Attending college far away

I’m attending college far away (7 hour drive, 400 miles). I only recently found that freshmen cannot have vehicles on campus due to parking situation. I asked about exemptions but distance does not qualify. I should qualify for staying in the dorm during short breaks due to the distance (Fall and Spring Break) that I found on their website.

My parent is a single parent who has taken time off work to help me move in, but they are worried about when it’s time to come home for Winter break and then go back to for Spring semester and how to get that much time off. In a pinch, the drive could be done in a day if I drive one way while they rest and then they drive back, I guess. The other option is probably Greyhound bus.

What do other long distance students do without vehicles?