There are 7 ways to get from St. Louis to Des Moines by bus (Greyhound), train, bus, car, plane, or bus (Flixbus, Amtrak, Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus via Kansas City
best- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Kansas City Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0180s / ...
- Take the bus from Kansas City to Des Moinesbus Jefferson Lines 804 / ...
8h 25m$95–141Drive 331.1 mi
cheapest- Drive from St. Louis to Des Moinescar 331.1 mi
6h 35m$57–82Train, bus via Kansas City
- Take the train from St. Louis to Kansas Citytrain Missouri River Runner / ...
- Take the bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0156
10h 37m$188–290Fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport
- Fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) to Des Moines (DSM)plane STL - DSM
5h 33m$90–456Train, bus
- Take the train from St. Louis to Bloomington-Normaltrain Lincoln Service / ...
- Take the bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0157S
10h 3m$136–212Bus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Springfield SMTD Transfer Centerbus
- Take the bus from Springfield to Galesburg Amtrak Stationbus
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
11h 31mTrain to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, fly
- Take the train from St. Louis to Springfieldtrain
- Fly from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SPI - DSM
10h 22m$144–480
St. Louis to Des Moines by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from St. Louis to Des Moines is to drive which costs $55 - $85 and takes 6h 35m.
The fastest way to get from St. Louis to Des Moines is to fly which takes 5h 33m and costs $90 - $460.
No, there is no direct bus from St. Louis station to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from St Louis Bus Station and arriving at Des Moines via Kansas City. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 8h 25m.
The distance between St. Louis and Des Moines is 444 miles. The road distance is 333.1 miles.
The best way to get from St. Louis to Des Moines without a car is to bus via Kansas City which takes 8h 25m and costs $95 - $150.
It takes approximately 8h 25m to get from St. Louis to Des Moines, including transfers.
St. Louis to Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from St Louis Bus Station.
The best way to get from St. Louis to Des Moines is to bus via Kansas City which takes 8h 25m and costs $95 - $150. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $90 - $460 and takes 5h 33m.
St. Louis to Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Kansas City Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between St. Louis to Des Moines is 333 miles. It takes approximately 6h 35m to drive from St. Louis to Des Moines.
What companies run services between St. Louis, MO, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from St Louis Bus Station to Des Moines via Kansas City Bus Station and Kansas City in around 8h 25m. Alternatively, Delta, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) to Des Moines (DSM) hourly.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–450
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–550
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–430
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–430
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 56m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–360
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 12m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $70–430
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from St. Louis to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $150–240
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from St. Louis to Bloomington-Normal
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $85–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from St. Louis to Springfield
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Kansas City Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–80
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Kansas City to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $50–75
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from St Louis Bus Station to Springfield SMTD Transfer Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–24
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Springfield to Galesburg Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- Amtrak
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Booking & Getting There
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