Worldwide Bus Travel Tips

Who are the Major Bus Providers in the USA & How They Compare?

This article was updated on September, 2022.

In the United States, bus travel is often seen as a cheaper and more convenient alternative to flying or driving. Bus companies offer a variety of services, from long-distance trips between cities to short-distance shuttle services between airports and hotels.

When it comes to bus travel in the USA, the biggest icon is Greyhound bus company, America’s flagship service. Yet, particularly in rural areas and the heart of the US, travelers will come across other bus providers.

The companies can be differentiated according to the areas they serve, their target clientele, and their pricing. In the Northeast, Peter Pan Bus Lines dominates the landscape, but competes with companies like Ourbus.

Trailways and Jefferson Lines are bus companies that can majorly be found in the heart of the US, as they serve routes between regional cities and rural areas. In Florida and Texas, a premium bus provider, RedCoach, offers rides in three different classes. And many more add to that list.

Some of those companies operate the same route. Free Wi-Fi, power outlets, a restroom, air conditioning and reclinable seats are now standard features on most buses.

But if they seem to have the same amenities and serve the same route, what makes one bus line better than another? In general, there are a few things to consider when choosing which bus line is best for you.

Here is a comparison of the coverage, booking options, and amenities for the major bus companies in the USA:

Greyhound

Known for: Its iconic logo and vast coverage, Greyhound is the biggest bus company in the United States. They cover all states except Alaska and Hawaii.

Coverage: Over 2.400 destinations in the US cover most of the country

Amenities: Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms, air conditioning, reclining seats.

Are tickets refundable?: No, but the date & time can be changed. A $20 fee may apply.

Boarding requirements: Print OR E-ticket & a valid photo ID.

The company was acquired in late 2021 by Flixbus, a major European bus service provider that started operating in the USA in 2018. However, the Greyhound brand will remain in business.

Adirondack Trailways

Known for: Their popular Montreal – NYC route and for their customer service. Clients can easily reach the company by email, phone, Facebook, or Twitter and will receive a quick response.

Coverage: 49 cities, with routes between rural areas and major cities in the heart of New York state, as well as Montreal and Toronto, in Canada. The company is part of Trailways of New York.

Amenities: Reclinable seats, reading lights, Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms on most buses, air conditioning, wheelchair lift, and extra leg room.

Are tickets refundable?: No, but the date & time can be changed. A $20 fee may apply.

Boarding requirements: Printed ticket & a valid photo ID.

If you travel with Trailways, know that this is an association of about 60 different regional bus companies. They are mostly recognizable through a similar logo – the Trailways logo. If booked online, the refund and exchange policy remains the same. If you book at a bus terminal, it may be different for each bus company. When changing from one provider to another, fees may incur for baggage within the usual limits of the first provider.

Jefferson Lines

Known for: Being a major bus provider in the heart of the US, serving 14 states from North Dakota down to Texas.

Coverage: Arkansas, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Amenities: Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms, air conditioning, reclinable seats.

Are tickets refundable?: No, but the date & time can be changed. A $20 fee may apply.

Boarding requirements: Printed ticket & a valid photo ID.

Peter Pan

Known for: its name, which was inspired by the founder’s favorite bedtime story, Peter Pan.

Coverage: 34 destinations in the northeast of the US, across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia.

Amenities: Wi-Fi on most buses, power outlets on most buses, restrooms, air conditioning.

Are tickets refundable?: No, but the date and time can be changed for a fee that can vary from $5 to $20.

Boarding requirements: E-ticket (with bar code or QR Code) & a valid photo ID.

RedCoach

Known for: Its premium bus rides in three different classes.

Coverage: Major destinations in Florida (Miami, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, etc.) and Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston and more).

Amenities: All Classes: High-speed Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms, air conditioning, lap trays. First & Business Class: Reclinable leather seats (140 degrees), footrests, LCD screens. First Class only: Snack boxes.

Are tickets refundable?: Yes, standard tickets can be refunded with a 30% service fee, while flexible tickets can be refunded without fees, with both fares refundable up to three hours before departure.

Boarding requirements: To board the bus, you must provide photo identification matching all information provided during booking. Presenting a physical or electronic ticket is optional.

Barons bus

Known for: their comfortable buses connecting main cities in the Midwest.

Coverage: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Amenities: Wi-Fi, reclining seats, power outlets, GPS tracking, footrest, restrooms and flatscreen monitors

Are tickets refundable? Generally, no, but the company might be flexible in case of emergencies. You can reissue your tickets before travel time by paying a fee.

Boarding requirements: printed ticket and photo ID.

BestBus

Known for: providing comfortable rides between NYC and DC.

Coverage: New York City and Washington, DC, with stops in Northern VA (Franconia-Springfield, Vienna-Fairfax and Manassas).

Amenities: Wi-Fi, power outlets on most buses, restrooms, air conditioning.

Are tickets refundable? The company does not offer refunds, but you can make changes to your reservations up to 12 hours before the trip at no cost.

Boarding requirements: E-ticket and valid photo I.D

OurBus

Known for: its flexible rescheduling policy and good customer service.

Coverage: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida.

Amenities: modern buses, estimated time of arrival tracking in real-time, free Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats, sanitized restrooms and free bottled water.

Are tickets refundable: Yes. Customers can get all their money back up to 24 hours before the departure and full credit up to 30 minutes before the trip.

Boarding requirements: online tickets and photo ID.

Go Buses

Known for: providing first-class inter-city bus service between Boston, New York City (Midtown Manhattan) and Washington, DC

Coverage: Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island & Connecticut, New York & New Jersey, Manhattan

Amenities: clean bathrooms, reclining seats with footrests, reading lights, temperature control system, overhead luggage storage compartments and free Wi-Fi.

Boarding requirements: e-tickets and photo ID.

Southeastern Stages

Known for: their friendly and courteous staff.

Coverage: Major destinations in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina

Amenities: Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms, air conditioning

Are tickets refundable? Tickets are fully refundable if you cancel up to 14 days before your trip. If you wish to change the date of your trip, you’ll be charged a small fee.

Boarding requirements: To board the bus, you must have a printed ticket. You also have to provide photo identification matching all information provided during booking.

What can you expect from most USA bus companies:

Amenities:

Free Wi-Fi, power outlets, a restroom, air conditioning, and reclinable seats are the standard on most buses in the USA. Also, they all offer the possibility to book online.

Rescheduling:

The date and time of tickets can usually be changed against a fee, though some companies are flexible and reschedule tickets for free prior to 24 hours before departure.

Boarding requirements:

Printed tickets are becoming a thing of the past, but some companies still require them for boarding the bus, so don’t forget to check that when planning your trip.

Also, remember that you’ll always need a photo ID to board the bus.