Des Moines to Kansas City Megabus
The Megabus corridor from Des Moines to Kansas City covers 179 miles in roughly 4h, with 12 scheduled departures most days. Floor fares start at $12 when booked far in advance.
Route overview
Megabus operates the Des Moines–Kansas City corridor with 12 scheduled daily departures, primarily routed via Interstate 10 through the desert Southwest. Most travelers book this route for a combination of low fare and frequency: even at the high end of the dynamic-pricing curve, it remains substantially cheaper than rail or rideshare for the same trip.
The total scheduled travel time of 4h reflects driving time plus a short curbside boarding window at each end. This corridor typically runs nonstop with no scheduled meal break.
Where the bus stops
Des Moines departure: Des Moines Greyhound Station on Cherry Street. Des Moines's intercity terminal is east of downtown, near the Iowa Events Center. DART buses connect the terminal across the metro.
Kansas City arrival: Kansas City Union Station Bus Bay. Kansas City's restored Union Station serves both Amtrak and intercity buses, near the Crossroads Arts District. RideKC streetcar and buses serve Union Station and downtown.
Schedule and frequency
Megabus runs 12 scheduled departures per day on this corridor. Departure times shift seasonally and at weekends; the table below shows a representative weekday schedule. Always verify current departure times on Megabus before travel.
| Depart Des Moines | Arrive Kansas City | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | 10:30 | Standard |
| 08:15 | 12:15 | Express |
| 11:00 | 15:00 | Standard |
| 14:30 | 18:30 | Standard |
| 17:45 | 21:45 | Express |
| 21:30 | 01:30 | Overnight |
| 23:15 | 03:15 | Overnight |
| 01:30 | 05:30 | Express |
Fares and how to book cheap
The Des Moines–Kansas City Megabus fare floor is $12 when booked at the schedule open, typically 60 to 90 days in advance. Fares climb in tiers as seats sell — most travelers booking inside the two-week window pay $23 to $35, with same-day walk-up fares often at or above the typical maximum.
The cheapest departures on this corridor are mid-week (Tuesday and Wednesday), early Saturday morning, and early Sunday morning. Friday afternoon and Sunday evening are the most expensive slots and the first to sell out. Reserved seating runs an extra $5.00 to $8.00 on top of the base fare.
What to expect on board
Megabus uses single-deck or double-deck coaches on this corridor depending on demand. All buses include free onboard Wi-Fi (best-effort), 110V power outlets at every row, reclining leather or vinyl seats, and an onboard restroom. Standard luggage allowance is one personal item under the seat plus one underbus bag up to 50 lb included in the base fare.
Wi-Fi works well for messaging and email but is unreliable for video streaming, particularly in rural sections of the route. Outlets are functional at most rows; bring a 10,000 mAh battery pack as backup. Climate control runs cool — bring a layer regardless of season.
Megabus vs. Greyhound and FlixBus on this route
This corridor is also served by other intercity carriers in varying frequencies. Greyhound typically runs one to three daily departures with fares starting around $48, often using a dedicated terminal rather than the Megabus curbside stop. FlixBus may also serve this corridor with curbside service comparable to Megabus, sometimes at marginally lower fares for last-minute booking thanks to active promo-code campaigns.
Tips for this corridor
- Book at least 30 days in advance for the best fares; 60+ days lands the $12 floor when available.
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday-morning departures are cheapest.
- Arrive at Des Moines Greyhound Station on Cherry Street 15 to 20 minutes before scheduled departure with your ticket QR code and a photo ID.
- Tag your underbus bag with name, phone, and destination — Megabus does not provide tags.
- This route is short enough that there is no scheduled meal stop — eat before boarding.
Booking
Tickets for the Des Moines–Kansas City route are sold only on the official Megabus website and the Megabus app. RouteRider does not sell tickets; we link directly to the operator booking page so you always pay the carrier price with no markup.