It's been a long journey, and Joel and Ellie have practically traveled to hell and back by this point in the game. Their adventure has almost come to a close as they finally arrive at Salt Lake City, home of the Fireflies. As they come closer to their destination, the iconic duo must venture through one last city together. Their bond has brought them closer and helped them overcome unimaginable obstacles, and it culminates one of the most heartfelt chapters in The Last of Us.
Though the goal is in sight, The Last of Us is not quite over yet. Salt Lake City holds just as many secrets as any other place Joel and Ellie have visited, and enemies still lurk around dark corners. The Bus Depot chapter features tricky environmental puzzles and harrowing combat sections, but also sweet and tender moments that have become iconic.
Highway Exit
When players pick up as Joel, Ellie will seem awfully quiet. Continue forward; when Joel finishes talking about teaching Ellie guitar, turn to her to have an optional conversation with her.
There will be an RV up ahead with an open door. Go inside to find an artifact and some supplies.
When Joel exits, Ellie will remark about a dream she had about flying. Joel can have an optional conversation with her about the dream.
Walk down the ramp and down the street. Turn left and walk around a blue pickup truck to find a firefly pendant.
Continue down the street. At the end of the street, there will be a bunch of cars and a bus crashed together into a fence. Use the cars to climb on top of the bus to jump down to the other side of the fence.
To the left, the bus station will have its doors wide open. Go inside and search around for supplies. In a suitcase to the left side of the room will be an artifact.
To the right side of the room, a ladder will be hanging over the ledge. Walk up to it and press the triangle button to have Joel point it out.
Turn around to find Ellie sitting down and have an optional conversation with her.
Look back towards the ledge and press the triangle button to help Ellie onto the ledge. This time, Ellie won't come over the first time. Once Ellie walks over, do this again to successfully lift her up. While Ellie tries to get the ladder down, she'll get distracted and run off, dropping the ladder to Joel's level. Press the triangle button to pick up the ladder and put it in place.
Continue following Ellie through the building. Eventually, Joel and Ellie will find a giraffe hanging around an open area of the building. Walk up to the giraffe and press the triangle button to pet the creature.
Continue following Ellie up the stairs and outside, where a herd of giraffes will be passing through. Walk up to Ellie to have an optional conversation with her. Afterward, push back on the right thumbstick to have Joel walk away. Turn around and head to the door on the right. Press the triangle button to trigger the next cutscene.
After the cutscene, follow Ellie down the stairs. In the main room of the building, head towards the right side and into the men's bathroom to find a comic.
Leave the bathroom and search the main room for supplies. Then continue following Ellie outside. The two will find themselves in a triage and have a heartfelt conversation about Sarah. During the conversation, search the triage for supplies. In the second large tent on the left side, the player can find level 5 tools.
In the tent on the far-right of the triage will be an artifact and a workbench.
At the far-left of the triage, a firefly pendant will be hanging from a lightpost. Shoot at it or throw a brick or bottle at it to knock it down.
When done, head towards the bus at the end of the triage.
Ellie will stop Joel before he can enter. Turn around to have an optional conversation with her, where she'll give Joel one of the most precious artifacts: a picture of Joel and Sarah.
Turn around and head through the bus. On the other end of the bus, climb up and through the open window. On the other side, turn left and head towards the tunnel.
On the other side of the bus, go around to find a firefly pendant on the ground.
Then, turn around to head into the...
Underground Tunnel
Inside the tunnel, go up the small walkway to the right and climb over the white truck. When Joel drops down on the other side, Infected will be heard from a little ways away. This will be the last major combat section with Infected, but it's a big one. To conserve resources, pick off as many as possible using stealth. Stay crouched and move forward.
Walk around the white structure to find a single runner; silently grab him and kill him.
To the right, another runner will be standing near an RV. Silently kill him.
A bloater will be wandering around; it's best to ignore him for now, as trying to take him down will draw too much attention. A clicker will also be wandering around; take him out instead.
Up to the left corner of the area, take out the runner.
Move forward beyond the bus. A clicker will be wandering around nearby; kill him.
