Cheap bus tickets from Des Moines to Ames
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
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:
Des Moines to Ames Bus Schedule
Bus from Des Moines to Ames: Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Des Moines to Ames. Traveling by bus from Des Moines to Ames usually takes around 45 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 34 minutes.
| Distance | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Shortest duration | 0h 34m |
| Cheapest price | SEK 190.94 |
| Trips per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Jefferson Lines |
| Bus lines | 2 |

Price trends for buses from Des Moines to Ames
Average bus ticket prices from Des Moines to Ames by month
What bus companies travel from Des Moines to Ames?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Des Moines to Ames that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Jefferson Lines usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Lines | 2 | 0h 37m | SEK 190.94 |
| Tornado Bus | 1 | 2h 0m | SEK 1,097.89 |
Book Jefferson Lines from Des Moines to Ames from SEK 191. There are 2 trips per day offered by Jefferson Lines from Des Moines to Ames and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Ames. In Des Moines, Jefferson Lines departs to Ames from Des Moines . In Ames, Jefferson Lines arrives at Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave .
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Des Moines to Ames takes 0 hours and 37 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Ames in 0 hours and 34 minutes .
On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Ames.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Des Moines to Ames
The bus takes an average of 45 minutes to cover the 30 miles from Des Moines to Ames. However, the fastest bus only takes 34 minutes. It's a short trip that goes by very quickly. 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.
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.
The first bus leaves at 12:00am and the last bus leaves at 12:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Des Moines to Ames, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
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
Des Moines has two bus stations with service to Ames.
All bus stations in Des Moines:
Des Moines
Diversity Insurance Inc
Where does the bus arrive in Ames?
Main arrival station: Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in Ames.
All bus stations in Ames:
Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave
Phillips 66 Gas Station
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Ames to Des Moines?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Des Moines
- Des Moines to Denver
SEK 1,461+
- Des Moines to Cedar Rapids Bus
SEK 501+
- Des Moines to Davenport
SEK 430+
- Des Moines to Iowa City Bus
SEK 315+
- Des Moines to Ottumwa Bus
SEK 382+
- Des Moines to Chicago
SEK 729+
- Des Moines to Minneapolis Bus
SEK 722+
- Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
SEK 640+
- Des Moines to Lincoln Bus
SEK 549+
- Des Moines to Omaha Bus
SEK 272+
Continue by bus from Ames
- Bus from Ames to Des Moines
SEK 191+
- Cedar Rapids to Des Moines Bus
SEK 442+
- Cedar Rapids to Chicago Bus
SEK 726+
- Bus from Davenport to Des Moines
SEK 430+
- Davenport to Indianapolis Bus
SEK 803+
- Davenport to Milwaukee Bus
SEK 593+
- Des Moines to Iowa City Bus
SEK 315+
- Des Moines to Chicago
SEK 729+
- Dubuque to Chicago
SEK 659+
- Bus from Grinnell to Cedar Rapids
SEK 368+
- Iowa City to Davenport Bus
SEK 220+
- Bus from Iowa City to Des Moines
SEK 315+
- Iowa City to Waterloo Bus
SEK 320+
- Bus from Iowa City to Chicago
SEK 430+
- Iowa City to St Louis Bus
SEK 797+
- Bus from Mt Pleasant to Cedar Rapids
SEK 282+
- Ottumwa to Des Moines Bus
SEK 382+
- Waterloo to Des Moines
SEK 513+
Check out these popular routes
- Bus from Calgary to Edmonton
SEK 231+
- Bus from Edmonton to Calgary
SEK 231+
- Bus from Vancouver to Seattle
SEK 353+
- Toronto to Ottawa Bus
SEK 300+
- Washington D.C. to New York Bus
SEK 238+
- Bus from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia
SEK 148+
- Bus from Atlanta to New York
SEK 1,316+
- Boston to New York
SEK 214+
- Brooklyn to Washington D.C. Bus
SEK 369+
- Brooklyn to Philadelphia
SEK 84+
- Bus from New York to Washington D.C.
SEK 239+
- Bus from New York to Boston
SEK 245+
- Bus from New York to Buffalo
SEK 382+
- Bus from New York to Philadelphia
SEK 115+
- Bus from Philadelphia to New York
SEK 115+
- Dallas to Houston Bus
SEK 426+
- Houston to Dallas Bus
SEK 395+
- Seattle to Vancouver Bus
SEK 353+

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.
- Bus Tickets
- United States
- Iowa
- Ames
- Des Moines to Ames






