There are 5 ways to get from San Diego to Ames by plane, shuttle, train, bus, 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 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 28m$166–575Train, 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$1,061–1,671Bus
- 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$400–599Drive 1,771.7 mi
- Drive from San Diego to Amescar 1,771.7 mi
27h 51m$324–467Fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- 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 46m$225–564
San Diego to Ames by train, foot, and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Diego to Ames is to fly and taxi which costs $220 - $600 and takes 9h 46m.
The fastest way to get from San Diego to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 6h 28m and costs $160 - $600.
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.
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 $1,000 - $1,700.
It takes approximately 6h 28m to get from San Diego to Ames, including transfers.
San Diego to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from San Diego station.
San Diego to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Los Angeles Union Station.
Ames is 2h ahead of San Diego. It is currently 9:07 PM in San Diego and 11:07 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.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–390
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–470
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 19m
- When
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–390
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–390
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–440
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–390
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–390
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–390
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Sunday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $110–470
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–430
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from San Diego to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 34h 31m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $950–1,500
- 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
- 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
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from Tulsa to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–160
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $110–160
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from San Diego to Los Angeles Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–30
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Tulsa Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 32h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $270–410
- Website
- Greyhound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
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