Route 81 Bus Schedule: Times, Stops & Map
81 bus schedule is a broad search because many transit agencies use Route 81, 081, or S81. CTA Route 81 in Chicago is not the same as SEPTA Route 81 in Philadelphia, NJ TRANSIT Route 81 in New Jersey, Maryland MTA Route 81, NFTA Route 81 in Buffalo, MARTA Route 81 in Atlanta, or MTA S81 in Staten Island.
This rider guide helps you identify the correct agency first, then check the official timetable, major stops, route map, ticket price, live bus tracker, service alerts, accessibility, and arrival timing before you leave.
There Is No Single “Route 81 Bus Schedule”
Route 81 is reused by many transit systems. The right timetable depends on your city, operator, route name, direction, service day, stop, and sometimes a route variant such as S81 or 081. Before trusting a bus time, confirm whether you mean CTA 81, SEPTA 81, NJ TRANSIT 81, Maryland MTA 81, NFTA 81, MARTA 81, MTA S81, or another local route.
Start with where you are boarding, not only the route number.
CTA, SEPTA, NJ TRANSIT, MDOT MTA, NFTA, MARTA, MTA, or your local system.
Check the headsign, terminal, route branch, and stop side.
Ticket price, transfers, zones, and cash rules vary by agency.
Live arrival can change because of traffic, alerts, or cancellations.
Route 81 Bus Schedule Guide
Which Route 81 Bus Are You Looking For?
Use this section as a route resolver. Open the official page for your agency, select today’s date if the site offers a date selector, choose the correct direction, then check your exact stop or stop ID.
CTA 81 Lawrence — Chicago, Illinois
CTA Route 81 is the Lawrence bus. The official CTA route page shows service between Jefferson Park and Wilson/Marine, with Owl overnight service noted on the route page.
Rider tip: CTA warns that first and last bus spans are terminal-based; mid-route stops are reached later. Use the schedule or trip planner for stop-specific times.
SEPTA 81 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SEPTA Route 81 is commonly shown as a Philadelphia bus route connecting the Broad-Erie area with the Cheltenham-Ogontz area. Use SEPTA’s official schedule PDF and trip tools for current times and direction.
Rider tip: SEPTA has many nearby bus, subway, and trolley connections. Confirm your transfer point and direction before boarding.
NJ TRANSIT 81 — Bayonne & Jersey City, New Jersey
NJ TRANSIT Route 81 is a Hudson County bus route serving the Bayonne and Jersey City corridor. Common direction context includes Jersey City/Exchange Place and Bayonne-area stops.
Rider tip: NJ TRANSIT bus fares depend on zones. Use the Route 81 PDF, NJ TRANSIT app, or trip planner to confirm zones, fare, and the correct stop ID.
Maryland MTA 81 — Deer Park / Milford Mill Station
Maryland Transit Administration Route 81 is listed as Deer Park – Milford Mill Station. The official stop list shows stops around Milford Mill Metro Station, Milford Mill Road, Liberty Road, and Deer Park-area destinations.
Rider tip: choose inbound or outbound first, then confirm whether your stop is on Liberty Road, Milford Mill Road, or the station bay.
NFTA Metro 81 Eastside — Buffalo, New York
NFTA Metro Route 81 is listed as 81 Eastside. The official page shows service between University Station and downtown Buffalo timepoints such as Bailey/Winspear, Grider/Delavan, and South Division/Washington.
Rider tip: this is not an all-day frequent grid route. Check the exact travel day and direction before planning around it.
MARTA 81 Venetian Hills / Delowe Drive — Atlanta, Georgia
MARTA Route 81 is listed as Venetian Hills / Delowe Drive. MARTA route listings place it with East Point and West End connections, so riders should confirm station direction and current service status.
Rider tip: MARTA fare-payment tools changed in 2026, so check the current Ways to Pay page before relying on an old Breeze card or app.
MTA S81 — St. George / Grant City Limited, Staten Island
In New York City, the route is usually searched as S81, not plain Route 81. MTA lists S51/S81 service between St. George and Grant City via Bay Street and Father Capodanno Boulevard.
Rider tip: include the “S” when searching. S81 is a Staten Island limited-stop pattern and should not be confused with unrelated Route 81 buses.
