I'm trying to gather whether or not it would be realistic to see both ancient Mycenae as well as Epidaurus in one (long) day from Athens, using public transportation. There are many many guided tours that follow this path, but I'm hoping to be able to save some money and do it on my own.

Can anyone offer any advice?

http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh355.jsp?obj_id=2573

I visited Mycene and Epídavros from Nafplio. There is a good busconnection between Athens and Nafplio.
http://www.athensinfoguide.com/buslinessummer/busTT2.htm#KorininthosArgosNafplio
or www.athensinfoguide.com and select getting around.
If you want to see the sites I think its best to rent a room for 1 or 2 nights in Nafplio or Argos. Have a good time, maria

I answered you on another forum... you can do one or the other but not both as a day trip --- if you do not pay in money, you pay in time. Is your holiday so short you cannot spend overnight in Nafplio? Rooms re cheaper than in Athens.

Thanks for you responses (in both forums!) :)

It is not that we CANNOT afford, timewise, to spend a night in Nafplio, we're just suffering from the want to see as many places as possible.

The more research I do, the more I see that it would probably be better to do just as you suggest. This way we are not spending so much time trying to make bus connections that we miss enjoying the sites.

If time is the main problem, then rent a car and buy a good map! But a guided tour offers also interesting info that you can not access easily, unless you study a lot in printed tourist-guides. Also, I think there is no direct bus connection between Mycenae and Epidaurus.

I read that you also want to see Metéora and Delphi. All in one week ???
Save the Pelopponese for an other year and enjoy the mainland and visit the sites without your watch !!!!! maria
( I visited Metéora in one day from Thessaloníki and still regret that I didn't stay overnigh...)

Just did Mycenae trip today. I have to say it was rather boring. :(
I would not waste my time if I were you.
Spending some time in Meteora however was a highlight so far. We stayed for 2 nights at a small and gorgeous town of Kastraki (5 minute ride from the town of Kalampaka).