There are 7 ways to get from Des Moines to Traverse City by plane, bus (Greyhound, Amtrak), car, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Des Moines to Traverse City
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Traverse City (TVC)plane DSM - TVC
6h 11m$112–576Drive to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, fly to Traverse City
cheapest- Drive from Des Moines to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)car
- Fly from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Traverse City (TVC)plane FOD - TVC
7h 56m$80–398Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationbus
- Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Traverse Citybus
17h 18mDrive 631.7 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to Traverse Citycar 631.7 mi
10h 29m$116–167Fly Des Moines to Pellston, bus
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Pellston (PLN)plane DSM - PLN
- Take the bus from Pellston to Traverse Citybus
9h 30m$152–718Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Traverse Citybus
17h 18m$175–284Bus, 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 Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Traverse Citybus
18h 29m$239–392
Des Moines (DSM) to Traverse City (TVC) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Traverse City is to drive which costs $110 - $170 and takes 10h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Traverse City is to fly which takes 6h 11m and costs $110 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Traverse City. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Traverse City via Chicago Union Station and Grand Rapids. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 17h 18m.
The distance between Des Moines and Traverse City is 482 miles. The road distance is 635.4 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Traverse City without a car is to bus which takes 17h 18m and costs .
It takes approximately 6h 11m to get from Des Moines to Traverse City, including transfers.
Des Moines to Traverse City bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Traverse City is to fly which takes 6h 11m and costs $110 - $600. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 17h 18m.
Des Moines to Traverse City bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Traverse City is 1h ahead of Des Moines. It is currently 4:49 AM in Des Moines and 5:49 AM in Traverse City.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Traverse City, MI, USA?
Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Traverse City (TVC) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Traverse City via Chicago Bus Station, Chicago Union Station, Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station, and Grand Rapids in around 17h 18m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–600
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
Flights from Des Moines to Pellston via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Des Moines to Pellston via Minneapolis, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–700
Flights from Des Moines to Pellston via Atlanta, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–850
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport to Traverse City via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–370
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–850
Flights from Des Moines to Traverse City via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 27m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–850
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $95–150
- 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 Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- 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
- $50–85
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Galesburg
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 989-725-5105
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Grand Rapids to Traverse City
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–50
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Pellston to Traverse City
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Grand Rapids to Traverse City
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–50
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Grand Rapids to Traverse City
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–50
- Website
- Indian Trails
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Traverse City is 635 miles. It takes approximately 10h 29m to drive from Des Moines to Traverse City.
There are 595+ hotels available in Traverse City.








