There are 7 ways to get from Washington to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus, train, car, taxi, subway, 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines (DSM)plane DCA - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
3h 58m$322–1,383Drive 1,004.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Washington to Amescar 1,004.2 mi
18h$184–265Bus, shuttle
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus 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
26h 12m$254–513Train, bus
- Take the train from Washington 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
31h 29m$408–845Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane DCA - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
6h 11m$289–908Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Des Moines (DSM)plane IAD - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
7h 35m$222–943Bus
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depotbus
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus
31h 5m$221–405
Washington to Ames by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington to Ames is to drive which costs $180 - $270 and takes 18h.
The fastest way to get from Washington to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 3h 58m and costs $320 - $1,400.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington station to Ames. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Ames via Chicago Bus Station and St. Paul. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 31h 5m.
The distance between Washington and Ames is 941 miles. The road distance is 1010.1 miles.
The best way to get from Washington to Ames without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 26h 12m and costs $250 - $550.
It takes approximately 3h 58m to get from Washington to Ames, including transfers.
Washington to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind Washington. It is currently 4:18 PM in Washington and 3:18 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington to Ames is 1010 miles. It takes approximately 18h to drive from Washington to Ames.
What companies run services between Washington, DC, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Washington Union Station to Ames via Chicago Bus Station and St. Paul in around 31h 5m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,200
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,300
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–850
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–800
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,200
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,200
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–800
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 52m
- When
- Tuesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,200
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 48m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $230–490
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $120–270
- Website
- Amtrak
Subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–3
- Website
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- 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
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $100–200
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–95
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $100–200
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–120
- 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 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–100
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- 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 Washington to Ames bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 43+ hotels available in Ames.














