The Cheapest Ways to Get to College: 14 Routes We Actually Checked
by Kaitlin Cabaniss
Students go back and forth all year. Each trip raises the same question of how to haul yourself (and a semester's worth of stuff) to or from campus without spending your textbook budget.
We dug through every fall 2025 back-to-school booking on Wanderu and pulled the 14 busiest routes to college towns, grouped by region and cheapest first. The fares below are what travelers actually paid.
- 14routes checked
- $8cheapest verified fare
- 2months of real bookings
How we got these numbers
Every fare in this post comes from real Wanderu bookings made during the fall 2025 back-to-school season (August through September). “From” prices are what the cheapest 10% of travelers paid, and the “typically” range is what the middle of the pack paid. Prices move with demand, so booking early helps.
Northeast routes 10 routes
Boston to Providence, RI
from $8- 🚆 Train + 🚌 bus
- ⏱ ~40 minutes
- Typically $13–$22
- Amtrak Northeast Regional
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
Eight dollars. Not a typo. Amtrak's Northeast Regional covers this hop in about 40 minutes, and half of travelers pay $22 or less, even without booking early. If you're a Brown or RISD student connecting through Boston, this is the cheapest leg of your whole trip. Providence Station sits at the base of College Hill, about fifteen minutes on foot to RISD and a steeper twenty up to Brown.
New York City to Boston, MA
from $25- 🚌 Bus + 🚆 train
- ⏱ ~4.5 hours
- Typically $32–$41
- OurBus and CoachRun
The busiest route on this list, by a lot. Whether you're headed to BU, Northeastern, Emerson, Berklee, or crossing the river to Harvard or MIT, buses run all day and the competition keeps fares cheap. It's about 4.5 hours, which is enough time to finish your summer reading. Both bus companies stop in Back Bay, walking distance to Berklee and a short T ride from the rest.
Boston to Amherst, MA
from $31- 🚌 Bus
- ⏱ ~2.5 hours
- Typically $36
- Peter Pan
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
UMass Amherst, Amherst College, and Hampshire travelers have exactly one answer, and it's Peter Pan. They run 100% of the bookings on this route, and most fares land at $36, so there's no comparison shopping to do. The bus pulls onto the UMass campus at Haigis Mall before continuing to Amherst Center downtown.
New York City to Providence, RI
from $33- 🚌 Bus + 🚆 train
- ⏱ ~4 hours
- Typically $33–$38
- Peter Pan
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
Brown, RISD, Providence College, and Johnson & Wales travelers, this one's yours. Peter Pan runs most of the trips on this route in about 4 hours. Hauling a portfolio? Check the drop-off stop at booking, since some stops are an easy walk from campus and others need a rideshare.
New York City to Binghamton, NY
from $37- 🚌 Bus
- ⏱ ~3.5 hours
- Typically $41–$47
- OurBus and Adirondack Trailways
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
Binghamton University travelers know this ride well. OurBus and Adirondack Trailways split the route about evenly. It's roughly 3.5 hours up Route 17, and buses fill up fast on move-in weekends, so don't sleep on this one. Check the drop-off stop at booking, since some stops are closer to campus than others.
New York City to Ithaca, NY
from $43- 🚌 Bus
- ⏱ ~5 hours
- Typically $47–$52
- OurBus and Megabus
Cornell and Ithaca College sit on a hill above a lot of scenery, and the bus is the easiest way to get there without a car. OurBus and Megabus run direct trips in about 5 hours. Ithaca is gorges. Sorry. Check the drop-off stop at booking, since some are on campus and some are downtown on the Commons.
New York City to Syracuse, NY
from $44- 🚌 Bus + 🚆 train
- ⏱ ~5 hours
- Typically $50–$58
- Adirondack Trailways
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
Syracuse University and SUNY ESF are a 5ish-hour trip from the city. Adirondack Trailways carries the most travelers on this route. Trains run it too, if you'd rather have the option to walk around and grab a snack. Trailways lands at the downtown transportation hub, a quick Centro bus up to the hill.
Philadelphia to Boston, MA
from $46- 🚌 Bus + 🚆 train
- ⏱ 6–7 hours
- Typically $52–$60
- Greyhound and FlixBus
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
Philly students heading to Boston schools can skip the I-95 slog. Greyhound and FlixBus run this route all day, and overnight options exist if you want to wake up in Boston with your whole day ahead of you. The overnight bus is a free hotel night, basically. You'll roll into South Station, right on the Red Line.
New York City to State College, PA
from $57- 🚌 Bus
- ⏱ ~5 hours
- Typically $62–$69
- Fullington Trailways
Happy Valley is a haul from everywhere, and that's half its charm. Fullington Trailways carries most of the trips on this route. Penn State travelers, book this one early. Football weekends fill the bus.
