Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA bus with Burlington Trailways

Tue, Nov 25
+ Add return
Burlington Trailways
FlixBus
Alsa
BlaBlaCar Bus
Rede Expressos
1,000+ travel companies
Burlington Trailways
FlixBus
Alsa
BlaBlaCar Bus
Rede Expressos
1,000+ travel companies
QR-Code
Scan to get our free app
Use our app to get live travel updates and book mobile tickets for trains, buses, flights, and ferries.
App Store
rate4.9
42K ratings
Google Play
rate4.6
136K reviews

The cheapest and fastest buses from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA

Showing times and prices for Nov 26

Cheapest price

$72

Average price

$72

Fastest journey

2 h

Average duration

2 h 7 m

Buses per day

3

Distance

173 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA will cost around $72 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $72.

Fast buses

Of the 3 buses that leave Iowa City, IA for Des Moines, IA on Wed, Nov 26, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

On Wed, Nov 26 the direct buses cover the 173 km distance in an average of 2 h 7 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 2 h .

On Wed, Nov 26 the slowest buses will take 2 h 20 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.

Burlington Trailways
03:30AM2h00
Iowa City, IA
05:30AMDes Moines, IA
$721One-way
0 transfers
Burlington Trailways
04:05PM2h00
Iowa City, IA
06:05PMDes Moines, IA
$721One-way
0 transfers
Burlington Trailways
08:50PM2h20
Iowa City, IA
11:10PMDes Moines, IA
$721One-way
0 transfers

Live departures

Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA bus times

The table below shows live departures for Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA buses for today, Tuesday, November 25. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.

Last updated at 5:35 AM
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesTransfers
Tickets
Burlington Trailways4:05 PM Iowa City, IA
2h00
6:05 PM Des Moines, IA0 transfersDirect
Burlington Trailways8:50 PM Iowa City, IA
2h20
11:10 PM Des Moines, IA0 transfersDirect
Wednesday, November 26
Burlington Trailways3:30 AM Iowa City, IA
2h00
5:30 AM Des Moines, IA0 transfersDirect

This is the last bus of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA by bus

Compare bus 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.

Wed
Nov 26
Thu
Nov 27
Fri
Nov 28
Sat
Nov 29
Sun
Nov 30
Mon
Dec 01
Tue
Dec 02

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA

USAUSA
USAUSA
Icon of bus

Buses from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA run on average 1 times per day, taking around 2h 15m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $30 (€24) if you book in advance.

There are 1 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 05:30, the last at 13:40. The fastest bus covers the 107 miles (173 km) distance in 2h 15m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Distance
107 miles (173 km)
Average bus duration
2h 15m
Cheapest ticket price
$30 (€24)
Buses per day
1
Direct buses
1
Fastest bus
2h 15m
First bus
05:30
Last bus
13:40

Key Takeaways

Train Ticket Prices
  • Budget Options: Train tickets from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA start from as low as $30 (€24) if booked well in advance.
  • Standard Fares: Typically, trains cost $36 (€29) depending on the train type and class.
Journey Duration & Frequency
  • On average there are 1 daily trains from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA with 1 direct service.
  • The fastest trains can take as little as 2h 15m but the average duration is 2h 15m
Train Operators
  • Travel from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA with Burlington Trailways
  • The most booked train company for this route on Omio is Burlington Trailways.
Stations & Schedule
  • Most trains depart from Iowa City, S Riverside Dr (Kum & Go), IA and arrive in Des Moines, E Euclid Ave (Clark Lift Of Des Moines, Inc.), IA
  • First train typically departs at 05:30 AM and the last at 01:40 PM
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information

Bus providers: Burlington Trailways from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IAYou can travel by bus between Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA with Burlington Trailways for as low as $30 (€24). When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

Burlington Trailways

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
2h 0m
Cheapest Price
$72 (€59)
Burlington Trailways frequency
2 a day

FAQs: Bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, IA, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap bus tickets from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA can start from as little as $40 (€33) when you book in advance. The average bus ticket price for Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA is $48 (€39); however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA is 2 h 15 min   to travel the 107 mile (172 km) long trip, with around there is 1 bus per day. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays.
The first bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA leaves at 4: 35AM. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner   from Omio.
The last bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA leaves at 1: 40PM.
Yes, it is possible to travel from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA without having to change trains with Burlington Trailways. There is 1 direct bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA each day. There may be fewer direct services available on weekends or holidays.
For the journey from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA you can take a bus with Burlington Trailways. Be sure to check out all possible bus companies that offer services from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA on Omio to compare what amenities they may have.
A trip to Des Moines, IA from Iowa City, IA is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 2 h 15 min each way. Check with Omio app   the best way to travel.
The cheapest month to travel from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA by bus is September.
Yes, you can take a bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.
No, the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA has no accessibility options.
No, there are no bathrooms on board the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.
No, bikes are not allowed on board the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.

To find the cheapest bus tickets for your trip from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA, follow these tips:

  • Book in advance: Tickets are often cheaper when booked early.
  • Be flexible with dates and times: Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money.
  • Use our search filters: Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options.
  • Look for special deals or discounts: Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
  • Start your search now and compare ticket prices to find the best deal!

    Yes, there is food available to purchase on board the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.
    No, luggage for the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA needs to be booked in addition.
    No, there are no additional luggage options for the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.
    Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.
    No, there are no USB plugs on board the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.
    No, there is no WiFi on board the bus from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA.

    popular bus stations

    Popular bus stations from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA

    Iowa City
    Des Moines
    Iowa City, S Riverside Dr (Kum & Go)
    information

    More options for your journey from Iowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA

    Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

    HomeBusesBuses in USABus tickets to Des Moines, IAIowa City, IA to Des Moines, IA bus

    The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy

    We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.

    ios-badge
    android-badge
    Hand With Phone