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How to get fromMackinac Island to Des Moinesby ferry, plane, bus, or train

Find Transport to Des Moines

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There are 6 ways to get from Mackinac Island to Des Moines by ferry, plane, bus, or train

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Ferry to Pellston, fly

    best
    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Fly from Pellston (PLN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane plane PLN - DSM
    7h 10m
    $163–685

  2. Ferry, bus, train

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to East Lansingbus bus
    3. Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain train
    5. Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus bus
    21h 37m

  3. Ferry, bus to Chippewa County International Airport, fly

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from St. Ignace Transportation Center to Kinrossbus bus
    3. Fly from Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) to Des Moines (DSM)plane plane CIU - DSM
    8h 38m
    $172–707

  4. Ferry, bus to Alpena County Regional Airport, fly

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw to Alpenabus bus
    3. Fly from Alpena County Regional Airport (APN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane plane APN - DSM
    8h 51m
    $199–770

  5. Ferry, bus

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to Kalamazoo Metro Transitbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Kalamazoo Bus Stop to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Chicago to Des Moinesbus bus
    22h

  6. Ferry, bus via Jackson

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw to Jackson Transportationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Jackson Bus Stop to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Chicago to Des Moinesbus bus
    22h 25m

Pellston (PLN) to Des Moines (DSM) flights

Calendar35Weekly Planes
Duration6h 19mAverage Duration
Ticket$112Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Mackinac Island to Des Moines.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 556.9 mi
  • Duration: 7h 10m

What companies run services between Mackinac Island, MI, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?

There is no direct connection from Mackinac Island to Des Moines. However, you can take the ferry to Mackinaw City, walk to Mackinaw, take the line 1488 bus to Pellston, MI, take the taxi to Pellston (PLN) airport, fly to Des Moines (DSM), then take the taxi to Des Moines. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Mackinac Island to Des Moines via Mackinaw City, Mackinaw City, East Lansing, East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Union Station, Galesburg Amtrak Station, and Galesburg in around 21h 37m.

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