Long bus rides are often a necessity. Whether you’re traveling across state lines with a sports team or heading to a music festival a few hours away—sometimes flying simply isn’t the most feasible option. And when you factor in security checkpoints and layovers, it may actually take longer to fly than to drive.
Sure, the idea of being stuck on a bus for several hours at a time may not sound thrilling, especially if you’ve never done it before. But it’s easy to stay entertained if you make a plan and pack the essentials! The beauty of a bus ride is having the opportunity to relax and focus on your interests, without all the distractions of everyday life.
So let’s see exactly what the over 1,000,000 happy Price 4 Limo passengers love to do while on their charter bus!
![Guide to What To Do On a Long Bus Ride](https://www.price4limo.com/blog/guide-what-to-do-long-bus-ride/comfortable-trip.jpg)
Here’s Some Essentials to Bring Along
Once you get into the swing of your journey, you won’t be able to access luggage under your bus until you reach your destination. This means you’ll want to bring a carry-on bag (or a few!) filled with essentials like medications, small snacks and water bottles, electronics, and any other items you’ll need to have on hand.
For a full list of what you should bring, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few tips:
- Stay Cozy: Bus interiors can often be quite chilly during winter months and some of the AC units may be a little too efficient for some. Pack a cozy blanket or your favorite sweatshirt, so you can stay comfortable and warm.
- Keep Yourself Entertained: Bring a book (here’s some of our favorite reads!), a few magazines, a sketchbook, or maybe a travel-sized game, so you’ll have plenty of options to keep yourself preoccupied during your ride.
- Freshen Up: Pack toiletries like travel-sized toothpaste and a toothbrush, a hairbrush, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer to easily freshen up at rest stops or even onboard the bus. This will be especially important if you’re prone to motion sickness or have a long trip ahead.
- Don’t Forget Your Device Chargers: If you’re planning to watch movies on a tablet or browse social media on your phone, be sure to bring along charging cables. Many buses in the Price4Limo network include power outlets and USB ports, but don’t forget your cord! The last thing you want is for your device to die right before the good part of a movie or game.
Now the you’ve gathered all your essentials, let’s see how to spend your many hours on the road!
Read a Good Book
![read a book](https://www.price4limo.com/blog/guide-what-to-do-long-bus-ride/staring-at-screen.jpg)
A long bus ride offers a rare opportunity to escape the usual distractions of your day-to-day life. Put your phone and computer away and dive into that book you’ve been meaning to read. With no other obligations like replying to emails, paying bills, cleaning the house, or running errands, you can catch up on reading during a bus trip.
If you’re traveling with a group, consider sharing your favorite books! It’s a great way to bond and talk about your interests, especially if you have similar tastes. You could even set up a small book club to discuss your favorite parts of a book after your trip.
Bing Watch a TV Series
With streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+, the television industry is booming with more content than ever before. You can watch movies, documentaries, reality TV, and more. If you have a particular show you’ve been wanting to watch (maybe Breaking Bad or Bridgerton?), set it up on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone and get comfortable on the bus.
If you have unlimited data on your mobile device or you’re a subscriber to a streaming app, you won’t even need WiFi! (Many of the buses in the Price4Limo network include WiFi upon request.) Set up your show or movie of choice, and enjoy the ride!
Journal or Sketch
![sketch and journal](https://www.price4limo.com/blog/guide-what-to-do-long-bus-ride/sketch-journal.jpg)
A bus trip can be inspiring. You’ll see new places, meet new people, and have fun experiences along the way—all of which can make excellent writing or drawing material. Pack a small sketchbook and some pens or pencils or a notepad to write out all of your fun thoughts and stories.
Whether you end up writing a journal entry every day of your journey or simply jot down a few fun facts about your trip, this can be a great way to remember your adventure. When you get home, you can turn your notes into a blog post for family and friends to read.
Learn a New Skill
With all the distractions and responsibilities of daily life, there often isn’t time to learn a new skill. This is where a bus trip can come in handy! You’ll have a few hours—if not a few days if you’re heading from Miami to New York City—to dedicate your time to exploring a new hobby. Learning a new skill, especially one that keeps your mind active, can make the journey go by faster and give you something new to be excited about.
