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Cheap bus tickets from Iowa City to Minneapolis

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Iowa City to Minneapolis Bus Schedule

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Bus from Iowa City to Minneapolis: Journey Information

There are 6 intercity buses per day from Iowa City to Minneapolis. Traveling by bus from Iowa City to Minneapolis usually takes around 15 hours and 31 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 7 hours and 45 minutes.

Distance245 mi (395 km)
Shortest duration7h 45m
Cheapest price€128.62
Most frequent serviceJefferson Lines
Bus lines1

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What bus companies travel from Iowa City to Minneapolis?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Iowa City to Minneapolis. Jefferson Lines connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Jefferson Lines615h 31m€147.68
  • Book Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Minneapolis from €129. There are 6 trips per day offered by Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Minneapolis and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Minneapolis. In Iowa City, Jefferson Lines departs to Minneapolis from Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St . In Minneapolis, Jefferson Lines arrives at 516 2nd Ave North and 3 other stations.

    An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Iowa City to Minneapolis takes 15 hours and 31 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Minneapolis in 7 hours and 45 minutes .

    On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 5 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Minneapolis.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Iowa City to Minneapolis

The bus takes an average of 15 hours and 31 minutes to cover the 245 miles from Iowa City to Minneapolis. However, the fastest bus only takes 7 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.

Sunday tends to be the busiest day for buses, as many passengers take the bus to Minneapolis 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.

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

There are 6 scheduled buses that travel from Iowa City to Minneapolis every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so no matter which bus you take, you will have to transfer buses at least once during your journey.

City Information

Iowa City

Iowa City, IA - IOW-0

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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.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN - MSP-0

Image credit: Unsplash

Minneapolis, MN - MSP-1

Image credit: Unsplash

Minneapolis, MN - MSP-2

Image credit: Unsplash

Situated along the bank of the Mississippi River in Minnesota, Minneapolis is one of the biggest and most exciting cities to visit in the Midwest. It is home to the Chain of Lakes, where you can swim, fish, boat and even bike or walk along the lakeside trails. It’s no wonder Minneapolis is among the top 10 cities in the U.S. for outdoor activities!

Although it's known as the City of Lakes, Minneapolis has a lot more to offer than gorgeous lakes, wetlands, and waterfalls. Shopaholics can spend days getting lost in the Mall of America, which boasts over 500 stores and an indoor theme park. If you're visiting Minneapolis on a romantic vacation, Minneapolis' bustling theater district offers excellent date nights from dozens of theater companies. Or, for a less musical and more brews-ical date option, head to one of 62 top-rated breweries in the #2 best city in America for craft beer.

Minneapolis can be visited in any season, but keep in mind that it becomes a frigid, snowy destination in the winter. January hovers around 0° Fahrenheit, but it's worth bundling up to enjoy the St. Paul Winter Carnival, or hockey and ice skating on any of the 13 lakes in the city. Have we mentioned how great the lakes are?

If you're visiting both of the Twin Cities, you can take public transport from downtown Minneapolis to Saint Paul in about 30 minutes. Public transit also connects downtown to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Thanks to bus stations throughout Minneapolis, traveling by bus is the easiest way to arrive directly in the middle of the action and begin your adventure.

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 Minneapolis?

Transportation Center - 950 Hawthorne Ave - MSPGLI-0

Image credit: Michael Hicks

Link to image attribution

Main arrival station: 516 2nd Ave North

Located in Central Minneapolis at 950 Hawthorne Ave, the Minneapolis Bus Station is a gateway to nearby cities throughout Minnesota and the Midwest. Greyhound and Jefferson Lines buses operate routes from this station to major cities such as Milwaukee or Chicago and beyond. From the Minneapolis Bus Station, it is a short 12-minute walk to Target Field Station where you can connect to light rail service throughout the city. Vending machines offer snacks or drinks within the station, or head one block south to Hennepin Ave for a variety of restaurant options for hungry travelers.

All bus stations in Minneapolis:

  • 516 2nd Ave North

  • Minneapolis-St Paul Airport

  • University of Minnesota (Huron Blvd at 2428 Delaware St SE)

  • 1 Veterans Drive

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