Bus from Toronto to Montreal: Schedules, Prices & Tickets

Megabus dominates the Toronto-to-Montreal corridor with up to 19 daily departures covering the 504 km stretch in as little as 6 hours 25 minutes, though prices range from promotional lows under $15 to standard fares that still beat train or plane tickets most days. Flying costs $100+ for this short hop and involves airport transit; VIA Rail trains run $60–$150 depending on class and booking window.

Distance: 504 km (313 mi) · Fastest Trip: 6h 25m · Daily Buses: 19 (Megabus) · Price Range: $10–$110 · Avg Duration: 7–8 hours

The table below summarizes the main operators, their fastest durations, daily trip counts, typical price ranges, and departure windows for the Toronto-to-Montreal route.

Is there a bus that goes from Toronto to Montreal?

Yes — and more than you might expect. Megabus runs the bulk of daily departures on this route, with up to 19 buses squeezing into a window from early morning until nearly midnight. All Megabus Toronto-to-Montreal services depart from Union Station Bus Terminal at 81 Bay Street, Lakeshore Boulevard, second floor (Megabus US official route guide). Buses arrive at St-Antoine O. @ Rue Mansfield in downtown Montreal.

Major operators

Megabus dominates the corridor with double-decker coaches featuring restrooms, power outlets, and WiFi. The carrier holds an official .ca domain confirming operational details (Megabus Canada official route guide). Adirondack Trailways offers a single daily trip at significantly higher cost and longer duration — Wanderu data shows 21 hours 52 minutes at $147.18 versus Megabus averaging 7 hours 11 minutes at $54.10 (Wanderu aggregator). Greyhound appears in search results but specific Toronto-Montreal schedules remain unconfirmed (Greyhound official site).

Pickup and dropoff points

Toronto departures pull from Union Station’s dedicated bus terminal on the northeast corner of Bay Street and Lakeshore Boulevard. Megabus also serves Scarborough — though the stop relocated to 330 Borough Drive at Progress Avenue, adjacent to GO Transit Platform #6, with no parking permitted (Megabus Canada official route guide). Montreal arrivals land at St-Antoine O. @ Rue Mansfield, a central downtown location within walking distance of major attractions.

What is the cheapest way to get to Montreal from Toronto?

Buses win on price almost every time. The cheapest Megabus fares reportedly start around $10–$15, though promotional pricing as low as $2 has appeared for specific West Island dates (April 25–30, 2026) (Megabus Canada West Island official route guide). Standard pricing averages $49.85 one-way according to Wanderu’s aggregated data, with the next month averaging $52–$84 depending on demand (Wanderu aggregator).

Bus vs train vs plane

Flying costs $100+ for this short hop and involves airport transit. VIA Rail trains run $60–$150 depending on class and booking window — comparable to Megabus sale prices, though some Tripadvisor users prefer the train’s scenery exiting Montreal (Tripadvisor travel forum). The bus wins on price; the train wins on experience.

Lowest fares found

CheckMyBus data shows a sample Toronto-Montreal trip on May 7–8, 2026 at $58 for a late-night 11:30 PM departure arriving 6:10 AM (CheckMyBus booking aggregator). Wanderu lists one-way tickets bookable from $14 on certain dates (Wanderu aggregator). Note that all Megabus transactions include a $4.99 booking fee plus applicable taxes (Megabus Canada official site).

How much is Megabus from Toronto to Montreal?

Most passengers pay $15–$77 for a standard one-way ticket. The wide range reflects how early you book, demand patterns, and whether you catch a promotion. A sample booking for May 14–15, 2026 (return direction) came in at $55 — Montreal 11:30 PM to Toronto 5:40 AM, 6 hours 10 minutes (CheckMyBus booking aggregator). Rome2Rio pricing starts from $50 CAD, with hourly services daily (Rome2Rio travel planner).

Ticket prices

Pricing follows standard airline logic: book ahead, pay less. The $10–$15 promotional fares are rare and disappear fast. Average pricing hovers near $49.85 one-way according to Wanderu’s aggregator data covering multiple operators and dates (Wanderu aggregator). Budget-conscious travelers should set fare alerts and book at least two weeks ahead for sub-$30 seats.

Booking tips

Megabus accepts major credit cards and Google Pay (Megabus Canada official return route guide). Third-party platforms like Busbud offer refundable options and consolidate schedules from multiple carriers (Busbud aggregator). Always factor in the $4.99 booking fee when comparing final prices.

What bus goes from Toronto to Montreal?

Megabus is the primary answer — and it’s not even close. The carrier operates route 2720 with three stops between cities, running up to 19 daily departures from 6:00 AM through 11:30 PM (Megabus Canada official return route guide). Return trips mirror the schedule with up to 19 buses from 6:30 AM to 11:30 PM, fastest at 6 hours 10 minutes.

Megabus schedule

Buses run roughly every 60–87 minutes on most days, with less frequent service Tuesdays and Wednesdays (120–270 minute gaps) according to Moovit’s real-time data (Moovit transit app). The first Toronto departure hits 6:00 AM; the last lands in Montreal around 6:00 AM the following day on overnight routes.

Greyhound and others

Greyhound lists Toronto service on its website, but specific Toronto-Montreal route details weren’t available in current data (Greyhound official site). Adirondack Trailways appears on aggregator sites with one daily trip lasting over 21 hours — a dramatically longer option at higher cost. Busbud aggregates both Megabus and Trailways, showing 15 total buses daily from 12:30 AM to 11:30 PM (Busbud aggregator).

