There are 9 ways to get from East Lansing to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus (Amtrak, Greyhound), train, bus, car, taxi, 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 Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Capital Region International Airport (LAN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane LAN - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
5h 5m$226–920Drive 537 mi
cheapest- Drive from East Lansing to Amescar 537 mi
9h 42m$98–142Bus
- Take the bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
14h 19m$145–248Train, bus via Galesburg
- Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station 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 11m$165–343Fly Capital Region International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Capital Region International Airport (LAN) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane LAN - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
9h 44m$241–650Bus to Detroit, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Detroit Metro Airportbus
- 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
6h 5m$210–922Bus to Bishop International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from East Lansing Michigan Flyer to Flint Stationbus
- 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 15m$225–859Train, bus
- Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
14h 19m$135–268Bus via South Haven
- Take the bus from East Lansing Michigan Flyer to South Haven Potatoes Plusbus
- Take the bus from South Haven to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
16h 10m$110–204
Capital Region International Airport (LAN) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from East Lansing to Ames is to drive which costs $95 - $150 and takes 9h 42m.
The fastest way to get from East Lansing to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 5h 5m and costs $220 - $950.
No, there is no direct bus from East Lansing to Ames. However, there are services departing from WBD Gr. River past MAC AVE and arriving at Ames via East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 19m.
The distance between East Lansing and Ames is 523 miles. The road distance is 540.1 miles.
The best way to get from East Lansing to Ames without a car is to bus which takes 14h 19m and costs $140 - $250.
It takes approximately 5h 5m to get from East Lansing to Ames, including transfers.
East Lansing to Ames bus services, operated by Indian Trails, depart from East Lansing Michigan Flyer station.
East Lansing to Ames bus services, operated by Indian Trails, arrive at South Haven Potatoes Plus station.
Ames is 1h behind East Lansing. It is currently 4:54 PM in East Lansing and 3:54 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between East Lansing to Ames is 540 miles. It takes approximately 9h 42m to drive from East Lansing to Ames.
What companies run services between East Lansing, MI, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from WBD Gr. River past MAC AVE to Ames via East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Union Station, Chicago Bus Station, and Des Moines in around 14h 19m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Capital Region International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–440
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
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 Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–800
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
- $160–800
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 8m
- 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
- 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
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Bishop International Airport to Des Moines via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–750
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–140
- 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
Train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–140
- 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/
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 Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $75–120
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
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
- $30–65
- 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
- +1 517-333-0400
- [email protected]
- Website
- michiganflyer.com
Bus from East Lansing, MI to Detroit Metro Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $9–35
- Website
- https://www.michiganflyer.com/
- Child 2-16
- $9–11
- Adult
- $22–35
- Phone
- +1 989-725-5105
- Website
- indiantrails.com
Bus from East Lansing Michigan Flyer to Flint Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $9–24
- Website
- https://indiantrails.com
Bus from East Lansing Michigan Flyer to South Haven Potatoes Plus
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://indiantrails.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from South Haven to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $19–35
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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