Lowest Prices
We partner with the top bus & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Des Moines to Waterloo. Traveling by bus from Des Moines to Waterloo usually takes around 4 hours and 50 minutes, but some buses might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled depending on traffic conditions.
| Distance | 90 mi (144 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 50m |
| Cheapest price | $86.96 |
| Most frequent service | Burlington Trailways |
| Bus lines | 1 |
How much is a bus ticket from Des Moines to Waterloo?
$86.96 is the average price of a bus ticket from Des Moines to Waterloo. Any tickets cheaper than $86.96 can be considered a good deal. It’s easy to find a bus ticket at this price or lower when you use Wanderu to book your trip online in advance of your travel date.
Monthly average prices
The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in April. That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just $62 – the lowest of the year.
Alternatively, if you plan to travel from Des Moines to Waterloo in September, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to $98 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.
What bus companies travel from Des Moines to Waterloo?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Des Moines to Waterloo. Burlington Trailways is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Trailways | 1 | 4h 50m | $95.48 |
Book Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to Waterloo from $87. There are 1 Burlington Trailways schedules from Des Moines to Waterloo and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Waterloo. In Des Moines, Burlington Trailways departs to Waterloo from Des Moines and no other station. In Waterloo, Burlington Trailways arrives at Waterloo and no other station.
An average trip on Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to Waterloo takes 4 hours and 50 minutes .
On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Waterloo.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 4 hours and 50 minutes to cover the 144 kilometers from Des Moines to Waterloo. In other words, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax on the road. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
With many people traveling in the middle of the week, Wednesday is the busiest day of the week for bus travel. If you are planning to travel on a Wednesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Sunday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded buses to Waterloo, book your ticket for the last day of the week.
There is usually only one bus per day from Des Moines to Waterloo. It leaves the station in Des Moines at 8:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
City Information
Des Moines
Image credit: Unsplash
Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa and the most populous city in the state. It has been named the third-largest insurance capital in the world because of its relevance in the US insurance industry. Des Moines is home to historic landmarks, especially in the East Village area. These include the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol building. Art lovers can visit the Des Moines Art Center, which has notable contemporary collections, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, a pedestrian space with public attractions. Des Moines also has spots for outdoor adventures, like the Blank Park Zoo, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and Living History Farms.
Des Moines offers diverse places for entertainment, like the Praire Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel, and the Salisbury House & Gardens, a concert venue in a 1920s manor. In the heart of the city is Downtown Des Moines, which has different attractions and entertainment venues, festivals and concerts, shopping spots, sports teams, restaurants, bars, and breweries.
It's very easy to access Des Moines when you're traveling by bus. Over a hundred neighboring cities offer bus lines to the city, powered by companies like Jefferson Lines, Tornado Bus, Burlington Trailways, and El Expreso Bus. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority also provides bus routes throughout the city.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Des Moines?
Main departure station: Des Moines
Most buses depart from the main station in Des Moines.
All bus stations in Des Moines:
Des Moines
Where does the bus arrive in Waterloo?
Main arrival station: Waterloo
All buses from Des Moines arrive at one main station in Waterloo.
Bus stations in Waterloo:
Waterloo
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Waterloo to Des Moines?
Search Bus Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more