There are 7 ways to get from Des Moines to Elkhart by plane, bus, train, car, or bus (Greyhound)
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 South Bend (SBN)DSM - SBN
4h 18m$173–741Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicago Bus StationGreyhound US0123 / ...
- Take the bus from Chicago to South Bend, INChicago
11h 29m$55–177Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to ChicagoOmaha
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elkhart Amtrak StationLake Shore Limited / ...
9h 13m$89–198Bus, train via Galesburg
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Burlington
- Take the bus from Burlington to Galesburg
- Take the train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elkhart Amtrak Station
11h 49m$108–262Drive 419.2 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to Elkhart419.2 mi
7h 16m$77–111Bus, train via Des Moines
- Take the bus from Des Moines to ChicagoDes Moines
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elkhart Amtrak StationLake Shore Limited / ...
10h 18m$77–209Bus via Des Moines
- Take the bus from Des Moines to ChicagoDes Moines
- Take the bus from Chicago to South Bend, INChicago
11h 54m$65–200
Des Moines to Elkhart by bus, foot, and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Elkhart is to drive which costs $75 - $110 and takes 7h 16m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Elkhart is to fly which takes 4h 18m and costs $170 - $750.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Elkhart. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Transfer Center via Chicago and South Street Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 29m.
The distance between Des Moines and Elkhart is 407 miles. The road distance is 421.6 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Elkhart without a car is to bus and train which takes 9h 13m and costs $85 - $200.
It takes approximately 4h 18m to get from Des Moines to Elkhart, including transfers.
Des Moines to Elkhart bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Elkhart is to fly which takes 4h 18m and costs $170 - $750. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $55 - $180 and takes 11h 29m.
Des Moines to Elkhart bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Elkhart is 1h ahead of Des Moines. It is currently 2:07 AM in Des Moines and 3:07 AM in Elkhart.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Elkhart, IN, USA?
United Airlines, Delta, and two other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to South Bend (SBN) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Transfer Center via Chicago and South Street Station in around 11h 29m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to South Bend via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–750
Flights from Des Moines to South Bend via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to South Bend via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–750
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to South Bend via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to South Bend via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–1,000
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Des Moines to South Bend via Orlando Sanford
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 24m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,300
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to Elkhart Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 54m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $21–55
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $21–80
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (319) 753-2864
- info@burlingtontrailways.com
- Website
- burlingtontrailways.com
Bus from Des Moines to Chicago
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–143
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $65–100
- Flexible Fares
- $90–140
- Saver Fare
- $104
- Flex Fare
- $143
Bus from Des Moines to Burlington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–80
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $40–60
- Flexible Fares
- $50–80
Bus from Burlington to Galesburg
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–50
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $25–40
- Flexible Fares
- $30–50
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
- 6h 50m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–140
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago to South Bend, IN
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $17–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 888-378-3823
- info@baronsbus.com
- Website
- baronsbus.com
Bus from Chicago to South Bend, IN
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $8–45
- Website
- https://baronsbus.com
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Elkhart is 422 miles. It takes approximately 7h 16m to drive from Des Moines to Elkhart.
There are 210+ hotels available in Elkhart.












