Buses from New York City to Boston

Buses from New York City to Boston

With about 15 buses making the journey from New York City to Boston each day, you’re sure to find a route that fits your schedule. Plus, a few extra buses are scheduled Friday through Monday to make your weekend travel even easier. Boston-bound buses leave New York City about every one to two hours throughout the day, and almost all routes run directly to their destination without any changes along the way. Most buses are scheduled to reach their destination about 4h 30min, although the few daily routes that require a bus change take a bit longer.

The bus from New York to Boston is a 215-mile (350 kilometer) journey that can be covered by bus in approximately five hours. There are a few departures available daily, as well as at least one every day of the year. The journey is pleasant as all the buses from New York to Boston have free WiFi, water, and chargers available for electronic devices.

Passengers can start their journey from Port Authority Bus Terminal or Madison Avenue and arrive in Boston right in front of The Sheraton Hotel close to the city center.  All bus stops are surrounded by restaurants, bars, cafes, and plenty of other facilities. The bus from New York to Boston goes directly to Boston, so no changes are required. 

How long is the journey by bus from New York City to Boston?

It takes about 4h 30min to travel by bus from New York City to Boston, with the fastest buses making the journey in about 4h 20min and the slowest taking about 7h 20min to reach their destination. Most buses take a direct route between the cities, but a couple of the daily routes do require one change along the way, adding up to 3h to the overall travel time.

How many buses are there from New York City to Boston?

At least 15 buses from New York City to Boston are scheduled to make the trip each day, with a few additional buses scheduled Friday through Monday to accommodate weekend travel. Buses depart about every one to two hours throughout the day. The first buses leave New York City at around 5 a.m. daily, with the last departures scheduled for around 7 p.m. midweek and around 8:30 p.m. Friday through Monday.

New York City Traffic. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for buses from New York City to Boston?

Departure bus station: All buses that travel from New York City to Boston depart from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) in Manhattan, which is located just one block west of the famed Times Square. The PABT is one of the busiest bus stations in the world and features travelers’ amenities such as Red Cap baggage assistance, charging stations, Wi-FI (up to 30min of free Wi-Fi; additional time available for a fee), ATMs, shops and restaurants, restrooms, and elevators.

The ticket windows for the Greyhound and Peter Pan bus companies are both located on the subway level of the station. Getting to the station is easy when using public transportation, as a number of local buses stop outside the station, including more than a dozen MTA local and express routes and over 50 NJ Transit bus routes. The city’s 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R and W subway trains stop at the Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal subway stop, which is connected to the PABT on the subway level.

Arrival bus stations: When taking the bus from New York City to Boston, you’ll arrive at either the South Station Bus Terminal or the Essex St @ Atlantic Ave bus stop, depending on the bus company you’re traveling with. Greyhound buses arrive at South Station, located just outside Boston’s Chinatown District. South Station features bus ticket windows (including Greyhound and Peter Pan windows), a newsstand, restaurants, a seated waiting area, and restrooms.

The station is connected to the South Station train station that services Amtrak and Boston’s MBTA commuter rail trains, and it is next to the South Station subway station, which services the Red line of the city’s subway system (the "T") and the Silver line, which is the MBTA’s rapid-transit bus route. The city’s MBTA’s #4, #7 and #11 buses also stop outside the station. Peter Pan’s buses arrive in Boston at the Essex St & Atlantic Ave bus stop, which is across the street from South Station. Although the bus stop is simply a covered curbside stop, you have access to the amenities located steps away at the South Station subway and bus stations.

Which bus companies travel from New York City to Boston?

The two bus companies that travel from New York City to Boston are Greyhound Lines, Inc. and Peter Pan Bus Lines. Greyhound is the nation’s largest intercity bus company and features a modern fleet. Peter Pan is one of the nation’s largest privately owned bus companies. Based in Springfield, MA, Peter Pan serves the Northeast Corridor from Maryland to Connecticut. Both companies offer multiple routes throughout the day. Each company has one daily route that requires one bus change, and the rest of the routes are direct routes that complete the journey in about 4.5h.

To Boston by bus—travel tips

When visiting Boston, you’ll will find many ways to have a wicked good time! Boston offers unique entertainment, such as their famous Duck Boat Tours, where you can see the city sites from the streets and the Charles River in the same land-to-sea vehicle. Or set out from Boston Harbor for an afternoon of whale watching. Take in a Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park. Stroll through the Boston Public Garden, where you can explore the vibrant gardens, ride the iconic Swan Boats and splash around the Frog Pond (there’s skating on the pond in the winter!). Boston is known for its long history, and a walk along the Freedom Trail is a great way to experience the Revolutionary period. When it’s time to eat, be sure to try some fresh local seafood, including a cup of clam chowdah and maybe even a lobstah roll.

New York Bikers Traffic. Source: Shutterstock

Greyhound buses from New York City to Boston

Greyhound offers about seven buses from New York City to Boston every day. Most of the buses are scheduled to make the journey in about 4h 30min. All but one of their routes run directly between the cities; the first bus of the day has one changeover in Springfield, MA, which adds about 3h to the total travel time. Most of the buses depart in the mornings before around 10 a.m. and then in the afternoon after about 2 p.m., with buses leaving about every 1.5h to 2h in the morning and afternoons.

Peter Pan buses from New York City to Boston

About eight Peter Pan buses run from New York City to Boston midweek, and a couple additional buses are added to the schedule Fridays through Mondays. Almost all Peter Pan buses are scheduled to make the journey in about 4h 20min. Only one of the routes requires a bus change in Providence, RI; the rest of the routes are direct. Departures are scheduled throughout the day, with buses leaving New York every 1.5h to 2.5h between about 5 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

New York City to Boston Bus: Services on Board

While aboard the buses from New York City to Boston, you can expect to find comfortable seats with plenty of legroom and fold-down tables at the seats. There are outlets at every seat to keep your devices powered for the journey. Both Peter Pan and Greyhound buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi, and Greyhound provides an on-board entertainment system featuring movies, games and news to be enjoyed on your personal mobile device or laptop.

You can bring two bags on the bus for free on both bus lines, including one carry-on item that weighs 25 lbs or less and can fit in the overhead bins or under the seat and one luggage item up to 50 lbs and up to 62 total linear inches to be stored under the bus. For an additional charge, additional bags may be stored under the bus as space allows (extra baggage is limited to two bags on Greyhound buses).

Both Greyhound and Peter Pan employees are available to help passengers with disabilities board and deboard the buses, and they can help passengers with their baggage as needed. All of the buses are equipped with wheelchair lift, and both companies offer priority seating, reserving the first row reserved for passengers with disabilities, the elderly, and unaccompanied children to make it easier for these passengers to get on and off the bus. Although Greyhound does not allow pets on their buses, Peter Pan’s passengers may bring one small dog or cat with them. Your pet must remain in a carrier while on the bus, and the total weight of the pet and its carrier is limited to 25 lbs or less.

The pet carrier will count as one carry-on item. Bicycles are allowed on board both Greyhound and Peter Pan buses; bikes are considered oversized luggage items and are stowed in the under-the-bus luggage compartment.

On Greyhound buses, the bike must be packed in a bicycle box. On Peter Pan buses, unpackaged and fully assembled bikes may be stored in the under-bus baggage area as long as the bike doesn’t touch other luggage in the cargo area; otherwise, the bike must be packed in a bicycle box or other safe covering while in the baggage area below the bus. Either way, your bike will count as a large baggage item.