- Must visit
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
One of the world’s most visited natural history museums, known for dinosaur fossils, the Hope Diamond, and broad family-friendly exhibits.
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Union, NJ to Washington, DC among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $37. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 30m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $37, and a flight costs an average of $215.
Distance: 192 miles (310 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$48 Average price Cheapest | $51 Average price | $227 Average price | $45 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 20m Average total duration 4h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 6m Average total duration 5h 36m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 30m Average total duration Fastest 1h 30m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 37m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Union, NJ to Washington, DC:
A bus is $2 (€2) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Union, NJ to Washington, DC costing on average $51 (€42).
A bus is $179 (€147) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Union, NJ to Washington, DC costing on average $227 (€187).
Other travel options to Washington, DC take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 50m.
Train takes on average 5h 36m.
You'll arrive about -2h -13m sooner (4h 50m by bus vs 3h 37m by car) and save roughly $-3.46 (€-2.85) compared to fuel and tolls ($48 (€40) vs $45 (€37)). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by Greyhound, FlixBus.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 12:41AM | Arrival Time 06:50AM | Duration 6h09 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 12:50AM | Arrival Time 05:15AM | Duration 4h25 | Departure days Mon, Sun | Cheapest price $51 |
Operator Amtrak | Departure Time 02:22AM | Arrival Time 07:00AM | Duration 4h38 | Departure days Tue, Wed | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 05:51AM | Arrival Time 10:45AM | Duration 4h54 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 07:52AM | Arrival Time 12:20PM | Duration 4h28 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 08:24AM | Arrival Time 02:25PM | Duration 6h01 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 09:48AM | Arrival Time 02:45PM | Duration 4h57 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 10:54AM | Arrival Time 03:25PM | Duration 4h31 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 11:54AM | Arrival Time 04:35PM | Duration 4h41 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 12:49PM | Arrival Time 05:55PM | Duration 5h06 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 01:48PM | Arrival Time 06:35PM | Duration 4h47 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator Flixbus USA | Departure Time 02:40PM | Arrival Time 08:00PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 02:49PM | Arrival Time 07:25PM | Duration 4h36 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 03:47PM | Arrival Time 08:55PM | Duration 5h08 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 04:48PM | Arrival Time 09:25PM | Duration 4h37 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator Flixbus USA | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 09:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 05:51PM | Arrival Time 10:45PM | Duration 4h54 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 06:44PM | Arrival Time 11:45PM | Duration 5h01 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator Flixbus USA | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 4h30 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $42 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 07:14PM | Arrival Time 11:50PM | Duration 4h36 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 07:48PM | Arrival Time 12:20AM | Duration 4h32 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 09:30PM | Arrival Time 02:05AM | Duration 4h35 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 09:48PM | Arrival Time 02:35AM | Duration 4h47 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $68 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 10:43PM | Arrival Time 03:20AM | Duration 4h37 | Departure days Wed, Thu | Cheapest price $74 |
Operator MTA Bus Company | Departure Time 11:38PM | Arrival Time 04:35AM | Duration 4h57 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $68 |
The table below shows live departures for Union, NJ to Washington, DC buses for today, Thursday, July 2. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 5:51 AM Union, NJ | 4h54 | 10:45 AM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 7:52 AM Union, NJ | 4h28 | 12:20 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 8:24 AM Union, NJ | 6h01 | 2:25 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 9:48 AM Union, NJ | 4h57 | 2:45 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 10:54 AM Union, NJ | 4h31 | 3:25 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 11:54 AM Union, NJ | 4h41 | 4:35 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 12:49 PM Union, NJ | 5h06 | 5:55 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 1:48 PM Union, NJ | 4h47 | 6:35 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 2:40 PM Union, NJ | 5h20 | 8:00 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 2:49 PM Union, NJ | 4h36 | 7:25 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 3:47 PM Union, NJ | 5h08 | 8:55 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 4:48 PM Union, NJ | 4h37 | 9:25 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 5:00 PM Union, NJ | 4h30 | 9:30 PM Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 5:51 PM Union, NJ | 4h54 | 10:45 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 6:44 PM Union, NJ | 5h01 | 11:45 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 7:00 PM Union, NJ | 4h30 | 11:30 PM Washington, DC | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 7:14 PM Union, NJ | 4h36 | 11:50 PM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 7:48 PM Union, NJ | 4h32 | 12:20 AM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 9:48 PM Union, NJ | 4h47 | 2:35 AM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
![]() | 10:43 PM Union, NJ | 4h37 | 3:20 AM Washington, DC | 1 transfer | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Union, NJ to Washington, DC run on average 47 times per day, taking around 4h 50m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $37 (€31) but you can travel from only $24 (€20) by train.
There are 34 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:05, the last at 23:30. The fastest bus covers the 192 miles (310 km) distance in 4h 25m.
Distance 192 miles (310 km) |
Average bus duration 4h 50m |
Cheapest ticket price $37 (€31) |
Buses per day 47 |
Direct buses 34 |
Fastest bus 4h 25m |
First bus 12:05 AM |
Last bus 11:30 PM |
Cheapest Month Aug |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Discover the best of Washington — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Washington trip today.
One of the world’s most visited natural history museums, known for dinosaur fossils, the Hope Diamond, and broad family-friendly exhibits.
Flagship Smithsonian museum covering aviation and spaceflight, with iconic aircraft, spacecraft, and major interactive exhibits.
Premier art museum with strong collections from the Middle Ages to modern art, plus sculpture garden and rotating exhibitions.
The city’s grand ceremonial park lined with Smithsonian museums, memorials, and iconic government buildings.
Historic neighborhood of cobblestone streets, waterfront walks, rowhouses, and some of Washington’s most photogenic corners.
Scenic waterside loop famous for cherry blossoms and views of major memorials, especially popular for sunrise and spring visits.
Washington’s signature sausage, usually smoky and spicy, served on a bun with chili, mustard, and onions. It is one of the city’s most iconic street foods.
A sweet-tangy sauce closely associated with Washington carryout culture, often paired with fried chicken wings and fries. It is a local comfort-food staple.
Steamed or picked blue crab from the nearby Chesapeake region is deeply tied to local food traditions. It is especially popular in warmer months.
Celebrated upscale restaurant with creative small plates and a warm, energetic atmosphere. It is one of Washington’s best-known modern dining destinations.
A classic, long-running Washington institution known for oysters, crab cakes, and traditional American fare in an elegant historic atmosphere.
Bustling brasserie known for polished French classics, strong brunch, and a stylish dining room that is popular with both locals and visitors.
Prices are high for hotels and dining, especially downtown. Free museums help balance daily costs.
Tip 18-20% at restaurants. USD 1-2 per drink at bars, round up taxis, and tip hotel staff USD 2-5.
Official public transport app
L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC -> Metro Center, Washington, DC
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Union, NJ to Washington, DC by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Washington, DC, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Union, NJ to Washington, DC buses use the Newark, Penn Station to Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station station pair, with some services arriving at Washington, DuPont Circle (Connecticut Ave. NW / 20th St. NW). Use this guide to compare Union, NJ and Washington, DC bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station is 2 km from Washington city centre. Public transport options include:
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: McDonald's (in the station), Shake Shack (in the station)
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and food court.
Ticket office support is available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station.
Available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station: Elevators, ramps.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need