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How to get fromAmes to San Franciscoby shuttle, plane, bus (Greyhound), bus, train, car, or taxi

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There are 7 ways to get from Ames to San Francisco by shuttle, plane, bus (Greyhound), bus, train, car, 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.

  1. Shuttle to Des Moines, fly to San Francisco International Airport

    best
    1. Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IAshuttle bus
    2. Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane plane DSM - SFO
    7h 44m
    $241–752

  2. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Ames to Des Moinesbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Des Moines to Denverbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Sparks Transit Centerbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to San Francisco Bus Stationbus bus
    43h 54m

  3. Bus, train

    1. Take the bus from Ames to Des Moinesbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Des Moines to Omahabus bus
    3. Take the bus from Omaha, NE to Denverbus bus
    4. Take the train from Denver to Richmondtrain train
    2d 2h

  4. Drive 1,823.5 mi

    1. Drive from Ames to San Franciscocar car 1,823.5 mi
    28h 5m
    $333–481

  5. Taxi to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport

    1. Take the taxi from Ames to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)taxi taxi
    2. Fly from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane plane FOD - SFO
    8h 16m
    $249–583

  6. Shuttle to Des Moines, fly to Oakland International Airport

    1. Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IAshuttle bus
    2. Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane plane DSM - OAK
    7h 38m
    $317–1,198

  7. Shuttle to Des Moines, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, Caltrain

    1. Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IAshuttle bus
    2. Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane plane DSM - SJC
    3. Take the train from Santa Clara Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain train
    9h
    $314–1,155

Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) flights

Calendar77Weekly Planes
Duration6h 44mAverage Duration
Ticket$150Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Ames to San Francisco.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,602.3 mi
  • Duration: 7h 44m

What companies run services between Ames, IA, USA and San Francisco, CA, USA?

You can take a bus from Ames to San Francisco Bus Station via Des Moines, Denver, Denver Union Station, and Sparks Transit Center in around 43h 54m.

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