4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest buses from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA
Cheapest price
$44
Average price
$75
Fastest journey
4 h 15 m
Average duration
5 h 3 m
Buses per day
5
Distance
323 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA will cost around $75 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $44.
Of the 5 buses that leave Chicago, IL for Iowa City, IA on Mon, Jun 15, 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Mon, Jun 15 the direct buses cover the 323 km distance in an average of 5 h 3 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 4 h 15 m .
On Mon, Jun 15 the slowest buses will take 5 h 55 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
6:10 AM5h55Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station12:05 PMIowa City, E Court St (Greyhound Bus Station), IA$441One-way0 transfers
06:30 AM5h10Chicago, IL11:40 AMIowa City, IA$661One-way0 transfers- 12:25 PM4h15Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station4:40 PMIowa City, E Court St (Greyhound Bus Station), IA$791One-way0 transfers
- 04:00 PM4h45Chicago, IL8:45 PMIowa City, IA$931One-way0 transfers
- 011:00 AM5h10Chicago, IL4:10 PMIowa City, IA$931One-way0 transfers
- 12:25 PM4h15Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station4:40 PMIowa City, E Court St (Greyhound Bus Station), IA$791One-way0 transfers
- 04:00 PM4h45Chicago, IL8:45 PMIowa City, IA$931One-way0 transfers
- 06:30 AM5h10Chicago, IL11:40 AMIowa City, IA$661One-way0 transfers
- 011:00 AM5h10Chicago, IL4:10 PMIowa City, IA$931One-way0 transfers
- 6:10 AM5h55Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station12:05 PMIowa City, E Court St (Greyhound Bus Station), IA$441One-way0 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $28. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 17m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $28, and a flight costs an average of $143.
Distance: 200 miles (323 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$58 Average price Cheapest | $258 Average price | $57 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
5h 27m Average total duration 4h 57m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 17m Average total duration Fastest 1h 17m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 3h 19m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Most popular bus company |  Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA:
A bus is $200 (€162) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA costing on average $258 (€210).
Other travel options to Iowa City, IA take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 57m.
You'll arrive about -2h -38m sooner (4h 57m by bus vs 3h 19m by car) and save roughly $-1.77 (€-1.44) compared to fuel and tolls ($58 (€47) vs $57 (€46)). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by Greyhound.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:10AM | Arrival Time 12:05PM | Duration 5h55 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $38 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 06:30AM | Arrival Time 11:40AM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $66 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 08:50AM | Arrival Time 01:45PM | Duration 4h55 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $53 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $93 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 11:10AM | Arrival Time 05:05PM | Duration 5h55 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $39 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 12:10PM | Arrival Time 06:05PM | Duration 5h55 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 12:25PM | Arrival Time 04:40PM | Duration 4h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $58 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 01:50PM | Arrival Time 06:45PM | Duration 4h55 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $70 |
Operator Infobus | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 08:45PM | Duration 4h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Sun | Cheapest price $93 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:01PM | Arrival Time 09:15PM | Duration 4h14 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:25PM | Arrival Time 09:40PM | Duration 4h15 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $45 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 06:01PM | Arrival Time 10:15PM | Duration 4h14 | Departure days Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $60 |
Live departures
Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA bus times
The table below shows live departures for Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA buses for today, Sunday, June 14. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:10 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 5h55 | 12:05 PM Iowa City, E Court St (Greyhound Bus Station), IA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 0 | 6:30 AM Chicago, IL | 5h10 | 11:40 AM Iowa City, IA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 8:50 AM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 4h55 | 1:45 PM Iowa City, S Riverside Dr (Kum & Go), IA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 0 | 11:00 AM Chicago, IL | 5h10 | 4:10 PM Iowa City, IA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 12:25 PM Chicago, Greyhound Bus Station | 4h15 | 4:40 PM Iowa City, E Court St (Greyhound Bus Station), IA | 0 transfersDirect | |
| 0 | 4:00 PM Chicago, IL | 4h45 | 8:45 PM Iowa City, IA | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA by bus or flight
Compare bus and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Jun 15
Jun 16
Jun 17
Jun 18
Jun 19
Jun 20
Jun 21
Why should you book Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Greyhound?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for Greyhound, but also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus to find the best option for your trip from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA.
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Greyhound with all available travel options, which are bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu or Trainline?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of FlixBus to find the best option for your trip from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA.
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA
USAUSA
Buses from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA run on average 2 times per day, taking around 4h 57m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $28 (€23) if you book in advance.
There are 2 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 01:20, the last at 16:05. The fastest bus covers the 200 miles (323 km) distance in 4h 14m.
Distance 200 miles (323 km) |
Average bus duration 4h 57m |
Cheapest ticket price $28 (€23) |
Buses per day 2 |
Direct buses 2 |
Fastest bus 4h 14m |
First bus 1:20 AM |
Last bus 4:05 PM |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Bus providers: Greyhound, FlixBus from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IAYou can travel by bus between Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA with Greyhound, FlixBus for as low as $28 (€23). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
FlixBus
Greyhound
FAQs: Bus from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Iowa City, IA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
- Greyhound
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- FlixBus
- Assistance
- Priority boarding
- Wheelchair-accessible buses.
- Greyhound
- You can cancel your ticket for a refund or exchange up to 24 hours before departure, for a cancellation fee applied.
- FlixBus
- You can cancel your ticket up to 15 minutes before departure and receive a voucher for future travel. Refund requests for delays over 120 minutes are possible.
- Greyhound
- One carry-on bag up to 25 lbs (11 kg) and one checked bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg).
- FlixBus
- One carry-on bag up to 7kg (42x30x18 cm) and one checked bag up to 20kg (80x50x30 cm).
- Greyhound
- $15 per additional bag.
- FlixBus
- Additional luggage can be purchased for a fee.
- FlixBus
- Small pets in carriers allowed
- guide dogs travel for free.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA
Most popular bus connections from Chicago, IL
More options for your journey from Chicago, IL to Iowa City, IA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular buses to and from Iowa City, IA and Chicago, IL
Most popular bus connections to Iowa City, IA
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