There are 9 ways to get from Ottawa to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus, train, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), car, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane YOW - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h 8m$233–943Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City, bus
cheapest- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Mason City (MCW)plane YOW - MCW
- Take the bus from Mason City to Amesbus
12h 14m$123–488Bus, train
- Take the bus from Ottawa to Syracuse Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Syracuse Regional Transportation Center to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
27h 46m$318–615Bus
- Take the bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
29h 30m$188–341Drive 1,068.3 mi
- Drive from Ottawa to Amescar 1,068.3 mi
19h 36m$245–354Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane YOW - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
10h 25m$233–633Train to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the train from Ottawa to Dorvaltrain
- Fly from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Des Moines (DSM)plane YUL - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
9h 50m$259–1,248Train, bus
- Take the train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Londontrain
- Take the bus from London to Detroit Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, INbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
31h 20m$240–679Bus via Indianapolis
- Take the bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, INbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
32h 10m$195–366
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ottawa to Ames is to bus which costs $180 - $350 and takes 29h 30m.
The fastest way to get from Ottawa to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 8h 8m and costs $230 - $950.
No, there is no direct bus from Ottawa to Ames. However, there are services departing from Ottawa and arriving at Ames via Detroit Bus Station, Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 29h 30m.
The distance between Ottawa and Ames is 990 miles. The road distance is 1074.5 miles.
The best way to get from Ottawa to Ames without a car is to bus and train which takes 27h 46m and costs $310 - $650.
It takes approximately 8h 8m to get from Ottawa to Ames, including transfers.
Ottawa to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Ottawa station.
Ottawa to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Detroit Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind Ottawa. It is currently 12:48 AM in Ottawa and 11:48 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Ottawa to Ames is 1075 miles. It takes approximately 19h 36m to drive from Ottawa to Ames.
What companies run services between Ottawa, ON, Canada and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Ottawa to Ames via Detroit Bus Station, Chicago Bus Station, and Des Moines in around 29h 30m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Toronto, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–450
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Toronto, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–450
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Reagan Washington, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 27m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Newark, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 37m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–440
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City via Toronto, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–440
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City via Reagan Washington, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 9h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City via Newark, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Mason City via Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–480
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
- Website
- aircanada.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Toronto, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–850
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Syracuse Regional Transportation Center to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 7m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $220–440
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 888 842-7245
- Website
- viarail.ca
Train from Ottawa to Dorval
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–170
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Escape
- $28–85
- Business
- $60–160
- Business Plus
- $70–170
- Economy
- $30–90
- Economy Plus
- $35–100
Train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–230
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Escape
- $70–180
- Business
- $110–220
- Business Plus
- $120–230
- Economy
- $80–180
- Economy Plus
- $90–190
Train from Toronto Union Station to London
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 16m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–180
- Website
- https://www.viarail.ca/en
- Escape
- $30–90
- Business
- $60–170
- Business Plus
- $75–180
- Economy
- $30–100
- Economy Plus
- $35–110
- 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/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Ottawa to Syracuse Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $29–50
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $75–130
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Detroit Bus Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $40–75
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from London to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $19–35
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $75–130
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- 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 Detroit Bus Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–85
- 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 Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $70–140
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $70–140
- 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 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
- Phone
- +1 888-378-3823
- [email protected]
- Website
- baronsbus.com
Bus from Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, IN
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $27–70
- Website
- https://baronsbus.com
Bus from Detroit, MI to Indianapolis, IN
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $27–70
- Website
- https://baronsbus.com
- 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
More Questions & Answers
Book your Ottawa to Ames bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 45+ hotels available in Ames.


















