| Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the state's largest | | | | Greyhound Bus Terminal, the bus leaves around |
| city and is part of one of the country's fastest | | | | noon for the 6 ½ hour trip to Sioux Falls. In |
| growing metropolitan areas. Augustana College | | | | order to connect with the westbound train, |
| and twelve other institutions of higher education | | | | travelers should board the 4:00 pm bus to |
| call this eastern South Dakota city home. The city | | | | Minneapolis that arrives around 9:00 pm. That will |
| has not had passenger train service since the | | | | give you plenty of time to transfer to the St. Paul |
| mid-1960s and the only low fare airline to the city | | | | Amtrak station to catch the 11:15 pm. |
| flies directly only to the Southwest and Florida. | | | | Three: If you are coming from the east, the |
| For residents of the Sioux Falls area, utilizing a | | | | California Zephyr from Chicago is the Amtrak |
| combination of Amtrak trains and buses is the | | | | service you should utilize. The train arrives in |
| cheapest way to travel to other parts of the | | | | Omaha around 10:30 pm. After a brief hotel stay |
| county. Here are five tips/hints for effectively | | | | in Omaha, you can board a 5:45 am bus for the 3 |
| traveling to/from the city by land: | | | | ½ hour trip to Sioux Falls. For eastbound |
| One: Ignore Amtrak's recommendation to connect | | | | passengers, the bus leaves the the city's depot |
| with the train at Fargo. On Amtrak's schedule for | | | | around 8:30 pm and arrives in Omaha after |
| the Empire Builder that runs between Chicago and | | | | midnight. The train for Chicago leaves Omaha a |
| Seattle/Portland, there is an indication that | | | | little after 6:00 am. |
| connecting service is available between Fargo, ND | | | | Four: If you are coming from the west, the |
| and Sioux Falls. Jefferson Lines provides this | | | | eastbound California Zephyr provides the most |
| service. Unfortunately, Jefferson Lines' schedule at | | | | convenient connection to Sioux Falls. The train |
| Fargo does not work well with Amtrak's | | | | arrives in Omaha around 6:00 am. At noon, the |
| timetable. | | | | Jefferson Lines bus leaves for Sioux Falls. For |
| The only direct bus to the city leaves Fargo in the | | | | westbound passengers, the bus leaves the city at |
| mid-afternoon. Also, the one direct bus from | | | | 3:45 pm and arrives in Omaha at 7:15 pm, which |
| Sioux Falls arrives in Fargo around the same time. | | | | is plenty of time to catch the 10:30 pm California |
| But the Empire Builder arrives in Fargo for both | | | | Zephyr. |
| directions in the middle of the night. Thus, there | | | | Five: Both the Empire Builder and California Zephyr |
| will be a half-day wait (that includes some early | | | | are all-reserved trains. Whether you are |
| morning hours) in Fargo before a connection can | | | | experiencing Amtrak's coach service or the |
| be made. | | | | Superliner sleeping accommodations, you must |
| Two: If you are coming from the Northwest on | | | | make advanced reservations. By buying your |
| the Empire Builder, the best place to connect to a | | | | tickets in advance for both Amtrak and Jefferson |
| Jefferson Lines bus is Minneapolis/St. Paul. The | | | | Lines services, you may be able to receive |
| eastbound train arrives in St. Paul around 7:00 am. | | | | discounted advance purchase fares or special |
| After a short cab ride to the Minneapolis | | | | fares for students and seniors. |