NY to DC Bus Questions (New York, Union: transfer to, maintenance, price)

[fogger]

Looking to take a bus from NY into DC.
I will be coming into NY from CT by metro north.

1) Which bus lines go from NY to DC?
-I know Peter Pan/BoltBus/MegaBus...any others?

2) Considering I will be coming from Grand Central, are there any NY to DC buses departing nearby?

[bmwguydc]

There are a few companies that make the trip. Chinatown-bus.org has some of them listed. If you want to be Downtown, however, you're better off taking Bolt or Megabus because they drop you in a central location, right near Metro Center. Some others are in Chinatown, which requires a walk to the Metro, and Vamoose only stops in Arlington and Bethesda. One of buses makes several stops in DC, which can come in handy. Greyhound also makes the trip and drops you off in the Union Station area, where you can connect to the Metro.

The nearest bus departures are going to be the Port Authority or the Penn Station area.

I can say as a driver that I see the buses all the time on I-95 headed to/from NYC and the most rogue maneuvers and unsafe driving seem to be the independent buses, not Bolt/Greyhound, Peter Pan, or MegaBus.

[stax]

I would leave the Chinatown buses alone at all costs, coming and going. The maintenance record on their buses tends to be rather shabby, and because of all of the competition from the more upscale carriers, there is not that much of a price difference. I usually spend about 32-40 dollars round trip, and there is free wi-fi, and comfortable seating. The only drawback is the times that they leave and show up, and that's where Greyhound may be more convenient.

[NYStew]

Have you thought about Amtrak?

[Otis_Nevins]

I've taken the Chinatown buses and I think they're a good deal - if you're traveling alone and know where you're going. I completely second NYStew's mention of Amtrak. For less than $100 you can get from Penn Station to Union Station DC in a little more than three hours; it's pleasant, safe, fast and, if you know DC's Metro system, you won't have to look around much.

[bmwguydc]

If you're taking Amtrak, just take it all the way from Connecticut, on a Northeast Regional train. There's no need to take Metro-North to Manhattan, transfer to Penn, and then take Amtrak from there.

[fogger]

I'd take amtrak except round trip it is going to cost 150 or more.
Pass when I can probably do a bus (including metro north) for 65.

If I come by metro north into Grand Central...are there any bus departures right from there and if not, is Penn Station the closest likely departure zone?

[bmwguydc]

The closest departure point to GCT is going to be the Port Authority terminal. All you'd need to do is take the shuttle to Times Square, and then walk one block west to the bus terminal on 8th. That would be a departure point for Greyhound or Peter Pan.

The Penn station area (depending upon company) is the closest departure area to GCT for a "Chinatown" bus, be it Vamoose, Mega, or Bolt. Some Greyhounds leave from Penn, too, but the PA is closer.

[mayorofnyc]

Not trying to hijack...but does anyone know if the Amtrak service from Penn to DC is non-stop?

[bmwguydc]

All Amtrak trains from NYC to DC make stops, but some make fewer than others, with the Acela making the fewest stops, and Northeast regional trains making the most. Many of the named trains make limited stops between New York and DC, such as The Vermonter, Silver Meteor, etc.