Megabus is expanding again in Indy. Here's where it's going this time

Cheryl V. Jackson, Indianapolis Star
·2 min read

Megabus is planning to once again get rolling in Indianapolis, this time with rides as far west as Denver.

But those enticing $1 fares won’t be offered as part of the company’s return to the market. Neither will service to and from Chicago.

Through a new partnership with Iowa-based Burlington Trailways, Megabus on March 27 will expand service to 48 Midwest cities, including daily trips between Indianapolis and 22 cities such as Denver; Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Champaign, Illinois.

The company's Indianapolis to Chicago service isn’t resuming, although the deal connects the Windy City with 12 other cities.

Megabus is expanding its Indianapolis service to Denver, Colorado, starting March 27.
Megabus is expanding its Indianapolis service to Denver, Colorado, starting March 27.

After pulling out of the Indianapolis market in mid-2020, the low-price bus service – with fares as low as $1 with a $3.99 booking fee – had returned to Indy in January 2023 with connections to dozens of cities, including Chicago, Nashville, Detroit, Gary and South Bend.

But less than a month later, it abruptly halted the vast majority of its service here and in other Midwest cities when partner Miller Transportation cut routes. Indianapolis specifically was left with service to only Kokomo, Peru, Rochester, Plymouth, South Bend and Elkhart.

The Megabus deal had the 85-year-old company Miller Transportation, which had bused riders throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, selling its excess seating through the Megabus website.

With the Miller route cancellations, Megabus provided automatic refunds to impacted customers.

Megabus has its U.S. operations based in New Jersey.

Schedules are now available and tickets can be purchased today for travel beginning on March 27 at us.megabus.com.

Megabus service from Indianapolis will be available to:

  • Denver, Colorado

  • Sterling, Colorado

  • Ogallala, Nebraska

  • North Platte, Nebraska

  • Lexington, Nebraska

  • Grand Island, Nebraska

  • Kearney, Nebraska

  • Lincoln, Nebraska

  • Omaha, Nebraska

  • Des Moines, Iowa

  • Monroe, Iowa

  • Oskaloosa, Iowa

  • Ottumwa, Iowa

  • Fairfield, Iowa

  • Mount Pleasant, Iowa

  • Burlington, Iowa

  • Monmouth, Illinois

  • Galesburg, Illinois

  • Peoria, Illinois

  • Bloomington/Normal, Illinois

  • Champaign, Illinois

  • Danville, Illinois

Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter:@cherylvjackson.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Megabus pens new deal for Indianapolis service. Here's to where