Party Buses Des Moines is a leading group transportation company serving the greater Des Moines metro, with over 15 years of keeping Iowa groups moving together. Whether you're rallying fans to Casey's Center for a basketball playoff run, shuttling a bachelorette crew through the East Village, or moving a convention group between downtown hotels and the Iowa Events Center, getting a quote takes under 30 seconds. Call 515-416-4410 or use our online tool to lock in your date today!
A few of the organizations across Des Moines that have trusted us with their group transportation.
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Party Buses Des Moines gives you instant access to a wide network of vehicles — 14-passenger Sprinter limos, 15- to 50-passenger party buses, 15- to 35-passenger minibuses, and 40- to 56-passenger charter buses — with all-inclusive pricing built in from the first click. You'll know the exact number before you ever commit. Our 24/7 reservation team is always one call away at 515-416-4410 for anything that needs a live voice — itinerary questions, last-minute additions, or a second bus when the headcount grows.
Des Moines sits at the intersection of I-35 and I-80, which sounds convenient until a Drake Relays weekend or an Iowa State Fair run turns the Grand Avenue interchange into a standstill. Suburbs like West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, and Johnston are easy enough to navigate on a Tuesday at noon — and a completely different challenge on a Saturday night when 40,000 State Fair attendees are all heading inbound on University Avenue at once. Party Buses Des Moines has coordinated group trips through all of it, and we know which approach routes stay clear and which ones don't.
Since 2011, we've arranged transportation for school field trips to the Science Center of Iowa, corporate shuttle runs between the Des Moines Tech Hub on Fleur Drive and downtown hotels, wedding guest shuttles running between Ingersoll Avenue receptions and hotels in the East Village, and prom groups from Johnston, Waukee, and Ankeny high schools. Every vehicle in our network fits a specific job, meaning you never pay for seats you don't need. Call 515-416-4410 any time.
From compact 14-passenger Sprinter limos built for bridal party pickups at Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to full 56-passenger charter buses with undercarriage bays large enough for team equipment or convention materials, our Des Moines bus fleet scales to the occasion. Browse our full fleet online or call 515-416-4410 for instant availability and all-inclusive pricing.
For groups that want the party rolling before the first destination, 15- to 50-passenger party buses come loaded with a full-length bar, color-changing LED cabin lighting, premium Bluetooth sound, flat-panel screens, and wraparound perimeter seating with a central dance area. Sprinter limos handle smaller runs — airport arrivals, bridal party pickups, executive transfers — with individual USB charging at every seat, premium leather, and tinted privacy glass.
Full-size charter buses step up for longer Des Moines runs and out-of-state trips: reclining seats, climate control, overhead storage, onboard WiFi, power outlets at every row, a PA system, onboard restrooms, and deep undercarriage luggage bays. That last detail matters more than it sounds — when you're moving a convention group with roller bags from Des Moines International to the Iowa Events Center, every bag stays stowed and out of the aisle. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available; just mention it when you call.
Air-conditioning
Wraparound Leather Seats
Premium AUX / Bluetooth Sound System
LED and Fiber Optic Lighting
Built-in Bar Areas With Ice Storage and Cup Holders
TVs and Premium Entertainment Systems
Party Buses Des Moines offers all-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds — you'll see the exact number before you ever book, with no hidden costs waiting at the end. Current Des Moines party bus and charter bus rental rates: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day for full-day itineraries.
