The Vamoose Bus is my favorite way to get to the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) metro area.

I live in New York and I have family in Bethesda, Maryland. Several years ago, my aunt tipped me off to this bus route that goes directly from NYC to Bethesda. (The route continues to Arlington and Lorton, Virginia.)

Since then, it has been my preferred route. It’s reliable, it’s direct, the cost is fair, and every trip has been satisfyingly uneventful.

What Is The Vamoose Bus?

Since 2004, The Vamoose Bus, operated by D.C. Trails, has provided direct bus service from New York to Bethesda, Arlington, and Lorton.

So if you’re going to visit the D.C. area, but not actually staying in D.C., it’s a rare direct option.

Here’s My Quick Summary

• It’s a bus, so it may seem slower than other options, but factor in total travel time. That means if you take a different bus or train, you have to factor in the time to get from the airport or from D.C. out to your destination in the DMV.
• The bus itself is nothing special, but it has always been clean, professional, and close to on time.
• The prices are reasonable. You can probably find a cheaper Greyhound Bus, but you won’t find a cheaper Amtrak route most of the time, and definitely not a cheaper flight. I usually pay between $39-$49.

Since I’m a veteran of this bus route, let’s get into all the details. I’ll provide whatever tips I can offer along the way.

Booking The Vamoose Bus: Info + Tips to Get the Best Price

Here’s what to know as you book.

High Frequency on Weekends, Low Frequency on Weekdays

Vamoose provides about 8 options on Fridays-Sundays (including the business-class Gold Bus), but only 2-4 on Mondays-Thursdays.

Keep this in mind when you plan your trip. I like that Vamoose’s hours are normal. No crazy early mornings or late nights.

It’s a Bus, So Keep Traffic in Mind

When you choose your travel time, know that you’re traveling through one of the most congested corridors in the world. So give yourself a buffer with your arrival times. It’s common to lose ~10-20 minutes. I try to book to avoid rush hour.

Wait, What is a Gold Bus and Why Do I See It as an Option?

I’ve never ridden Gold Bus, but if you’re wondering why it’s more expensive, it’s because it’s the business class version of Vamoose. There are fewer, bigger seats. So if you want more legroom and comfier seats, choose Gold Bus. Sometimes the prices aren’t bad. At $59 at the lower end, it’s cheaper than the cheapest flight and still cheaper than most Amtrak tickets.

Try to Book a Few Weeks in Advance

A few weeks before, almost all of them were $39-$49, so you have more options for a better price. The day before, the cheapest I saw was $52, and they got up to $90.

For busy travel weekends, like the holidays, I recommend booking even further out in advance.

Be Flexible with Timing

You’ll also be able to get a better price if you don’t have a strict time. Often, there are buses that get up to the $60-$80 dollar range, which is a lot. But usually you can choose a cheaper one if your timing is flexible.

Make An Account: Vamoose Points Are Easy to Accumulate

Before you book your Vamoose Bus, make an account if you go from NYC to the DMV somewhat regularly.

Their points system is a great deal and it’s totally free.

This is like coffee shop “Buy 10 get 1 free” type of situation.

You get 1 point per $1 you speed, and 6 points is worth a dollar. So if you buy six trips at $39, you’ll get a $39 bus ticket for free.

Consider that your local coffee shop only gives you a free coffee after ten purchases, this is a good deal. Another way of looking at this is you get over 16% back with the points.

I’ll get a free bus after just one more trip to visit my aunt, uncle, and cousin.

After five trips, I have 230 points. Meanwhile, a $39 seat is 234 points.

Luggage is Free Unless You Have a Ton of Luggage

You can put two big luggage bags underneath the bus for free, and you can take a backpack on the bus with you. If you have more than that, and I don’t know why you would it’s $20 for another bag, which is also a good deal.

Keep in Mind These Extra Fees

This is annoying. They lie about the price. Once you go to the checkout, you’ll get hit with a “Booking Fee” and a “Fuel Surcharge” fee. I don’t know what’s up with this, but for a roundtrip ticket, I paid an extra $4.

Altogether, Vamoose’s website is user-friendly and easy to book. No complaints.

Boarding Experience: There’s No Bus Terminal

I can only speak to New York and Bethesda here, so if you take it to or from the Arlington or Lorton stops, let me know your experience in the comments.

The Vamoose Bus stop in New York is on the corner of 7th Avenue and 30th st, just a couple of blocks from Penn Station.

At least it’s near Penn Station, so you have good connectivity to other trains. Port Authority is a kind of a dump, so the lack of a station isn’t a huge loss.

I’ve gotten there early to observe. For a 10:30am bus, it was sitting there at 9:45 am waiting, but you couldn’t board yet. The boarding begins in New York 30 minutes before it leaves.

