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DC to NYC: Which Bus Line Is Best?

Travel isn’t getting any cheaper these days. Try a bus to New York for fares as cheap as $1.

By Sonia Harmon Published Thursday, November 13, 2008

Travel isn’t getting any cheaper these days. The combination of gas prices and increased airplane and train fares is enough to make you rethink your weekend getaway. But there’s an increasingly popular way to get out of Washington for a few days on the cheap: a bus trip to New York City. Rides take about 4½ hours and round-trip fares typically cost $35 to $50—sometimes you can even score fares as cheap as $1.

There have been Greyhounds as well as buses departing from Chinatown for several years now, but the competition has recently grown. New bus lines have begun to pop up, and riders are realizing they have more options.

Matthew Yglesias, a senior editor at the Center for American Progress, has been riding buses to New York from Washington for five years and has tried four different bus lines. “Over time, the services and amenities have steadily improved as a result of competition,” he says. “The introduction of wi-fi on some lines and electrical outlets on BoltBus is a big step forward, especially for someone in my line of work.”

Ultimately, it comes down to how much money you’re willing to fork over. A ticket on a cheaper bus line, such as Chinatown’s Apex Bus, costs $20 one-way or $35 round-trip. But if you’re willing to spend $28 one way or $50 round-trip for a more pricey line such as DC2NY (whose slogan is “The Upscale Bus”), you’ll get free bottled water, free wi-fi, a vote for the movie played during the trip, and the guarantee of a clean restroom.

A few extra bucks don’t guarantee a smooth ride, however. All of the buses have their share of complaints. Take it from Carra Fowlkes, a legal assistant in Washington, who has taken trips on both ends of the price scale but favors DC2NY. When asked about her worst experience with a bus to New York, she says, “It’s a tie. Once on the Chinatown bus, the door was broken and swung open and closed the entire ride. Once on a DC2NY ride, the driver left someone at a rest stop when he was 34 seconds late.”

Most regular bus riders will agree, however, that your experience on almost any bus can be hit or miss. Still, some lines have earned reputations. Chinatown buses are said to be cheap and fast but not the most comfortable or convenient. BoltBus and DC2NY are some of the newer lines that have generally positive reviews for their wi-fi and convenient bus stops. Vamoose bus line takes passengers from Arlington and Bethesda to New York and back, which appeals to Virginia and Maryland riders.

John Spykerman, a Foreign Service officer with the State Department who takes the bus to New York every other month, started with Greyhound in 2000. Now he uses some of the newer lines. “One time,” he says, “we made it from DC to New York City in three hours and 50 minutes on a $15 ticket, with a departure just four blocks from my house. If that could happen every time, there’d be no comparison with planes, trains, or cars.”

Sometimes there are problems that are out of anyone’s control, from traffic jams to flat tires. But really, how much should be expected of these buses? You’re saving money, and some lines even offer fares as low as $1 if you buy your ticket early enough.

There’s no sure way to avoid a bumpy ride, but to get you started we’ve created a guide to help you decide which bus is most convenient for you. Your next decision? What to do during your weekend in the Big Apple.

Have you had a particularly good or bad experience on one of the DC-to-New York bus lines? Tell us in the comments!

Company: BoltBus.
Web site: boltbus.com.
Online price: $1 to $25 one way, depending on the demand for each trip.
Walkup price: $25.
Free wi-fi? Yes.
Number of Friday trips to New York: 16.
Number of Sunday trips to DC: 16.
DC bus stop: 11th and G sts., NW.
New York bus stops: 33rd St. and Seventh Ave.; Canal St. and Sixth Ave.
More: Each seat has an identification number, so if you purchase your ticket online, your seat is guaranteed.

Company: DC2NY.
Web site: dc2ny.com.
Online price: $28 one way, $50 round-trip.
Walkup price: $30.
Free wi-fi? Yes.
Number of Friday trips to New York: Seven, with expanded holiday service.
Number of Sunday trips to DC: Six, with expanded holiday service.
DC bus stops: Dupont Circle; 14th St. between H and I sts., NW.
New York bus stop: W. 34th St. between Seventh and Eighth aves.
More: DC2NY members (registration is free) pay $46 round-trip and $25 one way.

Company: Megabus.
Web site: megabus.com/us.
Online price: $1 to $24, depending on the demand for each trip.
Walkup price: $14 to $24, depending on the day of the trip and the demand. Sold only for trips from New York to DC.
Free wi-fi? Yes.
Number of Friday trips to New York: 14.
Number of Sunday trips to DC: 14.
DC bus stop: 11th G sts., NW.
New York bus stop: 31st St. and Eighth Ave.
More: Buses stop in Baltimore.

Company: Apex Bus.
Web site: apexbus.com.
Online price: $20 one way, $35 round-trip.
Walkup price: $20 one way, $35 round-trip.
Free wi-fi? Yes, on some buses.
Number of Friday trips to New York: 18.
Number of Sunday trips to DC: 20.
DC bus stop: 610 I St., NW.
New York bus stops: 252 W. 31st St.; 13 Allen St. (in Chinatown).
More: Buses often stop in Baltimore.

