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St Louis to Iowa City bus

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St Louis - Iowa City Bus Schedule

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Journey Information

There is one daily bus from St Louis to Iowa City. Traveling by bus from St Louis to Iowa City usually takes around 9 hours and 7 minutes, but the fastest Burlington Trailways bus can make the trip in 9 hours and 5 minutes.

Distance221 mi (356 km)
Shortest duration9h 5m
Cheapest price$85.00
Trips per day1
Most frequent serviceBurlington Trailways
Bus lines1

Price trends for buses from St Louis to Iowa City

Monthly avg. prices

$125$100$75$50$25MJJASONDJFMA

What bus companies travel from St Louis to Iowa City?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from St Louis to Iowa City. Burlington Trailways is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Burlington Trailways19h 7m$88.08
  • Book Burlington Trailways from St Louis to Iowa City from $85. Typically there is one Burlington Trailways schedule per day from St Louis to Iowa City and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Iowa City. In St Louis, Burlington Trailways departs to Iowa City from Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St . In Iowa City, Burlington Trailways arrives at Burlington Trailways Station - 170 E Court St .

    An average trip on Burlington Trailways from St Louis to Iowa City takes 9 hours and 7 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to Iowa City in 9 hours and 5 minutes .

    On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a one way ticket for your weekend getaway trip to Iowa City.

Frequently Asked Questions

The bus takes an average of 9 hours and 7 minutes to cover the 221 miles from St Louis to Iowa City. However, the fastest bus only takes 9 hours and 5 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, Saturday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Saturday ticket is the way to go.

There is usually only one bus per day from St Louis to Iowa City. It leaves the station in St Louis at 7:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.

There is usually only one bus per day from St Louis to Iowa City. Fortunately, this happens to be a direct bus, meaning that you do not have to get on a different bus at any point during your trip.

City Information

St Louis

St. Louis, MO - STL-0

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Louis, MO - STL-1

Image credit: Unsplash

St. Louis, MO - STL-2

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.

Iowa City

Iowa City, IA - IOW-0

Image credit: Unsplash

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.

Station Information

Where does the bus leave from in St Louis?

Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St - STLAMT-0

Image credit: Chris Yunker

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St

Gateway Station opened in 2008 to consolidate St Louis’ transportation services into one central hub. The station’s award-winning design includes a pedestrian walkway with expansive colored glass windows overlooking the train tracks. Perfectly located in the heart of downtown St Louis, the station is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and hotels and is just a few blocks from Busch Stadium and the iconic Gateway Arch. Amenities inside the station include free Wifi, a food court, and a lounge for Amtrak’s First Class passengers. Gateway Station is a major stop for intercity bus service, several Amtrak train lines, and the city’s MetroLink which can connect you with the St Louis Lambert International Airport in just 30 minutes.

All bus stations in St Louis:

  • Gateway Station - 430 S 15th St

Where does the bus arrive in Iowa City?

Main arrival 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

Get around town with Moovit

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