Harrisburg to Scranton Megabus
The Megabus corridor from Harrisburg to Scranton covers 101 miles in roughly 2h 26m, with 13 scheduled departures most days. Floor fares start at $8.50 when booked far in advance.
Route overview
Megabus operates the Harrisburg–Scranton corridor with 13 scheduled daily departures, primarily routed via the New York State Thruway. Most travelers book this route for a combination of low fare and frequency: even at the high end of the dynamic-pricing curve, it remains substantially cheaper than rail or rideshare for the same trip.
The total scheduled travel time of 2h 26m reflects driving time plus a short curbside boarding window at each end. This corridor typically runs nonstop with no scheduled meal break.
Where the bus stops
Harrisburg departure: Harrisburg Transportation Center. Harrisburg's restored Transportation Center is a Megabus and Amtrak hub at the foot of the State Capitol. Capital Area Transit runs frequent buses connecting the station to downtown and the suburbs.
Scranton arrival: Scranton Bus Terminal on Lackawanna Avenue. Scranton is a long-running Megabus stop in northeastern Pennsylvania, three hours from New York City. COLTS local buses connect downtown Scranton to surrounding boroughs and the airport.
Schedule and frequency
Megabus runs 13 scheduled departures per day on this corridor. Departure times shift seasonally and at weekends; the table below shows a representative weekday schedule. Always verify current departure times on Megabus before travel.
| Depart Harrisburg | Arrive Scranton | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | 08:56 | Standard |
| 08:15 | 10:41 | Express |
| 11:00 | 13:26 | Standard |
| 14:30 | 16:56 | Standard |
| 17:45 | 20:11 | Express |
| 21:30 | 23:56 | Overnight |
| 23:15 | 01:41 | Overnight |
| 01:30 | 03:56 | Express |
Fares and how to book cheap
The Harrisburg–Scranton Megabus fare floor is $8.50 when booked at the schedule open, typically 60 to 90 days in advance. Fares climb in tiers as seats sell — most travelers booking inside the two-week window pay $18 to $27, with same-day walk-up fares often at or above the typical maximum.
The cheapest departures on this corridor are mid-week (Tuesday and Wednesday), early Saturday morning, and early Sunday morning. Friday afternoon and Sunday evening are the most expensive slots and the first to sell out. Reserved seating runs an extra $5.00 to $8.00 on top of the base fare.
What to expect on board
Megabus uses single-deck or double-deck coaches on this corridor depending on demand. All buses include free onboard Wi-Fi (best-effort), 110V power outlets at every row, reclining leather or vinyl seats, and an onboard restroom. Standard luggage allowance is one personal item under the seat plus one underbus bag up to 50 lb included in the base fare.
Wi-Fi works well for messaging and email but is unreliable for video streaming, particularly in rural sections of the route. Outlets are functional at most rows; bring a 10,000 mAh battery pack as backup. Climate control runs cool — bring a layer regardless of season.
Megabus vs. Greyhound and FlixBus on this route
This corridor is also served by other intercity carriers in varying frequencies. Greyhound typically runs one to three daily departures with fares starting around $34, often using a dedicated terminal rather than the Megabus curbside stop. FlixBus may also serve this corridor with curbside service comparable to Megabus, sometimes at marginally lower fares for last-minute booking thanks to active promo-code campaigns.
Tips for this corridor
- Book at least 30 days in advance for the best fares; 60+ days lands the $8.50 floor when available.
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday-morning departures are cheapest.
- Arrive at Harrisburg Transportation Center 15 to 20 minutes before scheduled departure with your ticket QR code and a photo ID.
- Tag your underbus bag with name, phone, and destination — Megabus does not provide tags.
- This route is short enough that there is no scheduled meal stop — eat before boarding.
Booking
Tickets for the Harrisburg–Scranton route are sold only on the official Megabus website and the Megabus app. RouteRider does not sell tickets; we link directly to the operator booking page so you always pay the carrier price with no markup.