There are 7 ways to get from South Bend to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus, train, car, or bus (Greyhound, Flixbus)
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 South Bend, shuttle
best- Fly from South Bend (SBN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SBN - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
5h 9m$144–547Drive 408.3 mi
cheapest- Drive from South Bend to Amescar 408.3 mi
7h 45m$70–101Bus, shuttle
- Take the bus from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Stationbus
- 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
13h 11mTrain, bus
- Take the train from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolistrain
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus
15h 46m$321–506Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly, shuttle
- Take the train from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)plane ORD - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 48m$171–529Train to Chicago Midway International Airport, fly, shuttle
- Take the train from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MDW - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 40m$193–696Bus
- Take the bus from South Bend Transpo to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depotbus
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus
16h 5m$134–230
South Bend to Ames by train and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from South Bend to Ames is to drive which costs $70 - $110 and takes 7h 45m.
The fastest way to get from South Bend to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 5h 9m and costs $140 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from South Bend to Ames. However, there are services departing from South Bend Transpo and arriving at Ames via Chicago Bus Station and St. Paul. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 16h 5m.
The distance between South Bend and Ames is 426 miles. The road distance is 410.7 miles.
The best way to get from South Bend to Ames without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 13h 11m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 9m to get from South Bend to Ames, including transfers.
South Bend to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from South Bend Transpo station.
South Bend to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind South Bend. It is currently 1:54 PM in South Bend and 12:54 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between South Bend to Ames is 411 miles. It takes approximately 7h 45m to drive from South Bend to Ames.
What companies run services between South Bend, IN, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from South Bend Transpo to Ames via Chicago Bus Station and St. Paul in around 16h 5m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–340
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–260
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–340
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–260
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–380
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–500
Flights from South Bend to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–390
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–300
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–430
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $220–350
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–75
- 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
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from South Bend Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–100
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from South Bend Transpo to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–25
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $75–120
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from St. Paul to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from St. Paul to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
- Phone
- +1 888-378-3823
- [email protected]
- Website
- Barons Bus
Bus from South Bend Transpo to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $8–45
- Website
- Barons Bus
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from South Bend Transpo to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–22
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $65–100
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
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Booking & Getting There
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