Tucked behind the ruins and overgrown streets, the Bus Depot hides some of The Last of Us Part 1’s most easily missed collectibles. From forgotten notes to hidden artifacts, here’s where to find every secret before Joel and Ellie’s final stretch.
After Joel and Ellie reunite, you’ll skip to the spring in “Bus Depot,” the ninth chapter of The Last of Us Part 1. In this chapter, you’ll need to find three artifacts, three Firefly pendants, six optional conversation, one training manual, and two comics. The collectibles are spread out across two sections: Highway Exit and Underground Tunnel. The game does not indicate to you when you’re moving onto a new section, but you can select and begin playing any section from the Chapters option on the main menu.
Read on to find out when each section begins and ends, and where all of the collectibles can be found in “Bus Depot.”
Highway Exit Collectibles
Near the highway exit leading to the Bus Depot, you’ll find several items to collect before moving forward. Search the abandoned vehicles and roadside area for a Firefly pendant and a few scattered artifacts. A training manual can also be picked up near the bus stop shelter, lying close to a fallen backpack. Check every corner carefully, as some collectibles are partially hidden behind debris or under benches.
The “Highway Exit” section starts with a time skip to the spring, with Joel and Ellie on top of a highway to leading to the hospital where Fireflies are supposedly located. This section ends when they reach the tunnel.
Optional Conversation 41 Location
As you gain control of Joel, you’ll walk down the highway with Ellie. Joel will talk about teaching Ellie how to play the guitar, prompting an optional conversation.
Family Photograph Artifact Location
Just ahead of the optional conversation location, you’ll spot an abandoned RV with its door wide open. Enter the RV to find the Family Photograph on the sink.
Optional Conversation 42 Location
After you leave the RV, catch up to Ellie standing beside a bus on the road. Ellie will talk about a dream she had about flying a plane, triggering an optional conversation.
Katrina Perich Firefly Pendant Location
After you reach the bottom of the exit ramp, turn to the left and search behind the orange traffic barrels to find the Katrina Perich Firefly pendant.
Note to Wife Artifact Location
After you climb to the top of the bus and to go over the gate, enter the Logan James Bus Station and go down the left stairs. In the corner, you’ll find a pile of suitcases and the Note to Wife in an open suitcase.
Optional Conversation 43 Location
After you collect the note, turn around to find Ellie sitting on a brick bench in the center of the station. Interact with Ellie to start an optional conversation.
Optional Conversation 44 Location
After Ellie drops the ladder down to Joel, climb up to the second floor and follow an excited Ellie, She’ll lead you to a giraffe eating some leaves off of a hole in the side of a building. Interact with the giraffe to start an optional conversation.
Optional Conversation 45 Location
Follow Ellie again up the stairs where she’ll lead to you another viewing point. Interact with Ellie to start an optional conversation.
Precipitate Comic Location
After you’re done looking at the giraffes, head downstairs and into the room on the lower floor. Turn to the right towards the men’s bathroom, and enter to find the Precipitate comic on the floor in front of a corpse on the toilet.
Tools Level 5 Location
Head outside of the building to find a few medical tents set up across from the building. Enter the largest tent in the middle to find the level 5 tools on a table by the entrance.
Nicole Hoo Firefly Pendant Location
Exit the medical tent and follow the side of the tent to the left. Around the corner of the tent, look up at the flood light to spot the Nicole Hoo Firefly pendant hanging from the lower right lamp.
Salt Lake QZ Map Artifact Location
After you’ve picked up the Nicole Hoo Firefly pendant, turn around to spot a lone tent in the corner of the area. Enter the tent to find the Salt Lake QZ Map on the table to the left along with a workbench to the right.
Optional Conversation 46 and Joel and Sarah Artifact Location
Once you’ve looted what you need in the area outside of the bus station, head over to the blue bus’ door. Before you make it inside, Ellie will call out to Joel telling him that she has something for him. Interact with Ellie to start an optional conversation and receive the Joel and Sarah Photo.
Natalie Hoo Firefly Pendant Location
After you exit walk through the bus, head down the ramp to your left. Turn to the left side of the bus stuck on the ramp to find the Natalie Hoo Firefly pendant on the floor.
Underground Tunnel Collectibles
This section of the Bus Depot chapter hides several items in the dark tunnels beneath the city. You can pick up an Artifact called the Family Photo near the flooded area after helping Ellie across the water. A Firefly Pendant is found near the train car before reaching the exit. Be sure to search every corner and use your flashlight often, as some collectibles blend into the shadowy environment.
