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Cheap bus tickets from Iowa City to Des Moines

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4.8 Rating

5k Reviews

4.5 Rating

4.8k Reviews

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Iowa City to Des Moines Bus Schedule

Bus from Iowa City to Des Moines: Journey Information

There are 2 intercity buses per day from Iowa City to Des Moines. Traveling by bus from Iowa City to Des Moines usually takes around 2 hours and 25 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in just one hour and 40 minutes.

Distance107 mi (173 km)
Shortest duration1h 40m
Cheapest price$33.00
Trips per day2
Most frequent serviceJefferson Lines
Bus lines1

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Bus Trip Reviews from Wanderu Customers

Average score for buses from Iowa City to Des Moines

(Based on 4 ratings and reviews)

4.5

5.0

Karla M

November 23, 2022- Solo travel

Pros: Todo. Tips: Recomendado al100%.

4.0

Joseph L

April 13, 2022- Visiting family

Pros: comfortable, on time. Cons: Enforce the mask mandate, although I know this is difficult. Best to encourage travelers to mask-up. One traveler did not refrain from talking loudly on cell phone with speaker on. Driver asked the person to tone it down, which they did. Worked OK.

5.0

Dustan

November 29, 2021- Solo travel

Pros: The bus driver was awesome and super nice. Cons: Nothing to complain about. Tips: Enjoy the ride.

4.0

Rose

September 6, 2019- Visiting family

Pros: Timely departure/arrival (just about 10 minutes late), comfortable seat, polite crowd. Cons: Seat was pushed so far back that it was touching the seat behind it, couldn't figure out how to move it or get the driver's attention.

Price trends for buses from Iowa City to Des Moines

Monthly avg. prices

$75$60$45$30$15JFMAMJJASOND

What bus companies travel from Iowa City to Des Moines?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Iowa City to Des Moines. 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.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Jefferson Lines22h 25m$33.00

  • Book Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Des Moines from $33. There are 2 trips per day offered by Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Des Moines and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Des Moines. In Iowa City, Jefferson Lines departs to Des Moines from Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St . In Des Moines, Jefferson Lines arrives at Des Moines .

    An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Des Moines takes 2 hours and 25 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Des Moines in 1 hours and 40 minutes .

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Des Moines.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Iowa City to Des Moines

The bus takes an average of 2 hours and 25 minutes to cover the 107 miles from Iowa City to Des Moines. However, the fastest bus only takes an hour and 40 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. 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, Monday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. For a less crowded trip, try to book your bus travel for the beginning of the week.

The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 1:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Iowa City to Des Moines, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are usually only 2 buses per day from Iowa City to Des Moines. Both of these are direct buses, meaning that you do not have to worry about transferring buses at any point during your trip.

City Information

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.

Des Moines

Des Moines, IA, US - DSM-0

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 Iowa City?

Main departure 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.

All bus stations in Iowa City:

  • Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St

Where does the bus arrive in Des Moines?

Main arrival station: Des Moines

All buses from Iowa City arrive at one main station in Des Moines.

All bus stations in Des Moines:

  • Des Moines

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