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How to get fromIowa to Ottawaby plane, bus, train, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), car, or bus (Amtrak, Flixbus)

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There are 9 ways to get from Iowa to Ottawa by plane, bus, train, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), car, or bus (Amtrak, Flixbus)

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly from Des Moines

    best
    1. Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane DSM - YOW
    5h 48m
    $228–983

  2. Fly from Quad City International Airport

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane MLI - YOW
    8h 24m
    $117–607

  3. Bus, train

    1. Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicagobus bus
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Syracuse Regional Transportation Centertrain train
    3. Take the bus from Syracuse Bus Station to Ottawabus bus
    25h 22m

  4. Bus

    1. Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicagobus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Detroit Bus Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawabus bus
    27h 30m

  5. Drive 1,714.1 km

    1. Drive from Des Moines to Ottawacar car 1,714.1 km
    18h 50m
    $340–491

  6. Fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport

    1. Fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane ALO - YOW
    6h 27m
    $152–637

  7. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport

    1. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)plane plane CID - YOW
    8h 9m
    $247–1,161

  8. Bus via Detroit

    1. Take the bus from Des Moines to Chicagobus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Detroitbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Ottawabus bus
    27h 31m

  9. Bus, train via Toronto

    1. Take the bus from Des Moines to Galesburgbus bus
    2. Take the train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    3. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Buffalo Depew Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Buffalo to Toronto Union Stationtrain train
    5. Take the train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawatrain train
    30h 51m

Des Moines (DSM) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) flights

Calendar41Weekly Planes
Duration6h 42mAverage Duration
Ticket$205Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Iowa to Ottawa.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,531.7 km
  • Duration: 5h 48m

What companies run services between Iowa, USA and Ottawa, ON, Canada?

United Airlines, American Airlines, and two other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to Ottawa via Chicago Bus Station and Detroit Bus Station in around 27h 30m.

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