How to Read Route 81 Times Correctly
Do not copy a Route 81 time from one city to another. First bus, last bus, weekend service, frequency, and ride time depend on the specific operator, stop, direction, route pattern, and service day. Scheduled time is the plan; live arrival is the same-day prediction.
| Route 81 example | What to check | Timing guidance | When to arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTA 81 Lawrence | Jefferson Park direction, Wilson/Marine direction, Owl service, current route alerts, CTA Bus Tracker. | CTA publishes terminal-based first/last spans. Mid-route stops are reached later, so use the trip planner or Bus Tracker for your stop. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early; allow more during station-area reroutes or overnight trips. |
| SEPTA 81 | Broad-Erie direction, Cheltenham-Ogontz direction, transfer points, current SEPTA PDF, alerts. | Use SEPTA’s current route PDF and trip planner because transfer timing can change your full trip time. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early and confirm the correct stop side. |
| NJ TRANSIT 81 | Bayonne/Jersey City direction, zones, MyBus stop ID, holiday schedule notes. | Because fares and arrival times are stop-specific, check the Route 81 PDF and MyBus before boarding. | Be at the stop a few minutes early; stop IDs help confirm the exact location. |
| Maryland MTA 81 | Inbound to Deer Park or outbound to Milford Mill Station, station bay, Liberty Road stops. | Use the official MTA schedule page or stop list because the correct stop side matters along Liberty Road and Milford Mill Road. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early; allow more at Milford Mill Station. |
| NFTA 81 Eastside | University Station direction, downtown direction, limited-service trips, effective date. | NFTA’s listed Route 81 schedule may have only selected trips. Do not assume all-day frequent service. | Arrive early because missing a limited-service trip can create a long wait. |
| MARTA 81 | West End/East Point context, Venetian Hills/Delowe Drive direction, current alerts. | Use MARTA’s route page or app for current stop-specific times, especially if transferring from rail. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early and confirm the station-side bus bay. |
Route 81 Ticket Price Depends on the Agency
There is no national Route 81 fare. Payment method, transfer rules, reduced fares, fare caps, cash acceptance, mobile tickets, and zone pricing depend on the operator.
CTA cash bus fare is listed separately at $2.50 and does not include transfers. Use Ventra or contactless payment for transfer benefits.
SEPTA Key and contactless riders may receive transfer benefits within the allowed transfer window. Cash and Quick Trip rules are different.
NJ TRANSIT Route 81 fare depends on the number of zones traveled. Check the official Route 81 PDF or NJ TRANSIT app before boarding.
CharmPass is the recommended mobile fare option. CharmCard is no longer accepted after March 1, 2026, so check current payment rules.
NFTA also lists a $5 day pass. Cash is accepted on buses, but cash rides are single ride only and may not receive fare-capping benefits.
MARTA riders can use modern tap-to-pay and Breeze options. Bus cash payment may require exact change and may not load value to Breeze.
Use OMNY with the same card or device for transfers and weekly fare-capping benefits where eligible.
Route 81 fare starts with the transit operator, not the route number.
App, contactless card, fare card, paper ticket, token, or exact cash.
Transfer windows and free transfers vary by system.
This is especially important for NJ TRANSIT and regional systems.
Load fare or prepare exact payment before the bus arrives.
Route 81 Stops: Confirm the Correct Direction
Route number alone is not enough. Use the official map, direction label, stop ID, terminal name, station bay, and nearby landmark. A Route 81 stop on one side of a street can serve the opposite direction from the stop across the road.
Example Transfer Map: Jefferson Park Transit Center
This map is included as a practical example because CTA Route 81 uses Jefferson Park as a major connection point. For SEPTA, NJ TRANSIT, Maryland MTA, NFTA, MARTA, MTA S81, or another Route 81, use that agency’s official route map and stop locator.
- Confirm the city before using a map.
- Check the official stop ID, platform, or bus bay.
- Look for same-day detours before walking to the stop.
- Use Google Maps as navigation support, not the final timetable source.
Scheduled Time vs Live Arrival
Scheduled time is the planned timetable. Live arrival is a same-day prediction based on vehicle location or real-time information where available. Traffic, detours, cancellations, weather, road work, station construction, events, and operator availability can change live arrival.
Use CTA Bus Tracker, SEPTA tools, NJ TRANSIT MyBus, MTA Maryland tools, NFTA trip tools, MARTA tools, or MTA Bus Time.
Use the exact label, such as 81, Route 81, 081, or S81.
Match the terminal, destination sign, branch, or inbound/outbound label.
Use stop name, stop ID, station bay, nearby landmark, or map pin.
Check again before leaving because predictions can change quickly.
Check Route 81 Alerts Before You Leave
Service alerts can change the stop location, route path, station bay, travel time, or last trip. This is especially important around train stations, downtown terminals, construction zones, schools, hospitals, and long suburban corridors.
Accessibility Details to Check
Accessibility is both route-specific and stop-specific. A route may use accessible buses, but a stop can still be affected by sidewalk conditions, curb height, construction, snow, blocked boarding areas, temporary stop relocation, or station elevator issues.
