Cheap bus tickets from Ames to Minneapolis
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Bus from Ames to Minneapolis: Journey Information
There are 18 intercity buses per day from Ames to Minneapolis. Traveling by bus from Ames to Minneapolis usually takes around 9 hours and 31 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 50 minutes.
- Distance
- 204 mi (329 km)
- Shortest duration
- 3h 50m
- Cheapest price
- SEK 373.30
- Trips per day
- 3
- Most frequent service
- Jefferson Lines
- Bus lines
- 2
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
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.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Ames to Minneapolis Bus Schedule

There are several bus options that can take you from Ames to Minneapolis:
See more detailsHow much is a bus ticket from Ames to Minneapolis?
Bus tickets for a trip from Ames to Minneapolis cost SEK 511 on average. Tickets cheaper than SEK 511 are an excellent bargain. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average bus ticket prices from Ames to Minneapolis by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from Ames to Minneapolis in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from SEK 481 to SEK 609. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on October 31, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Minneapolis this week, bus tickets are available starting at SEK 481.
Average bus ticket prices from Ames to Minneapolis by month
Taking the bus from Ames to Minneapolis is usually cheapest in September, when the average ticket price is only SEK 570. If you're planning to take the bus from Ames to Minneapolis during December, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of SEK 658. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.
Prices as travel date approaches
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 5 days in advance. This way, you can save up to SEK 93.91 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Ames to Minneapolis?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Ames to Minneapolis that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Jefferson Lines usually offers more choice, with 18 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Lines | 18 | 9h 34m | SEK 540.40 |
| Tornado Bus | 1 | 4h 45m | SEK 1,639.33 |
Jefferson Lines is a well-established intercity bus company with service to some of the Midwest’s top travel destinations. As one of the United States’ largest bus service providers, Jefferson Lines is beloved by students, commuters, and vacationers in America’s heartland. Travel with Jefferson Lines is comfortable thanks to reclining seats, individual climate controls, restrooms, and free WiFi. You can even check the status of your trip with their bus tracker tool. The carrier provides safe, affordable, and reliable service from Ames to Minneapolis with ticket prices as low as SEK 373.30.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Ames to Minneapolis
There are 18 scheduled buses that travel from Ames to Minneapolis every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 3 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Trips per day
18
Direct trips
3
The bus takes an average of 9 hours and 31 minutes to cover the 204 miles from Ames to Minneapolis. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 hours and 50 minutes. 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.
Distance (mi)
204
Distance (km)
329
The first bus leaves at 12:40 AM and the last bus leaves at 10:45 PM. To see the times for all buses from Ames to Minneapolis, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
Earliest bus
12:40am
Latest bus
10:45pm
Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out. On the other hand, Saturday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Saturday ticket is the way to go.
Most crowded
Thursday
Least crowded
Saturday
City Information
Minneapolis



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.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Ames?
Main departure station: Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave
Ames has two bus stations with service to Minneapolis.
All bus stations in Ames:
- Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave
- Phillips 66 Gas Station
Where does the bus arrive in Minneapolis?
Main arrival station: U of MN - Huron Blvd
Buses arrive in Minneapolis at 5 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
All bus stations in Minneapolis:
- U of MN - Huron Blvd
- Minneapolis-St Paul Airport
- 516 2nd Ave North
- 1 Veterans Drive
- Tienda La Mexicana (MN)
Need a return trip from Minneapolis to Ames?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Ames
- Ames to Des Moines BusSEK 177+
- Cedar Rapids to Chicago BusSEK 629+
- Davenport to Des Moines BusSEK 442+
- Davenport to Chicago BusSEK 354+
- Dubuque to Chicago BusSEK 354+
- Grinnell to Chicago Bus
- Iowa City to Des Moines BusSEK 167+
- Iowa City to Chicago BusSEK 442+
- Ottumwa to Des Moines Bus
Continue by bus from Minneapolis
- Minneapolis to Denver Bus
- Minneapolis to Chicago BusSEK 933+
- Minneapolis to Duluth BusSEK 354+
- Minneapolis to Moorhead BusSEK 953+
- Minneapolis to Saint Cloud BusSEK 167+
- Minneapolis to Winona BusSEK 285+
- Minneapolis to Fargo BusSEK 383+
- Minneapolis to New York BusSEK 1,434+
- Minneapolis to Green Bay Bus
- Minneapolis to Ames BusSEK 442+
- Minneapolis to Bemidji BusSEK 688+
- Minneapolis to Mankato Bus
- Minneapolis to Rochester BusSEK 285+
- Minneapolis to St Paul BusSEK 69+
- Minneapolis to Kansas City BusSEK 727+
- Minneapolis to Omaha BusSEK 914+
- Minneapolis to Columbus BusSEK 1,051+
- Minneapolis to Madison BusSEK 393+
Check out these popular routes
- Calgary to Edmonton BusSEK 255+
- Montreal to New York BusSEK 855+
- Boston to New York BusSEK 403+
- Brooklyn to Philadelphia Bus
- New York to Montreal BusSEK 864+
- New York to Boston BusSEK 422+
- New York to Philadelphia BusSEK 295+
- Philadelphia to New York BusSEK 275+
- Dallas to Houston BusSEK 442+
- Vancouver to Seattle BusSEK 413+
- Washington DC to New York, NY BusSEK 334+
- Brooklyn, NY to Washington DC Bus
- Ithaca to New York BusSEK 530+
- New York, NY to Washington DC BusSEK 383+
- New York to Ithaca BusSEK 472+
- New York to Providence BusSEK 363+
- Providence to New York BusSEK 373+
- Houston to Dallas BusSEK 413+

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. 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.




