East Coast Budget Bus Lines: Which Is Best?

There are a number of budget bus lines to choose from in the United States, particularly in the Northeast corridor between Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Megabus, Bolt, Peter Pan, Greyhound and several others advertise cheap fares and fast service, but not every line is ideal for every travel situation.

When choosing a bus, a few factors to consider are comfort, price and safety. Greyhound is one of the most extensive and well-established bus networks in the country, including stops at more remote locales than other lines. Megabus has extended its number of stops over the past several years, making it now possible to travel from Maine to New Orleans on their vehicles. For a combination of price and versatility, Megabus is hard to match, but be advised spending the night squished between the seats will probably not be the most comfortable of your life.

Other lines like Bolt and Vamoose have comparable ticket prices, but include fewer destinations. Some of the China Town bus lines used to offer fares of only $15 between New York City and Boston, but Fung Wah (one of the largest of these companies) recently suspended services.