Bus to Iowa City

Iowa City sits on the Iowa River in eastern Iowa, the seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa — Iowa's flagship public research university and the home of the long-running Iowa Writers' Workshop. It's a working college town of about 75,000 with a deep literary heritage (UNESCO designated Iowa City a City of Literature in 2008), the original Iowa Old Capitol Building (the territorial capitol from 1842 and Iowa's first state capitol from 1846 to 1857), and a downtown rebuilt around the Pedestrian Mall along the central Clinton Street, the central historic blocks and the University of Iowa campus. The bus to Iowa City drops you in central downtown at the Court Street Transportation Center on East Court Street or at the Riverside Drive location south of central downtown, with the Old Capitol Building, the Pedestrian Mall, the central University of Iowa campus and the Iowa Writers' Workshop landmarks reachable on foot. People come for the University of Iowa and Hawkeye football, for the Iowa Writers' Workshop heritage (with the workshop having produced Pulitzer winners and shaped American literary fiction since 1936), for the Old Capitol Building, for the central Pedestrian Mall and the Iowa City restaurant scene, and for an unhurried Hawkeye Country weekend. An Iowa City bus ticket lands you a short walk from the Old Capitol.

Greyhound stops in Iowa City

Iowa City has two Greyhound stops, both classified as full terminals. The first is the Court Street Transportation Center at 170 East Court Street, in the central downtown — the bus stops at the Court Street Transportation Center; follow the station directions to the bus slip. For inquiries, contact 319-337-2127. The second is the Riverside Drive location at 731 South Riverside Drive, a secondary terminal serving Iowa City routes south of central downtown.

For most travellers, the Court Street Transportation Center is the right choice — it's the central downtown stop and connects directly to the local Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit bus networks, plus the University of Iowa CAMBUS system. As a full transit centre, the building has indoor seating, restrooms and the basic shelter you'd expect. The Riverside Drive stop is more useful if your trip ends naturally on the south side or near the surrounding Riverside Drive corridor.

If you're being met, both locations are familiar to rideshare drivers. The Court Street Transportation Center has space inside the building if the Iowa winter weather isn't cooperating. The most useful first move after arrival is a walk to the Old Capitol Building or the Pedestrian Mall. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed for boarding.

Getting around Iowa City after your bus to Iowa City arrives

Iowa City's central downtown along the Pedestrian Mall (locally just "the Ped Mall") is exceptionally compact. From the Court Street Transportation Center, the Old Capitol Building, the Pedestrian Mall, the central University of Iowa campus, the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the central restaurants are all within a comfortable walk.

The Iowa City Transit and Coralville Transit networks run city buses across the metro, with the University of Iowa CAMBUS system running free buses around the central campus during the academic year. Useful routes connect downtown to the Coralville Mall, the surrounding suburbs and the further University of Iowa hospital and athletic complex. Service runs through the day on weekdays.

For the wider region — the Amana Colonies (the preserved 19th-century communal-religious German village about 25 minutes north), Lake Macbride State Park and the surrounding Iowa River corridor, and onward to Cedar Rapids north or Davenport east — a rental car is the practical option. Cycling is also viable on the central downtown grid and the Iowa River Corridor Trail running through the city.

