There are 7 ways to get from Madison to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus, car, taxi, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), 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
5h 59m$242–1,292Drive 264.9 mi
cheapest- Drive from Madison to Amescar 264.9 mi
4h 49m$49–70Bus 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 15m$117–160Bus 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$175–780Bus 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$200–490Bus
- Take the bus from Madison to Minneapolisbus Jefferson 966 / ...
- Take the bus from Minneapolis to Amesbus Jefferson 801 / ...
11h 35m$93–173Bus #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
13h 17m$91–178
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 15m.
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 15m and costs $110 - $160.
It takes approximately 5h 59m to get from Madison to Ames, including transfers.
Madison to Ames bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, depart from Madison station.
Madison to Ames bus services, operated by Jefferson Lines, arrive at Minneapolis station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Ames is 266 miles. It takes approximately 4h 49m 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, 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 15m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–1,100
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 48m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $380–1,800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–270
- Website
- aa.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
- $160–1,100
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,800
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–550
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–1,100
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $390–1,800
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,400
- 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
- $55–80
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $55–80
Bus from Madison to Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $70–100
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $70–100
Bus from Minneapolis to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from Des Moines to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
- 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
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Madison to Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–65
- 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 Madison to Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–90
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–110
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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