How to get from Chicago to Des Moines
- Fastest
- 3h 45m
- by plane, door to door
- Cheapest
- $39
- by bus
- Distance
- 495 km
- as the crow flies
- Departures today
- 9
- 5 ways, Fri 30 Oct
5 ways to travel
495 km apart. Times are the timetables for Fri 30 Oct, planned from 08:00; every price says whether it is live, the operator's fare or our estimate. We add nothing to any fare.
bestClose to driving on time and fare; either works.
- BusbestcheapestLeast hassle6h 43m$39–234Estimated6 departures · Burlington Trailways
- Drive6h 34m$43–60Estimated537 km · fuel only
- Flyfastest3h 45m$170–300EstimatedMDW → DSM · non-stop · typical times
- Train14h 14m$139–359Estimated1 departure · Amtrak
- Taxi6h 34m$860–1,180Estimatedone-way cab
Data: Timetables via Transitous · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors, routed by OSRM · Typical flight routes from OpenFlights (ODbL), a 2014 snapshot · Places from GeoNames, CC BY 4.0 · All credits and licences
Departures today
- 08:04 → 11:493h 45m · direct$170–250
- 08:12 → 12:334h 21m · direct$200–300
- 09:15 → 17:318h 16m · direct · Burlington Trailways BTW 1205$39–90
- 09:30 → 17:318h 1m · 1 change · Chicago Transit Authority 8$39–91
- 14:27 → 22:318h 4m · 1 change · Chicago Transit Authority 8$41–96
- 14:58 → 05:12+114h 14m · 1 change · Amtrak 7$139–359
- 15:08 → 05:12+114h 4m · 2 changes · Amtrak 337$103–234
- 01:19+1 → 08:02+16h 43m · direct · Greyhound-us Greyhound US0123S$53–107
Timetable data via Transitous and the operators' own GTFS feeds. Live delays arrive when an operator publishes a real-time feed.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Chicago to Des Moines?
The fastest way is by plane: about 3h 45m door to door, including the ride to the airport and check-in. The straight-line distance is 495 km.
What is the cheapest way from Chicago to Des Moines?
Bus is the cheapest, from $39. That figure is an estimate from the operator's fare bands, not a live quote.
Is there a direct train from Chicago to Des Moines?
Not today. Train journeys involve a change; the fastest takes 14h 14m.
How much is the bus from Chicago to Des Moines?
Buses take about 6h 43m and cost $39–234 depending on operator and seat type. 6 departures appear in today's timetable window.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Des Moines?
About 1h 18m in the air (MDW → DSM), about 3h 45m door to door once you add the ride to the airport, check-in and the cab at the other end. Typical fares run $170–300; live prices are on Flights70.
How far is Des Moines from Chicago by road?
About 537 km, roughly 6h 34m of driving in normal traffic. Fuel alone costs around $43–60; tolls and parking are extra.
Who runs it
- Burlington Trailways
- Chicago Transit Authority
- Greyhound-us
- Amtrak
Read from today's timetables. Operators don't pay to be listed here.