There are 7 ways to get from East Lansing to Des Moines by plane, train, bus, bus (Amtrak, Greyhound), car, or bus (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 from Capital Region International Airport
best- Fly from Capital Region International Airport (LAN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane LAN - DSM
4h 34m$104–413Drive 533.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from East Lansing to Des Moinescar 533.5 mi
8h 55m$92–132Train, 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
14h 31m$231–381Bus
- Take the bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
14h 34mBus to Detroit, fly
- Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Detroit Metro Airportbus
- Fly from Detroit (DTW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane DTW - DSM
5h 4m$123–655Train, bus
- Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain Blue Water
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
14h 34m$171–276Bus via Kalamazoo
- Take the bus from East Lansing to Kalamazoobus
- Take the bus from Kalamazoo Bus Stop to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
18h 15m$121–196
East Lansing to Des Moines by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from East Lansing to Des Moines is to drive which costs $90 - $140 and takes 8h 55m.
The fastest way to get from East Lansing to Des Moines is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $100 - $420.
No, there is no direct bus from East Lansing to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from WBD Gr. River past MAC AVE and arriving at Des Moines via East Lansing Amtrak Station and Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 34m.
The distance between East Lansing and Des Moines is 488 miles. The road distance is 536.6 miles.
The best way to get from East Lansing to Des Moines without a car is to train and bus via Galesburg which takes 14h 31m and costs $230 - $390.
It takes approximately 4h 34m to get from East Lansing to Des Moines, including transfers.
East Lansing to Des Moines bus services, operated by Amtrak, depart from East Lansing Amtrak Station.
The best way to get from East Lansing to Des Moines is to fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $100 - $420. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs and takes 14h 34m.
East Lansing to Des Moines bus services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Des Moines is 1h behind East Lansing. It is currently 7:54 PM in East Lansing and 6:54 PM in Des Moines.
What companies run services between East Lansing, MI, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
American Airlines and Delta fly from Capital Region International Airport (LAN) to Des Moines (DSM) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from WBD Gr. River past MAC AVE to Des Moines via East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Union Station, and Chicago Bus Station in around 14h 34m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–380
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–360
Flights from Capital Region International Airport to Des Moines via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Tuesday to Thursday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Detroit to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $85–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–180
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Kalamazoo Bus Stop to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $27–40
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–95
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 517-333-0400
- [email protected]
- Website
- Michigan Flyer
Bus from East Lansing, MI to Detroit Metro Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $9–35
- Website
- Michigan Flyer
- Child 2-16
- $9–11
- Adult
- $22–35
- Phone
- +1 989-725-5105
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from East Lansing to Kalamazoo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- Indian Trails
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between East Lansing to Des Moines is 537 miles. It takes approximately 8h 55m to drive from East Lansing to Des Moines.
There are 240+ hotels available in Des Moines.






