3.0
Pros: It was easy getting on the bus and finding the station. Cons: MY BUS WAS 2+ HOURS LATE AND All the passengers got to leave and all the ones that were going to the exact/major destination had to stay???? And wait longer. Tips: Bring snacks.
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There are usually 3 daily train trips available from St Louis to Kansas City.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$62.88 | Avg. Price$82.44 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips5 | Daily Trips3 |
Duration | Duration6h 40m | Duration8h 51m |
There are 5 intercity buses per day from St Louis to Kansas City. Traveling by bus from St Louis to Kansas City usually takes around 6 hours and 1 minute, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 30 minutes.
| Distance | 238 mi (383 km) |
| Shortest duration | 4h 30m |
| Cheapest price | $33.98 |
| Trips per day | 4 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 2 |

Average score for buses from St Louis to Kansas City
(Based on 3 ratings and reviews)
3.0
Pros: It was easy getting on the bus and finding the station. Cons: MY BUS WAS 2+ HOURS LATE AND All the passengers got to leave and all the ones that were going to the exact/major destination had to stay???? And wait longer. Tips: Bring snacks.
Bus tickets for a trip from St Louis to Kansas City cost $35.23 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
The easiest way to save money on bus tickets is by booking in advance! Many carriers increase prices as the travel date approaches, so it's always a good idea to buy your tickets as early as possible. Book at least 26 days in advance to save $39.51 or more on your ticket, compared to booking at the last minute.
There are two bus lines that have daily service from St Louis to Kansas City that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, Greyhound usually offers more choice, with 4 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound | 4 | 5h 33m | $50.78 |
| Jefferson Lines | 1 | 12h 15m | $168.00 |
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 4 bus trips from St Louis to Kansas City every day, with the average journey taking around 5 hours and 33 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Kansas City usually start from $34.
Book Jefferson Lines from St Louis to Kansas City from $168. Typically there is one Jefferson Lines schedule per day from St Louis to Kansas City and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Kansas City. In St Louis, Jefferson Lines departs to Kansas City from Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St . In Kansas City, Jefferson Lines arrives at Bus Terminal - 1101 Troost Ave .
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from St Louis to Kansas City takes 12 hours and 15 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Kansas City in 4 hours and 30 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 Kansas City.
The bus takes an average of 6 hours to cover the 238 miles from St Louis to Kansas City. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 30 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, Thursday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 4:00pm. To see the times for all buses from St Louis to Kansas City, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 5 scheduled buses that travel from St Louis to Kansas City every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 4 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from St Louis to Kansas City; ticket prices start at $30.00.

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.



Straddling two states, Kansas City is a vibrant modern city with plenty of activities for visitors. Those wishing to learn more about the city’s culture and history should not miss out on the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Arts, which offers artworks for both children and adults alike. If you seek something a bit quirkier and more interesting, the Arabia Steamboat Museum will certainly satisfy your curiosity. While you are in town, don’t forget to pay the Boulevard Brewing Company a visit. It is the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest and the source of pride from many local residents.
Kansas City’s signature barbecue is another source of pride, and you should take every occasion to try it out. Some noticeable venues with well-received barbecue dishes include Danny Edwards Boulevard BBQ and Arthur Bryant's Barbeque. If that’s not really your thing, The Farmhouse and Providence New American Kitchen are also worth checking out.
Kansas City’s principal bus station is located on Troost Ave, and it offers bus trips to Chicago, Wichita and Denver, among many other places. Kansas City Union Station provides Amtrak intercity train services, and the trains Missouri River Runner and Southwest Chief pass through the station on their way. Kansas City International Airport is located 15 miles northwest of Downtown.
Most buses depart from the main station in St Louis.
Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St

Image credit: Paul Sableman
Link to image attributionLocated on Troost Avenue, the Bus Terminal provides intercity bus service from Kansas City on Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Amtrak Thruway buses. Popular routes from this station travel to cities such as Columbia, Chicago, and Wichita. The lounge inside the station includes seating, restrooms, and a cell phone charging station to help you stay connected during your trip. Several public transit options depart from nearby 12th St, so it’s easy to travel throughout Kansas City from the bus terminal.
Bus Terminal - 1101 Troost Ave
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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.