How to Avoid Missing or Boarding the Wrong Route 81
- Confirm your city and transit agency.
- Open the official Route 81, 081, or S81 page, not only a search result snippet.
- Select today’s travel date and service day if the site offers a date selector.
- Choose the correct direction or destination sign.
- Find your exact stop name, stop ID, platform, or boarding bay.
- Check ticket price, zones, transfers, and accepted payment method.
- Check live arrival shortly before leaving.
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early; use 10–15 minutes for terminals, transfers, or infrequent service.
- Check alerts for detours, closed stops, cancellations, or schedule changes.
- For late return trips, verify the last bus from your actual stop.
Official Route 81 Sources
Use these official pages to confirm current schedules, fares, maps, live arrivals, stop IDs, service alerts, and accessibility details. Third-party pages can help you discover a route, but the operating agency controls the current rider information.
Official CTA route page with schedule brochure, stop list, Owl service note, accessibility note, service alerts, and Bus Tracker links.
Open CTA Route 81Ventra, contactless, cash fare, pass, transfer, and reduced-fare information.
Open CTA faresOfficial SEPTA schedule PDF for Route 81. Use it for current stop times, direction, and service notes.
Open SEPTA Route 81Bus & Metro fare, SEPTA Key, contactless payment, transfer, and reduced-fare information.
Open SEPTA faresOfficial bus schedule PDF for the Bayonne and Jersey City Route 81 corridor.
Open NJ TRANSIT Route 81Zone-based fare guidance, transfers, app purchase information, and fare chart links.
Open NJ TRANSIT faresOfficial schedule page for 81 Deer Park – Milford Mill Station.
Open Maryland MTA Route 81Official stop list showing inbound and outbound stops, station bay details, and Liberty Road/Milford Mill Road stop context.
Open Route 81 stopsOfficial NFTA Route 81 page with effective date, timepoints, alerts, accessibility information, and PDF schedule link.
Open NFTA Route 81Single trip, day pass, Token Transit, MetGo, cash, reduced fare, and pass information.
Open NFTA faresOfficial MARTA route page for 81 Venetian Hills / Delowe Drive.
Open MARTA Route 81Better Breeze, tap-to-pay, cash, Breeze card/ticket, and payment transition guidance.
Open MARTA ways to payOfficial MTA schedule page for S51/S81 St. George – Grant City service in Staten Island.
Open MTA S51/S81Official MTA live-arrival and stop lookup tool for Staten Island S81 and other NYC bus routes.
Open MTA Bus TimeRoute 81 Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the Route 81 bus schedule?
There is no single Route 81 bus schedule. The correct timetable depends on the city and transit agency, such as CTA, SEPTA, NJ TRANSIT, Maryland MTA, NFTA, MARTA, MTA S81, or another local operator.
How do I find the correct 81 bus schedule?
Search with the city and agency name first, then open the official route page, choose the direction, select the service day, and check your exact stop or stop ID.
Is Route 81 the same in every city?
No. CTA 81 in Chicago, SEPTA 81 in Philadelphia, NJ TRANSIT 81 in New Jersey, Maryland MTA 81 near Baltimore, NFTA 81 in Buffalo, MARTA 81 in Atlanta, and MTA S81 in Staten Island are different services.
What time does Route 81 start?
Start time depends on the agency, terminal, direction, and service day. Use the official route page for the first bus from your actual boarding stop.
What time is the last Route 81 bus?
The last bus depends on direction, terminal, stop, weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, and any short-turn or branch pattern. Always check the last trip from your actual stop.
How much is the Route 81 bus fare?
Fare depends on the agency. Examples include CTA bus fare, SEPTA Bus & Metro fare, Maryland MTA core fare, NFTA single trip fare, MTA local bus fare, MARTA fare rules, and NJ TRANSIT zone-based fare.
Can I pay cash on Route 81?
Some Route 81 buses accept cash, but rules vary. Cash may require exact fare and may not include transfer or fare-capping benefits available with fare cards, apps, or contactless payment.
Where can I see live Route 81 arrival times?
Use the agency’s official live tool, such as CTA Bus Tracker, SEPTA real-time tools, NJ TRANSIT MyBus, Maryland MTA tools, NFTA trip tools, MARTA tools, or MTA Bus Time for S81.
How early should I arrive for Route 81?
Arrive 5–10 minutes early for most local bus stops. Use 10–15 minutes for terminals, transfers, unfamiliar stops, infrequent service, bad weather, or when buying or loading fare.
Where can I find the Route 81 map?
Use the official route map from the transit agency. A generic map result can show the wrong city, wrong direction, old routing, or unofficial stop information.
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