There are 5 ways to get from Des Moines to Columbus by plane, taxi, bus, train, 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 to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field, taxi
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane DSM - MSN
- Take the taxi from Madison-Airport-MSN to Columbustaxi
4h 5m$223–916Drive 302.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from Des Moines to Columbuscar 302.5 mi
5h 43m$56–80Bus, train via Saint Paul
- Take the bus from Des Moines to St. Paulbus Jefferson Lines 806 / ...
- Take the train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Columbus Amtrak Stationtrain Empire Builder / ...
10h 37m$150–269Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0123S / ...
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Columbus Amtrak Stationtrain Empire Builder / ...
11h 4m$96–197Fly to General Mitchell International Airport, train
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)plane DSM - MKE
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Columbus Amtrak Stationtrain
6h 13m$151–780
Des Moines to Columbus by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Columbus is to drive which costs $55 - $80 and takes 5h 43m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Columbus is to fly and taxi which takes 4h 5m and costs $220 - $950.
The distance between Des Moines and Columbus is 280 miles. The road distance is 304.2 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Columbus without a car is to bus and train via Saint Paul which takes 10h 37m and costs $150 - $270.
It takes approximately 4h 5m to get from Des Moines to Columbus, including transfers.
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Columbus is 304 miles. It takes approximately 5h 43m to drive from Des Moines to Columbus.
There are seven+ hotels available in Columbus.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Columbus, WI, USA?
There is no direct connection from Des Moines to Columbus. However, you can take the taxi to Des-Moines-Airport-DSM airport, fly to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN), then take the taxi to Columbus. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Columbus Amtrak Station via St. Paul and St. Paul-Minneapolis in around 10h 37m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–800
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,300
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–800
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 51m
- When
- Wednesday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,300
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–750
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–900
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–800
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 2m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,300
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,300
Flights from Des Moines to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,400
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Des Moines to General Mitchell International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Columbus Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $85–180
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Columbus Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Milwaukee to Columbus Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $21–45
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $60–90
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $60–90
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 31 min
- Estimated price
- $75–95
Green Cab of Madison
- Phone
- +1 608-255-1234
- Website
- greencabmadison.com
Madison Taxi
- Phone
- +1 608-255-8294
- Website
- madtaxi.com
Union Cab of Madison
- Phone
- +1 608-242-2000
- Website
- unioncab.com
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