Megabus wants to make a mega splash in the Cowboy State with its recent announcement of daily bus service routes from Cheyenne to Douglas, Wheatland, Greeley and Denver, as well as biweekly service to Cody, Casper, Thermopolis and other Wyoming stops.
These routes, however, are not really new, Cowboy State Daily has learned from talking to state transportation officials. The routes were already offered through Express Arrow.
Megabus has announced its Wyoming rollout includes expanded service options for customers in 29 cities across Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado thanks to a partnership with Express Arrow, which in turn said the partnership offers its customers a new way to buy tickets.
An inquiry from Cowboy State Daily to Megabus asking for clarification on whether any particular routes are actually new additions to the Cowboy State was not answered.
Tourist Season Is Beginning
Megabus’ announcement couldn’t be more on point for Wyoming, though, with tourism season approaching.
That had Wyoming Department of Transportation spokesman Doug McGee cheering, because, even if there aren’t necessarily any new bus destinations, it still helps get the word out about travel options to, from, and around the Cowboy State.
“However people can get to Wyoming and get around Wyoming, I welcome them to our state,” McGee said.
Megabus has lately been creating lots of new partnerships like the one in Wyoming with existing bus services.
May announcements alone have included routes between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Toronto and Chicago, and seven California cities.
A recent partnership with Transcor Data Services appears to have kicked off these Mega rollouts. A media release about that suggests the company is growing a coast-to-coast bus transportation grid to “seamlessly link bus operations throughout North America.”
The company did not respond to questions about its goals.
Range Of Routes Available Within State
A quick check of the Megabus Website shows a range of available destinations available for Wyoming travelers on Thursday, ranging from Basin, Buffalo, Casper, Cody, Douglas, Greybull, Shoshoni, Thermopolis, Wheatland and Worland in Wyoming; and around the region to Greeley and Denver in Colorado, and Billings in Montana.
Prices ranged from $24 for Cheyenne to Greely to $53.50 for Casper. Thermopolis was $85, and Denver was $43.50.
The Cheyenne to Denver route could be pretty handy for at least some travelers this summer, given that the Cheyenne Airport is down for maintenance.
Jackson, however, is not among the available direct routes for Wyoming, although Megabus has announced some service to Jackson through a partner in Utah.
Contact Renée Jean at Renee@CowboyStateDaily.com
