Bus Trip Back to Chuncheon: A Ride on the Universe Luxury
This journey documents a premium intercity bus ride from Incheon Airport to Chuncheon, highlighting the route, vehicle type, and real travel time. What began as a simple return trip turned into a surprisingly satisfying ride.
From the unexpected appearance of a 2020 Universe Luxury bus to a near non-stop drive through major expressways, this experience captures both the technical route details and the personal reflections behind the trip.
Unexpectedly Riding a 2020 Universe Luxury Bus
After lunch, the journey back to Chuncheon began at Incheon Airport. The assigned vehicle was a Gangwon Express premium bus operating on the airport route.
Instead of the expected Prime EX model, a 2020 Universe Luxury arrived. This model, usually fixed on airport lines, was one I had wanted to ride since middle school, so the surprise instantly set a positive tone for the trip.
Seat 3 offered a clear forward-facing view, making it easy to enjoy the scenery as soon as the bus departed from Incheon Airport Terminal 1.
Leaving Incheon Airport and Entering the Expressway
The bus departed on time and immediately entered the Incheon Airport Expressway, heading toward the Gimpo area.
Crossing Yeongjong Bridge, the route passed Cheongna International City, where the Airport Railroad express train could be seen running alongside on parallel tracks.
After passing through the Incheon Airport tollgate, the scenery gradually shifted from airport infrastructure to urban Seoul outskirts.
Gimpo Airport Stops and Seoul Ring Expressway
The bus exited the expressway via Gimpo Airport IC and briefly stopped at both the international and domestic terminals to pick up passengers.
After crossing the Gimpo Ara Bridge, the bus entered Gimpo IC and merged onto the Seoul Ring Expressway.
The Ring Expressway carried the bus smoothly until Toegyewon, offering distant views of mountains including Bukhansan near Tongil-ro IC.
Transition to National Route 46 Toward Chuncheon
After exiting at Toegyewon IC, the route shifted onto National Route 46 via Jingwan IC.
The drive through Shin-Gyeongchun-ro was calm enough that I dozed off briefly. By the time I woke up, the bus had already passed Daeseongri.
Because no passengers were scheduled to disembark at Cheongpyeong or Gapyeong, the bus passed through without stopping, making the trip feel almost non-stop.
Arrival in Chuncheon After a Smooth Ride
After entering Chuncheon via Gyeongchun-ro and passing the Gangchon area, the bus continued directly toward the terminal.
The final stretch included Palmi Overpass on Provincial Route 70, marking the end of the journey.
Arrival at Chuncheon Intercity Bus Terminal was at 16:18, making the total travel time just under two and a half hours.
Why This Trip Mattered Personally
This journey was planned to avoid letting August pass by without meaning. It was a final trip before returning to school, motivated by a desire to visit places that had been on my mind.
Although planning routes and booking tickets took effort, this solo trip became valuable practice for future backpacking adventures. Visiting both Busan and Shizuoka during the break made the experience even more fulfilling.
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