Posted at Thursday, November 13, 2008 | By Sonia Harmon

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Comments

It’s great to see that bus companies are making efforts to give travelers more options for their inter-city transits!

Just wanted to share that I found info for schedules and prices here: http://www.busbud.com/en/bus-schedules/Washington,DC,UnitedStates/NewYork,UnitedStates and it was a big help!

Hope this will help someone else out :)

Posted by: Kimberley, Jan 13, 2012 01:35:35 PM

DC2NY is one of the worst bus companies to choose from. They are 1 for 3 in my experiences of actually showing up or getting me to the correct location. The other experience they were an hour late. Recently I booked a trip with them from Vienna Metro Station to NYC. 2 Hours later the bus still had not shown up. Customer service stated that they did not know when a bus would show up. Oh i should mention it was 28 degree’s that morning and standing outside for 2 hours sucks. I ended up driving myself up to NYC.

Posted by: Aj, Nov 23, 2011 10:55:16 AM

Hi, thanks for the post.
I dont Like gotobus.com
I like Washington Deluxe

Posted by: Eugenio, Jul 28, 2011 01:46:15 PM

Bolt Bus driver arrested on N.J. Turnpike for DWI, speeding
By myFOXny.com
March 14, 2011 8:12 PM
NEW YORK — A bus driver on the Bolt Bus line that connects New York City to other cities on the East Coast was arrested on the New Jersey Turnpike after a frightened passenger called 911 to report that he appeared to be drunk, myFOXny.com reported Monday.

The passenger was aboard the Bolt Bus traveling from New York to Washington, D.C., on one of the heaviest traveled highways in the US and made the call around 2:45pm ET Friday.

A state trooper caught up with the bus in the southbound lanes of the turnpike and observed it traveling about 80 miles an hour. It was following cars at dangerously close distances, illegally riding in the left lane, and improperly changing lanes.

Driver Elia Rodriguez, 46, was arrested after he failed a field sobriety and breathalyzer tests. The trooper also found an open container of alcohol in the driver’s area of the bus.

A state police spokesman says that Rodriguez’s blood alcohol level was "well over" the legal limit. Along with the drunken driving charge, Rodriguez faces reckless driving and other charges.

Another driver was eventually brought to the bus so the 48 passengers could continue their journey. Bolt offers routes between New York and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New Jersey and Boston. It markets fares as low as $1 per trip and provides free Wi-Fi to customers onboard.

Bolt did not reply to an email requesting comment.

The incident occurred one day before a bus headed from a Connecticut casino to New York City overturned in a high-speed accident that left 15 people dead. The driver in that accident passed a sobriety test.

Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com

Posted by: Angry Traveler, Apr 05, 2011 06:36:48 PM

DC2NY has 2 bus stops in Virginia aside from the one in DC. Actually, the bus trip starts at the Vienna VA Metro station and makes a stop at the Fraconia/ Springfield VA Metro Station before proceeding to NYC. Coming back to VA, the bus makes a stop at the same MEtro staion before ending at the Vienna VA Metro station.

Posted by: Alan, Mar 02, 2011 09:29:46 AM

My family and I took the DC2NY bus to NYC last Thanksgiving weekend. It was a last-minute trip but worth it.
We boarded the bus in Virginia (Vienna Metro station). Because it was a day before Thanksgiving, there was traffic along the way and when we got to NYC. The whole trip took 6 hours total due to holiday traffic. Coming back to VA took around 5 hours. The ride in both directions were comfortable. We had one stop for food or bathroom use both ways. On board, we were given one bottled water each, one Ferrero Rocher chocolate each, voted for one movie out of 5 choices, and to make a stop or not. Wi-fi was available. The bus restroom was for liquid waste only. Definitely will take DC2NY again because of price of bus ride ($55 each person round trip)and location of bus stop at a VA Metro station.

Posted by: Alan, Mar 02, 2011 09:12:10 AM

Watch Megabus!! My last trip was horrible: 3 hours delay to leave waiting ourside in the cold, then 1hr waiting for the driver to switch...I arrived 4 horus later to destination.
Also, the electric outlets didn’t work, so forget about using computers...it was a nightmare!! Ah, no compensation, apologies....Horrible!
We were cold, tired and starving!

Posted by: Maria, Jan 28, 2011 01:43:28 PM

We bought tickets on Apex bus from Baltimore to NYC and the bus never showed. We waited on some dirt hill across the street from the actual bus station in the cold rain for 2 hours and it never showed up. When we asked for our money back they denied us and we reported them to the Better Business Bureau. Awful business. Awful customer service.

Posted by: Amy, Jan 09, 2011 07:59:13 AM

I have taken Washington Deluxe from DC to NY and have always been satisfied with the service, timeliness, and their customer service. Recently, I booked with Bolt Bus but had to cancel due to a family emergency. I called their customer service and the agent unilaterally rescheduled my trip and was of no help at all. So, I lost my fare. Thank goodness, it was just a one way fare. I will not book with Bolt Bus again!