Which is cheaper, Greyhound or Megabus?

Direct Greyhound pricing for Toronto-Montreal wasn’t verifiable in current research, making a true head-to-head comparison difficult. What we know: Megabus offers transparent pricing from $10–$110 with an average of $49.85 per Wanderu’s aggregated data (Wanderu aggregator). Adirondack Trailways — the only alternative with confirmed pricing — runs $147+ for a single daily trip lasting 21+ hours. Megabus wins on both price and duration by a wide margin.

Price comparison

Megabus averages $54.10 per trip at 7 hours 11 minutes average duration. Adirondack Trailways charges $147.18 for 21 hours 52 minutes — nearly three times the cost and three times the travel time (Wanderu aggregator). Until Greyhound publishes verified Toronto-Montreal fares, Megabus remains the budget choice by default.

Reliability notes

Megabus route 2720 includes three intermediate stops between Toronto and Montreal — plan for slightly longer actual travel time if boarding at Scarborough or other waypoints. The May 6, 2026 schedule change announcement suggests route adjustments may be coming (Megabus Canada official announcement). Check current schedules before booking if your trip falls near or after that date.

Bus from Toronto to Montreal schedule

Buses run roughly every 60–90 minutes during peak periods, tapering to every two to four hours on slower midweek days. The earliest departure lands at 6:00 AM; the last outbound from Toronto hits 11:30 PM, arriving around 6:10 AM the following morning on overnight runs. Average trip duration across all operators: 8 hours 13 minutes according to Wanderu’s aggregation (Wanderu aggregator).

Daily timetables

Megabus maintains the most consistent schedule: 19 daily departures from early morning through late night. The West Island variant runs 18 buses daily from 6:00 AM to 4:50 PM only — no evening West Island options. Busbud’s aggregator shows 15 total buses combining Megabus and Adirondack Trailways, with the earliest at 12:30 AM (Busbud aggregator).

Booking platforms

Book directly through Megabus.ca for the most current schedule and direct pricing. Third-party platforms (Busbud, Wanderu, Rome2Rio) aggregate multiple carriers and may surface cheaper one-way deals or refundable tickets. All Megabus bookings carry a $4.99 fee plus tax whether purchased direct or through partners.

Is Megabus actually $1?

Not typically. The “$1 bus” claim circulates because promotional fares from $2–$10 appear periodically — typically on off-peak dates like the West Island route between April 25–30, 2026 (Megabus Canada West Island official route guide). These deals exist but require flexibility: specific routes, specific dates, and quick reflexes when they drop.

CA trip realities

Most passengers pay $40–$70 for standard one-way tickets. Wanderu’s next-month average shows $52–$84 depending on travel dates (Wanderu aggregator). The $1 figure is a marketing hook — not a reliable expectation. Treat promo fares as a bonus, not a baseline.

Actual costs

Sample bookings from 2026 confirm $58 one-way (May 7–8, Toronto 11:30 PM → Montreal 6:10 AM) and $55 return (May 14–15, Montreal 11:30 PM → Toronto 5:40 AM) per CheckMyBus data (CheckMyBus booking aggregator). These mid-range fares include the $4.99 booking fee. Budget tip: Tuesdays and Wednesdays typically offer cheaper seats than Friday-Sunday departures.

How to book your bus from Toronto to Montreal

Booking is straightforward, but timing matters more than platform choice. Here’s what you need to know before you click.

1. Step 1: Check the schedule. Visit Megabus.ca or Megabus.com for direct booking. Verify departure times if your trip falls on or after May 6, 2026 due to announced schedule changes.
2. Step 2: Compare aggregators. Busbud, Wanderu, and CheckMyBus consolidate multiple carriers. Some offer refundable tickets and price guarantees beyond what’s available direct.
3. Step 3: Factor in fees. All Megabus transactions add $4.99 plus taxes to your ticket price. Third-party platforms may layer their own service charges.
4. Step 4: Book early for cheap seats. Sub-$30 fares typically require booking 2+ weeks ahead. If your dates are flexible, set fare alerts on aggregator sites.
5. Step 5: Confirm pickup location. Toronto departures are at Union Station Bus Terminal, 81 Bay Street. Scarborough passengers note the relocation to 330 Borough Drive.
6. Step 6: Arrive 30 minutes early. Boarding closes before departure. Have your ticket (digital or printed) and ID ready.

Travel by bus from Toronto to Montreal in as little as 6 hours 25 minutes. With over 17 buses a day from 7:00 AM to 11:30 PM.

— Megabus official website (Official Site)

Sale prices are comparable. I prefer the view coming out of Montreal on the train.

— Tripadvisor travel forum user (Traveler)

For budget-conscious travelers willing to book 2+ weeks ahead, Megabus delivers solid value at $15–$55 for a 6–8 hour ride across 504 kilometers. The carrier’s dominance means frequency isn’t an issue — you’ll find a seat almost any time of day. The trade-off is comfort: double-decker coaches with restrooms beat flying’s cramped cattle class, but they can’t match a train’s scenic exit out of Montreal. Schedule changes landing May 6, 2026 warrant a quick check before booking any trip near or after that date.