Moonlight Express

Moonlight Express offers a free, safe ride when regular fixed route service ends on Friday and Saturday nights from 10:30 pm to 3:00 am (phones shut off at 2:30 am) when ISU is in session. It consists of shuttle bus routes running to campustown, downtown, west Ames, and southeast Ames, and door-to-door buses operating in the areas of the city not covered by the shuttle routes. Click on the map below to view the entire Moonlight Express service.

Individual timetables and route maps of specific shuttle route services can be viewed below. However, on nights of low ridership, some shuttles (B, C or D) may not run
with door to door buses covering the area instead.
Therefore, only the A Shuttle timetables are available below to our passengers.
A Shuttle Timetable & Map
B Shuttle Map
C Shuttle Map
C Extension Shuttle (upon request)
D Shuttle Map

To arrange for a ride on Moonlight Express, call 292-1100 after 10:15pm on the night you would like to travel. (A call to arrange your ride is not needed on the A Shuttle before 2am. Please check the A Shuttle Timetable above.) Tell the dispatcher where you are and where you would like to go, and the dispatcher will tell you if there is a shuttle in your area, or if the shuttle is not near, will send the minibus to your door.

Due to low ridership, Moonlight Express does not run on:
    Friday/Saturday before and after Thanksgiving
    Friday/Saturday of Finals Week in December
    Friday/Saturday in January before classes start for spring
    Friday/Saturday before and after Spring Break in March
Friday/Saturday of Easter weekend
    Friday/Saturday of Finals Week in May
    Summer

Moonlight Express Background:
Moonlight Express was started in 1984 and was entirely funded through ISU student fees until January 1998, when the City of Ames and Iowa State University joined in the funding.

Moonlight Express History File in Excel format
(Ridership and expenses from 1984 to Spring 2007)