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.
Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from Des Moines to Ames. Traveling by bus from Des Moines to Ames usually takes around 40 minutes, but some buses might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled depending on traffic conditions.
Distance | 30 mi (48 km) |
Shortest duration | 0h 40m |
Cheapest price | TRY 580.72 |
Trips per day | 2 |
Most frequent service | Jefferson Lines |
Bus lines | 1 |
Price trends for buses from Des Moines to Ames
Monthly average prices
What bus companies travel from Des Moines to Ames?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Des Moines to Ames. Jefferson Lines is the one bus line that serves this route. Although it's the sole option, there are a couple of different scheduled times to choose from.
Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Jefferson Lines | 2 | 0h 40m | TRY 580.72 |
Book Jefferson Lines from Des Moines to Ames from TRY 581. 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 40 minutes .
On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Ames.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 40 minutes to cover the 30 miles from Des Moines to Ames. 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.
With many people traveling in the middle of the week, Wednesday is the busiest day of the week for bus travel. If you are planning to travel on a Wednesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 12:00pm and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. 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
Most buses depart from the main station in Des Moines.
All bus stations in Des Moines:
Des Moines
Where does the bus arrive in Ames?
Main arrival station: Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave
All buses from Des Moines arrive at one main station in Ames.
All bus stations in Ames:
Intermodal Station - 129 Hayward Ave
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
TRY 5,254+
- Des Moines to Cedar Rapids Bus
TRY 1,655+
- Des Moines to Davenport
TRY 2,078+
- Des Moines to Dubuque Bus
TRY 3,519+
- Des Moines to Iowa City Bus
TRY 1,535+
- Bus from Des Moines to Waterloo
TRY 2,260+
- Des Moines to Chicago
TRY 3,200+
- Des Moines to Naperville
TRY 3,338+
- Des Moines to Indianapolis Bus
TRY 5,432+
- Des Moines to Minneapolis Bus
TRY 2,097+
- Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
TRY 2,097+
- Bus from Des Moines to St Louis
TRY 4,950+
- Des Moines to Lincoln Bus
TRY 1,987+
- Des Moines to Omaha Bus
TRY 1,533+
Continue by bus from Ames
- Bus from Ames to Des Moines
TRY 581+
- Ames to Minneapolis Bus
TRY 1,678+
- Cedar Rapids to Des Moines Bus
TRY 1,519+
- Bus from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City
TRY 517+
- Cedar Rapids to Chicago Bus
TRY 2,490+
- Bus from Davenport to Cedar Rapids
TRY 1,043+
- Bus from Davenport to Des Moines
TRY 1,910+
- Davenport to Iowa City
TRY 807+
- Davenport to Chicago Bus
TRY 1,275+
- Bus from Davenport to Omaha
TRY 3,042+
- Des Moines to Iowa City Bus
TRY 1,535+
- Des Moines to Chicago
TRY 3,200+
- Dubuque to Chicago
TRY 2,194+
- Bus from Grinnell to Chicago
TRY 3,110+
- Bus from Iowa City to Des Moines
TRY 1,442+
- Bus from Iowa City to Chicago
TRY 2,252+
- Waterloo to Des Moines
TRY 2,041+
- Waterloo to Chicago
TRY 2,958+
Check out these popular routes
- Bus from Edmonton to Calgary
TRY 824+
- Bus from Montreal to Toronto
TRY 3,691+
- Washington D.C. to New York Bus
TRY 548+
- Bus from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia
TRY 694+
- Bus from Miami to Orlando
TRY 863+
- Bus from Chicago to Madison
TRY 1,043+
- Bus from Binghamton to New York
TRY 968+
- Ithaca to New York Bus
TRY 1,429+
- Bus from New York to Washington D.C.
TRY 593+
- Bus from New York to Boston
TRY 613+
- New York to Binghamton Bus
TRY 1,042+
- Bus from New York to Buffalo
TRY 1,130+
- New York to Ithaca Bus
TRY 1,469+
- Bus from New York to Philadelphia
TRY 290+
- Queens Village to Philadelphia Bus
TRY 645+
- Philadelphia to Washington D.C. Bus
TRY 537+
- Bus from Philadelphia to New York
TRY 285+
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.
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
- Bus Tickets
- United States
- Iowa
- Ames
- Des Moines to Ames