What shapes your exact quote: vehicle size, total hours reserved (including any tailgate or post-event wait time), the date, and the mileage from your pickup point. Iowa State Fair weekend and Drake Relays weekend are the two periods when Des Moines vehicle supply gets thin fastest — call early for those dates, because demand from fan groups, family reunions, and corporate hospitality bookings all converge on the same three-week stretch in August. For everything else, see our party bus prices page or call 515-416-4410 for a no-obligation quote.
| Type of Bus | Cost Per Hour Weekdays | Cost Per Hour Weekends | Cost Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Passenger Sprinter Limo | $170 – $318+ | $219 – $344+ | $1,526 – $3,113+ |
| Sprinter Van Rental | $187 – $273+ | $218 – $366+ | $1,395 – $2,748+ |
| 15 Passenger Party Bus | $204 – $330+ | $241 – $312+ | $1,396 – $2,817+ |
| 18 Passenger Party Bus | $266 – $330+ | $268 – $378+ | $2,121 – $2,563+ |
| 20 Passenger Party Bus | $244 – $338+ | $268 – $340+ | $1,939 – $2,796+ |
| 25 Passenger Party Bus | $248 – $326+ | $265 – $360+ | $1,827 – $2,854+ |
| 28 Passenger Party Bus | $255 – $337+ | $279 – $351+ | $2,147 – $2,653+ |
| 30 Passenger Party Bus | $297 – $374+ | $318 – $414+ | $2,331 – $3,021+ |
| 40 Passenger Party Bus | $297 – $338+ | $321 – $478+ | $2,297 – $3,473+ |
| 50 Passenger Party Bus | $294 – $441+ | $337 – $490+ | $2,173 – $4,043+ |
| 15–35 Passenger Minibus | $113 – $246+ | $147 – $261+ | $1,098 – $2,105+ |
| 40–56 Passenger Charter Bus | $158 – $327+ | $162 – $348+ | $1,331 – $2,841+ |
| Rates vary by trip length, travel dates, passenger count, amenities, and availability. Use our online quote form or call 515-416-4410 for exact pricing. | |||
Booking a Des Moines party bus rental is easy with Party Buses Des Moines. With over 15 years serving the Iowa capital region, we know what a prom group from Waukee High School needs on a May Saturday — and what a 200-person convention transfer from the Des Moines Marriott Downtown to the Iowa Events Center looks like at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday. Those are different logistics, and we plan them differently.
Des Moines traffic is manageable most days and genuinely punishing on others. The I-235 interchange near the downtown core backs up on any evening with a Casey's Center event running concurrently with a Principal Park game and the East Village bar crowd spilling onto Court Avenue — and on those nights, trying to coordinate a dozen separate rideshares across four different pickup windows is how someone misses the opening act. One bus, one departure window, one pickup after the show.
You get exact pricing in under 30 seconds, a 24/7 reservation team at 515-416-4410, ADA-accessible vehicles always on call, and a single point of contact from your first quote through to the final drop-off. Groups across the Des Moines metro keep coming back because the plan we build for them actually works on game day, not just on paper. Call 515-416-4410 today and tell us where you're headed.
Party Buses Des Moines coordinates group transportation for every occasion across the metro — from airport transfers at DSM and Iowa Events Center convention shuttles to wedding guest loops, prom nights, Iowa Cubs game runs, and everything in between. Whatever brings your group together in Des Moines, we have a vehicle and a plan ready. Call 515-416-4410 to get your group moving today!
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) (5800 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321) handled over 2.5 million passengers in 2023 and sits roughly five miles south of downtown via Fleur Drive — close enough that the drive looks easy on a map and complicated enough in practice that Fleur Drive backs up badly during morning bank hours. Commercial bus pickup at DSM is on the lower level Arrivals curb. Have your group coordinator contact our team once everyone has cleared baggage claim and is assembled at the designated commercial lane — do not call the bus in while stragglers are still at the carousel.
For cruise groups or large conventions, a Des Moines airport shuttle bus rental gets your whole group from DSM to your downtown hotel in one coordinated move instead of three waves of rideshares with different ETAs. We also handle outbound runs to DSM from hotels along University Avenue, corporate campuses in the Des Moines Tech Hub on Fleur Drive, and suburban pickup points in West Des Moines and Ankeny. Call 515-416-4410 to book your Des Moines airport transfer.
