There are 9 ways to get from Milwaukee to West Des Moines by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train, bus, car, 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 from General Mitchell International Airport
best- Fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MKE - DSM
5h 6m$90–475Drive 361.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from Milwaukee to West Des Moinescar 361.5 mi
6h 31m$62–90Bus
- Take the bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0150
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
11h 15m$96–146Train, bus via Saint Paul
- Take the train from Milwaukee to St. Paul-Minneapolistrain Borealis / ...
- Take the bus from Saint Paul Union Depot to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0156
11h 37m$245–370Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Milwaukee Intermodal/Amtrak Station to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)plane ORD - DSM
4h 34m$96–324Train to Chicago Midway International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MDW - DSM
5h$132–529Train, bus
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
11h 15m$189–298Train, bus #2
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain Hiawatha Service / ...
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
11h 18m$129–193Bus via Airport
- Take the bus from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport to Chicago Bus Stationbus FlixBus 2548 / ...
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
13h 2m$97–144
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Milwaukee to West Des Moines is to drive which costs $60 - $90 and takes 6h 31m.
The fastest way to get from Milwaukee to West Des Moines is to bus and fly which takes 4h 34m and costs $95 - $330.
No, there is no direct bus from Milwaukee station to West Des Moines. However, there are services departing from Milwaukee Intermodal Station and arriving at Des Moines via Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 15m.
The distance between Milwaukee and West Des Moines is 325 miles. The road distance is 363.6 miles.
The best way to get from Milwaukee to West Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 11h 15m and costs $95 - $150.
It takes approximately 5h 6m to get from Milwaukee to West Des Moines, including transfers.
Milwaukee to West Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
The best way to get from Milwaukee to West Des Moines is to fly which takes 5h 6m and costs $90 - $480. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $95 - $150 and takes 11h 15m.
Milwaukee to West Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Milwaukee to West Des Moines is 364 miles. It takes approximately 6h 31m to drive from Milwaukee to West Des Moines.
What companies run services between Milwaukee, WI, USA and West Des Moines, IA, USA?
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Des Moines (DSM) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to West Des Moines via Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines in around 11h 15m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–450
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–750
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–260
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–490
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–300
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–450
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 31m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–260
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from General Mitchell International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Tuesday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $70–450
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–430
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Milwaukee to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $170–280
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- 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 Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $16–24
- 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 Saint Paul Union Depot to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- 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
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $14–21
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $13–20
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- (866) 912 6224
- [email protected]
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from Milwaukee Intermodal/Amtrak Station to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38–42
- Website
- coachusa.com
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
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Book your Milwaukee to West Des Moines bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 237+ hotels available in West Des Moines.







