There are 8 ways to get from Ames to Indianapolis by taxi, plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), bus, train, car, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Taxi to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, fly
best- Take the taxi from Ames to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)taxi
- Fly from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Indianapolis (IND)plane FOD - IND
6h 9m$212–583Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Ames to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Indianapolistrain
14h 53m$73–206Bus
- Take the bus from Ames to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Indianapolisbus
13h 40m$78–211Bus, train via Saint Paul
- Take the bus from Ames to St. Paulbus
- Take the train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Indianapolistrain
18h 23m$111–371Drive 475.6 mi
- Drive from Ames to Indianapoliscar 475.6 mi
8h 26m$87–126Shuttle to Des Moines, fly
- Take a shuttle bus from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Indianapolis (IND)plane DSM - IND
6h 33m$194–892Bus to Mason City, fly
- Take the bus from Ames to Mason Citybus
- Fly from Mason City (MCW) to Indianapolis (IND)plane MCW - IND
7h 43m$75–459Bus to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Ames to MSP Airportbus
- Fly from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to Indianapolis (IND)plane MSP - IND
7h 32m$302–795
Ames to Indianapolis by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Ames to Indianapolis is to drive which costs $85 - $130 and takes 8h 26m.
The fastest way to get from Ames to Indianapolis is to taxi and fly which takes 6h 9m and costs $210 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Ames to Indianapolis. However, there are services departing from Ames and arriving at Indianapolis via Des Moines and Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 13h 40m.
The distance between Ames and Indianapolis is 536 miles. The road distance is 478.4 miles.
The best way to get from Ames to Indianapolis without a car is to bus which takes 13h 40m and costs $75 - $220.
It takes approximately 6h 9m to get from Ames to Indianapolis, including transfers.
Ames to Indianapolis bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Ames station.
Ames to Indianapolis bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at Des Moines station.
Indianapolis is 1h ahead of Ames. It is currently 5:48 AM in Ames and 6:48 AM in Indianapolis.
Yes, the driving distance between Ames to Indianapolis is 478 miles. It takes approximately 8h 26m to drive from Ames to Indianapolis.
What companies run services between Ames, IA, USA and Indianapolis, IN, USA?
You can take a bus from Ames to Indianapolis via Des Moines and Chicago Bus Station in around 13h 40m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 39m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–800
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–800
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–950
Flights from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–550
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport to Indianapolis via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–410
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 29m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Mason City to Indianapolis via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–400
Flights from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to Indianapolis via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–550
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,000
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to Indianapolis via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $85–550
- Website
- suncountry.com
Flights from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $85–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from St. Paul-Minneapolis to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 24m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $60–210
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 54m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $30–65
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Ames to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–45
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Ames to St. Paul
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–100
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Ames to Mason City
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $8–60
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Ames to MSP Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–95
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- executiveexpress.biz
Shuttle from Ames, IA - Iowa State University to Des Moines International Airport, IA
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
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
There are 673+ hotels available in Indianapolis.










