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Cheap coach tickets from Iowa City to Chicago

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

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Iowa City to Chicago Coach Timetable

Coach from Iowa City to Chicago: Journey Information

There is one daily coach from Iowa City to Chicago. Traveling by coach from Iowa City to Chicago usually takes around 4 hours and 19 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines coach can make the trip in 4 hours and 10 minutes.

Distance202 mi (324 km)
Shortest duration4h 10m
Cheapest priceUS$45.00
Trips per day1
Most frequent serviceJefferson Lines
Coach lines1

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Coach Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for coaches from Iowa City to Chicago

(Based on 14 ratings and reviews)

4.8

5.0

Senabou

5 May 2023- Visiting friends

Pros: Good driver. Cons: Seat.

5.0

Andre

10 January 2022- Solo travel

Pros: Inexpensive and zero transfers. Cons: More conveniently scheduled times. Tips: First under-carriage is free, following pieces are $20 each.

5.0

Kimberly

12 September 2021

Bus was on time and I got to see my family.

5.0

Kellie

7 May 2021

Such a great bus company!!

4.0

Bobby

8 April 2021- Visiting friends

Pros: Times available for the trip was good. Cons: Sitting should be space out on the bus like two seats skip a seat. Tips: Good price.

Price trends for coaches from Iowa City to Chicago

Average coach ticket prices from Iowa City to Chicago by month

US$100US$80US$60US$40US$20DJFMAMJJASON

Prices as travel date approaches

US$75US$60US$45US$30US$153020100

What coach companies travel from Iowa City to Chicago?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Iowa City to Chicago. Jefferson Lines 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.

CoachDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Jefferson Lines14h 20mUS$45.00
  • Book Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Chicago from US$45. There are 1 Jefferson Lines schedules from Iowa City to Chicago and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Chicago. In Iowa City, Jefferson Lines departs to Chicago from Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St and no other station. In Chicago, Jefferson Lines arrives at Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St and no other station.

    An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Chicago takes 4 hours and 20 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Chicago in 4 hours and 10 minutes .

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway to Chicago.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by coach from Iowa City to Chicago

The coach takes an average of 4 hours and 19 minutes to cover the 202 miles from Iowa City to Chicago. However, the fastest coach only takes 4 hours and 10 minutes. In other words, you'll have plenty of time to rest and relax on the road. Keep in mind that your actual coach may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

"Travelers prefer riding the coach on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Chicago. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, 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 coach travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded coaches to Chicago, book your ticket for the last day of the week."

There is usually only one coach per day from Iowa City to Chicago. It leaves the station in Iowa City at 01:00 each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.

There is usually only one coach per day from Iowa City to Chicago. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct coach, meaning that you do not have to get on a different coach at any point during your trip.

City Information

Iowa City

Iowa City, IA - IOW-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Iowa City, IA - IOW-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Iowa City, IA - IOW-2

Image credit: Pixabay

The old capital city of Iowa, Iowa City, is a historic area with plenty of quaint old buildings and beautiful landmarks. The most notable attraction is the Old Capitol Building in the middle of the University of Iowa's campus. The building's first floor is a museum dedicated to the state's history so that you can brush up on your Hawkeye State knowledge (we'll get you started: the Iowa state rock is the geode!). For more history and culture, hit up Plum Grove, the home of the first Governor of Iowa, and the University of Iowa Art Museum.

Thanks to its lively cultural scene, Iowa City's food scene is vibrant and diverse. One of the must-try establishments in the city is Short's Burger and Shine, which features a wide variety of burgers made from locally sourced meat. In addition, the Hamburg Inn No. 2 is an award-winning restaurant, with visitors including many past presidents.

Bus service to Iowa City arrives right downtown for easy access to Iowa City's highlights. Although there is a small municipal airport in Iowa City, most commercial flights will depart from nearby Cedar Rapids Airport or even from Des Moines, about 100 miles away.

Chicago

Known for its innovative architecture, cultural contributions to jazz and house music, and of course that irresistible deep-dish pizza, the many sights and experiences in Chicago make it one of the best urban vacation destinations for millennials and a top destination in Illinois.

You can't beat the views of the city and Lake Michigan from the SkyDeck in the Willis Tower; at over 1,300 feet, this is the highest observation deck in the U.S. Snap that classic selfie with the Bean in Millennium Park, then wander the many museums in nearby Grant Park. Navy Pier is a popular tourist hotspot for its parks, restaurants, and attractions right on Lake Michigan, and baseball fans will find paradise in Wrigleyville, home to the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field and sports bars galore.

Chicago's enormous parks offer plentiful opportunities for outdoor activities in gorgeous urban settings. Many companies offer kayak rentals or boat tours on the Chicago River, with special tours running on Saint Patrick's Day, when the entire river is dyed green. When you’re ready to buy some souvenirs from your epic trip, hit the big brand stores on the Magnificent Mile, or shop local in neighborhoods like Andersonville and Wicker Park. And don't miss the chance to laugh until you cry at The Second City comedy theater, famous for launching the careers of comedians like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.

Chicago is one of the biggest transportation hubs in the Midwest, and provides easy access to nearby destinations ideal for day trips, as well as international travel from two airports. Thanks to plenty of bus and train stations throughout the city, getting to the Windy City is a breeze.

Station Information

Where does the coach leave from in Iowa City?

Main departure station: Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St

The Burlington Trailways Station in Iowa City is part of the Court St Transportation Center near downtown. Buses usually board outside the multi-story parking garage on Court Street. The station includes a large indoor waiting area with seating, restrooms, and even a charging station for your devices. You can walk to three hotels, a sushi restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, a Starbucks, and a bar in the immediate area, so you definitely won't have to travel hungry or thirsty. Greyhound and Burlington Trailways buses depart from this station and connect Iowa City to Des Moines, Chicago, Omaha, and more cities throughout the Midwest.

All coach stations in Iowa City:

  • Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St

Where does the coach arrive in Chicago?

Chicago Greyhound Bus Station - CHIGLI3-0

Image credit: Jeramey Jannene

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

All coaches from Iowa City arrive at one main station in Chicago.

Coach stations in Chicago:

  • Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

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