There are 8 ways to get from Chapel Hill to Des Moines by plane, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), train, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Raleigh-Durham International Airport
best- Fly from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Des Moines (DSM)plane RDU - DSM
7h 2m$114–488Bus
- Take the bus from Durham to Atlanta Downtownbus
- Take the bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Indianapolis Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus
32h 6m$250–376Train, bus
- Take the train from Cary to Chicago Union Stationtrain Floridian
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0123S / ...
35h 32m$616–1,050Drive 1,046.9 mi
- Drive from Chapel Hill to Des Moinescar 1,046.9 mi
18h 18m$185–268Bus to Piedmont Triad International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Columbia & Rosemary to Coble Transportation Centerbus
- Fly from Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) to Des Moines (DSM)plane GSO - DSM
7h 48m$116–474Train to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Durham Amtrak Station to Charlotte Amtrak Stationtrain
- Fly from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Des Moines (DSM)plane CLT - DSM
9h 10m$186–592Bus to Fayetteville Municipal Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Fayetteville Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FAY) to Des Moines (DSM)plane FAY - DSM
9h 49m$136–508Bus, train
- Take the bus from South Rd at Fetzer Gym to Union Station - Bus Platform Bbus Crx
- Take the train from Raleigh Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
35h 59m$672–1,152
Chapel Hill to Des Moines by bus and subway
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Chapel Hill to Des Moines is to drive which costs $180 - $270 and takes 18h 18m.
The fastest way to get from Chapel Hill to Des Moines is to fly which takes 7h 2m and costs $110 - $490.
No, there is no direct bus from Chapel Hill to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from E Franklin St at Coffee Shop and arriving at Des Moines via Durham, Atlanta Bus Station and Indianapolis Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 32h 6m.
The distance between Chapel Hill and Des Moines is 921 miles. The road distance is 1053 miles.
The best way to get from Chapel Hill to Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 32h 6m and costs $250 - $380.
It takes approximately 7h 2m to get from Chapel Hill to Des Moines, including transfers.
Chapel Hill to Des Moines bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Durham station.
The best way to get from Chapel Hill to Des Moines is to fly which takes 7h 2m and costs $110 - $490. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $250 - $380 and takes 32h 6m.
Chapel Hill to Des Moines bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Atlanta Downtown station.
Des Moines is 1h behind Chapel Hill. It is currently 12:16 AM in Chapel Hill and 11:16 PM in Des Moines.
What companies run services between Chapel Hill, Orange County, NC, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
Southwest Airlines, Delta, and two other airlines fly from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Des Moines (DSM) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from E Franklin St at Coffee Shop to Des Moines via Durham Station, Durham, Atlanta Downtown, Civic Center Station, Garnett Station, Atlanta Bus Station, and Indianapolis Union Station in around 32h 6m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–480
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–450
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–470
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Fayetteville Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–460
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $100–500
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–430
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–430
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 34m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $95–470
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 14m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–430
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
Flights from Fayetteville Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Piedmont Triad International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–430
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–470
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–440
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Cary to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 12m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $550–950
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Durham Amtrak Station to Charlotte Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 38m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $80–130
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Raleigh Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 28m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $550–950
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $85–140
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Durham to Atlanta Downtown
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–90
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Fayetteville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $10–16
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Indianapolis Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–150
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Fayetteville Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $12–18
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 336-662-0002
- Website
- partnc.org
Bus from Columbia & Rosemary to Coble Transportation Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $3
- Website
- http://www.partnc.org
- Schedules at
- https://www.partnc.org/27/Routes-Schedules
- Phone
- +1 919 485 7433
- [email protected]
- Website
- gotriangle.org
Bus from South Rd at Fetzer Gym to Union Station - Bus Platform B
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $3
- Website
- gotriangle.org
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
Yes, the driving distance between Chapel Hill to Des Moines is 1053 miles. It takes approximately 18h 18m to drive from Chapel Hill to Des Moines.
There are 238+ hotels available in Des Moines.









