Has anyone rode the Greyhound very far?

Question

I was wondering how safe it is to ride cross country?I have a trip coming up and don't know anyone that has ridden one before.What do you think?Any tips?

Answer 1

I rode from central Missouri to Pittsburgh a few years ago, and then my mother and I went on from Pittsburgh to Knoxville, TN. It will probably be okay for you, as a guy, but we decided that it was the hell trip of our lives and we would never do it again no matter what. Oh, and I forgot I went from central MO to northern
Wyoming and back one time a few years before that. It's pretty brutal for a woman, partly because we tend to overpack. You probably won't have THAT problem. On the Wyoming trip, it was during the bus workers' strike, and I had to maneuver my own heavy luggage everywhere for the most part. Once in a great while a male driver or someone would take pity on me and help.
It's true that the dregs of society take the bus, though. No offense! Stay out of the back except to use the bathroom if you absolutely have to. It smells bad back there and people are hateful to you and do drugs in the back. On the way to Pittsburgh, our driver caught a guy drinking with a bottle in a sack, and put him out in the middle of nowhere, Illinois, in the middle of a snowstorm! So don't do that.
When you are a female traveler, pervs and crazy people try to talk to you or sit with you. They may even try to do it to you if you are cute or thin or gay. So you can't be too friendly if someone weird approaches you. And in some of the terminals there were panhandlers who were, um, a bit forceful and didn't take no for an answer. Hide your money securely on you and know where it is and try not to let people see it.

Answer 2

I am 27 years old and I have ridden cross country 6 or 7 times. I live in WA State and have rode Greyhound down to Miami, FL and also to upstate NY. It is actually pretty safe. The best advice I can give is that if you are scared and shy..... sit in the front near the driver. People tend to keep to themselves up there. People who sit in the back can tend to get noisy and a little roudy. (Nothing that bad!) I usually have met people from my departure station who was traveling far (2 or 3 days worth) and made freindly with them so we could sit together if the bus got full and keep each other company in the days ahead. Flying is easier and faster, but Greyhound is WAYYY more beautiful and a learning and fun experience!

Answer 3

I rode the a Greyhound bus from Orlando, FL to Washinton D.C. and then back to Orlando. Here are my tips:
-I am not normally a car-sick person, but I ended up in the Red Cross because I got sooo sick! Bring something to make you sleep, like Benadryll or something for motion like Drammamine.
-The ride was 16 hours, make sure you sleep.
-SIT IN THE FRONT of the bus!!!! FIRST SEAT IF POSSIBLE!!! Because the back of the bus is noisy, hotter, and BOUNCES UP AND DOWN!!! Also, the view out the driver's window is really cool! I sat on the left side (behind the driver) and in the aisle seat. I suggest you do the same!
-Unless your young and have good balance, sit down to take a leak in the bathrooms, if you are a guy!
-BRING A BLINDFOLD to sleep in the day.
-Practice sleeping in a chair in your house, and bring whatever you needed to sleep in that chair. Pillow/Blanket or try to sleep in a car.

I guess thats all. Fly if you can, but if not, sleep as much as possible.

Answer 4

I have ridden a greyhound from Dallas. Texas to Chicago, Ill. I felt very safe, even in the terminals we stopped in for an hour or so. The drivers were all very nice and helpful. My only problem was that I cannot seem to sleep on a bus. Everyone around me was snoring, but I was wide awake for the whole trip, Boy, was I tired when I we finally arrived in Chicago. I would advise you to go for it.....

Answer 5

I rode the Greyhound from Toronto to Victoria, BC. As far as being safe, I felt safe. I didn't carry any large amounts of cash or valuables on me. I recommend bringing a pillow along with you. Depending on what kind of bus you get, sometimes the armrest between the 2 seats lifts up out of the way and if you get a seat by yourself, you can curl up in both seats to grab what sleep you can.

Answer 6

I rode from WV-SC and it was the longest 23 hours I've ever spent. Take plenty to do. Games, books, snacks, a pillow and blanket was what I needed. I also wanted a clean bathroom and excersise.And take plenty of money. When we got into bigger cities people were a little scary but for the most part people were very nice. I got to sit beside a man who used me as a pillow for 3 hours at one point. I just know I don't want to do it again for a long loooooong time.

Answer 7

I have rode the bus from Kenosha, WI to St. Louis, MO when I was in 9th grade. Let me tell you that if you are a female traveling alone, I would suggest taking someone with you. There were some really strange people on the bus. Have you ever seen the movie road trip? Where that girl took a bus to meet him at his Girlfriends college, and she woke up to a guy sucking on her feet? That should explain it all right there.

Answer 8

Wouldn't it be cheaper to fly or be more comfy to take a train? It costs so much for food and drink while you are travelling on a bus. I have travelled over a thousand miles on the bus (with my two little kids) It can get pretty boring. Try to get an evening bus..so you can sleep the night away.

Answer 9

I took Greyhound from Toronto to Pittsburgh.
It was a nice pleasant drive. Only 8 hours, not cross-country, but was a nice drive.

Answer 10

I've not done it, but have friends that have. Just know you're on the bus with other people who couldn't afford anything else, and that sometimes their bathrooms can be pretty rank. So you might be in for a smelly trip with a bunch of oddballs.