There are 6 ways to get from Ames to Detroit Lakes by bus, train, car, shuttle, plane, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus, train
best- Take the bus from Ames to St. Paulbus Jefferson 802
- Take the train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Detroit Lakes Amtrak Stationtrain Empire Builder
8h 58m$124–222Drive 409.4 mi
cheapest- Drive from Ames to Detroit Lakescar 409.4 mi
7h 24m$75–108Shuttle to Des Moines, fly to Hector International Airport, taxi
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Hector International Airport (FAR)plane DSM - FAR
- Take the taxi from Fargo-Airport-FAR to Detroit Lakestaxi
6h 13m$257–800Bus
- Take the bus from Ames to Minneapolisbus
- Take the bus from Minneapolis to Brainerdbus
- Take the bus from Brainerd to Detroit Lakesbus
11h 10m$127–185Bus to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, fly to Hector International Airport, taxi
- Take the bus from Ames to MSP Airportbus
- Fly from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to Hector International Airport (FAR)plane MSP - FAR
- Take the taxi from Fargo-Airport-FAR to Detroit Lakestaxi
6h 58m$192–519Shuttle to Des Moines, fly to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, bus
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD)plane DSM - BRD
- Take the bus from Brainerd to Detroit Lakesbus
8h 23m$208–730
Des Moines (DSM) to Hector International Airport (FAR) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ames to Detroit Lakes is to drive which costs $70 - $110 and takes 7h 24m.
The fastest way to get from Ames to Detroit Lakes is to shuttle and fly and taxi which takes 6h 13m and costs $250 - $800.
No, there is no direct bus from Ames to Detroit Lakes. However, there are services departing from Ames and arriving at Detroit Lakes via Minneapolis and Brainerd. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 10m.
The distance between Ames and Detroit Lakes is 430 miles. The road distance is 411.8 miles.
The best way to get from Ames to Detroit Lakes without a car is to bus and train which takes 8h 58m and costs $120 - $230.
It takes approximately 8h 58m to get from Ames to Detroit Lakes, including transfers.
Ames to Detroit Lakes bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Ames station.
Ames to Detroit Lakes bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at Minneapolis station.
Yes, the driving distance between Ames to Detroit Lakes is 412 miles. It takes approximately 7h 24m to drive from Ames to Detroit Lakes.
There are 25+ hotels available in Detroit Lakes.
What companies run services between Ames, IA, USA and Detroit Lakes, MN, USA?
You can take a bus from Ames to Detroit Lakes via Minneapolis and Brainerd in around 11h 10m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Hector International Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–500
Flights from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to Hector International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–330
Flights from Des Moines to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–470
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Hector International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Des Moines to Hector International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–750
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Hector International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–650
Flights from Des Moines to Hector International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–900
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–140
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Ames to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from Ames to Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $60–85
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $60–85
Bus from Minneapolis to Brainerd
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $35–55
Bus from Brainerd to Detroit Lakes
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $30–45
Bus from Ames to MSP Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $55–80
Bus from Brainerd to Detroit Lakes
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $30–45
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- executiveexpress.biz
Shuttle from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- 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 Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Estimated price
- $90–110
Doyle's Yellow Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 701-235-5535
Lucky 7 Taxi
- Phone
- +1 701-235-1717
Doyle's Yellow Checker Cab
- Phone
- +1 701-235-5535
Lucky 7 Taxi
- Phone
- +1 701-235-1717
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