There are 8 ways to get from Raleigh to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train, bus, 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 Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Des Moines (DSM)plane RDU - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 56m$232–942Drive 1,086.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Raleigh to Amescar 1,086.2 mi
19h 18m$199–287Bus
- Take the bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Atlanta Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Atlanta Bus Station to St Louis Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from St Louis Bus Station to Kansas City Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Kansas City to Amesbus
32h 15m$216–416Train, bus, shuttle
- Take the train from Raleigh Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
33h 39m$435–937Bus to Fayetteville Municipal Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from Raleigh Bus Station to Fayetteville Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Fayetteville Municipal Airport (FAY) to Des Moines (DSM)plane FAY - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h 8m$245–927Fly Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane RDU - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
8h 48m$238–662Train to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the train from Raleigh Union Station to Charlotte Amtrak Stationtrain
- Fly from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Des Moines (DSM)plane CLT - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h 57m$272–1,047Train, bus
- Take the train from Raleigh Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolistrain
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus
38h 9m$452–954
Raleigh to Ames by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Raleigh to Ames is to drive which costs $190 - $290 and takes 19h 18m.
The fastest way to get from Raleigh to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 6h 56m and costs $230 - $950.
No, there is no direct bus from Raleigh station to Ames. However, there are services departing from GoRaleigh Station and arriving at Ames via Raleigh Bus Station, Atlanta Bus Station, St Louis Bus Station and Kansas City. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 32h 15m.
The distance between Raleigh and Ames is 950 miles. The road distance is 1092.5 miles.
The best way to get from Raleigh to Ames without a car is to bus which takes 32h 15m and costs $210 - $420.
It takes approximately 6h 56m to get from Raleigh to Ames, including transfers.
Raleigh to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Raleigh Bus Station.
Raleigh to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Atlanta Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind Raleigh. It is currently 7:04 PM in Raleigh and 6:04 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Raleigh to Ames is 1093 miles. It takes approximately 19h 18m to drive from Raleigh to Ames.
What companies run services between Raleigh, NC, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from GoRaleigh Station to Ames via Capital Blvd at Crabtree Blvd, Raleigh Bus Station, Atlanta Bus Station, St Louis Bus Station, Kansas City Bus Station, and Kansas City in around 32h 15m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–850
Flights from Fayetteville Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–750
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–850
Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–800
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Raleigh Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 28m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $280–650
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Raleigh Union Station to Charlotte Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–110
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Raleigh Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 24h 28m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $280–650
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $110–240
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- Executive Express
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
- 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
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
More Questions & Answers
Book your Raleigh to Ames bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 51+ hotels available in Ames.