When I had to cancel a trip with Washington Deluxe, the agent told me I could reschedule my trip anytime and to email them when I was ready to take the trip. Amazingly helpful!

Posted by: CAngeles, Oct 12, 2010 04:53:36 PM

I had a good experience with the Bolt Bus going to Washington. It wasn’t crowded and it was clean. Also, I took an earlier bus to get to washington earlier. But my experience coming back to NY on the Bolt bus is a different story. I took the earlier bus than my scheduled time to depart. The bus depart 15 minutes late and it was full. I sat next to the bathroom because it was the only seat available. By the time we got to NY, there were 25 visits to the bathroom and 25 times my knee got hit. The smell and the lack of washing hands is enough to convince me next time I want to leave early to make sure other seats are available or just leave at the time I schedule my trip. I would use the Bolt Bus again with extra care. By the way, the wireless was great.

Posted by: Iris, Jun 23, 2010 02:50:26 PM

I ridden BoltBus and DC2NY. DC2NY is by far a better ride.

I rode on BoltBus on May 1st and it was the worst experience ever. The bathroom wasn’t clean. The bus had an odd smell. The driver seemed a bit incompetent. The outlets didn’t work. The air wasn’t working. I understand some things going wrong, but EVERYTHING.

I’ve ridden DC2NY and my only complaint with that bus would have been the driver on a November outing. He gave us the option of whether or not to stop. When we opted not to stop, he stated he gets the final say and we’re stopping. With that, we didn’t understand why he even gave us the option.

Choose DC2NY. It costs more, but you get what you pay for.

Posted by: SYLT, Jun 02, 2010 07:14:17 PM

I’ve taken the DC2NY bus a few times and have had great experiences each time. The buses were clean, the rides were smooth and on-time and the drivers were wonderful -- very friendly and very helpful. I only wish they would branch out and have a stop in Northern VA (but then I guess they would have to change their name to the VA2NY bus??)

I’m completely satisfied with the DC2NY bus line and highly recommend it.

Posted by: Pamela C., May 02, 2010 06:50:49 AM

i need to find a way to get to Chantilly, Virginia
from new york city.
the cheapest way i will be leaving june 10, cause i gotta be there on june 11- june 13th 2010.
my email is macfaulcon@yahoo.com
thanks

Posted by: thomas, Apr 25, 2010 12:16:57 PM

I agree with the previous-one bus I would currently avoid would be Vamoose. I recently took them a couple of days ago, and the bus was filthy with trash, the bathroom was disgusting and the door was broken, and no rest stop-even though the driver saved no time on the trip. This is one of the more expensive buses at $60 roundtrip-to be avoided at all costs.

Posted by: Monique, Apr 11, 2010 04:30:09 AM

megabus has very modern, 2 decker buses. their prices are competitive and the parking is safe. its a park n ride near the ikea in white marsh, md

Posted by: john fisher, Mar 01, 2010 01:54:29 AM

I was one caught with the BoltBus change in leaving NYC on Thanksgiving 2009. Only time I have had a problem with Bolt. It worked out fine and we got home pretty much on schedule.

Posted by: Ray, Dec 01, 2009 08:17:18 AM

Boltbus dropped the ball on the way back to DC from NYC on Thanksgiving by changing the pickup location and not bothering to notify any of its customers. They managed to consolidate the DC and Baltimore routes in order to get people to their destinations, but only after a lot of frustration and angst via phone. This also delayed the departure time by 45 minutes.

I’d recommend skipping this line until they get their act together.

Posted by: K Miller, Nov 26, 2009 04:06:21 PM

I bought a roundtrip on Apex for this weekend. I arrived at 13 Allen Street this morning to find the office closed. No one answered the phone and the driver of the bus that pulled up couldn’t answer any questions. When he realized the office was closed, he drove off. No one at the other chinatown bus stops knew what was going on. I finally got through on the phone to someone at the DC number who said that Apex had merged with another company and had cancelled some of its trips. He advised me to request a refund via the website. Of course, that would imply that the contact info on the website actually allowed you to contact them. I’m a big fan of the Chinatown buses but they have my email from when I ordered the ticket. Why not just send me a message?

Posted by: Brenda, Feb 16, 2009 06:46:31 PM

Mega Bus is nice but outlets are hard to come by. Bolt has them at every seat. The wireless wasn’t working on one leg of the Bolt trip and the driver had no clue how to fix it or who to call. But when it does work, that’s a nice ride. (I prefer the bus to the NYC 6th street stop, as those buses are rarely crowded. You are right near a subway stop.)

Megabus also leaves from a park and ride north of Maryland in case you need to leave your car overnight. Megabus also has a great schedule with frequent trips.

If you need the internet and power, go Bolt. Otherwise either is a clean, nice ride.

Posted by: Monica, Nov 22, 2008 06:18:18 PM

DC to NYC: Which Bus Line Is Best?

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