Near the crashed truck there will be a runner; kill him. There will also be another clicker wandering about here.
To the right side of the highway will be a doorway that leads into a small hallway. There are several valuable supplies in here, but also three runners, so be careful.
Traverse through the hallway and turn left through the doorway. The next area will have several clickers and bloaters. Stick at first to the right side of the highway, as the bloaters will tend to hang around the left side. A clicker will be walking by. Kill him, as well as the runner standing around the container. On the platform to the right will be a bunch of supplies.
To the left side of the highway will be a runner near a car and two bloaters, as well as a sleeping clicker on the side platform. Sneak over and kill the runner first, then climb onto the platform and kill the clicker.
At this point, don't be afraid to go all in with the bloaters. Focus on using Joel's flamethrower, shotgun, and molotov cocktails. If there were any remaining Infected hanging around somewhere, they'll come over and attack as well. Once combat is over, turn around and climb on top of a nearby truck to find a training manual.
Turn back around to find another truck blocking the path ahead. Go up to the truck and press the triangle button to boost Ellie on top. She'll drop a crate down for Joel to climb onto. Use it to climb onto the truck with Ellie.
Jump down to the other side. Get into the water and swim up to the truck. Then dive under and swim underneath to the other side of the truck.
On the other side, climb onto land and onto the truck. Pick up the ladder at the head of the truck and carry it over to where Ellie is standing. Press the triangle button to place the ladder down, allowing Ellie to climb up.
Turn around and climb onto the vents. Walk to the end to find a comic.
Jump into the water. Swim to the platform on the other side of the tunnel. The door will be locked, so Joel will have to find a way to get Ellie inside. Before doing that, there is a clicker lying on the ground near the right side of the room. Within the fenced wall, there should be several openings. Use one to shoot the clicker before letting Ellie inside.
There's a small opening with a yellow bar underneath, just above the fenced wall. Press the triangle button to boost Ellie into the room. She will let Joel in momentarily. In the room will be several supplies and level 6 tools, as well as a workbench.
This is the final workbench in the game. Choose upgrades wisely, but don't be afraid to use up as many tools as possible.
Walk ahead into the next room and turn left. Crouch and crawl underneath the broken pipes. In the next room, get in the water and dive underneath. Swim through the doorway on the back wall.
Turn left and swim all the way down to the next room, then resurface. Step onto the platform, then climb the concrete block and onto the vent. Use the vent to head back to the main room.
In the main room, press the triangle button to push the pallette into the water. Then jump into the water and have Ellie jump onto the pallette. Push the pallette to the metal platform closest to the opening showcasing the hospital.
Climb onto the metal platform from which Joel and Ellie initially entered the room on. Ellie will push the ladder down. Once Joel starts climbing, the ladder will break off the wall. Press the triangle button to grab the ladder. Carry it over to the other side of the platform and press the triangle button to place it against the wall.
Climb up the ladder to the second floor again. Then grab the ladder and move it over to the metal platform to the right. Climb down, then grab the ladder again. Walk over to the edge and place it down, creating a bridge Joel can use to get to the other side.
Follow Ellie up the stairs. On top of the platform, Joel and Ellie will reach another tunnel with rushing water. First, climb on top of the white truck and walk across. Follow the linear path leading from car to car, to get across. Eventually, Joel and Ellie will jump onto a bus. The current will cause the bus to slide over in the water. Ellie will jump onto the metal platform. Run up to Ellie.
Before Joel can climb up, he'll fall through a window and into the bus. The current will push him further in. The player can press the triangle button to grab onto a handle and push their way forward, but it won't make a difference if the player doesn't.
Eventually, the current will force Joel to the back of the bus. Ellie will jump onto the bus doors above and attempt to open them. Hold the triangle button to help Ellie open the door.
The bus will topple over and into the water. Swim through the doors. The current will push Joel for a little while. Once the player regains control of Joel, they'll see Ellie floating unconscious in the water. Swim up to Ellie to grab her, then resurface.
The Last of Us Part 1 is available on PS5 and PC.