So there’s no point in getting there more than 30 minutes early. If you are, you can either chill at the MTA bus shelter a few feet up the block, or you can head to a coffee shop.

There is also a good bagel spot right in front of the Vamoose Bus stop.

Vamoose recommends getting there 30 minutes early. I aim for that, and if I’m delayed 10-15 minutes and arrive 15 minutes before departure, it’s no big deal. If you’re on the earlier side, it’s nice that they’ll let you board. They started to close the doors 5 minutes before departure. So don’t be late. They’ll leave.

Boarding Process: Super Easy

They’ll be standing there with cones and stuff. You don’t even need to show them your ticket. They just ask for your name.

You can throw your luggage underneath, which they’ll help with, and then get on board.

Once you’re on board, a few minutes before departure, the driver announces that it’s the Vamoose Bus bound for the DMV.

I’ve only ever had friendly experiences with the drivers and the rest of the staff. I can’t say the same for the Greyhound.

On The Bus Experience: Clean and Comfortable, But It’s a Bus

In terms of comfort, a bus will never compete with an Amtrak train. However, for a bus it’s comfortable.

Overhead Compartments: Small

The overhead compartments are smaller than airplanes, and definitely smaller than planes. You’ll be able to fit your backpack or other bags, but luggage won’t fit.

The Chance of Getting Your Own Seat: High but Not Guaranteed

Out of the my 5 Vamoose rides, 4 times I’ve had both seats to myself.

A ride is way better if you have your own seat. Of course, if you’re traveling around busy travel days like holidays, this is much less likely. But on random days, I’ve always gotten my own seat. Heck yeah.

Leg Room + Seats Declining

The legroom isn’t great. It’s a little cramped, but this is typical for a bus. The good news is I usually have both seats, so I can extend my legs anyway.

The seats have that classic coach bus look, and they’re fine. Nothing special.

They recline a lot, though.

Wifi? Outlets?

The wifi works great and is easy to connect to. When you get on, just go to the “D.C. Trails” wifi. There’s no password, and not even one of those annoying pop ups. It just connects.

Sometimes the wifi is spotty, but that’s because it depends on places where you have service. For the most part, cell service is good between New York and D.C., so it’s not a problem. If your wifi is slow, it’s likely because the service isn’t good.

The outlets are hidden under the seat. But they’re there. They have a USB and a regular plug for each seat.

The outlets have always worked. However, on one trip, only the outlets on one side of the bus worked. So if yours doesn’t, ask others.

No Tray Table

There’s no tray table, which means you’ll have to put your laptop and your food if you bring it on your lap. Plan accordingly.

I guess this crappy plastic cup holder is a consolation prize?

Bathroom

There’s a bathroom. It even has a flusher.

The bathroom is a tight squeeze, and since it’s a bus and not a train or plane, they tell you to sit down.

Also, several times the hand sanitizer dispenser was empty, so bring your own hand sanitizier.

Temperature Control

You can turn the air on and off above your head. So you have some options there.

Reading Light

They also have a reading light, which has always worked for me.

No Rest Stop, So Bring Your Food and Drink

At the beginning of the trip, the driver will announce that the bus may stop briefly so the driver can use the restroom, but you won’t get off the bus.

This means that any food and drink you’ll want, you’ll have to bring it on the bus with you.

How The Vamoose Bus Stacks Up to Other Options

For all of these, I’m going to look at prices one month from the time of writing. I’ll look on a Thursday and a Friday.

Vamoose Bus vs Flying

I would never fly over taking a Vamoose bus.

The Vamoose is Likely Faster Overall Than Flying

Don’t just look at the travel time. Keep in mind the total travel time. The flight may only be an hour, but getting to and from both airports will add a lot more time to your trip. All three New York airports are both a pain to get to and, except for La Guardia, cost more.

If you’re going to any of the Vamoose destinations from Dulles or Reagan airports, you’ll also have a longer trip back.

While 10-20 minute delays on Vamoose are common due to traffic, with flying you never know when big delays can hit you.

Don’t forget about TSA. This is a route where flying makes little sense.

The Vamoose is Likely Cheaper Than Flying

If you have no luggage, you can find flights for as cheap as $74, but that’s already more expensive than most Vamoose options. You can even get the Gold Bus for less sometimes!

Plus, the Airtain at JFK is $8.50, so don’t forget those extra travel costs.

The Vamoose is Way Better For The Environment

The most environmentally destructive part of flying is the landing and takeoff. This makes, per mile traveled, short flights the absolute worst for the environment.

As I’ve written about, I avoid short flights.

I’d Rather Be on Vamoose

Sure, it’s not that much more comfortable than flying, if at all, but at least I have wifi, at least I don’t have to deal with TSA, and at least I can usually have two seats to myself.

Vamoose wins this one.

Vamoose Bus vs Amtrak

Here’s where there’s some nuance. Sometimes I take Amtrak instead of Vamoose.

