Davao City to Kidapawan City bus guide

Davao City to Kidapawan City runs 110 kilometers, first south along the Davao del Sur coast and then inland across the provincial boundary into Cotabato. Mindanao Star carries the corridor, with Davao Metro Shuttle listing a single daytime service alongside it.

Route overview and terminal information

Buses leave the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal in Ecoland and finish at Kidapawan City. The first half of the route is shared with the Davao-Digos services, which is why the bus is often full leaving Davao and empties out well before Kidapawan.

• Average travel time: 3 to 4 hours. Mindanao Star posts 3 hours 30 minutes on its own trips.
• Departures: Every 30 minutes from 3:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with a final 8:00 PM trip - 34 departures a day.
• Fares: A flat P263.00 air-conditioned fare in both directions.
• Bus type: Air-conditioned regular service.

Where the bus stops

The visible stop sequence out of Davao is Toril, Santa Cruz, Digos City, Bansalan, and Makilala before Kidapawan.

• Digos City: The turning point. Up to here the bus is on the coastal highway shared with the Davao-Digos and General Santos traffic; after Digos it heads inland and starts climbing.
• Makilala: The last town before Kidapawan, at the foot of the Mount Apo range.

Practical travel tips

• For Mount Apo, Kidapawan is the start, not the trailhead: The Kidapawan-side trails begin beyond the city. Arrange onward transport and any required permits in advance rather than on arrival.
• Board early for a seat: The Davao-to-Digos leg is one of the busiest short corridors in the region, so buses fill in Davao even when most passengers will be off before Kidapawan.
• Same fare in both directions: Kidapawan back to Davao is the same P263.00 on the same half-hourly pattern.
• Carry a valid ID: The route crosses from Davao del Sur into Cotabato and passes routine highway checkpoints.