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There are 15 intercity buses per day from Washington DC to Raleigh. Traveling by bus from Washington DC to Raleigh usually takes around 6 hours and 2 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 55 minutes.
| Distance | 233 mi (375 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 55m |
| Cheapest price | $41.07 |
| Trips per day | 11 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 3 |
Overall score for buses from Washington to Raleigh
(Based on 9 ratings and reviews)
4.0
Pros: The bus driver was very funny to giving us the security instructions and that was cool. Cons: Maybe more help for no English speaker.
4.0
Pros: Quick, the charging points helped alot! Tips: Bring a sleep pillow for night trips.
1.0
Pros: Horrible experience. Greyhound dropped the ball! Cons: Effective communication from Greyhound staff to passengers.
$91.51 is the average price of a bus ticket from Washington DC to Raleigh. While it’s on the pricier side for a bus ticket, taking the bus is still a cheaper alternative to flying. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Over the next four weeks, the average ticket price of a bus from Washington DC to Raleigh is expected to range from $92 to $104. If you are looking to travel to Raleigh within the next week, you can find bus tickets starting from $92. The cheapest bus tickets in the next month are $92 and can be found on April 27, 2024.
To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 15 days in advance to save up to $33.57.
There are 3 bus lines from Washington DC to Raleigh available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 8 daily trips, Greyhound usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 5 | 7h 0m | $85.46 |
| Greyhound | 8 | 5h 54m | $97.42 |
| Wanda Coach | 2 | 5h 0m | $137.01 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 5 trips per day from Washington to Raleigh, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 8 bus trips from Washington to Raleigh every day, with the average journey taking around 5 hours and 54 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Raleigh usually start from $47.
Wanda Coach is one of the leading Chinatown bus carriers in the U.S. The company offers 2 daily bus trips to and from more than 70 cities across the East Coast and the Midwest. With bus ticket prices starting from $137 and convenient pick-up and drop-off locations, Wanda Coach is one of the preferred bus carriers for passengers looking to travel between the Chinatown districts of Washington and Raleigh.
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 2 minutes to cover the 375 kilometers from Washington DC to Raleigh. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 55 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Because many passengers travel from Washington DC to Raleigh at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Washington DC to Raleigh, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 15 scheduled buses that travel from Washington DC to Raleigh every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 11 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Washington DC to Raleigh; ticket prices start at $46.58.
Washington, DC is the capital of the United States, and as such, it offers many points of interest of governmental and historical value. DC is home to several iconic landmarks, including the White House where the U.S. president resides, the Capitol building that houses the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the National Mall, where you can stop by the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the World War II Memorial. One of the reasons Washington, DC is among the best destinations to visit with your family is because it is home to so many world-famous museums, including the Smithsonians – 16 museums scattered across the District, most of which are open every day of the week, and even better, every single one is free.
D.C. is not just about politics and museums, though. The city’s active nightlife fittingly ranks it among the biggest party hubs in the country. Head to the vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood to check out some of the finest restaurants that the nation’s capital has to offer, or join a food tour of Georgetown to get a taste of the area’s culture along with its cuisine.
Nested between Virginia and Maryland, Washington, D.C. is a key transportation hub with three nearby airports and several bus and train stations.
As an up-and-coming smart city, Raleigh has a wide range of activities that will satisfy all kinds of travelers. One of the most famous destinations in the city is the Neuse River Trail, which boasts 28 miles of a scenic path running through Wake Forest. It goes through not only forests but also wetlands, allowing walkers and cyclists to take a breather from the concrete jungle and be one with nature. Raleigh is also a famous research city, so it makes sense to visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. With a permanent collection that attracts all ages, including whale skeletons and seahorse diorama, the museum is a great spot that you should not miss out on. If you wish to go shopping the old-fashioned way, the Raleigh City Market, which opened more than a century ago, allows you to meander through various small boutiques.
Raleigh’s reputation as a foodie haven is on a steady rise, and it currently houses five different establishments by chef Ashley Christensen, of which Poole’s Diner is particularly noteworthy. If you are looking for authentic North Carolina-style barbecues, Clyde Cooper’s stands among the most popular choices.
Raleigh’s main bus station is located outside of the city center at 2210 Capital Blvd. The city’s Amtrak station is one of the busiest in the country, and there are daily trains running from Raleigh to New York City, Charlotte and Miami, among other places. The principal airport in the region is the Raleigh–Durham International Airport, which is northwest of Downtown.
Opened more than 100 years ago in 1907, Union Station is the largest transportation hub in Washington, D.C. with almost 5 million travelers passing through it every year. As the official headquarters of Amtrak, Union Station is the main train station in the U.S. capital. It is also a major hub for intercity bus travel, serving as the main bus station in D.C. for a number of carriers, including Greyhound, BoltBus, Peter Pan Bus Lines and OurBus. Union Station offers easy transit connections to places all over D.C. with dedicated stops for the city’s metro, bus and streetcar services, as well as commuter rail for travelers to and from the surrounding areas. Additionally, with a full blown shopping mall on the premises, Union Station is also among the most popular shopping destinations in the nation's capital.
Union Station
2230 New York Ave NE
Image credit: Sam Opp
Link to image attributionThe Bus Terminal on Capital Blvd connects Raleigh to other major cities via bus routes on Greyhound and Southeastern Stages. Popular routes from this station head to Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, DC. Restrooms and a snack bar are available within the station, along with a comfortable seating area. Although the bus terminal is about 2 miles northeast of downtown, local public transit stops right outside the station provide easy access to the rest of Raleigh.
Bus Terminal - 2210 Capital Blvd
3700 New Bern Ave
1298 Buck Jones Rd (Citgo Gas Station)
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