OWOSSO, Mich. — Indian Trails has been named the No. 1 bus service in the United States in USA Today’s 2025 “10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards,” placing it above national giants like Megabus, Greyhound, and FlixBus.
It’s the second year in a row the Michigan-based company has earned a spot on the top 10 list, making it the only Michigan operator among the top 10 and one of just a handful of regional companies to earn national acclaim.
“We were voted No. 1 above some pretty big national companies,” said Chad Cushman, president and CEO of Indian Trails. “The fact that we’re a relatively small, regional, family-owned company competing with brands that generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year makes this even more rewarding. It’s a testament to our employees, our riders, and the agencies that partner with us.”
Cushman credited Indian Trails employees for building a reputation for quality.
“Generations of Indian Trails employees truly earned this honor by operating a top-notch bus transportation company for more than 115 consecutive years,” Cushman said. “We must also thank the nearly 1 million loyal passengers who rely on us each year, as well as our partner agencies—the Michigan Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation—who support our rural routes.”
Extensive state network
Indian Trails operates the largest number of scheduled bus services in Michigan, connecting more than 80 towns throughout the state and into Wisconsin and Minnesota. While Greyhound and FlixBus operate in Michigan, Indian Trails runs more intrastate schedules than any other carrier.
The company also operates the popular Michigan Flyer airport shuttle, providing multiple daily roundtrips between East Lansing, Brighton, Ann Arbor, and Detroit Metro Airport. Since 2006, the service has carried nearly 3 million passengers with an on-time performance rate of 98%.
Indian Trails’ reach extends to university campuses as well. It operates contract shuttles for student housing near Michigan State University and Western Michigan University.
A long-standing partner with MDOT, Indian Trails has held a contract with the state’s intercity bus program for roughly 50 years. It began partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in 2012 to operate similar services into Duluth and Milwaukee.
“These are long-term relationships built on consistent, high-quality service,” Cushman said. “As a 115-year-old company, we’ve developed a sophisticated operating system to deal with the challenges of bus travel, especially in Michigan winters. We know how to handle tough conditions and still provide safe, dependable service.”
Cushman emphasized that Indian Trails’ success comes down to one thing: staying focused on the passenger.
“It’s about providing excellent customer service,” he said. “Without our passengers, we have no service. They are the ones who voted us to the top of this list, and we’re incredibly grateful.”
To learn more, visit www.IndianTrails.com.
