We've done both and I think its on a case by case basis. My kids would ride an hour in the morning and the afternoon, so we compromise and I take them in the mornins so they can sleep later, and they ride the bus in the afternoon. I used to drive both ways but my gas budget couldn't take it, and it's a pain to get my little one up from nap to go get them, but quite honestly i miss the time right after school when they tell me all about their day, For some reason after an hour bus ride they don't feel like talking as much as they used to when I picked them up and I've got to drag the info out of them Plus my kindergartener has learned some colorful language too. I feel bad for bus drivers ... I wish they had aides on the buses because it's a big enough job just driving that big ol' thing without having to discipline kids too so things get sometimes a little rowdy on the bus, I think.