It depends on my plans and prices.

New York to D.C. Amtrak Prices Have Gotten ~Out of Hand~

This is beyond the scope of this article, but Amtrak is currently at capacity for how many trains they can run on the Northeast corridor, which means they need to maximize revenue from what they have, which means their prices have shot up.

You can still find inexpensive train tickets for $40-$60, comparable with Vamoose, but you may have to choose an early morning on late night. On a day when I see a $39 Vamoose Bus several times at that price, the only Amtrak that’s less than $109 is at 4:50am Northeast Regional… no thanks.

Total Travel Time Can Be Shorter, Even Though The Bus Is Slower

Both the bus and the train leave from basically Penn Station, so on the New York side, the travel to/from the station is even.

However, make sure to compare your total travel time from D.C. Union Station vs from the Vamoose stops. If you’re going to Bethesda, it’ll take an extra ~30 minutes, for example.

The Acela trains, Amtrak’s higher speed option, can get to D.C. in 3 hours, versus 3 hours and 40 minutes for the regional trains, and the 4-hour bus.

Just like flying, compare your total travel time and keep in mind the time to take a metro train out to your final destination.

With that said, if you’re closer to D.C., Union Station could be the better option.

Also, Amtrak often has serious delays due to infrastructure problems. Vamoose is often 10-20 minutes late due to traffic, but rarely will you have severe delays.

Amtrak Will be More Comfortable, For Sure.

Amtrak will have way more space, more legroom, a smoother ride, a cafe car, bigger bathrooms with a sink, and more overhead luggage space.

There’s no doubt that I’d rather spend the time on Amtrak than Vamoose. If I can get a northeast regional for a cheaper price (and not at 5am), I would take that. But from New York, that has literally never happened to me.

Amtrak is Better for The Environment, But the Bus is a Good Option

Amtrak from NYC to D.C. is fully electrified. The Vamoose buses use diesel. However, because you’re on a bus with dozens of other people, that environmental cost is split. The bus will still be way better for the planet than driving or flying.

Vamoose Bus vs Greyhound (or FlixBus)

Finally, let’s compare the Vamoose Bus to other bus options. As far as I know, Greyhound and FlixBus are the other options. (Greyhound is now owned by FlixBus.)

I’ve written a whole article about riding Greyhound buses. I’m by no means opposed to Greyhound. But Vamoose will almost definitely be a smoother, less eventful experience.

My 16 Tips to Thrive on The Greyhound Bus (Yes, Thrive)

With the Greyhound or Flix, you’re also most likely to go to D.C. This will make it nonsensical, as it’ll be slower to begin with because it’ll stop in Baltimore and maybe one or two other places. Unless you’re saving a lot of money, there’s no reason to take Greyhound over Vamoose.

FlixBus has a Bethesda Choice

However, there is a FlixBus route that leaves from New York and stops in Bethesda.

It’s even a few dollars cheaper, and 8am isn’t so bad. It stops in Baltimore, so it’s a slower. I would only do this if, for some reason, the Vamoose Bus prices were way more expensive. Because as I wrote about, Flix is the same mediocre experience as Greyhound. Maybe that would be the case for your specific travel day.

FlixBus has an Arlington Choice That Stops in Newark

If you’re going to Arlington, you can take this slower bus that stops in Newark, Baltimore, and D.C. I suppose if you live in Newark it could make sense? Or, again, if the price difference is big, FlixBus can offer some tough-to-beat prices.

In general, the Vamoose will be your most direct bus, for a comparable price, with a reliably calm trip.

Buses: Untapped Potential in the U.S.

Buses often get a bad reputation in the U.S.

After all, the Greyhound has become almost synonymous with being down on your luck or traveling under constrained circumstances. My experience with Vamoose highlights the untapped potential of bus travel in the United States.

Bus services like Vamoose represent a significantly more sustainable option than driving alone or flying, especially for regional travel. The environmental impact per passenger is dramatically lower than both air travel and single-occupancy vehicles.

What’s more, these specialized bus routes consistently offer prices that beat flying, trains, and other buses. The Peter Pan bus in the northeast is another example

As I’ve traveled around the U.S., I’ve come to actively seek out these regional bus companies that offer direct routes between specific destinations rather than trying to serve everywhere.

I’m rooting for companies like this as someone who has thought a lot about the problems with car-dependency.

27 Hidden Costs of Cars: How Car-Dependency Hurts Your Wallet, Your Health, And The Planet

For us to rely less on cars as a society, we need to get creative with our options. High-speed rail is not coming any time soon.

Our tax dollars have already built and funded the extensive highway network that private bus operators like Vamoose can use.

For trips between 100-300 miles, buses like Vamoose offer a sweet spot of convenience, affordability, and sustainability that deserves more recognition in our transportation conversations.