There are 9 ways to get from Madison to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus, car, taxi, bus (Flixbus), 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 Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines, shuttle
best- 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 5m$252–1,392Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Madison to Minneapolis Bus Stationbus FlixBus 2548
- Take the bus from Minneapolis to Amesbus Jefferson 801 / ...
10h 30m$45–204Bus via Burnsville
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomingtonbus Madison
- Take the bus from Burnsville to Amesbus Jefferson 801 / ...
10h 13m$81–170Drive 264.9 mi
- Drive from Madison to Amescar 264.9 mi
4h 49m$49–70Bus 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 35m$180–780Bus 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 52m$195–470Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Waterloo Municipal Airport, drive
- 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 Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO)plane ORD - ALO
- Drive from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Amescar
7h 5m$67–306Bus 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 4m$224–1,040Bus #2
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton Stbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
15h 12m$85–191
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 49m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Ames is to drive which takes 4h 49m and costs $45 - $70.
No, there is no direct bus from Madison to Ames. However, there are services departing from Madison, WI-Lake St. and arriving at Ames via American & Thunderbird Station, Mall of America Transit Station Gate F and Burnsville. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 13m.
The distance between Madison and Ames is 296 miles. The road distance is 266.4 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Ames without a car is to bus via Burnsville which takes 10h 13m and costs $80 - $170.
It takes approximately 6h 5m to get from Madison to Ames, including transfers.
Madison to Ames bus services, operated by Badger Bus, depart from Madison, WI-Lake St. station.
Madison to Ames bus services, operated by Badger Bus, arrive at Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Ames is 266 miles. It takes approximately 4h 49m to drive from Madison to Ames.
There are 92+ hotels available in Ames.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Ames via Mall of America - IKEA - Bloomington, American & Thunderbird Station, MOA Transit Station Gate A, Mall of America Transit Station Gate F, and Burnsville in around 10h 13m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–1,200
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–1,900
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $420–2,000
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $430–2,100
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Waterloo Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $30–240
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–1,200
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,900
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–250
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–1,200
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $400–1,900
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,500
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- executiveexpress.biz
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
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz
- Schedules at
- https://www.executiveexpress.biz/coverage-areas/
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- badgerbus.com
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
- https://badgerbus.com
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Burnsville to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–90
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Madison to Minneapolis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–110
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Minneapolis to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–95
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–40
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 608-752-5407
- vangalder@coachusa.com
- Website
- coachusa.com
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $20–40
- Website
- https://www.coachusa.com/van-galder-bus-company
Bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.coachusa.com/van-galder-bus-company
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison to Minneapolis Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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