There are 8 ways to get from Ames to East Lansing by shuttle, plane, bus, train, car, or bus (Greyhound, Flixbus, Amtrak)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Shuttle, fly to Capital Region International Airport
best- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Capital Region International Airport (LAN)plane DSM - LAN
6h 46m$171–744Drive 537.4 mi
cheapest- Drive from Ames to East Lansingcar 537.4 mi
9h 43m$99–142Shuttle, bus
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus
14h 42mBus, train
- Take the bus from Ames to St. Paulbus
- Take the train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationtrain
17h 43m$390–612Shuttle, fly to Detroit, bus
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW)plane DSM - DTW
- Take the bus from Detroit Metro Airport to East Lansing, MIbus
6h 52m$213–979Shuttle, fly to Bishop International Airport, train
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Bishop International Airport (FNT)plane DSM - FNT
- Take the train from Flint Amtrak Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationtrain
8h 32m$235–832Shuttle, fly to Gerald R. Ford International Airport, bus
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)plane DSM - GRR
- Take the bus from Grand Rapids to East Lansingbus
9h 17m$179–773Bus
- Take the bus from Ames to St. Paulbus
- Take the bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus
18h 25m
Ames to East Lansing by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Ames to East Lansing is to drive which costs $95 - $150 and takes 9h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Ames to East Lansing is to shuttle and fly which takes 6h 46m and costs $170 - $750.
No, there is no direct bus from Ames to East Lansing. However, there are services departing from Ames and arriving at EBD Gr. River past Abbot Rd via Saint Paul Union Depot, Chicago Union Station and NBD Harrison past Service. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 18h 25m.
The distance between Ames and East Lansing is 526 miles. The road distance is 540.5 miles.
The best way to get from Ames to East Lansing without a car is to shuttle and bus which takes 14h 42m and costs .
It takes approximately 6h 46m to get from Ames to East Lansing, including transfers.
Ames to East Lansing bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Ames station.
Ames to East Lansing bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at St. Paul station.
East Lansing is 1h ahead of Ames. It is currently 7:48 AM in Ames and 8:48 AM in East Lansing.
Yes, the driving distance between Ames to East Lansing is 541 miles. It takes approximately 9h 43m to drive from Ames to East Lansing.
What companies run services between Ames, IA, USA and East Lansing, MI, USA?
You can take a bus from Ames to EBD Gr. River past Abbot Rd via Saint Paul Union Depot, Chicago Bus Station, Chicago Union Station, East Lansing Amtrak Station, and NBD Harrison past Service in around 18h 25m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Capital Region International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
Flights from Des Moines to Capital Region International Airport via Minneapolis, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–650
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–850
Flights from Des Moines to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Flights from Des Moines to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Flights from Des Moines to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Capital Region International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–550
Flights from Des Moines to Capital Region International Airport via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 19m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Flights from Des Moines to Bishop International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
Flights from Des Moines to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Des Moines to Bishop International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
Flights from Des Moines to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Des Moines to Gerald R. Ford International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 38m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $85–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $220–350
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Flint Amtrak Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $26–45
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- Executive Express
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–110
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Ames to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–80
Bus from Ames to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–80
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–80
- Phone
- +1 517-333-0400
- [email protected]
- Website
- Michigan Flyer
Bus from Detroit Metro Airport to East Lansing, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $9–35
- Website
- Michigan Flyer
- Child 2-16
- $9–11
- Adult
- $22–35
- Phone
- +1 989-725-5105
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Grand Rapids to East Lansing
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $13–29
- Website
- Indian Trails
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
There are 85+ hotels available in East Lansing.












