There are 7 ways to get from Madison to Ames by bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), car, plane, shuttle, bus, or taxi
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depotbus FlixBus 2548
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus Jefferson Lines 805
10h$122–177Drive 264.7 mi
cheapest- Drive from Madison to Amescar 264.7 mi
4h 52m$49–70Fly Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines, shuttle
- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MSN - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 18m$202–942Bus via Bloomington
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomingtonbus Madison
- Take the bus from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Amesbus Jefferson Lines 803
10h 42m$116–165Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)plane ORD - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 41m$179–730Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane ORD - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
6h 53m$209–530Bus to Chicago Midway International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MDW - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
8h$198–850
Madison to Ames by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Madison to Ames is to drive which costs $45 - $70 and takes 4h 52m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Ames is to drive which takes 4h 52m and costs $45 - $70.
No, there is no direct bus from Madison to Ames. However, there are services departing from Madison and arriving at Ames via St. Paul. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h.
The distance between Madison and Ames is 486 miles. The road distance is 266.2 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Ames without a car is to bus which takes 10h and costs $120 - $180.
It takes approximately 10h to get from Madison to Ames, including transfers.
Madison to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Madison station.
Madison to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Saint Paul Union Depot station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Ames is 266 miles. It takes approximately 4h 52m to drive from Madison to Ames.
Book your Madison to Ames bus tickets online with Omio.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Madison to Ames via St. Paul in around 10h.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,300
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–490
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 36m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $290–1,300
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 46m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–490
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–600
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–800
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 19m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–950
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–65
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–75
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Madison to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–95
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $65–95
Bus from St. Paul to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- Executive Express
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
Shuttle from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $80–190
- Website
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- Badger Bus
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $55–75
- Website
- Badger Bus
- Phone
- +1 (866) 912 - 6224
- questions@coachusa.com
- Website
- Rockland Coaches
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- Rockland Coaches
- Adult
- $23–50
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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