Washington, DC to Boston, MA
from $62- 🚌 Bus + 🚆 train
- ⏱ 8–10 hours
- Typically $70–$83
- FlixBus and Greyhound
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
The longest trip on this list, and worth it for the price. This is where the overnight bus earns its keep.
Midwest & West routes 4 routes
Chicago to Champaign, IL
from $20- 🚆 Train + 🚌 bus
- ⏱ ~2.5 hours
- Typically $30–$35
- Amtrak Illini and FlixBus
The Illini pipeline. Amtrak's Illini Service and FlixBus split this route evenly, and it's about 2.5 hours through the corn. The train is a campus tradition at this point. Board at Union Station, nap, wake up at U of I. Two heads-ups: check for Wi-Fi before you board and download your shows, and Illinois Terminal sits downtown, a short MTD bus hop from the quad.
Portland to Eugene, OR
from $20- 🚆 Train + 🚌 bus
- ⏱ 2.5–3 hours
- Typically $20
- Amtrak
- 📶 Wi-Fi + outlets
Ducks, this one's for you. Most travelers paid $20 for the Willamette Valley run, with connecting buses filling the gaps between trains. Cheaper than a tank of gas. The train lands downtown, a couple of miles from campus, so check where your bus stops.
Milwaukee to Madison, WI
from $27.50- 🚌 Bus
- ⏱ ~90 minutes
- Typically $27.50
- Badger Bus
- 📶 Wi-Fi
Badger Bus carries most of the travelers on this route. The typical fare sits at $27.50 and barely moves with demand. About 90 minutes between the two biggest college cities in Wisconsin. Stops in Madison include Memorial Union and North Lake Street.
Chicago to Madison, WI
from $33- 🚆 Train + 🚌 bus
- ⏱ ~3 hours
- Typically $41–$46
- Amtrak Thruway and Coach USA
UW–Madison travelers get options here, between Amtrak Thruway connections and Coach USA buses. Fridays and Sundays are the busy days in both directions, because Madison students treat Chicago as their second home. Check the drop-off stop at booking, since some are closer to campus than others.
Peak travel: move-in, Thanksgiving, and winter break
Students go back and forth all year, and the peaks are when everyone books the same few days. We checked what that does to prices in the fall 2025 move-in window. Travelers who booked three or more weeks ahead typically paid about 8% under their route's going rate. Day-of bookers paid about 8% over it.
Compared with each route's going rate, the priciest last-minute fares ran more than double the cheapest early ones. Book three weeks out, and earlier for peak weeks.
Labor Day departures ran about 10% over their routes' going rate. If you can travel midweek, even one day off the peak, you'll likely find a quieter bus.
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, so book those trips early too.
More ways to keep the trip cheap
- Book three weeks out.Travelers who booked three or more weeks ahead paid about 8% under their route’s going rate in our fall 2025 data. For peak weeks, go earlier, since the cheapest seats go first.
- Travel Tuesday through Thursday.Fridays and Sundays are peak student migration, so midweek buses tend to be quieter.
- Long weekends run high.Labor Day departures ran about 10% over their routes' going rate in the fall 2025 window, so the cheap seats go first on any long weekend. Our Labor Day fare guide has the ten cheapest destinations and what travelers actually paid to get there.
- Check student discounts.Amtrak takes 15% off for travelers 17–24, and some bus companies run student discounts too. Check the bus company’s student discount on its own site before you book.
- Know the luggage rules.Most buses include a carry-on plus one checked bag free, which covers a lot of dorm room if you pack smart. Check your trip’s luggage policy on Wanderu before you show up with a futon.
- Compare bus and train on the same search.On a lot of these routes the cheapest option flips between bus and train depending on the day. Wanderu shows both, so you don't have to guess.
FAQ
What’s the cheapest way to get to college without a car?
Bus or train. On the 14 routes above, verified fares start between $8 and $62 depending on distance, and booking early helps.
When should I book my trip to or from college?
Early bookers got the best fares in our fall 2025 data and last-minute bookers paid the most. Book about three weeks ahead, and earlier for peak weeks.
Can I bring all my stuff on the bus?
Most bus companies include one checked bag and a carry-on free, with extra bags for a small fee, but it varies, so check your trip’s luggage policy. It won’t cover a full dorm setup, but clothes, electronics, and bedding are very doable. Ship the rest, or hit the Target run after you arrive like everyone else.
What if my plans change?
Depends on the bus company, but many offer changeable or refundable fare options for a few dollars more. Check the trip’s change and refund policy on Wanderu before you pay, so if your dates aren’t locked yet, give it a glance at checkout.
Is the bus or the train cheaper for students?
It depends on the route and the day. Buses usually win on shorter hops and competitive corridors like New York to Boston. Trains sometimes win on routes like Boston to Providence, where fares start at $8. Search the route on Wanderu and you’ll see both side by side.
Fares based on actual Wanderu bookings, August to September 2025. Prices vary by date and demand and aren't guaranteed. Book early for the best deals.
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