Cheap Bus NYC-DC
October 10, 2009 3:48 PM   Subscribe

Cheap buses from NYC to Washington D.C.? The question's been asked and answered in the past, but I'm wondering if that information is outdated. Thanks!
posted by mixer to Travel & Transportation (16 answers total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
We took Megabus last time we went to DC, and because we booked well enough in advance, our tickets were pretty cheap (mine was only $2.50 round trip).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 3:51 PM on October 10, 2009


My friends usually take the Bolt from and to NYC. They like it. Free wifi, allegedly, but I've heard mixed things about how well it works. It also seems to be on a sliding scale -- cheap fares when you can get them.

I usually do Vamoose since the schedule/drop-off points are better for me on the DC end. It's $25, payable in cash or check, and no reservation is required (I've made them, but no one has ever asked me to show proof). I have no complaints with them, but you may want something cheaper.
posted by darksong at 3:56 PM on October 10, 2009


http://www.mvpbus.com/

$20 one way, payable upfront.
posted by schmichael at 4:06 PM on October 10, 2009


Seconding what darksong says about the Bolt Bus. I haven't taken it, but friends who have do so for the wifi, which indeed is not super-reliable.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 4:09 PM on October 10, 2009


Yeah, if you can get the Bolt Bus or Megabus, go for it. If you need a bus in a pinch, though, just walk down near Canal street and there's $35 round-trip buses leaving about every hour or so.
posted by amicamentis at 4:22 PM on October 10, 2009


A friend at work scored some of those $1.00 each way tickets from DC to NY on either Bolt or Mega, but when I tried for an upcoming trip there weren't any available for the days that I wanted to travel. She said the bus was fine though.

I've taken the DC2NY bus and find them to be a step above Bolt (haven't tried Mega) or the other Chinatown buses, with regard to cleanliness at least. And the times I've taken them they were very reliable. If you become a member (which means setting up a login and password on their website), one way tickets bought on line are $25.00 each way. Their price list and pickup/drop off points are available on their website. I know that there pickups in DC are Dupont Circle and somewhere on H ST; I forget exactly where their pickups/dropoffs are in NY but it was convenient to Midtown, maybe near Madison Garden? They also have free wi-fi (the driver announces the password) but I didn't test it out so I can't speak to it's reliability.

If you're up for a little splurge for more comfort and a shorter trip, Amtrak has continued a special that they had going this summer, $49.00 each way if you buy your tickets 14 days in advance. Yeah, it's 2x as much as the bus, but a lot cheaper than the normal fare and cheap enough that to me the extra comfort and one less hour of travel can be worth it depending on how long I've got in NYC and my financial situation at the time.
posted by kaybdc at 5:38 PM on October 10, 2009


Megabus has WiFi on at least some of theirs too, according to a friend who took one on the Boston end. The WiFI worked most of the time, but the bus broke down. YMMV.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:54 PM on October 10, 2009


I like boltbus personally because there are power outlets at almost all the seats. In my experience, the internet is fine for checking email, but not good for heavy lifting.
posted by mercredi at 7:31 PM on October 10, 2009


Bolt Bus (run by Greyhound) and Megabus (run by Coach) are both very good and more-or-less interchangeable. Both have free WiFi. Bolt used to be the only one with power outlets in the seats, but Mega has them on most buses now too.

DC2NY is OK, but has fewer buses and drivers, so if something goes wrong they have less options. I was on a Megabus that broke down and Coach sent a backup bus to meet us at a rest stop -- no biggie.

And honestly the Greyhound isn't all that bad, especially if you check the schedule and grab a Peter Pan bus.
posted by meta_eli at 8:48 PM on October 10, 2009


nthing bolt bus

when i was in DC I used it once w/ good luck but both of my roommates used it all the time (one's brother live in NYC and went up there all the time, the other one would catch a ride from a friend in NYC to Boston - and thats the *only* bus they would use...)
posted by knockoutking at 9:02 PM on October 10, 2009


I've had experience with Bolt & Megabus, the Megabus to Philly sucked - stood in line forever outside in the heat waiting for an almost 2 hour late bus...

Bolt has the outlets by the seats & I've just had better experience with them being on time. The wifi was iffy, but I ended up just watching DVDs. Warning - coming back to NYC on a Sunday they may say that it only takes 4 hours but it took about 5 and half.
posted by witchstone at 9:56 PM on October 10, 2009


The Washington Post did this great story about a year ago, providing breakdowns of the costs and amenities of the major bus lines.
posted by decathecting at 1:35 AM on October 11, 2009


And the New York Times version.
posted by decathecting at 1:39 AM on October 11, 2009


If you're travelling at a busy time, I recommend Bolt Bus. You have to pay in advance, but that means that if you show up on time you are guaranteed a seat on the bus that you reserved for. As opposed to some other buses, where it's a mess of people trying to make a line and get on the bus (more or less) first come first served, and if you're not early enough, you have to wait till the company can arrange to get a back up bus there.

The wifi and outlets are another plus.
posted by Salamandrous at 9:02 AM on October 11, 2009


I've taken Megabus several times, but not to DC (yet). However, my experiences with them were completely positive. The buses were on time and got in just fine. I don't own a laptop, so I can't grade the WiFi, but the plugs came in handy for my phone (note they are on the lower level). I think the code "hotdeal" still works for trips until sometime next month. It lets you search for $1 seats.
posted by cmgonzalez at 10:05 AM on October 11, 2009


Response by poster: Thanks for all your help , people. But I never ended up going!
Good advice from all, though!
posted by mixer at 4:57 PM on November 13, 2009


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