background-img-buses-trains
chiku-desktop

Chicago to Iowa City coach

chiku-mobile
Available on iOS & Android
Lowest Prices

We partner with the top coach & 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.

Chicago - Iowa City Coach Timetable

Find cheap rental carsFind great deals on cheap cars in the area.
RentalCars logotypeRentalCars logotype
from£23.78

Journey Information

There are 3 intercity coaches per day from Chicago to Iowa City. Traveling by coach from Chicago to Iowa City usually takes around 4 hours and 53 minutes, but the fastest Burlington Trailways coach can make the trip in 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Distance202 mi (324 km)
Shortest duration4h 45m
Cheapest price£53.91
Trips per day2
Most frequent serviceBurlington Trailways
Coach lines1

Coach Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Overall score for coaches from Chicago to Iowa City

(Based on 13 ratings and reviews)

4.6

5.0

Dasia

6 January 2024- Solo travel

Burlington Trailways

Pros: The trip was nice. Cons: Nothing.

5.0

Sirilo

4 November 2023- Visiting friends

Burlington Trailways

Just fine

4.0

Lindsay

9 June 2023- Visiting friends

Burlington Trailways

Pros: The drive was smooth. Cons: The bus could have been cleaner. Tips: Get to your stop a couple minutes earlier.

5.0

Victor

26 April 2023- Visiting family

Burlington Trailways

Pros: timely. Tips: Highly recommended for other travellers. There need for stable wifi.

5.0

Regina

25 April 2023- Visiting family

Burlington Trailways

Pros: Sitting alone. Cons: Restroom wipes for the toilet. Tips: Wear a mask if you have to sit next to someone you don’t know.

How much is a coach ticket from Chicago to Iowa City?

£53.91 is the average price of a bus ticket from Chicago to Iowa City. While it’s on the pricier side for a bus ticket, taking the bus is still a cheaper alternative to flying. 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.

Average prices by travel date

£59£40£20MarApr

Bus tickets from Chicago to Iowa City are expected to cost between £54 and £55 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Iowa City within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from £54. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.

Monthly average prices

£40£32£24£16£8AMJJASONDJFM

The lowest bus ticket prices on this route can usually be found in March. That’s when the average price of a bus ticket is expected to be just £27 – the lowest of the year.

Alternatively, if you plan to travel from Chicago to Iowa City in September, expect to spend more on your bus trip, as the average ticket price may surge to £39 at that time of year. However, if you book your trip ahead of time, you can still score a ticket at a lower price.

Prices as travel date approaches

£79£63£48£32£163020100

To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 16 days in advance to save up to £9.20.

What coach companies travel from Chicago to Iowa City?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Chicago to Iowa City. Burlington Trailways connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.

CoachDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Burlington Trailways34h 54m£55.76
  • Book Burlington Trailways from Chicago to Iowa City from £54. There are 3 Burlington Trailways schedules from Chicago to Iowa City and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Iowa City. In Chicago, Burlington Trailways departs to Iowa City from Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St and no other station. In Iowa City, Burlington Trailways arrives at Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St and no other station.

    An average trip on Burlington Trailways from Chicago to Iowa City takes 4 hours and 54 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to Iowa City in 4 hours and 45 minutes .

    On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 3 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway to Iowa City.

Frequently Asked Questions

The coach takes an average of 4 hours and 53 minutes to cover the 202 miles from Chicago to Iowa City. However, the fastest coach only takes 4 hours and 45 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.

Tuesday is usually the day of the week when coaches are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Tuesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.

On the other hand, Monday is typically the least busy day for coach travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your coach travel for the beginning of the week.

The first coach leaves at 06:00 and the last coach leaves at 16:00. To see the times for all coaches from Chicago to Iowa City, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are 3 scheduled coaches that travel from Chicago to Iowa City every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 2 direct coaches, where you can stay on the same coach without having to transfer to a connecting coach at any point during your trip.

City Information

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.

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.

Station Information

Where does the coach leave from in Chicago?

Chicago Greyhound Bus Station - CHIGLI3-0

Image credit: Jeramey Jannene

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

Most coaches depart from the main station in Chicago.

All coach stations in Chicago:

  • Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St

Where does the coach arrive in Iowa City?

Main arrival 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.

Coach stations in Iowa City:

  • Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St

Get around town with Moovit

Download Moovit to see all of your local transit options in Iowa City. Download here

Need a return trip from Iowa City to Chicago?

Search Coach Tickets
0

Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach and train travel.

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach 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 coach and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.

Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.

Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more

iPhone
Android
Available on iOS & Android