There are 6 ways to get from Iowa to San Diego by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), bus, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Des Moines
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)DSM - SAN
5h 26m$248–1,121Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport
cheapest- Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)CID - SAN
7h 24m$192–840Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Denver
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Las Vegas BusTerminal
- Take the bus from Las Vegas BusTerminal to Santa Ana Bus Stop
- Take the bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to San Diego
39h 27m$225–520Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Take the train from Kansas City to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diego
43h 31m$209–614Drive 1,745.2 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to San Diego1,745.2 mi
26h 56m$319–460Fly from Omaha
- Fly from Omaha (OMA) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)OMA - SAN
6h 11m$233–1,103
Iowa to San Diego by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Iowa to San Diego is to bus which costs $220 - $550 and takes 39h 27m.
The fastest way to get from Iowa to San Diego is to fly which takes 5h 26m and costs $240 - $1,200.
No, there is no direct bus from Iowa to San Diego. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at San Diego via Denver Union Station, Las Vegas BusTerminal and Santa Ana Bus Stop. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 39h 27m.
The distance between Iowa and San Diego is 1441 miles. The road distance is 1755.4 miles.
The best way to get from Iowa to San Diego without a car is to bus which takes 39h 27m and costs $220 - $550.
It takes approximately 5h 26m to get from Iowa to San Diego, including transfers.
Iowa to San Diego bus services, operated by Burlington Trailways, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Iowa to San Diego is to fly which takes 5h 26m and costs $240 - $1,200. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $220 - $550 and takes 39h 27m.
Iowa to San Diego bus services, operated by Burlington Trailways, arrive at Denver station.
San Diego is 2h behind Iowa. It is currently 1:28 AM in Iowa and 11:28 PM in San Diego.
What companies run services between Iowa, USA and San Diego, CA, USA?
Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and three other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Des Moines to San Diego via Denver, Denver Union Station, Las Vegas BusTerminal, and Santa Ana Bus Stop in around 39h 27m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,200
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–800
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–900
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 2m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–900
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 17m
- When
- Thursday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 18m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 21m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 16m
- When
- Thursday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Omaha to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–900
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,200
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–850
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Des Moines to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from The Eastern Iowa Airport to San Diego International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Kansas City to Fullerton Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 34h 52m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $150–480
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $150–430
- Coach Seat short notice purchase
- $220–480
- Business - advance purchase
- $310–1,200
- Business Class
- $420–1,100
Train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $32–34
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 (319) 753-2864
- info@burlingtontrailways.com
- Website
- burlingtontrailways.com
Bus from Des Moines to Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–220
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $110–160
- Flexible Fares
- $150–220
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Denver Union Station to Las Vegas BusTerminal
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–180
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Las Vegas BusTerminal to Santa Ana Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–80
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Santa Ana Bus Stop to San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $17–40
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–90
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
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
Yes, the driving distance between Iowa to San Diego is 1755 miles. It takes approximately 26h 56m to drive from Iowa to San Diego.
There are 2000+ hotels available in San Diego.
















