The Union Station Bus Terminal in Toronto is at 81 Bay Street, inside the CIBC Square development one block south-east of Union Station, linked to it by an indoor bridge over Bay Street. Opened in December 2020 by Metrolinx, it serves GO Transit buses and intercity coaches such as Megabus, FlixBus and Ontario Northland. Check your ticket for the exact departure point.
This guide is for people riding a coach from or to the terminal. If you need a car to meet a coach, or a ride from the terminal to Pearson or a hotel, that is our Union Station Bus Terminal pickup page, with fares and the exact meeting point. Here we cover the terminal itself: finding it, using it, and the mistakes travellers make.
Where is the Union Station Bus Terminal in Toronto?
The address is 81 Bay Street, at the corner of Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard, just south of the rail corridor that runs out of Union Station. It is operated by Metrolinx, the provincial agency that runs GO Transit and UP Express. Three landmarks help: Scotiabank Arena is close by to the west, the Gardiner Expressway runs overhead to the south, and Union Station's Front Street facade is about five minutes' walk north.
Is the bus terminal inside Union Station?
No, and this is the most common confusion. "Union Station" on a train ticket means the historic station on Front Street. "Union Station Bus Terminal" on a coach ticket means 81 Bay Street. They are connected indoors, but a traveller who waits in the Great Hall for a coach will miss it. The old downtown coach terminal near Bay and Dundas closed when this one opened, and some old guidebooks and map pins still point there.
Which bus companies use the terminal?
GO Transit buses use it for many regional routes. Intercity carriers listed at the terminal include Megabus, FlixBus and Ontario Northland, along with cross-border services to Buffalo, Niagara Falls and New York. Carriers change their departure points from time to time, and some pick up at other Toronto stops too, so treat your ticket or the carrier's app as the authority, not a blog, including this one.
How early should you arrive for a coach?
Intercity carriers typically ask passengers to be at the bay well before departure, often around 30 minutes, and they may give away seats or close the luggage hold at a cut-off. Check your carrier's rules. Add the time to get downtown. From Pearson by UP Express to Union and a walk to the terminal, allow at least an hour. From Scarborough or Mississauga by car at rush hour, allow the same. Cross-border coaches load slowly because every bag goes in the hold, so being early also gets you a better seat.
Getting to the terminal with luggage
You have four sensible routes in:
- From Union Station, indoors. From the Bay concourse, head toward Scotiabank Arena, through the Scotiabank Galleria, up the escalator and over the pedestrian bridge above Bay Street. Elevators serve the route for wheelchairs and heavy bags.
- From Front Street, outdoors. Walk south on Bay Street under the rail bridge toward Lake Shore. About five minutes.
- By TTC. Line 1 to Union station, then route 1 above.
- By car. Book the drop-off as "Union Station Bus Terminal, 81 Bay Street". The chauffeur uses the terminal's pick-up and drop-off area rather than stopping on Lake Shore, which is not a safe place to unload.
Our post on how to navigate Union Station with luggage has step-by-step routes through the main station.
What is inside the terminal?
Expect a waiting area above the bus bays, departure screens, ticket and information services for the carriers present, and elevator access between levels. Facilities change, so check GO Transit's station page for current amenities before a long wait. There is far more food and seating in Union Station and the connected towers than in the terminal itself, so if you have an hour to spare, eat first and walk over 20 minutes before boarding.
Arriving by coach: the first ten minutes
When the coach pulls in, collect your bag from the hold before walking away; drivers rarely wait for stragglers. Then choose:
- Walking to a downtown hotel? Many Financial District and waterfront hotels are within 10-15 minutes, but not with two large cases in January.
- Taking the subway? Follow signs indoors to Union station for TTC Line 1.
- Connecting to a train? Walk to Union via the bridge; VIA and GO concourses are signposted.
- Heading to the airport? UP Express from Union, a GO bus, or a pre-booked car from the terminal.
Late-night coach arrivals
Coaches from Montreal, New York and northern Ontario often land late in the evening or after midnight, sometimes hours behind schedule after a border inspection or snow. Late at night the subway closes and UP Express stops for the night, so check last trains. The TTC's overnight network covers downtown corridors; check TTC for routes. A pre-booked chauffeur tracks the coach's progress with you by text and simply waits; there is no pressure to be on time for a car that is already booked.
