5.0
Pros: The customer service was friendly, the bus was clean and neat, the ride was comfortable and on time. Cons: Maybe lower the fare. Tips: Jefferson is one of the best bus companies to travel with.
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.
Minneapolis - Des Moines Bus Schedule
- Thu
9:50 AM
6:10 PM
- Sun,
- Fri
12:15 PM
6:10 PM
- Sun,
- Thu
12:30 PM
11:05 PM
- Sun,
- Thu,
- Fri
12:35 PM
6:10 PM
- Sun,
- Thu,
- Fri
2:00 PM
11:05 PM
Journey Information
There are 5 intercity buses per day from Minneapolis to Des Moines. Traveling by bus from Minneapolis to Des Moines usually takes around 6 hours and 45 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 5 hours,
| Distance | 234 mi (377 km) |
| Shortest duration | 5h 0m |
| Cheapest price | $6.83 |
| Trips per day | 2 |
| Most frequent service | Jefferson Lines |
| Bus lines | 1 |
Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers
Overall score for buses from Minneapolis to Des Moines
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
How much is a bus ticket from Minneapolis to Des Moines?
$75.11 is the average price of a bus ticket from Minneapolis to Des Moines. Any tickets cheaper than $75.11 can be considered a great 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
If you're on the hunt for the cheapest bus tickets from Minneapolis to Des Moines, mark your calendar for May. During this period, you can expect to find the lowest average ticket price of the year, just $89. However, taking the bus from Minneapolis to Des Moines during October is not so cheap. This time of year, ticket prices often reach an average of $141. The best way to find deals on a trip in October is to plan ahead and book your bus ticket as early as possible.
Prices as travel date approaches
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. The best way to find cheap bus tickets is to book at least 12 days in advance. By doing so, you can expect to save C$8.32 on your bus ticket compared to booking at the last minute.
What bus companies travel from Minneapolis to Des Moines?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Minneapolis to Des Moines. Jefferson Lines connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Lines | 5 | 6h 46m | $82.36 |
Book Jefferson Lines from Minneapolis to Des Moines from $7. There are 5 Jefferson Lines schedules from Minneapolis to Des Moines and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Des Moines. In Minneapolis, Jefferson Lines departs to Des Moines from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport and 2 other stations. In Des Moines, Jefferson Lines arrives at Des Moines and no other station.
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Minneapolis to Des Moines takes 6 hours and 46 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Des Moines in 5 hours and 0 minutes .
On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 5 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to Des Moines.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 45 minutes to cover the 377 kilometers from Minneapolis to Des Moines. However, the fastest bus only takes 5 hours. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. 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.
"Because many passengers travel from Minneapolis to Des Moines at the beginning of the work week, Monday is usually the busiest day for buses. If you are planning to travel on a Monday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go."
The first bus leaves at 9:00am and the last bus leaves at 12:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Minneapolis to Des Moines, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 5 scheduled buses that travel from Minneapolis to Des Moines every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 2 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
City Information
Minneapolis
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Situated along the bank of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Minneapolis is one of the biggest and most exciting cities to visit in the Midwest. It is home to the Chain of Lakes, where you can swim, fish, boat and even bike or walk along the lakeside trails. It’s no wonder Minneapolis is among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for outdoor activities!
Although it's known as the City of Lakes, Minneapolis has a lot more to offer than gorgeous lakes, wetlands, and waterfalls. Shopaholics can spend days getting lost in the Mall of America, which boasts over 500 stores and an indoor theme park. If you're visiting Minneapolis on a romantic vacation, Minneapolis' bustling theater district offers excellent date nights from dozens of theater companies. Or, for a less musical and more brews-ical date option, head to one of 62 top-rated breweries in the #2 best city in America for craft beer.
Minneapolis can be visited in any season, but keep in mind that it becomes a frigid, snowy destination in the winter. January hovers around 0° Fahrenheit, but it's worth bundling up to enjoy the St. Paul Winter Carnival, or hockey and ice skating on any of the 13 lakes in the city. Have we mentioned how great the lakes are?
If you're visiting both of the Twin Cities, you can take public transport from downtown Minneapolis to Saint Paul in about 30 minutes. Public transit also connects downtown to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Thanks to bus stations throughout Minneapolis, traveling by bus is the easiest way to arrive directly in the middle of the action and begin your adventure.
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 Minneapolis?
Main departure station: Minneapolis-St Paul Airport
Buses to Des Moines leave from 3 stations in Minneapolis.
All bus stations in Minneapolis:
Minneapolis-St Paul Airport
Minneapolis
University of Minnesota (Huron Blvd at 2428 Delaware St SE)
Where does the bus arrive in Des Moines?
Main arrival station: Des Moines
All buses from Minneapolis arrive at one main station in Des Moines.
Bus stations in Des Moines:
Des Moines
Get around town with Moovit
Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in Des Moines. Download here
Need a return trip from Des Moines to Minneapolis?
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