Cheap bus tickets from Normal to Des Moines
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
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.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Normal to Des Moines Bus Schedule
Bus from Normal to Des Moines: Journey Information
There is one daily bus from Normal to Des Moines. Traveling by bus from Normal to Des Moines usually takes around 8 hours and 33 minutes, but the fastest Jefferson Lines bus can make the trip in 7 hours and 50 minutes.
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
| Shortest duration | 7h 50m |
| Cheapest price | $77.47 |
| Trips per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Jefferson Lines |
| Bus lines | 2 |
What bus companies travel from Normal to Des Moines?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Normal to Des Moines that you can compare and book on Wanderu. However, each company only runs one bus per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 1 | 12h 6m | $109.91 |
| Jefferson Lines | 1 | 7h 51m | $80.00 |
FlixBus US is the American branch of German bus company FlixBus, known for providing sustainable, affordable, and modern bus travel. The company offers cheap bus tickets to popular urban destinations throughout the United States. FlixBus US buses include many amenities, including comfortable seats, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, and an online portal for free entertainment. On average, FlixBus US operates 1 trips per day from Normal to Des Moines, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Book Jefferson Lines from Normal to Des Moines from $80. Typically there is one Jefferson Lines schedule per day from Normal to Des Moines and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Des Moines. In Normal, Jefferson Lines departs to Des Moines from Bloomington . In Des Moines, Jefferson Lines arrives at Des Moines .
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Normal to Des Moines takes 7 hours and 51 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Des Moines in 7 hours and 50 minutes .
On weekends, Jefferson Lines offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Des Moines.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Normal to Des Moines
The bus takes an average of 8 hours and 33 minutes to cover the 252 miles from Normal to Des Moines. However, the fastest bus only takes 7 hours and 50 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, 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.
There is usually only one bus per day from Normal to Des Moines. It leaves the station in Normal at 9:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.
City Information
Normal
Normal is a town in North Bloomington, adjacent to Bloomington. The town got its unique name in 1865 from the Illinois State Normal University, a normal school that is a teacher-training institution. Normal features the Children's Discovery Museum, Illinois State University Planetarium and Carden Park for children, and the David Davis Mansion and McLean County Museum of History for history buffs. If you're interested in exploring the outdoors, you can take a walk on the Hidden Creek Nature Sanctuary or Constitution Trail or play on the Ironwood Golf Course. Sports lovers can also check out the Redbird Arena, where basketball games are held.
Normal features a vibrant entertainment scene with different breweries and beer halls. You can participate in the Illinois Shakespeare Festival or watch shows at the Normal Theater. Normal also has a vineyard and wine bars, with most activities available in Uptown Normal, the micro-urban city center. The Uptown area has different entertainment venues, dining, and retail establishments.
You can visit Normal, Illinois, by train or bus. The city is accessible from many other cities by train, including Amtrak, Amtrak Texas Eagle, and Amtrak Lincoln Service. As for the bus lines, you can access the city from over 80 other cities onboard buses from Jefferson Lines, Amtrak Thruway, and Burlington Trailways.
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 Normal?
Main departure station: Bloomington
Normal has two bus stations with service to Des Moines.
All bus stations in Normal:
Bloomington
Burlington Trailways
Where does the bus arrive in Des Moines?
Main arrival station: Des Moines
All buses from Normal arrive at one main station in Des Moines.
All bus stations in Des Moines:
Des Moines
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Des Moines to Normal?
Search Bus Tickets
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.