The East Village is Des Moines' densest entertainment corridor — Mulberry Street and Court Avenue run back to back a few blocks apart, and on a Friday or Saturday night the parking situation between those two strips is genuinely competitive. Add the Iowa Cubs playing at Principal Park four blocks away and rideshare surge pricing kicks in well before last call. A Des Moines bachelorette party bus rental builds your night around the bars, not around who's sober enough to drive to each one.
Start the evening with cocktails on the rooftop at Wellman's Pub & Rooftop (303 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309) in the East Village, move to the Warehouse District for live music, hit El Bait Shop (200 SW 2nd St, Des Moines, IA 50309) for its 160-tap wall before midnight, and end at Noce Jazz Club (1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309) if the group wants something cooler on the back half of the night. Our 15- to 50-passenger party buses come with a full bar, LED lighting, and Bluetooth sound built in — no drawing straws for the designated driver. Call 515-416-4410 to get your Des Moines bachelorette night on the road.
A party bus arrival is one of the most memorable entrances your group can make — and in Des Moines, we've coordinated birthday runs across every venue type the metro offers. Our 15- to 50-passenger party buses are fully bookable in advance with custom playlists, color-scheme lighting, and vehicle color options to match the celebration theme. Whether the evening heads to a Sweet 16 celebration at a private event space in Clive, a quinceañera reception at the Temple for Performing Arts (1011 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309), or a milestone birthday night through the East Village, we fit the right vehicle to the guest count.
For adult milestone birthdays targeting a night out — dinner at Waterfront Seafood Market (2900 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311), drinks at Django in the East Village, and a late stop along Court Avenue — a Des Moines birthday party bus rental keeps your guests together from the first toast to the last round instead of splitting the group across multiple rideshares and losing half the crew before 11 p.m. Call 515-416-4410 to plan your celebration.
Des Moines runs a year-round concert calendar, and three venues account for most of the group transportation demand. Casey's Center (233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309) — formerly Wells Fargo Arena — seats up to 17,000 and hosts major touring acts from fall through spring. Surface lot parking in the immediate blocks fills within 90 minutes of a sold-out show, and the Court Avenue lot charges $15–$25 depending on the event.
Hoyt Sherman Place (1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309) is an 1,100-seat National Historic Landmark with extremely limited street parking on the surrounding Woodland Avenue blocks. The Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park hosts outdoor summer concerts where the only realistic parking is in Water Works Park itself — and on a festival weekend, those lots hit capacity two hours before showtime.
A Des Moines concert bus rental drops your group at the venue entrance and picks everyone up when the house lights come on — no one is hunting for a car on the wrong side of the I-235 overpass at midnight. Call 515-416-4410 for a free quote.
The Iowa Events Center complex (730 Third St, Des Moines, IA 50309) encompasses Hy-Vee Hall convention center, Casey's Center (now Casey's Center), and the Iowa Exposition Center — making it the largest convention facility in Iowa and the single most common corporate shuttle destination in the metro. The main convention entrance on Third Street handles commercial bus drop-off, but the attached parking garage caps clearance at 8'2", which means charter buses can't use the garage at all. Drop-off is curbside on Third Street, and the bus waits in approved surface lots nearby.
For multi-day conferences or corporate retreats at properties along the Jordan Creek Town Center corridor in West Des Moines, a charter bus shuttle keeps your team moving between off-site hotels and the venue without anyone fighting I-35 construction traffic on an 8 a.m. departure. Des Moines corporate bus rentals also cover executive VIP transfers — a Sprinter van or Sprinter limo works well for smaller groups with WiFi and individual climate control for the ride between Des Moines International and a Merle Hay Road hotel. Call 515-416-4410 to discuss corporate shuttle contracts and group rates.
