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Cheap bus tickets from McAllen to Houston

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McAllen to Houston Bus Schedule

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Bus from McAllen to Houston: Journey Information

There are 18 intercity buses per day from McAllen to Houston. Traveling by bus from McAllen to Houston usually takes around 6 hours and 38 minutes, but the fastest Tornado Bus bus can make the trip in 5 hours and 28 minutes.

Distance301 mi (485 km)
Shortest duration5h 28m
Cheapest price$64.21
Trips per day23
Most frequent serviceTornado Bus
Bus lines3

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from McAllen to Houston

(Based on 7 ratings and reviews)

5.0

5.0

María

February 25, 2025- Solo travel

Tornado Bus

Pros: First time traveling alone and the ride was smooth and safe made me feel comfortable traveling alone. 10/10 would recommend to others when they go on a trip. Cons: Maybe just add hand sanitizer or keep it refilled. Tips: I would recommend just bring your own wipes because paper is a little thin. Besides that everything perfect.

5.0

Pinky

March 30, 2024- Visiting friends

Tornado Bus

Pros: The time the bus left and comfy seats. Cons: It was a little bit cold inside the bus maybe improve the air conditioning. Tips: Always carry a little blanket because it can be cold inside the bus.

5.0

Miguel ANGEL

February 1, 2023- Visiting family

El Expreso Bus

very smooth ride . thank you.

5.0

QING

August 26, 2021- Business

El Expreso Bus

Very convenient

5.0

jimena

April 2, 2021- Visiting friends

El Expreso Bus

The driver was very kind and he help me with his cell phone that was really nice

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How much is a bus ticket from McAllen to Houston?

Bus tickets for a trip from McAllen to Houston cost $69.11 on average. Tickets cheaper than $69.11 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price

Average bus ticket prices from McAllen to Houston by travel date

$86$57$29MarApr

Bus tickets from McAllen to Houston are expected to cost between $67 and $79 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Houston within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $70. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.

Monthly avg. prices

$107$86$64$43$21AMJJASONDJFM
Bus tickets from McAllen to Houston are usually around $74 and prices do not fluctuate very much throughout the year.

Prices as travel date approaches

$107$86$64$43$213020100

Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 24 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $29.19 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.

What bus companies travel from McAllen to Houston?

There are 3 bus lines from McAllen to Houston available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 5 daily trips, Tornado Bus usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
FlixBus US76h 38m$76.74
Greyhound76h 38m$73.86
Tornado Bus56h 37m$85.34

  • 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 7 trips per day from McAllen to Houston, 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 7 bus trips from McAllen to Houston every day, with the average journey taking around 6 hours and 38 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Houston usually start from $64.

  • Tornado Bus is a Texan bus company operating in Texas and Mexico. Their bus service connects cities such as Houston, McAllen, San Antonio, and the international border at El Paso. Their buses offer onboard WiFi, plenty of leg room, air conditioning, restrooms, and power outlets.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from McAllen to Houston

The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 38 minutes to cover the 485 kilometers from McAllen to Houston. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours and 28 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 McAllen to Houston 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 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 10:00pm. To see the times for all buses from McAllen to Houston, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 18 scheduled buses that travel from McAllen to Houston every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 23 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.

City Information

Houston

Houston, TX - HOU-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Houston, TX - HOU-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Houston, TX - HOU-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Houston, Texas is one of the most populous cities and among the most expansive cities in the U.S. As a result, Houston has become the leading commercial center in the Southern United States. Astronomy aficionados recognize Houston as the city where NASA’s Mission Control Center is located, and music fans know Houston as the birthplace of Queen B herself, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

Even though Houston has a relatively small downtown area, it is packed with exciting things you can do while you’re in town. If you’re in the mood for a cultural outing, head to the Theater District where you are sure to find a play or a music performance you’d enjoy, or check out the Museum District that boasts more than 20 different museums and galleries. Since Houston is the most racially and ethnically diverse city in the country, its restaurant scene is one of a kind offering a rich variety of cuisines from all over the world. The many experiences available in Houston make it one of Texas' best vacation destinations.

As one of the main metropolitan cities in the U.S., Houston is very well connected to the rest of the country and the world. The main bus and train stations are both located right in the heart of downtown making it easy to get to your final destination by public transit or car. There are also several airports within the city’s vicinity that provide a good variety of options depending on where you’re flying to or from.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in McAllen?

Main departure station: Tornado Bus Station

McAllen has two bus stations with service to Houston.

All bus stations in McAllen:

  • Tornado Bus Station

  • 1501 W Highway 83

Where does the bus arrive in Houston?

Bus Terminal - 2121 Main St -{"city":"Houston","country":"US","postal":"77002","state":"TX","street1":"2121 Main St"} - HOUGLI-0

Image credit: WhispertoMe

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Greyhound Terminal Bus Station

The Bus Terminal at 2121 Main Street is centrally located within downtown Houston and serves as a hub for bus service from Greyhound, Jefferson Lines and Tornado Bus. From Houston’s bus terminal, you might connect to other cities in Texas such as Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, or further afield to Los Angeles and New York. The station is open 24 hours a day, with restrooms, seating, and several food options available onsite. Within a few minutes’ walk from the bus terminal, you’ll find parking, rental car agencies, gas stations, fast food, and a Light Rail station to easily access the rest of Houston.

Bus stations in Houston:

  • Greyhound Terminal Bus Station

  • 6590 Southwest Hwy

  • Tornado Bus Station - Airport

  • Tornado Bus Station - Lockwood

  • Houston Southwest Fwy

  • Downtown - 605 Gray St

  • 2525 Southwest Fwy (Timewise/Shell gas station lot)

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Houston by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

Related reading

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