Cheap Bus Travel Between Boston and New York City

It is possible to travel cheaply between Boston and New York City, less than the cost of a restaurant meal. There are two private inexpensive bus companies that run between New York City and Boston, downtown to downtown in four hours.

COST:
The fare is a mere $15 each way, which is cheaper than the tank of gas it costs to drive between the two cities or a day’s parking in either city. With the current cost of gas, two people can travel together on the bus roundtrip more cheaply than driving in one car and parking for the day. Buses leave hourly and no reservations are required. During peak times a bus also leaves on the half hour. If being on the bus at a particular time is critical, both companies have web sites for advanced ticket purchase at the additional cost of 75 cents.

TIME:
The ride between the cities is usually four hours. There is a short rest stop at one of Connecticut’s rest areas for a toilet stop (though there is a toilet on the bus), grab some fast food, and a cigarette or two for the smokers. If traffic is bad the trip takes longer. During a fierce rainstorm and stop-and-go I-95 traffic, the longest commute I have experienced is five and a half hours. But this is unusual. If your arrival time is crucial then plan to take an earlier bus or pay five times the price of the bus and take Amtrak.

QUIET:
The trip on the bus is quiet. I have ridden this bus several times during all times of the day and night, it has always been quiet enough to sleep even for this light sleeper. People talk in hushed tones, even on their cell phones. People generally find a seat, put on their iPods, pull out a book or a laptop or just fall to sleep. Before taking the bus I was worried the bus would be packed with noisy college revelers. The passengers are a diverse group of all ages, means and reasons for traveling. The one common factor of all passengers on all trips I have taken is the respect of others’ privacy and need for quiet, even the college revelers. Seriously, this is a quiet, easy way to travel.