Des Moines' event calendar has a few dates that turn ordinary parking logic completely upside down. The Iowa State Fair (3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317) runs 11 days in late August and draws over a million visitors — the surrounding blocks of East Grand Avenue and 30th Street back up for hours in each direction, and the free Park & Ride lots at Statehouse and nearby fill before 10 a.m. on weekend days. Getting a private group to the fairgrounds without a charter bus means someone is parking at a neighbor's yard sale three-quarters of a mile away and hoping for the best.
The Des Moines Arts Festival and the 80/35 Music Festival both occupy Western Gateway Park and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park blocks in downtown Des Moines across three consecutive days in late June and early July — and downtown surface lots in that zone charge event-day premiums that hit $25 or more. A charter bus drops your group at Western Gateway and the bus waits elsewhere, so the arrival is clean and the return is waiting at the curb instead of a 20-minute walk through the crowd to a paid garage. For family reunions, church retreats, or multi-stop group itineraries covering multiple Des Moines neighborhoods in one day, call 515-416-4410 and we'll build the plan.
Prom season in the Des Moines metro runs late April through May, with Johnston, Waukee, Ankeny, Valley, and Des Moines Roosevelt all scheduling within a tight six-week window. Vehicle demand spikes hard during that stretch — a 30-student, 6-hour prom rental booked in January typically runs $1,800–$2,200 all-inclusive, while the same rental booked in late March or April can run $2,600–$3,200 or simply not be available at all. For prom: book by January or expect premium pricing or no availability.
A typical Des Moines prom bus covers school pickup, a photo stop at Gray's Lake Park or the State Capitol grounds, venue drop-off at a downtown hotel ballroom or event center in Clive, and a return run after the after-party — six hours is the standard booking window for that itinerary. We work with parent committees and student groups across the metro to line up pickup times, confirm departure windows, and make sure everyone is home when they're supposed to be. Call 515-416-4410 today to lock in your date before the rush.
Teachers and activity coordinators trust Party Buses Des Moines for school field trip transportation across the metro because everything is taken care of with one call. The Science Center of Iowa (401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309) sits at the edge of the Western Gateway district with dedicated school bus drop-off on the Martin Luther King Jr Parkway side — coaches and charter buses unload at the main entrance, and oversized vehicles can park in the garage on the opposite block for longer visits. The Iowa State Historical Museum (600 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50319) is a free-admission state facility with group drop-off on East Locust Street adjacent to the main plaza.
For longer day trips, Adventureland (305 34th Ave SW, Altoona, IA 50009) sits about 14 miles northeast of downtown Des Moines via I-80 East — buses enter via the 34th Avenue SW access road and use the dedicated group drop-off area near the main gate, with oversized vehicle parking in the designated bus lot. Students love the onboard TVs and DVD player on the way out to Altoona; the undercarriage bays handle lunch coolers and gear bags without anyone hauling anything through the park. ADA-accessible buses are always available — just let us know ahead of time.
Call 515-416-4410 for school field trip bus rentals in Des Moines.
Des Moines sports fans navigating a game night know the drill: I-235 heading into downtown from the west is fine until it isn't, and the stretch near the Ingersoll Avenue interchange backs up reliably on any night Casey's Center and Principal Park are both running events. At Casey's Center (233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309), the adjacent Third Street and Fifth Avenue surface lots charge $15–$25 on event nights and fill within an hour of gates opening, while the East Village residential blocks turn permit-only on big nights. Rideshare pickup is on the east side of the arena on Fifth Avenue — workable for two people, a real scramble for 20.
A Des Moines sporting event party bus rental changes the math. For Iowa Cubs games at Principal Park (One Line Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309) on the banks of the Des Moines River, your group walks off the bus and straight through the main gate on Line Drive rather than circling the Birdland neighborhood for a street spot. Drake Bulldogs fans heading to Drake Stadium or Knapp Center on the Drake University campus (2507 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311) deal with extremely limited game-day parking in the Drake neighborhood — a bus drops your group at the stadium entrance and waits nearby.
No parking pass required, no walk back in the cold. Call 515-416-4410.
