My Ultimate Megabus Travel Tips- The Adventuring Millennial

Not gonna lie, I swore off the Megabus.

There were too many delayed trips and I was just tired of riding a bus. But then, I moved to New York.

Traveling without a car is a lot more challenging than I initially realized. When we sold our car, I told my husband we would still take weekend trips. Rental cars would always be an option, right? But pricing rental cars (from New York especially) made weekend trips way too expensive. But I didn’t want to give up weekend trips.

That’s where my old friend the Megabus comes in.

Why Megabus

Honestly, the main reason I ride Megabus is the price. I’m a budget traveler after-all!

And Megabus isn’t all bad. I swear. But I’ve been riding Megabus for over 6 years. And some of those trips have been less than ideal. But that’s a risk you take with any form of transportation. I don’t know a traveler who hasn’t experienced a delayed flight, traffic jam, or cranky bus driver along the way.

So I put up with the less glamorous side of travel to save money. That’s really all it comes down to. I don’t need (and couldn’t afford) to fly first class. I just want to get out and explore. And if I need to take a bus to make that work, then I will take a bus.

Ok, so today I want to share my best Megabus travel tips with you. If you are living the budget travel life, read on. Megabus is an affordable option. And there are ways to make your bus trip enjoyable. Alright, let’s get started.

Book Early

What’s Megabus most known for? Their $1 tickets. And if you want a $1 ticket, you must book early.

Megabus releases their tickets in batches. Most routes include one $1 ticket. So, if you want to snag this ticket, you need to book as soon as the tickets are released. Follow Megabus on Twitter and Facebook for updates on new ticket releases.

And once you book, don’t lose your reservation number. This is your ticket. So, save that email. You’ll need to show the reservation number to your driver.

Don’t Be Fooled By The $1 Fares

But wait, wasn’t my first tip all about the $1 fare? Yes, and scoring these infamous tickets is possible. I’ve actually managed to snag a few $1 fares.

Just be prepared for the $2.50 booking fee. So realistically the cheapest ticket is $3.50. But that’s still a great price. And as I mentioned earlier, there is only one $1 ticket per route. So if you are booking with a friend, only one of you could get this price.

I guess we should know these things are sometimes too good to be true. Even though the Megabuses are wrapped with advertisements proclaiming the $1 ticket, these are few and far between. Be prepared to spend closer to $25-$50 each way (depending on your route).

Splurge For a Reserved Seat

Usually, I avoid travel upgrades. But trust me, the reserved Megabus seats are WORTH IT. Especially since you can upgrade to a reserved seat for just $1.

The reserved seats aren’t necessarily more comfortable than the other seats. You don’t get more legroom. But you do get peace of mind.

Especially on popular routes, people line up early for the Megabus. And trying to find two seats together can sometimes seem impossible.

But, if you reserve a seat, you don’t have to arrive as early. You know that you already have a seat. So for me, $1 is more than worth the time you save by not waiting in the Megabus line.

Don’t Count on the Wifi

Unfortunately, it almost never works. Yes, Megabus is proud to promote the fact that their buses offer wifi and charging ports. But, in my experience, the wifi is very unreliable. And I’ve had multiple drivers announce that they have no control over the wifi.

So, if the wifi does work, count it as a Megabus miracle.

Bring a Charger

Same deal, Megabus offers outlets at every seat. But you probably have a 50-50 chance of these actually working.

Of course, keep a charger with you. But don’t be surprised if your outlet doesn’t work. I think the driver does have control over the outlets. But if they forget to turn these on, your phone isn’t going to charge.

Pack Supplies

You might think I’m overreacting. But 12+ hours on a bus is a long time. You need to be prepared.

Food and drinks are allowed on the bus. Your driver might make a stop along the way, but who really knows. Pack your own snacks just in case.

Also, (going into mom-mode here) bring a sweatshirt. Maybe I’m just always cold, but the Megabuses seem chilly. And if your luggage is under the bus, you won’t be able to access it until your stop. So bring that sweatshirt with you.

Know the Luggage Requirements

Don’t overpack. Each passenger is allowed 1 carry on and 1 “checked” luggage.

I know, it seems like you might be able to sneak additional luggage onto a bus. But the drivers are pretty strict about this rule. You will be charged a hefty fee (if there is even room for your additional luggage).

Your carry on bag must fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. You checked luggage can’t exceed 50lbs and must be 62″ or less when adding the length+width+height dimensions. Just play along and follow the rules. And speaking of…

Respect the Rules

You will hear the Megabus rules. And sometimes the drivers seem annoying about these. But I’m sure it’s a tough job. They have to drive a bus and police the activity. Not that there are a ton of rule breakers on the buses. But every so often, I hear the driver tell a passenger to follow the rules. So just get ahead of the game and respect the rules. It just makes the ride smoother for everyone.

Some basic Megabus rules to remember:

Only use the back stairs when the bus is moving. Never use the front stairs when the bus is moving. You will block the driver’s view and it’s pretty unsafe.
Don’t talk to the driver when they are driving.
If you purchased a regular ticket, don’t move up to reserved seats.
Keep your conversations quiet (that includes phone calls too!)

Drivers might have their own rules too (like keeping your shoes on at all times). Show your driver and fellow passengers some respect and the trip will go smoothly.

Go with the Flow

Get into zen mode. Seriously, something will likely go wrong during your trip. I’m not saying this will be anything major, but Megabus can be unreliable. Your bus might be late, your trip could be delayed, or your driver might be cranky. You won’t always know the stops ahead of time. So, you might have an unscheduled hour-long lunch break in a Walmart parking lot. Or it might be a 30-min stop at a gas station. I’m really not sure how these are planned.

But just remember, Megabus is cheap. You are saving money. And they will get you to your destination. It just might take a little longer than planned sometimes.

Don’t be Surprised by the Pickup and Drop-Off Locations

You probably won’t use an actual bus station. Likely, your Megabus will pick you up or drop you off on the side of the road. It’s cool.

But, Megabus is getting better. Most of their stops at least have a Megabus sign designating the stop.

But factor this in if you decide to take an overnight bus. Do some pre-planning to determine where to go after you are dropped off on the side of the road.

Consider Different Routes

Megabus offers a fairly extensive network, especially on the East Coast. And, even though they aren’t always the best, they are cheap. So why not consider using Megabus to take an affordable day or weekend trip?

Use Megabus to visit new places. Play around on their route planner to find new places to explore. Since you are saving money on travel, you can splurge a little more once you get to the city.

Ok friends, now you know my 11 best Megabus travel tips. Have you used the Megabus before? What are your best tips? Let me know in the comments!