Best Buses to Take when Traveling Between Baltimore and New York City

Buses between Baltimore and New York City are often an inexpensive alternative to flying or taking a train, and there are quite a few companies that profit off of cheap bus fares. While many of bus companies traveling between Baltimore and New York City can seem a little sketchy, there are a few that are cheap and legitimate. Keep in mind, however, that it is not uncommon for busses to run late because of traffic they encounter on their trip.

Bolt Bus

Of all of the bus trips I've taken between Baltimore and New York City, I have enjoyed my trips on Bolt Bus the most. They are often the most timely, and you are dropped of dead center in the middle of Baltimore, not on the outskirts like many other bus companies. When boarding, you are also given a boarding group so that there is not a mass rush to get onto the bus; this definitely reduces stress levels when loading your suitcase and boarding the bus. The Bolt Buses have taken have never been full, and when my Bolt Bus was in an accident, I was promptly refunded my fare after contacting the company.

When boarding a Bolt Bus in Baltimore, you will wait in line behind Baltimore Penn Station at 1610 St. Paul St. There is a sign on the sidewalk that marks where you should wait for the bus. In New York City, you'll board the bus going to Baltimore at 33^rd and 7^th in front of a Famiglia Pizza. There are almost always people already waiting there to board the bus, so you'll know exactly where to stand to wait for your bus.

The cost to ride a Bolt Bus is often between $10 and $20. If you book your ticket earlier, you'll get a cheaper fare and an earlier boarding number, so if you know you'll be traveling far in advance, book your ticket early to save yourself money and so you can get the seat you want.

MegaBus

MegaBus advertises that their fares are as low as $1 each way with a 50 cent booking fee, but if you want to actually pay such a low bus fare, you'll need to buy your ticket far in advance as there is a very limited number of these inexpensive tickets. Depending on when you book, I have seen the prices range from $1 to $30 each way, so make sure you book early when you're traveling with MegaBus.

Another important thing to note when traveling between Baltimore and New York City is that it does not actually drop you off in Baltimore but rather in the White Marsh Park & Ride, which is about 45 minutes outside of Baltimore. Make sure that your ride is able to pick you up from White Marsh instead of inside of Baltimore. In New York City, the MegaBus drops you off directly in front of Penn Station at 31^st St. and 8^th Ave. The location is not hard to find as a yellow MegaBus sign marks it, and there is almost always an employee standing there or a huge bus waiting for people to load.

When traveling with MegaBus, you'll often find long lines in New York City as people wait to board the bus, and on the busiest days, there will be more than one bus needed to carry all of the people who have purchased tickets to go to Baltimore. For this reason, I suggest you arrive early when you're traveling from New York City to Baltimore so that you can get on the first bus and actually leave on time.

Apex Bus and NYDC Express

When traveling between New York City and Baltimore, you may not want to head all the way up to Penn Station to board your bus. The Apex Bus and NYDC Express both pick up in Chinatown, which is located in lower Manhattan. The Apex bus picks up and drops off at 28 Allen Street in New York City and picks up and drops off at 5400 O'Donnell Street in Baltimore. Apex Bus and NYDC Express both depart multiple times a day, and the price is $20 one way or $35 round trip.