U.S. Train and Bus Travel Soars as Flight Disruptions Persist

As the United States grapples with one of the worst air travel disruptions in years, more Americans are choosing to travel by train or bus this Thanksgiving season. According to travel search engine Wanderu, bookings for intercity buses and trains have jumped 12% year-on-year, with some routes reporting increases as high as 30%.

The shift comes amid widespread flight cancellations and delays caused by the ongoing government shutdown. On Monday alone, more than 2,400 flights were canceled and nearly 9,500 delayed, marking the most chaotic travel day since early October when the shutdown began.

Major ground transportation providers are scrambling to meet demand. Megabus reported a “significant surge” in ticket sales last week, while FlixBus, which owns Greyhound, said searches for buses around Thanksgiving are “trending sharply higher.” CEO Kai Boysan noted, “We’re monitoring demand closely and adding capacity where possible to keep people moving during this critical period.”

Rail travel is also booming. Amtrak expects record-breaking passenger numbers, with double-digit growth in advance bookings compared to 2024. The company has added more seats on its busy Northeast Corridor routes connecting Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C.

For some travelers, the choice to stay grounded is as much about sanity as logistics. “After hearing about all the cancellations, I decided I’d rather take a train than risk being stuck at the airport for hours,” said Harry Cooke, a Boston-based consultant. “It’s slower, but at least I’ll get there.”

Meanwhile, prices for ground travel are rising fast — bus fares up 11% and train fares up 10% in just two weeks, Wanderu said. Still, as air travel chaos continues, America’s long-distance highways and railways are becoming the nation’s unlikely lifeline this holiday season.