Rochester to New York Megabus
The Megabus corridor from Rochester to New York covers 251 miles in roughly 5h 26m, with 11 scheduled departures most days. Floor fares start at $16 when booked far in advance.
Route overview
Megabus operates the Rochester–New York corridor with 11 scheduled daily departures, primarily routed via Interstate 35 through the central US. 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 5h 26m reflects driving time plus a short curbside boarding window at each end. On this longer corridor, expect one scheduled meal stop of 20 to 30 minutes at a service plaza partway through the trip.
Where the bus stops
Rochester departure: RTS Transit Center. Rochester's RTS Transit Center is the main downtown hub for both local and intercity coaches. RTS local buses run from the Transit Center across Rochester.
New York arrival: 34th St & 11th Ave Megabus stop and Port Authority Bus Terminal. New York is the busiest intercity bus hub in North America, with curbside Megabus and FlixBus stops in Midtown and the Port Authority Bus Terminal three blocks west of Times Square. From any Manhattan terminal you can reach the rest of the city by subway in under 30 minutes. The 1, 2, 3, A, C, E and 7 lines all stop within a few blocks of the main bus areas.
Schedule and frequency
Megabus runs 11 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 Rochester | Arrive New York | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | 11:56 | Standard |
| 08:15 | 13:41 | Express |
| 11:00 | 16:26 | Standard |
| 14:30 | 19:56 | Standard |
| 17:45 | 23:11 | Express |
| 21:30 | 02:56 | Overnight |
| 23:15 | 04:41 | Overnight |
| 01:30 | 06:56 | Express |
Fares and how to book cheap
The Rochester–New York Megabus fare floor is $16 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 $29 to $43, 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 $62, 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.
For longer trips like this one, Greyhound's older terminal-based model has the advantage of indoor waiting space and ticket counter support, while Megabus's curbside model wins on price and frequency.
Tips for this corridor
- Book at least 30 days in advance for the best fares; 60+ days lands the $16 floor when available.
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday-morning departures are cheapest.
- Arrive at RTS Transit 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.
- Expect one 20-to-30-minute meal stop at a service plaza partway through the trip.
Booking
Tickets for the Rochester–New York 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.