There are 5 ways to get from San Diego to Ames by plane, shuttle, train, bus, bus (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 to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SAN - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 15m$278–1,022Fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
cheapest- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane SAN - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
9h 47m$260–684Train, bus
- Take the train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Kansas Citytrain
- Take the bus from Kansas City to Amesbus
43h 56m$638–1,352Bus
- Take the bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Tulsa to Amesbus
47h 10m$374–658Drive 1,771.7 mi
- Drive from San Diego to Amescar 1,771.7 mi
27h 51m$324–467
San Diego to Ames by train, foot, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Ames is to drive which costs $320 - $470 and takes 27h 51m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 6h 15m and costs $270 - $1,100.
No, there is no direct bus from San Diego to Ames. However, there are services departing from San Diego and arriving at Ames via Los Angeles Union Station and Tulsa. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 47h 10m.
The distance between San Diego and Ames is 1476 miles. The road distance is 1782.1 miles.
The best way to get from San Diego to Ames without a car is to train and bus which takes 43h 56m and costs $600 - $1,400.
It takes approximately 6h 15m to get from San Diego to Ames, including transfers.
San Diego to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound Mexico, depart from San Diego station.
San Diego to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound Mexico, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station.
Ames is 2h ahead of San Diego. It is currently 7:39 PM in San Diego and 9:39 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between San Diego to Ames is 1782 miles. It takes approximately 27h 51m to drive from San Diego to Ames.
What companies run services between San Diego, CA, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from San Diego to Ames via Los Angeles Union Station and Tulsa in around 47h 10m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–850
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–850
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 38m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–950
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–850
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–950
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 34h 31m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $550–1,200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- 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/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Kansas City to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from Tulsa to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–160
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $110–160
- Phone
- +1-800-231-2222
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com.mx
Bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–40
- Schedules at
- greyhound.com.mx
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 32h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Schedules at
- greyhound.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 32h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $240–460
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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