From the bus terminal to Pearson airport
There are three realistic ways:
| Option | Typical time to Pearson | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk to Union + UP Express to T1 | 35-45 min incl. walk | UP fare per person | Solo, light bags, T1 flights |
| GO bus where a route serves Pearson | varies by route | GO fare | Budget travellers who check the timetable |
| Private car from 81 Bay St | 25-60 min | Sedan $130-160 all-in | Families, heavy bags, T3, early flights |
Car fares are planning figures, all-in with HST separate; the reservation engine prices your date and vehicle. The full train-versus-car comparison is in our Pearson to Union Station route guide.
Event nights next door
Scotiabank Arena hosts Leafs and Raptors games and major concerts, and the crowd uses the same streets and bridge as coach passengers. On a game night, Bay Street and Lake Shore jam before puck drop and again at the final whistle. If your coach leaves around then, arrive earlier than usual; if it arrives around then, a car pickup may wait a few minutes to get in. Our sports and games page explains how we handle venue traffic.
Accessibility at 81 Bay Street
The terminal is a recent building with elevators between levels. If you use a wheelchair or mobility aid, tell your coach carrier when you book so they can arrange boarding help and space for the device. For the trip to or from the terminal, our wheelchair-accessible transfers explain which vehicles suit folding and non-folding chairs.
Travelling with children
A long coach ride with small children is easier with snacks, a charged tablet and a plan for the arrival. Car seats are a separate problem: after the ride you need one for the next car. When you book our car from the terminal, add the seats you need at booking, on request, and the chauffeur arrives with them fitted. Ontario's car seat guidance is worth reading if you are visiting from abroad.
A real example: a student arriving from Montreal
A university student arrives on an evening coach from Montreal with two suitcases and a guitar, heading to residence near Queen's Park. Option one: walk to Union, Line 1 north to Queen's Park, then carry everything two blocks. Option two: a taxi from the rank on Front Street. Option three: parents book a sedan that tracks the coach and meets her at the terminal. All three work. The first is cheapest; the third makes sense when it is late, raining, or the parents simply want a text saying she is in the car.
A family heading to Buffalo for a flight
A family of four considers the coach from 81 Bay Street to Buffalo for a cheap US flight. The coach is the lowest fare per seat, but it goes to downtown Buffalo on most schedules, the border inspection means everyone gets off with their bags, and an early flight may not match any departure. Our sibling post, bus from Toronto to Buffalo airport vs a private transfer, works through that decision with numbers.
Cross-border coaches: documents and the inspection
Coaches between Toronto and Buffalo or New York stop at the border, and on most crossings every passenger gets off with their bags for inspection. Carry a valid passport, and any US visa or ESTA your nationality needs; permanent residents of Canada should carry their PR card as well. Keep medicines in their original containers and declare food. Coming north into Canada, the officer asks the same questions of each passenger in turn, so a full coach can spend a long time at the booth. The rules are set by US Customs and Border Protection going south and the Canada Border Services Agency coming north. Build that time into any connection you plan on the other side.
Buying tickets and changing plans
Most intercity carriers sell tickets through their own apps and websites, with prices that rise as a departure fills. The terminal is not the place to discover a sold-out coach on a holiday Friday, so buy ahead. Read the change and refund rules before paying; the cheapest fares are often non-refundable. GO buses work differently: you pay with PRESTO, a credit or debit card tap, or a ticket, and seats are not reserved. If you arrive late and miss a coach, ask the carrier's staff about the next departure before buying a new ticket online.
Common mistakes at the terminal
- Waiting in Union Station's Great Hall instead of at 81 Bay Street.
- Going to the old Bay and Dundas terminal site.
- Arriving five minutes before a cross-border coach.
- Not checking whether your carrier uses this terminal or another stop.
- Booking a car pickup "at Union Station" when you arrive by coach, which sends the driver to Front Street.
Booking a car to or from the terminal
Enter "Union Station Bus Terminal, 81 Bay Street" as the address, add your carrier and scheduled arrival in the notes, and choose the vehicle. The fare is fixed before you confirm and includes gratuity. For departures from other downtown points, see our downtown Toronto page.
