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 St Louis. Traveling by bus from Des Moines to St Louis usually takes around 13 hours and 47 minutes, but the fastest Burlington Trailways bus can make the trip in 8 hours and 45 minutes.
| Distance | 273 mi (440 km) |
| Shortest duration | 8h 45m |
| Cheapest price | $104.00 |
| Most frequent service | Burlington Trailways |
| Bus lines | 1 |
How much is a bus ticket from Des Moines to St Louis?
Bus tickets for a trip from Des Moines to St Louis cost $104.00 on average. Bus tickets on this route can be a bit expensive due to the length of the trip. But even with a higher price tag, taking the bus is often more affordable than flying to St Louis. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Monthly avg. prices
What bus companies travel from Des Moines to St Louis?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Des Moines to St Louis. Burlington Trailways 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Trailways | 2 | 13h 48m | $160.52 |
Book Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to St Louis from $104. There are 2 trips per day offered by Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to St Louis and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to St Louis. In Des Moines, Burlington Trailways departs to St Louis from Des Moines . In St Louis, Burlington Trailways arrives at Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St .
An average trip on Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to St Louis takes 13 hours and 48 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to St Louis in 8 hours and 45 minutes .
On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to St Louis.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 13 hours and 47 minutes to cover the 273 miles from Des Moines to St Louis. However, the fastest bus only takes 8 hours and 45 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.
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, Sunday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you are looking for less crowded buses to St Louis, book your ticket for the last day of the week.
The first bus leaves at 8:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Des Moines to St Louis, 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.
St Louis
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
St. Louis is one of several major cities in the state of Missouri and it is uniquely located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The city is usually recognized by its most distinctive feature, the Gateway Arch, thanks to which it is the only city in the United States that has a national park in the heart of its downtown district. The Arch is a must-see attraction and you can even take a tram to the top for some incredible views of the St. Louis skyline.
Some of the other truly unique attractions you can visit while you’re in town include the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis where you can check out an incredible collection of dolls, dollhouses and vignettes, and the City Museum where you can ride down a 10-story spiral slide (yup, you read that right.) For a great outdoor experience, stop by the gorgeous Missouri Botanical Garden, and then take a stroll through Citygarden where you will find various quirky statues and installations worthy of being featured in your Instagram feed.
Ale enthusiasts would be excited to know that St. Louis is one of the best craft beer cities in the U.S. as well as one of the cheapest drinking cities. That means your party budget could take you a long way. Unsurprisingly, the city is also among the best spring break destinations on a budget.
The main bus and train station in St. Louis, Gateway Station, is located right in the center of downtown, not far from the Gateway Arch, which makes coming in and out of the city a breeze.
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 St Louis?
Image credit: Chris Yunker
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
Gateway Station opened in 2008 to consolidate St Louis’ transportation services into one central hub. The station’s award-winning design includes a pedestrian walkway with expansive colored glass windows overlooking the train tracks. Perfectly located in the heart of downtown St Louis, the station is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and hotels and is just a few blocks from Busch Stadium and the iconic Gateway Arch. Amenities inside the station include free Wifi, a food court, and a lounge for Amtrak’s First Class passengers. Gateway Station is a major stop for intercity bus service, several Amtrak train lines, and the city’s MetroLink which can connect you with the St Louis Lambert International Airport in just 30 minutes.
All bus stations in St Louis:
Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from St Louis to Des Moines?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Des Moines
Continue by bus from St Louis
Check out these popular routes
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