The “Underground Tunnel” section begins when you go down the ramp into the tunnel. This section ends after you’ve escaped the flooded tunnel.
Bomb: Shrapnel Training Manual Location
After defeating a few clickers, runners, and a bloater, you’ll run into a sideways box truck with a blue “RNB Express” logo on the side of it. Climb up the truck from the front to find the Bomb: Shrapnel training manual on top. However, beware of even more bloaters and clickers on the other side of the truck!
Catalysis Comic
After you drop the ladder to Ellie for her to climb, go along the air ducts along the left wall to find the Catalysis comic right before the air ducts collapse.
That marks the end of “Bus Depot” in The Last of Us Part 1. If you’re ready to take on the next chapter, check out our guide on where to find all “The Firefly Lab” collectibles.
Bus Depot combat tips and enemy strategies The Last of Us Part 1
The Bus Depot chapter in The Last of Us Part 1 features intense infected encounters split between the open Highway Exit and the cramped Underground Tunnel, emphasizing stealth early and aggressive tactics later.
Highway Exit Strategies
Stealth is key here against scattered runners and clickers before human soldiers appear.
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Crouch-walk to silently grab and shiv runners near cars and RVs; avoid alerting groups.
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Use the bow for distant clickers from elevated spots like platforms, reclaiming arrows when safe.
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Against the two bloaters and final runner near the left-side car, switch to loud combat: flamethrower or shotgun the runner first, then funnel bloaters into a corner with molotovs and nail bombs while keeping distance to dodge charges.
Underground Tunnel Tactics
This flooded, enclosed area ramps up with clickers, runners, and a bloater-prioritize quiet takedowns until overwhelmed.
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Scale trucks to access the main arena; stand on the central square structure and bow runners below, staying out of the bloater’s detection range (it senses close threats intuitively).
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Strafe right past the bus, bow the runner in the water pool, then shiv or sneak by the two clickers.
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In the large tunnel fight (post-ladder drop), eliminate clickers/runners stealthily with bricks or shivs if low on ammo; ignore or skirt the bloater by crouch-walking at a distance until it despawns or you reach the trailer boost.
General Enemy Tips
| Enemy Type | Weaknesses | Best Weapons/Tactics |
|---|---|---|
| Runner | Legs (cripple then grab) | Melee grab, bow, brick for silent kills. |
| Clicker | Headshots (listen-enabled) | Shiv, bow, flamethrower; never melee frontally. |
| Bloater | Explosives, fire, distance | Molotovs, nail bombs, shotgun from afar; evade charges. |
Save explosives for bloaters, listen mode for patrols, and supplements for health-scavenge side rooms early. On higher difficulties like Grounded, pure stealth skips most fights by exploiting enemy AI blind spots.
Best weapons and ammo management for Bus Depot fights
The Bus Depot chapter in The Last of Us Part 1 demands precise ammo conservation due to escalating infected waves, with key fights in the Highway Exit (bloaters) and Underground Tunnel (clickers, runners, bloater).
Top Weapons
Prioritize silent, reclaimable options early, saving loud weapons for bloaters.
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Bow: Ideal for all infected; arrows are retrievable, perfect for runners/clickers from afar in both sections.
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Flamethrower: Burns groups and staggers bloaters-use sparingly in Highway Exit finale and tunnel arena.
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Shotgun: Close-range bloater shredder; pair with distance in tunnel fights.
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Revolver: Reliable backup for headshots on runners/clickers when bow ammo dips.
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Melee (shiv, 2×4): Infinite for grabs/shivs on isolated runners/clickers; skip against bloaters.
Ammo Management Tips
Stockpile via scavenging tents/RVs early; never waste on non-threats.
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Reclaim bow arrows post-kill; use bricks/bottles for distractions to save shiv durability.
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Explosives (molotovs, nail bombs) only for bloaters-throw at feet to ignite groups, 1-2 per fight.
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Skip unnecessary kills: Stealth past tunnel clickers by crouching distant from bloater; funnel Highway bloaters into choke points.
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Supplements over health kits unless critical; listen mode spots ammo pickups in vehicles/tents.
Loadout Priority Table
| Fight Phase | Primary Weapon | Ammo Tip | Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highway Exit (early) | Bow / Shiv | Reclaim arrows; shiv runners | Revolver (headshots) |
| Bloater Duo | Flamethrower | 1 tank + molotovs; dodge charges | Shotgun (distance) |
| Tunnel Arena | Bow / Explosives | Stealth runners first; bomb bloater | Melee clickers |
| Flooded Escape | Revolver | Conserve for stragglers | None (run) |