A Des Moines wedding shuttle keeps your guests from the moment they land at DSM through the last song of the reception — no asking out-of-towners to navigate I-235 in the dark after an open bar. If your ceremony is at a venue in the East Village and your reception is at a property on the west side like Sticks & Stones Farm in Urbandale or a ballroom along the Jordan Creek corridor in West Des Moines, a shuttle loop between the two cuts out the caravan problem entirely.
Downtown Des Moines weddings at The Temple for Performing Arts (1011 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309) or the Des Moines Botanical Garden (909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309) sit in neighborhoods where weekend evening parking is either expensive, limited, or both — a wedding shuttle loop from hotels on East Grand Avenue or along Fleur Drive keeps guests arriving together rather than trickling in after a parking search. Because Party Buses Des Moines has been coordinating group transportation since 2011, your wedding timeline stays on track with clear pickup times and a single point of contact from first quote to final drop-off. Call 515-416-4410 for a free wedding transportation quote.
Central Iowa's craft beverage scene has expanded well beyond what most visitors expect — and a Des Moines party bus rental is the cleanest way to hit multiple stops without anyone tracking drink counts versus miles driven. Start at Exile Brewing Co. (1514 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309) in the Warehouse District, where the 10,000-square-foot taproom pours rotating small-batch releases alongside year-round flagships. Move east to Big Grove Brewery's Des Moines outpost (900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, IA 50309) near the Ingersoll Avenue corridor, then out to Jasper Winery (2400 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321) just off Fleur Drive — Iowa's oldest and largest urban winery, with a large event lawn that fills on weekend evenings.
For craft distillery stops, Iowa Distilling Company in Cumming is roughly 25 miles southwest of downtown via Highway 28 — an easy run for a charter bus group that doesn't want to coordinate a caravan on a two-lane county road after dark. Your group stays together for every pour, and no one is doing designated-driver math at the last stop. Call 515-416-4410 for a free quote on your Des Moines pub crawl or winery tour transportation.
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Party Buses Des Moines serves the metro and the entire surrounding region — and our large network of vehicles means we can take your group anywhere across Iowa. Whether you need an Ames party bus for an Iowa State game weekend, a Cedar Rapids bus rental for a corporate event, transportation to Iowa City for a Hawkeyes run, a Council Bluffs party bus for a casino night, or a trip out to Waterloo, Party Buses Des Moines has the right vehicle for you.
We Go Anywhere!
Party Buses Des Moines is proud to serve all cities in and around Des Moines, including the ones below. If you don't see your city listed, call us at 515-416-4410 — we go anywhere your group needs to roll!
Booked this for my mom's sixtieth and it turned an ordinary dinner into a real event. Sixteen of us climbed on, the lights were already glowing, and somebody cued up a playlist of her old favorites. We rode around Des Moines laughing the whole way before the meal even started. She kept saying it felt like a celebration on wheels. Easiest surprise I've ever managed to pull off.
Priscilla A.
Deshawn
Rolled twelve deep to the game and this was the smartest thing we did all season. We tailgated in the lot, then everybody hopped back on with the speakers thumping and a cooler full of cold ones. Skipping the parking mess and the slow crawl out afterward was worth it on its own. Got home still hyped off the win. We're locking this in for every home game now.
Lindsey K.
Nine of us flew out together for a long weekend and getting everyone plus all the luggage handled in one shot was such a relief. The booking took two minutes and the pickup was right on time at dawn. We spread out, kept it mellow, and actually started the trip in a good mood instead of frazzled from coordinating cars. Smooth the whole way there. Already booking the return.
Tomás
We leaned on this to move our wedding party and guests around Des Moines and it ran like clockwork. It made loop after loop so nobody was ever stuck waiting, and at the end of the night it got everyone back to their hotels safe. The crew rode together after the ceremony with music going and it became one of my favorite moments. One less thing to stress about.
