area Regional Transportation (CART) serves the area. CART offers rides that need to be booked at least 48 hours in advance. Residents can also book a trip to Reno and Carson City for a fare.
In many rural American counties, getting around without a car requires careful planning. While public transportation is available, it often comes with limited service hours, advance reservations, and long distances between destinations. These challenges can make everyday activities like grocery shopping, commuting, or attending medical appointments difficult. Although demand-response transit provides an important lifeline, these counties highlight the need for more accessible and reliable transportation options across rural America.
