The U.S. bus travel landscape is already reshaping itself for 2026, and the shift is unmistakable: travelers want warmer skies, easier vacations, and cross-border escapes that feel both accessible and affordable. New data from Busbud — drawn from more than 10 million tickets sold globally across its platform — points to a mobility mood swing that’s less about big-city commuting and more about sunshine, leisure, and a little Canadian adventure.

Throughout 2025, the country’s busiest bus hubs were New York, Orlando, and Miami. No surprises there — these have traditionally been high-volume cities with dense networks and consistent demand. But when you look at 2026 search data, a subtle yet important tilt emerges: travelers are actively scanning for Miami, Orlando, and Montreal. Yes, Montreal — the Canadian cultural capital that’s suddenly sitting next to two Florida hotspots at the top of the list.

It’s a rare mix of sun, theme parks, and cross-border charm. And it says something about how Americans plan their ground transportation in a post-disruption travel world: bus travel isn’t just point A to point B — it’s a gateway to vacations, border crossings, and value-led trips.

The Busiest Hubs and Destinations Tell the Story

Busbud’s dataset for 2025 confirms the dominance of New York, Orlando, and Miami from both origin and destination standpoints. They’re predictable yet powerful: major airports, strong tourist draw, and well-established intercity links.

But the interesting action is in the cross-border category. The top three Canadian destinations for U.S. bus travelers last year were Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto. Together, they form a trifecta of urban hubs that combine culture, proximity, and affordability — all crucial when travelers choose buses over higher-priced flights.

For 2026 searches, Montreal lands again on the podium. That’s particularly notable because Canadian routes require more planning, more browsing, and more curiosity than domestic runs. It signals confidence — not only in Busbud’s routing network but in the idea of border-hopping by bus as a mainstream travel choice.

As LP Maurice, CEO and Co-founder of Busbud, puts it:

“The American bus traveler is consistently demonstrating a preference for both high-value domestic connections and accessible international exploration.”

In other words: people want the easy win (Florida) and the accessible adventure (Canada).

Holiday Travel Shows Distinct Patterns

Zooming in on Christmas and New Year’s travel reveals even more movement.

The big three hubs — New York, Orlando, and Miami — are set to dominate Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve traffic again. That’s expected. But the surprise addition is Seattle, which joins the busiest hub list for December 31. That tells us the Pacific Northwest is quietly becoming a late-year travel corridor, whether for family visits, celebrations, or simply getting out of town before the clock resets.

And then there’s distance. Americans take some of the longest Christmas Eve bus trips in the world, averaging 202.5 miles per journey. Only South Africa (425 miles) and Brazil (249 miles) rank higher. What’s interesting is that the U.S. number dipped slightly from 210 miles in 2024. So travelers are still moving a lot — but not quite as far. That could be tied to price sensitivity, weather, or a shift toward regional holiday gatherings.

Santa’s Sleigh Needs Repairs — So He’s Taking the Bus

Busbud didn’t just release data; it rolled out a new global storytelling campaign built around one simple, winning idea: “Santa’s Sleigh Broke Down… So He Took the Bus.”

In the U.S. version of the creative, Santa finds himself stranded in Manhattan rush hour — arguably one of the least magical travel scenarios imaginable. After failing to hail a taxi, he turns to the bus system to deliver presents cross-country. It’s lighthearted, but strategically sharp: it positions bus travel not just as affordable, but confidently reliable. The message lands because it mirrors real traveler behavior. Millions of Americans depend on buses as their default option — not a backup plan.

This campaign will run in 10 countries as part of Busbud’s “Santa’s Cross-Country Challenge” visualization series, designed to spotlight the global reach and resilience of ground transportation networks.

Global Leaders in Bus Ticket Sales

Beyond the U.S., Busbud’s data maps a world where intercity bus travel remains deeply embedded in daily life. The top five countries for ticket sales — Chile, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States — paint a picture of regions where buses are essential, not optional.

European demand is also strong, with Spain, the UK, and France occupying the next tier. Portugal and Argentina close out the top ten. Taken together, these markets demonstrate that bus mobility remains one of the most democratized forms of transportation worldwide — affordable, frequent, and largely immune to the volatility of airline pricing.

What This Shift Really Means for the Travel Industry

Busbud’s latest dataset puts a spotlight on something the broader travel sector has been circling around: ground transportation is becoming a strategic choice, not a compromise. While players like Wanderu in the U.S. and FlixBus globally have also reported rising demand for leisure-oriented routes, Busbud’s cross-border performance and sheer ticket volume position it uniquely as both a marketplace and mobility indicator.

The surge toward Miami and Orlando mirrors patterns seen in air travel — warm-weather destinations continue to outperform — but the rise of Montreal points to a shift that airlines and rail operators are also feeling: travelers want frictionless international escapes without the price tag. The bus offers exactly that.

Reliable industry sources such as the American Bus Association and IATA’s cross-modal travel reports support this direction: value-driven travel is outpacing luxury, and travelers are prioritizing flexibility and accessibility. Busbud’s role as a global aggregator gives it a wider lens than most competitors, which makes these trends especially meaningful.

What’s emerging is a traveler who isn’t just price-conscious — they’re adventure-practical. They’re choosing the bus not only because it’s cheap, but because it expands their map. And as we head into 2026, that map includes Florida’s beaches, Canadian culture hubs, and increasingly, anywhere a reliable, affordable route can take them.