5.0
Pros: The Driver. Cons: Bathroom smell of urine.
5.0
The bud driver (Dan) was friendly and helpful.
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There are 4 intercity buses per day from Des Moines to Chicago. Traveling by bus from Des Moines to Chicago usually takes around 9 hours and 21 minutes, but the fastest Burlington Trailways bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 10 minutes.
Distance | 309 mi (497 km) |
Shortest duration | 6h 10m |
Cheapest price | $95.00 |
Trips per day | 2 |
Most frequent service | Burlington Trailways |
Bus lines | 1 |
Average score for buses from Des Moines to Chicago
(Based on 5 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: The Driver. Cons: Bathroom smell of urine.
5.0
The bud driver (Dan) was friendly and helpful.
Bus tickets for a trip from Des Moines to Chicago cost $95.00 on average. While it’s a bit pricey for a bus ticket, it’s still significantly more cost-effective than flying. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Bus tickets from Des Moines to Chicago are expected to cost between $97 and $100 over the next four weeks. If you're planning a trip to Chicago within the next week, you can find the cheapest bus tickets starting from $97. Don't wait too long to book your ticket, as prices tend to rise as the travel date approaches.
To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 17 days in advance to save up to $17.07.
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Des Moines to Chicago. Burlington Trailways connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
---|---|---|---|
Burlington Trailways | 4 | 9h 21m | $99.31 |
Book Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to Chicago from $95. There are 4 trips per day offered by Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to Chicago and you can expect on average to pay for a Burlington Trailways ticket to Chicago. In Des Moines, Burlington Trailways departs to Chicago from Des Moines . In Chicago, Burlington Trailways arrives at Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St .
An average trip on Burlington Trailways from Des Moines to Chicago takes 9 hours and 21 minutes , while the fastest available Burlington Trailways trip will get you to Chicago in 6 hours and 10 minutes .
On weekends, Burlington Trailways offers 4 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Chicago.
The bus takes an average of 9 hours and 21 minutes to cover the 309 miles from Des Moines to Chicago. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 10 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, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 8:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Des Moines to Chicago, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
Image credit: Unsplash
Des Moines is the capital city of Iowa and the most populous city in the state. It has been named the third-largest insurance capital in the world because of its relevance in the US insurance industry. Des Moines is home to historic landmarks, especially in the East Village area. These include the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol building. Art lovers can visit the Des Moines Art Center, which has notable contemporary collections, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, a pedestrian space with public attractions. Des Moines also has spots for outdoor adventures, like the Blank Park Zoo, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and Living History Farms.
Des Moines offers diverse places for entertainment, like the Praire Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel, and the Salisbury House & Gardens, a concert venue in a 1920s manor. In the heart of the city is Downtown Des Moines, which has different attractions and entertainment venues, festivals and concerts, shopping spots, sports teams, restaurants, bars, and breweries.
It's very easy to access Des Moines when you're traveling by bus. Over a hundred neighboring cities offer bus lines to the city, powered by companies like Jefferson Lines, Tornado Bus, Burlington Trailways, and El Expreso Bus. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority also provides bus routes throughout the city.
Known for its innovative architecture, cultural contributions to jazz and house music, and of course that irresistible deep-dish pizza, the many sights and experiences in Chicago make it one of the best urban vacation destinations for millennials and a top destination in Illinois.
You can't beat the views of the city and Lake Michigan from the SkyDeck in the Willis Tower; at over 1,300 feet, this is the highest observation deck in the U.S. Snap that classic selfie with the Bean in Millennium Park, then wander the many museums in nearby Grant Park. Navy Pier is a popular tourist hotspot for its parks, restaurants, and attractions right on Lake Michigan, and baseball fans will find paradise in Wrigleyville, home to the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field and sports bars galore.
Chicago's enormous parks offer plentiful opportunities for outdoor activities in gorgeous urban settings. Many companies offer kayak rentals or boat tours on the Chicago River, with special tours running on Saint Patrick's Day, when the entire river is dyed green. When you’re ready to buy some souvenirs from your epic trip, hit the big brand stores on the Magnificent Mile, or shop local in neighborhoods like Andersonville and Wicker Park. And don't miss the chance to laugh until you cry at The Second City comedy theater, famous for launching the careers of comedians like Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.
Chicago is one of the biggest transportation hubs in the Midwest, and provides easy access to nearby destinations ideal for day trips, as well as international travel from two airports. Thanks to plenty of bus and train stations throughout the city, getting to the Windy City is a breeze.
Most buses depart from the main station in Des Moines.
Des Moines
Image credit: Jeramey Jannene
Link to image attributionAll buses from Des Moines arrive at one main station in Chicago.
Bus Station - 630 W Harrison St
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With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
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