Top things to do in Iowa City

• The Old Capitol Building, on the central University of Iowa campus, the 1842 Greek Revival building that served as the territorial capitol of Iowa Territory and as Iowa's first state capitol from 1846 to 1857. Open as a museum with restored Senate and House chambers, the central rotunda and the Iowa-history exhibits. Free entry.
• The University of Iowa campus, with the central Old Capitol, the Pentacrest (the central campus quadrangle with the Old Capitol at its centre), the historic Macbride Hall and the Stanley Museum of Art.
• The Stanley Museum of Art on the UI campus, with strong holdings in African art, modern American art, photography and rotating exhibitions. Free entry. The new building opened in 2022 after the original museum was destroyed in the 2008 Iowa City flood.
• The Pedestrian Mall ("the Ped Mall"), the central downtown's main pedestrian-only street, with restaurants, shops, the Iowa City Public Library, the Englert Theatre and a steady year-round commercial life.
• The Iowa Writers' Workshop and the surrounding literary heritage — the Workshop has been operating since 1936 and has produced numerous Pulitzer Prize winners and shaped American literary fiction. The Dey House on the central campus is the working Workshop home; Prairie Lights Bookstore on the central Ped Mall is the long-running independent bookstore that anchors the literary scene.
• Kinnick Stadium, the home of Iowa Hawkeyes football on the west side of central downtown, with home Saturdays drawing 70,000 fans. The "Iowa Wave" — the tradition where the stadium turns toward the adjacent University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital and waves to the patients and families watching from the upper floors after the first quarter — has run since 2017 and is a working Hawkeye tradition.
• The Englert Theatre, the restored 1912 vaudeville theatre on the Ped Mall, with concerts, film, theatre and a year-round programme of touring acts.
• Prairie Lights Bookstore, on the central Ped Mall, the long-running independent bookstore where many Iowa Writers' Workshop readings happen and a working anchor of the city's literary scene.
• The Amana Colonies, about 25 minutes north of Iowa City, the preserved 19th-century communal-religious German village with restored buildings, the Amana Colonies Museum, the surrounding wineries and the Amana craft tradition.
• City Park along the Iowa River, with walking paths, the central park grounds and the Riverside Theatre summer Shakespeare productions.
• The Iowa River Corridor Trail, the long shared-use path running along the Iowa River through the city, useful for walking and cycling.
• The Plum Grove Historic Home, the restored 1844 Greek Revival home of Robert Lucas (the first governor of Iowa Territory), with original family interiors and the surrounding period grounds.
• Lake Macbride State Park, about 30 minutes north of Iowa City, with hiking, swimming and the lake recreation.

Best time to visit Iowa City

Late spring through early autumn is the long, generous window. From late April through May the dogwoods come in along the Iowa River, the Ped Mall opens to a full outdoor season and the temperature sits in a pleasant range for walking. The Iowa City Jazz Festival in early July pulls a regional crowd to the central downtown.

September and October bring the eastern Iowa fall — colour through the surrounding hardwoods, comfortable walking weather, the start of the Iowa Hawkeyes football season at Kinnick Stadium and the Iowa City restaurant scene at full pace. The fall colour at the Amana Colonies is particularly photogenic.

Summer is warm and humid, with afternoons regularly in the 80s. The shaded sections of the central campus and the Iowa River Corridor Trail work in early morning, and the indoor venues — the Stanley Museum of Art, the Old Capitol Building, the central restaurants — come into their own through the heat. Plan walking and outdoor sightseeing for early morning, lean into the indoor venues in the afternoon, and respect the late-day thunderstorms when they roll in.

Winter is real Iowa cold. From December through February temperatures regularly drop into the teens and below, with serious cold snaps and significant snow events. The Stanley Museum, the Old Capitol Building, the Englert Theatre and the long-running Ped Mall restaurants all stay full pace through the season. The University of Iowa academic year and the Iowa Writers' Workshop run through the winter; the surrounding Iowa City literary calendar is at its working peak in winter when the Workshop is in residence. Daytime temperatures sit well below freezing for stretches — pack for it.

From the Court Street Transportation Center, the practical first move depends on where you're heading. If it's the central campus and the Old Capitol Building, walk three blocks west to the Pentacrest. If it's the Ped Mall and the central Iowa City restaurant scene, the central downtown's pedestrian-only street is two blocks north. If you're picking up a rental car for the Amana Colonies day-trip or onward driving, the surrounding rental offices are within a short rideshare. If it's a Hawkeye football Saturday, plan rideshare or Iowa City Transit out to Kinnick Stadium — game-day parking around the stadium fills up early. Use the search bar on this page to check schedules and book bus tickets to Iowa City when your dates are firm.

Searching for Greyhound Bus Tickets to Iowa City?

Your search ends here! Find all the information you need to book your bus trip to Iowa City! You can find the Greyhound at Iowa City. The fare for traveling to Iowa City starts at just $7.48. If you're on the hunt for a cheap ticket to Iowa City, remember to book early. Traveling on weekdays or during non-peak hours can also lead you to some of the most budget-friendly fares available! Greyhound connects Iowa City to 32 destinations, providing ample options for your bus trip.

Why travel to Iowa City with Greyhound

With Greyhound, enjoy a comfortable seat and complimentary Wi-Fi on your journey. Stay engaged and online as we take you to your destination! Enjoy a comfy trip to Iowa City with our onboard facilities like free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Choose your favorite seat while booking and travel with peace of mind rest easy knowing your ticket covers one carry-on and one checked bag.

How to book your bus ticket to Iowa City

Booking a ticket with Greyhound is a breeze: on this website or on the free Greyhound App, you can complete your booking in a few clicks. When purchasing your ticket to Iowa City online, you can choose between different secured online payment methods, such as credit and debit cards. Alternatively, you can pay in cash at a sales point.