There are 10 ways to get from Altoona to Ames by train, plane, shuttle, bus, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), car, taxi, or bus (Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train to Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Take the train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Johnstown Amtrak Stationtrain
- Fly from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport (JST) to Des Moines (DSM)plane JST - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h 11m$236–883Drive 861 mi
cheapest- Drive from Altoona to Amescar 861 mi
15h 43m$158–227Train, bus
- Take the train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Pittsburgh Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Pittsburgh Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
22h 54m$256–522Bus
- Take the bus from Altoona Bus Station to State College Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from State College Regional Airport to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
24h 40m$173–303Train to Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Take the train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Johnstown Amtrak Stationtrain
- Fly from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport (JST) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane JST - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
7h 58m$246–633Bus to Penn State University Park Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from Altoona Bus Station to State College Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Penn State University Park Airport (SCE) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SCE - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h 30m$219–906Bus to Penn State University Park Airport, fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Take the bus from Altoona Bus Station to State College Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Penn State University Park Airport (SCE) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane SCE - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
9h 13m$234–606Fly Altoona–Blair County Airport to Des Moines, shuttle
- Fly from Altoona–Blair County Airport (AOO) to Des Moines (DSM)plane AOO - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h 44m$311–1,050Train, bus via Galesburg
- Take the train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Pittsburgh Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Pittsburgh Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
24h 46m$286–597Bus via Indianapolis
- Take the bus from Altoona Bus Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Stationbus
- Take the bus from Pittsburgh Intermodal Station to Indianapolis Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
25h$162–310
Johnstown-Cambria County Airport (JST) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Altoona to Ames is to drive which costs $150 - $230 and takes 15h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Altoona to Ames is to train and fly and taxi which takes 7h 58m and costs $240 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from Altoona station to Ames. However, there are services departing from Altoona Bus Station and arriving at Ames via State College, State College Regional Airport, Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 24h 40m.
The distance between Altoona and Ames is 866 miles. The road distance is 866.1 miles.
The best way to get from Altoona to Ames without a car is to train and bus which takes 22h 54m and costs $250 - $550.
It takes approximately 8h 11m to get from Altoona to Ames, including transfers.
Altoona to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Altoona Bus Station.
Altoona to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at State College Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind Altoona. It is currently 6:39 PM in Altoona and 5:39 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Altoona to Ames is 866 miles. It takes approximately 15h 43m to drive from Altoona to Ames.
What companies run services between Altoona, PA, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Altoona Bus Station to Ames via State College Bus Station, State College, State College Regional Airport, Chicago Bus Station, and Des Moines in around 24h 40m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 51m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport to Des Moines via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 42m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Johnstown-Cambria County Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–410
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–410
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–460
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Des Moines via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Altoona–Blair County Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 59m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180–800
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Altoona–Blair County Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte, Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $180–850
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Altoona–Blair County Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte, Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Johnstown Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–25
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Pittsburgh Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–75
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Pittsburgh Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 46m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $150–320
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Johnstown Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $12–25
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Altoona Amtrak Station to Pittsburgh Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 49m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–75
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Pittsburgh Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 46m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $150–320
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- executiveexpress.biz
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Altoona Bus Station to State College Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–13
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Altoona Bus Station to State College Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–13
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Altoona Bus Station to State College Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–13
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Altoona Bus Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $17–35
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Pittsburgh Intermodal Station to Indianapolis Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $70–140
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from State College Regional Airport to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $95–160
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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