Bus Stop opened on Broadway March 2, 1955, for the first of 475 performances. If the reviews are any indication, this play was a success with both critics and audiences. Robert Coleman of the Daily Mirror summed it up when he advised that Bus Stop "should prove a popular terminal for playgoers for months to come." In this "endearing, though deceptively simple, comedy," the audience can find "magical warmth and humor," according to Coleman. In wrapping up his review, Coleman advised readers to make reservations right away, since the play "has heart, compassion, wisdom, and loads of laughs."

Another positive assessment was provided by Walter F. Kerr of the Herald Review. While citing the strengths of the cast, Kerr also praised Inge's writing. Kerr stated that, "the fascination of the funny and very touching evening lies not in its surprises but in its sharp, honest, down-to-earth eye for character...