How to get from Des Moines to Chicago
Roman Boed from The Netherlands (CC BY 2.0)- Fastest
- –
- Cheapest
- –
- Distance
- 495 km
- as the crow flies
- Departures today
- 1
- 3 ways, Fri 30 Oct
3 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.
best2h 50m slower than flying but $160 cheaper; for most people that trade is worth it.
- Drivebest6h 35m$43–60Estimated538 km · fuel only
- Fly3h 46m$170–250EstimatedDSM → MDW · non-stop · typical times
- Taxi6h 35m$860–1,180Estimatedone-way cab
Data: 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
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 Des Moines to Chicago?
The fastest way is by car: about 6h 35m door to door. The straight-line distance is 495 km.
What is the cheapest way from Des Moines to Chicago?
Drive is the cheapest, from $43. That figure is an estimate from the operator's fare bands, not a live quote.
How long is the flight from Des Moines to Chicago?
About 1h 18m in the air (DSM → MDW), about 3h 46m door to door once you add the ride to the airport, check-in and the cab at the other end. Typical fares run $170–250; live prices are on Flights70.
How far is Chicago from Des Moines by road?
About 538 km, roughly 6h 35m of driving in normal traffic. Fuel alone costs around $43–60; tolls and parking are extra.