There are 6 ways to get from Des Moines to Detroit by plane, bus, train, car, bus (Greyhound, Amtrak), 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
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW)plane DSM - DTW
3h 20m$111–575Drive 595.8 mi
cheapest- Drive from Des Moines to Detroitcar 595.8 mi
9h 52m$102–148Bus, train via Galesburg
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Galesburgbus
- Take the train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Detroittrain
14h 45m$273–436Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Detroittrain Wolverine
15h 4m$215–336Bus via Baltimore St - Southbound
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Detroitbus Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service
15h 4mBus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0155S / ...
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Stationbus Greyhound US0160
15h 20m$110–176
Des Moines to Detroit by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Detroit is to drive which costs $100 - $150 and takes 9h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Detroit is to fly which takes 3h 20m and costs $110 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Detroit. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Detroit via Chicago Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 15h 4m.
The distance between Des Moines and Detroit is 564 miles. The road distance is 599.2 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Detroit without a car is to bus and train via Galesburg which takes 14h 45m and costs $270 - $440.
It takes approximately 3h 20m to get from Des Moines to Detroit, including transfers.
Des Moines to Detroit bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Detroit is to fly which takes 3h 20m and costs $110 - $600. Alternatively, you can bus via Baltimore St - Southbound, which costs and takes 15h 4m.
Des Moines to Detroit bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Detroit is 1h ahead of Des Moines. It is currently 7:52 PM in Des Moines and 8:52 PM in Detroit.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Detroit, MI, USA?
Delta, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Campus Martius - Southbound via Chicago Bus Station, Chicago Union Station, Detroit, and Baltimore St - Southbound in around 15h 4m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–600
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Detroit via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $85–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $150–240
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $150–240
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Galesburg
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–60
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–100
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–100
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–100
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–80
- Website
- Greyhound
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Detroit is 599 miles. It takes approximately 9h 52m to drive from Des Moines to Detroit.
Book your Des Moines to Detroit bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 518+ hotels available in Detroit.









