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Cheap bus tickets from Iowa City to Champaign
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Bus from Iowa City to Champaign: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Iowa City to Champaign. Traveling by bus from Iowa City to Champaign usually takes around 5 hours and 15 minutes, but some buses might arrive slightly earlier or later than scheduled depending on traffic conditions.
- Distance
- 202 mi (325 km)
- Shortest duration
- 5h 15m
- Cheapest price
- €67.29
- Trips per day
- 1
- Most frequent service
- Jefferson Lines
- Bus lines
- 1
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Iowa City to Champaign Bus Schedule
There are several bus options that can take you from Iowa City to Champaign:
See more detailsHow much is a bus ticket from Iowa City to Champaign?
Bus tickets for a trip from Iowa City to Champaign cost about €67 when you book at the cheapest time, 7 days ahead. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. 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 Iowa City to Champaign by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from Iowa City to Champaign in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from €72 to €72. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on November 7, 2026. If you’re looking to travel to Champaign this week, bus tickets are available starting at €72.
Average bus ticket prices from Iowa City to Champaign by month
Traveling from Iowa City to Champaign by bus will cost you about the same throughout the year. In general, bus ticket prices for this route are fairly consistent, so expect to pay around €68 whenever you decide to travel.
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 7 days in advance. This way, you can save up to €1.70 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Iowa City to Champaign?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Iowa City to Champaign. Jefferson Lines is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Lines | 1 | 5h 15m | €68.78 |
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 Iowa City to Champaign with ticket prices as low as €67.29.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Iowa City to Champaign
There is usually only one bus per day from Iowa City to Champaign. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct bus, meaning that you do not have to get on a different bus at any point during your trip.
Trips per day
1
Direct trips
1
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 15 minutes to cover the 202 miles from Iowa City to Champaign. 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)
202
Distance (km)
325
There is usually only one bus per day from Iowa City to Champaign. It leaves the station in Iowa City at 11:25 AM each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
Earliest bus
11:25am
Latest bus
11:25am
Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Champaign at the end of the week. If you are planning to travel on a Sunday, 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.
Most crowded
Sunday
Least crowded
Monday
City Information
Iowa City
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.
Champaign
A significant hub for the Silicon Prairie, Champaign is a stunning city with many exciting landmarks to visit. The downtown area of Champaign is perhaps its busiest area, with over 40 different bars, art galleries, and boutique shops for you to enjoy. To enjoy arthouse films or independent productions, head over to the Art Theater, which also hosts special screenings. The campustown area near the University of Illinois hosts not only cheap eateries but also fine dining spots. The area tends to get crowded at night since students will be out on the street to enjoy the hopping nightlife.
As a busy college town, Champaign naturally has a very vibrant food scene with many excellent dining options. Radio Maria is a unique Spanish establishment with very colorful Spanish decorations and amazing tapas dishes. Those who want something more exotic and exciting could check out DESTIHL, which offers unique home-cooked dishes and great artisan beers.
The Illinois Terminal is Champaign's primary bus and train station, served by Amtrak, Burlington Trailways, Jefferson Lines, and Greyhound. From Champaign, you can continue your journey and visit some of the other top destinations in Illinois.
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 Champaign?
Main arrival station: Illinois Term - 45 E University Ave
The Illinois Terminal is located at 45 East University Avenue in Champaign. The transport center opened in 1999, and now provides bus and train service in the Champaign-Urbana area. The terminal is served by Amtrak, Burlington Trailways, Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and local mass transit. Make sure to wait in the correct station building; Champaign’s old train station, dating to 1898, is just across the street. The Illinois Terminal offers short-term parking, fast food, and even meeting spaces and banquet halls. Thanks to the station’s convenient location, some of the best restaurants and bars in downtown Champaign are just a short walk away.
All bus stations in Champaign:
- Illinois Term - 45 E University Ave
Need a return trip from Champaign to Iowa City?
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