Des Moines party bus rental prices depend on vehicle size, the date, and how many hours you need. Current rates: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and full-size 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. The fastest way to get an exact number for your specific date and itinerary is to call 515-416-4410 — all-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds, no commitment required.
See our party bus prices page to learn more.
Casey's Center (233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309) sits in the Iowa Events Center complex, and commercial bus drop-off is on Third Street adjacent to the main arena entrance. Charter buses and oversized vehicles do not fit in the attached parking garage (8'2" clearance), so after drop-off the bus waits in approved surface lots nearby — typically along Fifth Avenue or in the Western Gateway surface lots one block west. For sold-out shows and big events, those lots fill fast; buses often wait in the lot off Second Street until the post-show pickup window.
We confirm the current plan for your specific event date when you book, so there's no guessing at a closed lane after the final song.
Des Moines International Airport (5800 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321) designates commercial bus pickup on the lower-level Arrivals curb. Once your group has collected all luggage and assembled at the commercial ground transportation lane, your trip coordinator calls our team to confirm the bus moves from its waiting spot to the curb. DSM is a single-terminal airport — Concourse A and Concourse B both feed into the same baggage claim — so the meeting point is straightforward.
The critical rule: don't call the bus in until your full group is together with bags in hand. Timing at a busy arrivals curb is everything. We recommend reviewing the official DSM ground transportation page before you land to confirm current commercial vehicle procedures.
Three windows drive the heaviest demand in the Des Moines market. Iowa State Fair (late August, 11 days) is the single biggest stretch — the fairgrounds on East Grand Avenue pull over a million visitors, and group transportation requests for family reunions, corporate hospitality events, and fan groups all compress into the same two-week window. Prom season (late April through May) fills the party bus supply from Johnston, Waukee, Ankeny, Valley, and other metro high schools simultaneously — book by January for best pricing and availability.
Drake Relays weekend (late April, Drake Stadium) brings 15,000–18,000 spectators to the Drake campus and spikes demand for shuttle runs between campus and downtown hotels. Outside those three windows, 3–6 weeks of lead time is workable for most Des Moines events — but the earlier you call, the better your vehicle options.
Yes. Principal Park (One Line Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309) sits on the west bank of the Des Moines River just north of downtown, with the main gate entrance on Line Drive off Second Avenue. Commercial buses drop off at the Line Drive curb, steps from the main gate — no long walk from a remote lot.
Bus and oversized vehicle parking is available in the gravel overflow lot on the north side of the park accessed off Second Avenue, at $10–$15 per vehicle on game days. Lots open 90 minutes before first pitch. For Iowa Cubs home games, the Birdland neighborhood surface lots along NW Second Avenue fill quickly on weekend evenings, which is exactly why one bus handling your whole group saves the headache of ten cars circling the same four blocks.
Pre-purchase your lot pass through the Iowa Cubs parking page to guarantee your spot.
We recommend booking your Des Moines party bus at least three to six months in advance to secure the best price and vehicle selection. This is especially important during Iowa State Fair (late August), prom season (April–May), and Drake Relays weekend (late April). For prom specifically — book by January or expect premium pricing or no availability.
Outside peak periods, 3–4 weeks of lead time is workable for most occasions. Lock in your date as soon as your headcount is confirmed. Call 515-416-4410 right now to check availability for your date!
A Des Moines party bus itinerary can cover some of Iowa's best venues, events, and attractions in a single day or night. Whether you're chasing a ballgame, a festival, a concert, or a landmark, our popular Des Moines party bus destinations list is a good place to start when building your group's trip.
Casey's Center (233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309) is Iowa's largest indoor venue at 17,000 seats, hosting Iowa Wolves basketball, Iowa Heartlanders hockey, NCAA tournament rounds, and a full touring concert calendar running fall through spring. The adjacent Iowa Events Center surface lots on Third Street charge $15–$25 on event nights and typically sell out within 90 minutes of a major show. The parking garage attached to Hy-Vee Hall is capped at 8'2" clearance — charter buses drop curbside on Third Street instead, with the bus waiting in approved lots on nearby Second Street and Fifth Avenue.
