Cheap bus tickets from Madison 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:
Madison to Des Moines Bus Schedule
Bus from Madison to Des Moines: Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from Madison to Des Moines. Traveling by bus from Madison to Des Moines usually takes around 12 hours and 17 minutes, but the fastest FlixBus US bus can make the trip in 11 hours and 35 minutes.
| Distance | 238 mi (383 km) |
| Shortest duration | 11h 35m |
| Cheapest price | NOK 841.46 |
| Most frequent service | FlixBus US |
| Bus lines | 2 |
How much is a bus ticket from Madison to Des Moines?
Bus tickets for a trip from Madison to Des Moines cost NOK 1,276.22 on average. Bus tickets on this route can be a bit expensive due to the length of the trip. But even with a higher price tag, taking the bus is often more affordable than flying to Des Moines. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Monthly avg. prices
What bus companies travel from Madison to Des Moines?
There are two bus lines that have daily service from Madison to Des Moines that you can compare and book on Wanderu. Of these two carriers, FlixBus US usually offers more choice, with 2 scheduled trips per day.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlixBus US | 2 | 11h 43m | NOK 1,175.62 |
| Jefferson Lines | 2 | 14h 42m | NOK 1,714.15 |
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 2 trips per day from Madison to Des Moines, and the average ticket for this route costs only .
Book Jefferson Lines from Madison to Des Moines from NOK 1,714. There are 2 trips per day offered by Jefferson Lines from Madison to Des Moines and you can expect on average to pay for a Jefferson Lines ticket to Des Moines. In Madison, Jefferson Lines departs to Des Moines from University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center . In Des Moines, Jefferson Lines arrives at Des Moines .
An average trip on Jefferson Lines from Madison to Des Moines takes 14 hours and 42 minutes , while the fastest available Jefferson Lines trip will get you to Des Moines in 11 hours and 35 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 Madison to Des Moines
The bus takes an average of 12 hours and 17 minutes to cover the 238 miles from Madison to Des Moines. However, the fastest bus only takes 11 hours and 35 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.
Friday is the busiest travel day for buses as people head from Madison to Des Moines for the weekend. If you are planning to travel on a Friday, 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 6:00am and the last bus leaves at 7:00am. To see the times for all buses from Madison to Des Moines, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
City Information
Madison
Consistently ranking high on the lists of the best places to live in the USA, Madison still maintains its quaint and idyllic small-town vibe despite being the capital city of Wisconsin. Sitting among the city’s most iconic and most popular landmarks is the Madison Memorial Union, which is located within the campus of the University of Madison. The building features a lakeview terrace filled with colorful chairs, allowing visitors to chill out and enjoy the sun. If you are interested in the history of the state or architecture as a whole, head over to the State Capitol building, which was built between 1906 and 1917. The building features lavish council chambers, which were modeled after the famous Doge’s Palace in Venice, along with other architectural highlights. If you wish to stay close to nature, the Olbrich Botanical garden, with its famous Thai Pavilion and Garden, will certainly be a great choice.
As a college city, Madison features numerous cutting-edge establishments that will make your mouth water. For some of the best dining views in town, head over to Graze, where you can also grab some of the best cheese curds in Madison. If you want to enjoy the best brunch in town, Sardine might have what you need.
The busiest bus/train station in Madison is located on Collins Ct. The city is served by the Dane County Regional Airport, 6 miles northeast of downtown.
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 Madison?
Main departure station: University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Madison has two bus stations with service to Des Moines.
All bus stations in Madison:
University of Wisconsin - Gordon Center
Dutch Mill Park & Ride (West Lot)
Where does the bus arrive in Des Moines?
Main arrival station: Des Moines
All buses from Madison 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 Madison?
Search Bus TicketsPlan your next adventure
More buses from Madison
- Madison to Long Beach Bus
NOK 2,997+
- Madison to Washington D.C. Bus
NOK 1,733+
- Madison to West Palm Beach
NOK 2,476+
- Madison to Chicago Bus
NOK 373+
- Bus from Madison to Ann Arbor
NOK 554+
- Madison to Detroit
NOK 714+
- Madison to Duluth Bus
NOK 684+
- Madison to Minneapolis Bus
NOK 384+
- Bus from Madison to Rochester
NOK 296+
- Madison to Saint Paul Bus
NOK 296+
- Bus from Madison to St Louis
NOK 805+
- Madison to Columbus Bus
NOK 818+
- Madison to Eau Claire Bus
NOK 393+
- Madison to Fond du Lac Bus
NOK 260+
- Bus from Madison to Janesville
NOK 150+
- Bus from Madison to La Crosse
NOK 255+
- Bus from Madison to Milwaukee
NOK 204+
- Bus from Madison to Whitewater
NOK 143+
Continue by bus from Des Moines
- Des Moines to Denver
NOK 1,561+
- Des Moines to Ames Bus
NOK 204+
- Des Moines to Cedar Rapids Bus
NOK 536+
- Des Moines to Davenport
NOK 459+
- Des Moines to Iowa City Bus
NOK 337+
- Des Moines to Ottumwa Bus
NOK 408+
- Des Moines to Chicago
NOK 930+
- Des Moines to Minneapolis Bus
NOK 756+
- Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
NOK 684+
- Des Moines to Lincoln Bus
NOK 587+
- Des Moines to Omaha Bus
NOK 366+
Check out these popular routes
- Bus from Calgary to Edmonton
NOK 215+
- Bus from Vancouver to Seattle
NOK 377+
- Toronto to Ottawa Bus
NOK 228+
- Montreal to New York Bus
NOK 847+
- Boston to Portland Bus
NOK 270+
- Boston to New York
NOK 273+
- Bus from Portland to Boston
NOK 244+
- Brooklyn to Washington D.C. Bus
NOK 395+
- Brooklyn to Philadelphia
NOK 89+
- Bus from Buffalo to New York
NOK 510+
- Bus from New York to Montreal
NOK 890+
- Bus from New York to Boston
NOK 263+
- Bus from New York to Philadelphia
NOK 162+
- Bus from New York to Providence
NOK 410+
- Philadelphia to Brooklyn Bus
NOK 153+
- Bus from Philadelphia to New York
NOK 165+
- Bus from Providence to New York
NOK 374+
- Seattle to Vancouver Bus
NOK 377+
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.