There are 8 ways to get from San Jose to Des Moines by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), subway, train, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
best- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SJC - DSM
6h 22m$120–506Bus
- Take the bus from San Jose Diridon Station to Oaklandbus
- Take the bus from Oakland to Sparks Transit Centerbus
- Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Des Moinesbus
43h 35m$312–506BART, train, bus
- Take the subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Richmondsubway
- Take the train from Richmond to Denvertrain
- Take the bus from Denver to Omaha, NEbus
- Take the bus from Omaha, NE to Des Moinesbus
2d 1h$510–1,077Drive 1,824 mi
- Drive from San Jose to Des Moinescar 1,824 mi
27h 53m$333–481BART to Oakland International Airport, fly
- Take the subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseumsubway
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Des Moines (DSM)plane OAK - DSM
7h 23m$127–525Caltrain to San Francisco International Airport, fly
- Take the train from San Jose Diridon Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SFO - DSM
7h 40m$124–463Train to Sacramento International Airport, fly
- Take the train from San Jose to Sacramentotrain
- Fly from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SMF - DSM
10h 10m$153–587Train, bus
- Take the train from San Jose to Los Angelestrain
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Kansas Citytrain
- Take the bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
2d 3h$575–1,403
San Jose to Des Moines by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from San Jose to Des Moines is to Caltrain and fly which costs $120 - $470 and takes 7h 40m.
The fastest way to get from San Jose to Des Moines is to fly which takes 6h 22m and costs $120 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from San Jose station to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from San Jose Diridon Station and arriving at Des Moines via Oakland, Sparks Transit Center and Denver Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 43h 35m.
The distance between San Jose and Des Moines is 1546 miles. The road distance is 1834.6 miles.
The best way to get from San Jose to Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 43h 35m and costs $310 - $550.
It takes approximately 6h 22m to get from San Jose to Des Moines, including transfers.
San Jose to Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from San Jose Diridon Station.
The best way to get from San Jose to Des Moines is to fly which takes 6h 22m and costs $120 - $550. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $310 - $550 and takes 43h 35m.
San Jose to Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Oakland station.
Des Moines is 2h ahead of San Jose. It is currently 12:10 AM in San Jose and 2:10 AM in Des Moines.
What companies run services between San Jose, CA, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Des Moines (DSM) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from San Jose Diridon Station to Des Moines via Oakland, Sparks Transit Center, and Denver Union Station in around 43h 35m.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 18m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $100–480
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Sunday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–500
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 42m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–500
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 33m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $90–420
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–430
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–450
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–480
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 37m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–500
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- BART
Subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Richmond
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–13
- Website
- BART
Subway from Berryessa / North San Jose to Coliseum
- Ave. Duration
- 44 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- BART
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from San Jose Diridon Station to Oakland
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $7–11
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Oakland to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $160–270
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Denver Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–170
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Omaha, NE to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Kansas City Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- Website
- Greyhound
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
Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between San Jose to Des Moines is 1835 miles. It takes approximately 27h 53m to drive from San Jose to Des Moines.
Book your San Jose to Des Moines bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 254+ hotels available in Des Moines.





