There are 7 ways to get from Des Moines to Charlotte by plane, bus (Greyhound), bus, train, car, or bus (Greyhound, Flixbus)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)plane DSM - CLT
3h 8m$142–726Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago to Columbusbus
- Take the bus from Columbus to Charlottebus
26h 55m$135–263Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Indianapolis Union Stationbus
- Take the train from Indianapolis to Charlottesvilletrain
- Take the train from Charlottesville to Charlotte Amtrak Stationtrain
32h 23m$553–902Drive 1,029.4 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to Charlottecar 1,029.4 mi
17h 40m$188–272Bus via Atlanta
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Indianapolis Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Atlanta Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Charlotte Bus Stationbus
27h 10m$213–337Bus, train via Chicago
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Carytrain
- Take the train from Cary to Charlotte Amtrak Stationtrain
36h 38m$700–1,178Bus, train via Galesburg
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Galesburgbus
- Take the train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Raleigh Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Raleigh Union Station to Charlotte Amtrak Stationtrain
37h 36m$767–1,295
Des Moines to Charlotte by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Charlotte is to bus which costs $130 - $270 and takes 26h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Charlotte is to fly which takes 3h 8m and costs $140 - $750.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Charlotte. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Charlotte via Chicago and Columbus. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 26h 55m.
The distance between Des Moines and Charlotte is 833 miles. The road distance is 1035.4 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Charlotte without a car is to bus which takes 26h 55m and costs $130 - $270.
It takes approximately 3h 8m to get from Des Moines to Charlotte, including transfers.
Des Moines to Charlotte bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Charlotte is to fly which takes 3h 8m and costs $140 - $750. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $130 - $270 and takes 26h 55m.
Des Moines to Charlotte bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Charlotte is 1h ahead of Des Moines. It is currently 11:31 PM in Des Moines and 12:31 AM in Charlotte.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Charlotte, NC, USA?
American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Charlotte via Chicago and Columbus in around 26h 55m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $130–700
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–750
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Indianapolis to Charlottesville
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $330–550
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Charlottesville to Charlotte Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $140–230
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Cary
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 26m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $550–950
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Cary to Charlotte Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 58m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $90–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $85–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Raleigh Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 1m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $550–950
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Raleigh Union Station to Charlotte Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Amtrak
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
- $60–90
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Indianapolis Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–130
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Indianapolis Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–130
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Atlanta Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 25m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Charlotte Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–90
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Galesburg
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 888-378-3823
- [email protected]
- Website
- Barons Bus
Bus from Chicago to Columbus
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–75
- Website
- Barons Bus
Bus from Columbus to Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–100
- Website
- Barons Bus
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Charlotte Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- 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
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Charlotte is 1035 miles. It takes approximately 17h 40m to drive from Des Moines to Charlotte.
Book your Des Moines to Charlotte bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 833+ hotels available in Charlotte.










