Choose a destination. Municipalities in Indiana serviced by the Greyhound bus network, for example, are: Anderson, Bedford, Bloomington, Columbus, Corydon, Edinburgh, Elkhart, Evansville, Ferdinand, Fortville, Franklin, Fort Wayne, Gary, Greenwood, Hammond, Indianapolis, Jasper, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lapaz, Logootee, Marion, Martinsville, Muncie, Orleans, Paoli, Pendleton, Peru, Princeton, Rochester, Seymour, Shoals, South Bend, Terre Haute, Vincennes and Washington.
Choose a date of travel. Interstate bus journeys can be extremely long, so factor this into your plans. If a journey takes about 24 hours, aim to leave in the morning to arrive the next morning after sleeping on the bus for maximum comfort. Arriving late at night in a strange public place can be daunting, especially if you must get a connecting bus onwards to your final destination.
Buy the ticket online for a chance of getting a cheaper fare. Web-only fares are generally cheaper as are advance purchase fares. Refundable tickets can also be bought if there is a risk that the travel plans may be changed. Return tickets are usually cheaper than buying two single tickets. Fares can also be bought over the phone. Bus terminals sell tickets, but be aware that the coach on which you wish to travel may be booked up, and you may have to wait at the station for a later bus.
Choose a bus network. Some bus companies only serve Indiana from specific routes, for example: Megabus in Ohio runs an express service to Indianapolis from Chicago, Cincinnati and Columbus.
Compare prices. This is best done on the Internet to save on phone charges. Your local state coach company may offer better deals than bigger interstate companies. Rates will vary depending on the point of origin and if you are transferring buses from Indianapolis, the primary destination, to a more local bus going to other cities and towns in Indiana.
Be prepared to change buses. For example, Greyhound buses from New York to Anderson, Indiana, change twice--once at Philadelphia, then again for the Anderson bus at Indianapolis. This particular journey takes 20 hours, 35 minutes.