We highly recommend checking the Iowa Events Center parking page before your visit to confirm current lot availability and any event-specific road restrictions.
Address: 233 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 564-8000
The Iowa State Fairgrounds (3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317) spans 445 acres in east Des Moines and hosts the Iowa State Fair — one of the largest state fairs in the country — across 11 days in late August, drawing over 1 million visitors. Year-round events also include the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation concerts and EquipmentWatch Expo. During the Fair, East Grand Avenue and 30th Street back up for hours, and Park & Ride lots at the State Capitol and nearby locations fill before 10 a.m. on weekend days.
Charter buses enter through the main vehicle gate on East Grand Avenue and park in designated areas for oversized vehicles; your group walks straight to the midway instead of hiking half a mile from a side-street spot. Advance parking reservations through the Iowa State Fair transportation page are strongly recommended for Fair week.
Address: 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Phone: (515) 262-3111
Principal Park (One Line Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309) is the home of the Iowa Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, and one of the most scenic minor league ballparks in the country — the Des Moines River runs along the right-field line, and the downtown skyline is visible over the left-field wall. The regular season runs April through September. The main gate opens on Line Drive off Second Avenue, with bus and oversized vehicle parking in the gravel north lot at $10–$15 per vehicle on game days.
Lots open 90 minutes before first pitch, and the Birdland neighborhood surface lots nearby fill fast on Friday and Saturday evening games. A party bus drops your group at the Line Drive gate and handles the return pickup when the fireworks show wraps. Check the Iowa Cubs parking page for current lot maps and availability.
Address: One Line Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 243-6111
The Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park (2201 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321) is an outdoor amphitheater with a 5,000-person capacity set against the 1,500-acre Water Works Park grounds — one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The summer concert and festival season runs May through September. Parking in the Water Works Park lots off George Flagg Parkway fills to capacity two hours before major shows, and the narrow park road approach from Fleur Drive slows significantly once cars start queuing.
A Des Moines concert bus rental drops your group at the main amphitheater entry and skips the lot-queue entirely. We recommend reviewing the official Lauridsen Amphitheater page before your visit to confirm current parking and entry procedures for your specific event.
Address: 2201 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone: (515) 283-8791
Hoyt Sherman Place (1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309) is a 1,100-seat concert hall and theater housed in an 1877 National Historic Landmark mansion on the edge of the Sherman Hill neighborhood — one of Des Moines' oldest and most architecturally distinctive districts. The venue hosts a mix of national touring acts, comedy shows, and performing arts productions year-round. Street parking on Woodland Avenue and the surrounding Sherman Hill blocks is extremely limited on event nights, and the nearest public parking ramp is several blocks away on 15th Street.
A charter bus drop-off at the Woodland Avenue main entrance means your group walks straight in rather than circling the neighborhood. We recommend checking the Hoyt Sherman Place directions and parking page before your visit to confirm current access arrangements for your event date.
Address: 1501 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 244-0507
The Science Center of Iowa (401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309) anchors the Western Gateway Park district with 225,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, an Eldome giant-screen theater, a digital planetarium, and an outdoor science park — making it one of the top school field trip destinations in Iowa. Open Tuesday through Sunday (9 a.m.–4 p.m., extended on weekends). Group and school tours should be booked at least three weeks in advance.
Charter bus drop-off is on the Martin Luther King Jr Parkway side of the building, with oversized vehicle parking available in the Western Gateway Park surface lots next to the center. Sack lunches can be stored in undercarriage bays and retrieved for the outdoor science park picnic area, keeping your group's gear off the exhibit floor. We recommend reviewing the Science Center of Iowa group visits page before your trip to confirm current entry protocols and available programming.
Address: 401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 274-6868