There are 8 ways to get from Detroit to Ames by plane, shuttle, train, bus, car, taxi, bus (Amtrak, Greyhound), or bus (Flixbus, Greyhound)
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Detroit to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Detroit (DTW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane DTW - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
5h 4m$202–892Drive 599.3 mi
cheapest- Drive from Detroit to Amescar 599.3 mi
10h 39m$110–158Train, bus
- Take the train from Detroit to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
15h 44m$162–310Train, bus via Galesburg
- Take the train from Detroit to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
16h 17m$192–380Fly Detroit to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Detroit (DTW) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane DTW - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
8h$217–602Bus to Bishop International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Flintbus
- Fly from Bishop International Airport (FNT) to Des Moines (DSM)plane FNT - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
7h 42m$189–805Bus
- Take the bus from Detroit to Chicago Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
16h 2m$170–278Bus via Auburn Gresham
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Chicagobus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
17h 56m$127–218
Detroit (DTW) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Detroit to Ames is to drive which costs $100 - $160 and takes 10h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Detroit to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 5h 4m and costs $200 - $900.
No, there is no direct bus from Detroit to Ames. However, there are services departing from Woodward & Gratiot and arriving at Ames via Detroit, Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 2m.
The distance between Detroit and Ames is 598 miles. The road distance is 602.8 miles.
The best way to get from Detroit to Ames without a car is to train and bus which takes 15h 44m and costs $160 - $310.
It takes approximately 5h 4m to get from Detroit to Ames, including transfers.
Detroit to Ames bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Detroit station.
Detroit to Ames bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Ames is 1h behind Detroit. It is currently 8:20 AM in Detroit and 7:20 AM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Detroit to Ames is 603 miles. It takes approximately 10h 39m to drive from Detroit to Ames.
What companies run services between Detroit, MI, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Woodward & Gratiot to Ames via Woodward & Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago Union Station, Chicago Bus Station, and Des Moines in around 16h 2m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Detroit to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–420
Flights from Bishop International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Bishop International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Bishop International Airport to Des Moines via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Detroit to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $90–190
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Detroit to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $90–190
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- executiveexpress.biz
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Detroit Bus Station to Flint
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $9–16
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Detroit Bus Station to Chicago
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $50–90
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Detroit to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $100–150
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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