There are 9 ways to get from Joliet to Ames by train, plane, shuttle, bus, car, taxi, 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.
Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Take the train from Joliet to LaSalle Streettrain
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)plane ORD - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
5h 43m$163–682Drive 314.6 mi
cheapest- Drive from Joliet to Amescar 314.6 mi
5h 38m$58–83Train, bus via Bloomington
- Take the train from Joliet Gateway Center to Bloomington-Normaltrain
- Take the bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
10h 16m$93–174Train to Chicago Midway International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the train from Joliet Gateway Center to Summit Amtraktrain
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MDW - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
5h 2m$183–849Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Take the train from Joliet to LaSalle Streettrain
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane ORD - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
5h 56m$193–492Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Mason City, bus
- Take the train from Joliet to LaSalle Streettrain
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Mason City (MCW)plane ORD - MCW
- Take the bus from Mason City to Amesbus
7h 12m$83–347Train, bus
- Take the train from Joliet to LaSalle Streettrain Ri
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
10h 43m$78–137Train, bus via Galesburg
- Take the train from Joliet Gateway Center 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
12h 12m$111–226Bus
- Take the bus from Downers Grove to Watterson Commonsbus
- Take the bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
13h 6m$112–180
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Joliet to Ames is to drive which costs $55 - $85 and takes 5h 38m.
The fastest way to get from Joliet to Ames is to train and fly and shuttle which takes 5h 2m and costs $180 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from Joliet to Ames. However, there are services departing from Jefferson St & Mayor Art Schultz Dr and arriving at Ames via Downers Grove, Bloomington-Normal and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 6m.
The distance between Joliet and Ames is 400 miles. The road distance is 316.4 miles.
The best way to get from Joliet to Ames without a car is to train and bus via Bloomington which takes 10h 16m and costs $90 - $180.
It takes approximately 5h 43m to get from Joliet to Ames, including transfers.
Joliet to Ames bus services, operated by Peoria Charter Coach Company, depart from Downers Grove station.
Joliet to Ames bus services, operated by Peoria Charter Coach Company, arrive at Watterson Commons station.
Yes, the driving distance between Joliet to Ames is 316 miles. It takes approximately 5h 38m to drive from Joliet to Ames.
There are 45+ hotels available in Ames.
What companies run services between Joliet, IL, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Jefferson St & Mayor Art Schultz Dr to Ames via Lemont Rd & 75th St, Downers Grove, Watterson Commons, Bloomington-Normal, and Des Moines in around 13h 6m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–480
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Mason City
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–290
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–650
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–480
- Phone
- +1 312-696-3872
- Website
- metra.com
Train from Joliet to LaSalle Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $5–7
Train from Joliet Gateway Center to Summit Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 38 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $4–6
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $4–6
Train from Joliet to LaSalle Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $5–7
Train from Joliet to LaSalle Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $5–7
Train from Joliet to LaSalle Street
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://metra.com
- Adult
- $5–7
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Joliet Gateway Center to Bloomington-Normal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–60
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Joliet Gateway Center to Summit Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 25 min
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $8–17
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Joliet Gateway Center to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 1m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $12–25
- 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 Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–90
- 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 Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–90
- 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 Mason City to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $30–45
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
- +1 800-448-0572
- [email protected]
- Website
- peoriacharter.com
Bus from Downers Grove to Watterson Commons
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Website
- https://peoriacharter.com
- cash
- $60
- online
- $45
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide














