What is the travel distance from Des Moines to Iowa City?

The distance between the two cities is 108 miles (174 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Des Moines to Iowa City?

The majority of buses traveling from Des Moines to Iowa City start their journey at Jefferson/Trailways Depot and wind up at Court Street Bus Station. These are the main departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

Bus Des Moines to Iowa City from $24 | Refundable Tickets

Next bus departures

Next departures for Des Moines to Iowa City on November 24
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	9:20am	Des Moines	2h 15m	11:35am	Iowa City	CheapestFastest
	Bus	9:30am	Des Moines	3h 55m	1:25pm	Iowa City	No tags

Next departures for Des Moines to Iowa City on November 25
Operated by	Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended	Price and booking link
	Bus	5:30am	Des Moines	2h 10m	7:40am	Iowa City	CheapestFastest
	Bus	9:20am	Des Moines	2h 15m	11:35am	Iowa City	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 8:39 AM CST.

Get from Des Moines to Iowa City

This route is served by bus only

The journey takes about 2 hours 15 minutes and with fares starting at just $31, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

3bus per day

2h 15mAverage Duration

106 milesDistance

4kgCO₂ emissions

Where are the popular stops in Des Moines and Iowa City?

Stops in Des Moines

A
Jefferson/Trailways Depot
1501 2nd Ave North, Des Moines, IA 50314
B
1514 East Grand Ave
1514 East Grand Avenue,, Des Moins, IA, 50316

Stops in Iowa City

A
Court Street Bus Station
170 E Court St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Compare bus companies

Greyhound

3.5/587,393 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

Jefferson Lines

4/5759 reviews

Staff4

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4

Wifi3.2

Burlington Trailways

4/520 reviews

Staff5

Timeliness5

Cleanliness5

Wifi5

US bus companies: FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, ALSA, Greyhound, Intercape, Trenitalia, Sindbad

Frequently asked questions about traveling from Des Moines to Iowa City by bus

What is the travel distance from Des Moines to Iowa City?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Des Moines to Iowa City?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

11/22

$29

11/23

$36

Today

$29

11/25

$25

11/26

$31

11/27

No data

11/28

No data

11/29

$27

The cheapest trip from Des Moines to Iowa City was searched and found on Nov 25, 2025 with a price of $25

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Des Moines to Iowa City, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $25 to $59 for a bus ticket from Des Moines to Iowa City based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $25 which is on 2025-11-25.