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Des Moines · United States

Buses to Des Moines

The cities within coach range, estimated times from distance, and who sells the tickets.

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Coaches cover the ground rail does not, and in most countries they are the cheapest way between cities. Below are the cities within practical coach range of Des Moines, with straight-line distance and an estimated time at typical coach speeds including stops.

Buses from Des Moines: distances and estimated journey times
RouteCountryDistanceEstimated time
Des Moines to Cedar RapidsUnited States169 km (105 mi)about 3 h 17 min
Des Moines to OmahaUnited States198 km (123 mi)about 3 h 48 min
Des Moines to DavenportUnited States252 km (157 mi)about 4 h 47 min
Des Moines to LincolnUnited States271 km (168 mi)about 5 h 7 min
Des Moines to RochesterUnited States285 km (177 mi)about 5 h 22 min
Des Moines to IndependenceUnited States287 km (179 mi)about 5 h 24 min
Des Moines to Kansas CityUnited States290 km (180 mi)about 5 h 27 min
Des Moines to Kansas CityUnited States290 km (180 mi)about 5 h 27 min
Des Moines to Overland ParkUnited States305 km (189 mi)about 5 h 43 min
Des Moines to ColumbiaUnited States314 km (195 mi)about 5 h 53 min
Des Moines to OlatheUnited States319 km (198 mi)about 5 h 59 min
Des Moines to TopekaUnited States334 km (207 mi)about 6 h 14 min
Des Moines to TorontoCanada1,184 km (736 mi)about 21 h 29 min
Des Moines to ChicagoUnited States495 km (308 mi)about 9 h 8 min
Des Moines to HoustonUnited States1,326 km (824 mi)about 24 h 2 min
Des Moines to San AntonioUnited States1,424 km (885 mi)about 25 h 48 min
Des Moines to DallasUnited States1,020 km (634 mi)about 18 h 33 min
Des Moines to Fort WorthUnited States1,040 km (646 mi)about 18 h 54 min
Des Moines to AustinUnited States1,314 km (816 mi)about 23 h 49 min
Des Moines to ColumbusUnited States911 km (566 mi)about 16 h 36 min

Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.

Where to buy bus tickets

BusbudIntercity coach tickets in North America, Europe and Latin America, including the regional Canadian carriers that sell nowhere else together.Find bus routes on Busbud (opens www.busbud.com in a new tab)
FlixBusThe widest single-brand network in Europe and North America, where it also operates Greyhound. Refunds come back as vouchers, not cash.Search coach routes on FlixBus (opens global.flixbus.com in a new tab)
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Common questions

How are the journey times on this page worked out?

From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.

Where these facts come from

  • GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
  • Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
  • OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
  • Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines

Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.