Knitting is a great choice if you like hands-on activities. If you don’t already have a knitting project going, you can search for knitting patterns online. Download one onto your phone and make sure to pack some yarn.
Listen To Music
Listening to music is a wonderful way to keep yourself entertained. Put your phone or computer away and dive into the world of music. With services like iTunes and Spotify, you’ll have access to thousands of songs and artists. If you’re tired of your usual playlist, consider branching out by listening to genres and artists you don’t already know – just ask your fellow bus passengers for some recommendations — or go with a Price4Limo favorite artist like Michael Jackson!
You can even use music as a way to learn! Listen to a few hours of lectures and speeches to keep your mind busy during the ride. Platforms like YouTube and Spotify have podcasts, as well, that cover a range of subjects— everything from classic literature and true crime to psychology, philosophy, and more.
Play Travel Games
![games to play on a charter bus](https://www.price4limo.com/blog/guide-what-to-do-long-bus-ride/games-to-play-on-a-charter-bus.jpg)
Traveling with a group of friends or family members? Playing a game with your group is the best way to make a bus trip even more enjoyable.
If your group loves to play games like guess who and charades, consider setting up a game of “salad bowl.” Get some paper, tear it into strips, and have everyone write the names of famous people (celebrities, fictional characters, etc.) on their strips. Each person will have three turns. On their first turn they’ll draw a name and try to make the rest of the group guess the name by giving verbal clues. The second turn is charades—they’ll act the name out instead of giving clues. The third time around, they can only give a one-word clue to the group. Split into two groups and keep track of how many names you guess correctly in a minute, then count up all your correct answers at the end. The group with the most points wins!
Don’t forget a deck of cards! From easy games like Uno to games that take a little more strategy like gin rummy, a pack of cards can last your group for hours of fun.
Stretch Regularly
It’s important to get some movement during a long bus trip. The more time you spend sitting, the more likely you are to experience issues like muscle soreness and stiffness.
Set a timer on your phone and get up to stretch at least every hour or two! Simply walk up and down the bus aisle a few times. When you stop at a rest area, take a few minutes to stretch your legs and get your blood pumping—doing a few jumping jacks, lunges, or toe touches can help ease stiff and sore muscles.
Get Some Quality Rest
Long bus rides are often the perfect time to sleep. With minimal distractions or obligations, you can finally get some much-needed rest without the stress of deadlines and emails. Invest in a travel pillow and eye mask to get comfortable. We have a bunch of insider tips on how to fall asleep on a charter bus that we’ve put together in this guide.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, consider packing over-the-counter motion sickness medications that can induce sleepiness.
Plan Your Trip’s Itinerary
Make sure your trip runs smoothly from start to finish by planning ahead. Although your bus driver will be the one handling the logistics of driving and parking, it’s up to you to figure out the rest of your itinerary.
Organize what time you need to leave to get to your bus pickup location, what activities you’re doing once you arrive, what times those events begin, and where you’re eating during your trip. If you plan to have a full meal at a restaurant, make sure you make a reservation for your group. That way you can optimize your time and not have to pay extra for any overage charges!
Get Some Work Done
Do you work best in places where you can focus with minimal distractions? A bus trip can actually be a good place to catch up on work tasks, with minimal other commitments like grocery shopping, household chores, and more.
If you need a place to work, a charter bus is a good option. With amenities like WiFi and power outlets, you can check and reply to emails and work on projects on your phone or laptop. Just keep in mind that it’s generally considered impolite to take long calls on a bus, so it would be best to leave meetings until you reach your destination.
Now You’re Ready to Travel With Price 4 Limo!
Ready to settle in and enjoy the ride? Call Price4Limo to start planning your next group trip today! We’re available 7am to midnight every single day at 1-866-265-5479 to help you book a modern charter bus rental that’s comfortable, and ideal for your next over-the-road trip!