There are 5 ways to get from Iowa to San Diego by plane, 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 from Des Moines
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane DSM - SAN
5h 21m$238–971Fly from Omaha
cheapest- Fly from Omaha (OMA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)plane OMA - SAN
5h 54m$153–703Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Denverbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Las Vegas BusTerminalbus
- Take the bus from Las Vegas to Escondidobus
- Take the bus from Escondido Transit Center to Broadway & Union Stbus 235 / ...
38h 54m$393–568Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas Citybus
- Take the train from Kansas City to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diegotrain
43h 23m$633–1,342Drive 1,745.2 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to San Diegocar 1,745.2 mi
27h 5m$319–461
Iowa to San Diego by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Iowa to San Diego is to drive which costs $310 - $460 and takes 27h 5m.
The fastest way to get from Iowa to San Diego is to fly which takes 5h 21m and costs $230 - $1,000.
No, there is no direct bus from Iowa to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Broadway & Union St via Denver Union Station, South Strip Transit Terminal, Las Vegas and Escondido Transit Center. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 38h 54m.
The distance between Iowa and San Diego is 1441 miles. The road distance is 1755.4 miles.
The best way to get from Iowa to San Diego without a car is to bus which takes 38h 54m and costs $390 - $600.
It takes approximately 5h 21m to get from Iowa to San Diego, including transfers.
Iowa to San Diego bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Iowa to San Diego is to fly which takes 5h 21m and costs $230 - $1,000. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $390 - $600 and takes 38h 54m.
Iowa to San Diego bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at Denver station.
San Diego is 2h behind Iowa. It is currently 10:11 AM in Iowa and 8:11 AM in San Diego.
What companies run services between Iowa, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) every 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Broadway & Union St via Denver, Denver Union Station, Las Vegas BusTerminal, South Strip Transit Terminal, NB Casino Center at Coolidge, Las Vegas, Escondido, and Escondido Transit Center in around 38h 54m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 13m
- When
- Sunday, Saturday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 53m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–950
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Kansas City to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 34h 52m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $550–1,200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 26m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $150–210
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $150–210
Bus from Denver Union Station to Las Vegas BusTerminal
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $160–240
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $160–240
Bus from Las Vegas to Escondido
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $75–110
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $50–75
- Phone
- +1 619-557-4555
- Website
- sdmts.com
Bus from Escondido Transit Center to Broadway & Union St
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- https://www.sdmts.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.sdmts.com/getting-around/departures-and-schedules
- One Way - Adult/Youth
- $2–5
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Iowa to San Diego is 1755 miles. It takes approximately 27h 5m to drive from Iowa to San Diego.
There are 2125+ hotels available in San Diego.












