Here are some tips on taking the Megabus from Chicago to Des Moines (and back.) that I offered my sister, who is traveling here next week:
- For the 5 p.m. bus out of Chicago, bring something to eat for dinner (you’ll stop once in Iowa City – where nearest cafe is closed by late eve (sometimes the driver makes another stop near Iowa City on I-80 so people can get McDonald’s or convenience store/gas station food.) On Wed morn, you might want to pick up a sandwich to take on your midday bus ride home, although the Iowa City cafe near the bus stop should be open mid-afternoon
- Also bring a bottle of water – one time I didn’t and I was dying of thirst. I practically begged a woman who later boarded in Iowa City, carrying a six-pack of bottled water (and she kindly gave me one.)
- Bring a sweater (this is more relevant in the summer, when the bus can be chilly from air-conditioning)
- WiFi may or may not work. Or it may work some of the time. Don’t count on it.
- Bathroom on board has been fine, in my limited experience.
- Sit closer to front of bus near driver and in bottom of doubledecker (if you have a doubledecker)
- The bus is often filled leaving Chicago but emptier after Iowa City drop off (although some students do get on in Iowa City…)
- Boarding the bus in downtown Chicago can be a bit chaotic, with clumps of people waiting on the street for buses going to a variety of places. If it’s cold, have whomever is driving you stick around a bit so you can wait in the warm comfort of a car (because there’s no warm indoor place to wait for the bus, last I saw). The stop is one block south of Union Station on east side of street. Not hard to find. Probably best to get there about 10 minutes early. (Unless you’re dad – then maybe 1/2 hour.)
- Luggage – There is limited space to store it by your seat but I’ve always given mine to the driver to put in the boot (or whatever it’s called) and haven’t had any problems. Might slow you down a bit.
- Bus stop in Des Moines is mellow. It’s right downtown by the DM Civic Center.
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