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.
Journey Information
There are 2 intercity buses per day from Rock Island to Des Moines. Traveling by bus from Rock Island to Des Moines usually takes around 6 hours and 5 minutes, but the fastest Burlington Trailways bus can make the trip in 4 hours and 20 minutes.
Distance | 157 mi (252 km) |
Shortest duration | 4h 20m |
Cheapest price | $74.00 |
Trips per day | 1 |
Most frequent service | Burlington Trailways |
Bus lines | 1 |
What bus companies travel from Rock Island to Des Moines?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Rock Island to Des Moines. Burlington Trailways is the one bus line that serves this route. Although it's the sole option, there are a couple of different scheduled times to choose from.
Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Burlington Trailways | 2 | 6h 5m | $76.13 |
Book Burlington Trailways from Rock Island to Des Moines from $74. There are 2 trips per day offered by Burlington Trailways from Rock Island to Des Moines and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Des Moines. In Rock Island, Burlington Trailways departs to Des Moines from Augustana College . In Des Moines, Burlington Trailways arrives at Bus Station - 1501 2nd St .
An average trip on Burlington Trailways from Rock Island to Des Moines takes 6 hours and 5 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to Des Moines in 4 hours and 20 minutes .
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 5 minutes to cover the 157 miles from Rock Island to Des Moines. However, the fastest bus only takes 4 hours and 20 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.
The first bus leaves at 9:00am and the last bus leaves at 1:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Rock Island to Des Moines, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
City Information
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 Rock Island?
Main departure station: Augustana College
Most buses depart from the main station in Rock Island.
All bus stations in Rock Island:
Augustana College
Where does the bus arrive in Des Moines?
Main arrival station: Bus Station - 1501 2nd St
All buses from Rock Island arrive at one main station in Des Moines.
All bus stations in Des Moines:
Bus Station - 1501 2nd St
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Des Moines to Rock Island?
Search Bus TicketsWanderu 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.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more
- Bus Tickets
- United States
- Iowa
- Des Moines
- Rock Island to Des Moines