There are 8 ways to get from Ottawa to Des Moines by plane, bus (Flixbus, Amtrak, Greyhound), 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 Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines
best- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane YOW - DSM
7h 11m$106–476Fly Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, drive
cheapest- Fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane YOW - FOD
- Drive from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Des Moinescar
10h 52m$104–478Bus via Chicago
- Take the bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Detroit to East Lansingbus
- Take the bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
29hTrain, bus
- Take the train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Buffalotrain
- Take the train from Buffalo Depew Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
29h 56m$433–938Drive 1,061.7 mi
- Drive from Ottawa to Des Moinescar 1,061.7 mi
18h 42m$243–351Train to Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, fly to Des Moines
- Take the train from Ottawa to Dorvaltrain
- Fly from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Des Moines (DSM)plane YUL - DSM
9h 4m$131–757Bus
- Take the bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Detroit to Indianapolisbus
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus
29h 45m$179–306Train, bus via Galesburg
- Take the train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Buffalotrain
- Take the train from Buffalo Depew Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
30h 34m$498–1,037
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Ottawa to Des Moines is to bus which costs $170 - $310 and takes 29h 45m.
The fastest way to get from Ottawa to Des Moines is to fly which takes 7h 11m and costs $100 - $480.
No, there is no direct bus from Ottawa to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from Ottawa and arriving at Des Moines via Detroit, East Lansing Amtrak Station and Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 29h.
The distance between Ottawa and Des Moines is 957 miles. The road distance is 1067.9 miles.
The best way to get from Ottawa to Des Moines without a car is to bus via Chicago which takes 29h and costs .
It takes approximately 7h 11m to get from Ottawa to Des Moines, including transfers.
Ottawa to Des Moines bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Ottawa station.
The best way to get from Ottawa to Des Moines is to fly which takes 7h 11m and costs $100 - $480. Alternatively, you can bus via Chicago, which costs and takes 29h.
Ottawa to Des Moines bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Detroit Bus Station.
Des Moines is 1h behind Ottawa. It is currently 2:08 AM in Ottawa and 1:08 AM in Des Moines.
What companies run services between Ottawa, ON, Canada and Des Moines, IA, USA?
United Airlines and Air Canada fly from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) to Des Moines (DSM) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Ottawa to Des Moines via Detroit, East Lansing, East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Union Station, and Chicago Bus Station in around 29h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–450
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–450
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Toronto, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 39m
- 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
- 7h 59m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Newark, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
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 19m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $100–490
- Website
- aircanada.com
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–450
Flights from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to Des Moines via Toronto, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–450
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–500
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–440
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–440
Flights from Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–470
- Phone
- +1 888 842-7245
- Website
- VIA Rail
Train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–230
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $70–170
- Business
- $100–220
- Business Plus
- $110–230
- Economy
- $80–180
- Economy Plus
- $90–190
Train from Toronto Union Station to Buffalo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–170
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $30–90
- Business
- $60–160
- Business Plus
- $70–170
- Economy
- $30–95
- Economy Plus
- $35–110
Train from Ottawa to Dorval
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 37m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $27–170
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $27–85
- Business
- $55–160
- Business Plus
- $70–170
- Economy
- $30–90
- Economy Plus
- $30–100
Train from Ottawa to Toronto Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $70–230
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $70–170
- Business
- $100–220
- Business Plus
- $110–230
- Economy
- $80–180
- Economy Plus
- $90–190
Train from Toronto Union Station to Buffalo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–170
- Website
- VIA Rail
- Escape
- $30–90
- Business
- $60–160
- Business Plus
- $70–170
- Economy
- $30–95
- Economy Plus
- $35–110
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Buffalo Depew Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $280–450
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Buffalo Depew Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $280–450
- 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
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–120
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Ottawa to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 35m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $75–120
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- +1 989-725-5105
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Detroit to East Lansing
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–40
- Website
- Indian Trails
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–85
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $75–120
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 888-378-3823
- [email protected]
- Website
- Barons Bus
Bus from Detroit to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $27–70
- Website
- Barons Bus
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Ottawa to Des Moines is 1068 miles. It takes approximately 18h 42m to drive from Ottawa to Des Moines.
Book your Ottawa to Des Moines bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 255+ hotels available in Des Moines.


















