There are 6 ways to get from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby by plane, bus (Greyhound, Amtrak), 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 Louisville International Airport
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Louisville International Airport (SDF)plane DSM - SDF
5h 10m$130–676Fly to Blue Grass Airport, drive
cheapest- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Blue Grass Airport (LEX)plane DSM - LEX
- Drive from Lexington-Airport-LEX to Kentucky Derbycar
5h 35m$97–423Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Indianapolis Union Stationbus Greyhound US0157S
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville, KYbus Chicago
13h 51m$105–168Bus, train
- 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 Indianapolistrain
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville, KYbus
18h 45m$250–412Drive 583.8 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to Kentucky Derbycar 583.8 mi
9h 52m$107–154Fly to Covington, drive
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Covington (CVG)plane DSM - CVG
- Drive from Covington (CVG) to Kentucky Derbycar
5h 27m$146–699
Des Moines to Kentucky Derby by bus and foot
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby is to bus which costs $100 - $170 and takes 13h 51m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby is to fly which takes 5h 10m and costs $130 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Taylor @ Larchmont via Indianapolis Union Station, W Broadway @ S 11th and Eastern Parkway @ Bardstown. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 51m.
The distance between Des Moines and Kentucky Derby is 493 miles. The road distance is 587.2 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby without a car is to bus which takes 13h 51m and costs $100 - $170.
It takes approximately 5h 10m to get from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby, including transfers.
Des Moines to Kentucky Derby bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby is to fly which takes 5h 10m and costs $130 - $700. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $100 - $170 and takes 13h 51m.
Des Moines to Kentucky Derby bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Indianapolis Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Kentucky Derby is 587 miles. It takes approximately 9h 52m to drive from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Kentucky Derby, KY, USA?
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Louisville International Airport (SDF) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Kentucky Derby via Indianapolis Union Station, Louisville, KY, W Broadway @ S 11th, Eastern Parkway @ Bardstown, and Taylor @ Larchmont in around 13h 51m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–850
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 9m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–750
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–420
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 54m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $80–430
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–380
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–850
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–850
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–470
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–380
Flights from Des Moines to Blue Grass Airport via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Des Moines to Louisville International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Des Moines to Covington via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $90–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 54m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $100–170
- 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 Indianapolis Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $80–120
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Galesburg
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Thruway
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville, KY
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- Amtrak
- Adult
- $22–45
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Louisville, KY
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- Amtrak
- Adult
- $22–45
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