The cheapest and fastest buses from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA
Cheapest price
€178
Average price
€195
Fastest journey
1 d 2 h 5 m
Average duration
1 d 4 h 15 m
Buses per day
2
Distance
1436 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Washington, DC 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 Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA will cost around €195 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €178.
It's difficult to get from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA without transferring at least once.
FlixBus · FlixBus+
1:20 PM30h25Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station6:45 PMDes Moines, E Euclid Ave (Clark Lift Of Des Moines, Inc.), IA€1781One-way2 transfers
· 5:50 PM26h05Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station6:55 PMDes Moines, E Euclid Ave (Clark Lift Of Des Moines, Inc.), IA€2111One-way1 transfer
· 5:50 PM26h05Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station6:55 PMDes Moines, E Euclid Ave (Clark Lift Of Des Moines, Inc.), IA€2111One-way1 transfer
FlixBus · FlixBus+
1:20 PM30h25Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station6:45 PMDes Moines, E Euclid Ave (Clark Lift Of Des Moines, Inc.), IA€1781One-way2 transfers
Travel Information
Compare bus and flight for Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €119. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 3h 29m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €119, and a flight costs an average of €149.
Distance: 892 miles (1436 km)
Compare bus with
Most popular Bus | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|
€178 Average price Cheapest | €327 Average price | €225 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
27h 36m Average total duration 27h 6m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 29m Average total duration Fastest 3h 29m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 15h 17m 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 Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA:
A bus is €149 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA costing on average €327.
Other travel options to Des Moines, IA take longer:
Bus takes on average 27h 6m.
You'll arrive about {timeSavings} sooner ({durationInMinutes} by bus vs {drivingDurationInMinutes} by car) and save roughly {savingsAmount} compared to fuel and tolls ({cheapestPrice} vs {drivingPriceInCents}). 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 {directProviders}.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA Bus Timetables
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 01:20PM | Arrival Time 06:45PM | Duration 30h25 | Departure days Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price €95 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:35PM | Arrival Time 06:55PM | Duration 26h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price €89 |
Operator Greyhound | Departure Time 05:50PM | Arrival Time 06:55PM | Duration 26h05 | Departure days Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €99 |
Live departures
Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA bus times
The table below shows live departures for Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA buses for today, Tuesday, August 4. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
· | 5:50 PM Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station | 26h05 | 6:55 PM Des Moines, E Euclid Ave (Clark Lift Of Des Moines, Inc.), IA | 1 transfer | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Washington, DC to Des Moines, 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.
Aug 04
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Aug 07
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Aug 09
Aug 10
Why should you book Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA buses with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs Greyhound?
- 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 Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA.
Why book with Omio over Wanderu?
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA.
Journey information
Overview: Bus from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA
Buses from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA run on average 2 times per day, taking around 27h 6m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €119 if you book in advance.
The earliest bus runs at 05:30, the last at 23:55. The fastest bus covers the 892 miles (1436 km) distance in 26h 0m.
Distance 892 miles (1436 km) |
Average bus duration 27h 6m |
Cheapest ticket price €119 |
Buses per day 2 |
Fastest bus 26h 0m |
First bus 5:30 AM |
Last bus 11:55 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Best time to book 4 days |
Bus providers: Greyhound from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IAYou can travel by bus between Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA with Greyhound for as low as €119. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey
Greyhound
FAQs: Bus from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Washington, DC 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.

- Greyhound
- Assistance
- Priority seating
- 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.
- Greyhound
- One carry-on bag up to 25 lbs (11 kg) and one checked bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg).
- Greyhound
- $15 per additional bag.
popular bus stations
Popular bus stations from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA
Most Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA buses use the Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station to station pair. Use this guide to compare Washington, DC and Des Moines, IA bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Which Washington, DC station do buses to Des Moines, IA leave from?
Getting to Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station from Washington city centre
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station is 2 km from Washington city centre. Public transport options include:
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station bus station facilities and services
Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food and drink
Food options include: McDonald's (in the station), Shake Shack (in the station)
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and food court.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Washington, Columbus Circle, Union Station: Elevators, ramps.
More options for your journey from Washington, DC to Des Moines, IA
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

