There are 7 ways to get from Madison to Des Moines by plane, bus (Greyhound), car, bus, bus (Flixbus), or train
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 Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field
best- Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Des Moines (DSM)MSN - DSM
5h 19m$149–873Drive 274.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from Madison to Des Moines274.5 mi
5h 2m$51–73Bus
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton StVan Galder
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des MoinesGreyhound US0123 / ...
11h 41m$67–136Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departures
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)ORD - DSM
5h 35m$117–611Bus via Des Moines
- Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton StVan Galder
- Take the bus from Chicago to Des MoinesChicago
12h 17m$77–201Bus via Des Moines #2
- Take the bus from Madison to Chicago Bus StationFlixBus 2548 / ...
- Take the bus from Chicago to Des MoinesChicago
12h 20m$83–209Bus, train
- Take the bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Take the bus from Chicago to Des Moines
12h 23m$84–254
Madison to Des Moines by bus and foot
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Madison to Des Moines is to drive which costs $50 - $75 and takes 5h 2m.
The fastest way to get from Madison to Des Moines is to drive which takes 5h 2m and costs $50 - $75.
No, there is no direct bus from Madison to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus and arriving at Des Moines via Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 41m.
The distance between Madison and Des Moines is 261 miles. The road distance is 276.1 miles.
The best way to get from Madison to Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 11h 41m and costs $65 - $140.
It takes approximately 5h 19m to get from Madison to Des Moines, including transfers.
Madison to Des Moines bus services, operated by Vangalder Bus, depart from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus station.
The best way to get from Madison to Des Moines is to fly which takes 5h 19m and costs $140 - $900. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $65 - $140 and takes 11h 41m.
Madison to Des Moines bus services, operated by Vangalder Bus, arrive at W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St station.
Yes, the driving distance between Madison to Des Moines is 276 miles. It takes approximately 5h 2m to drive from Madison to Des Moines.
What companies run services between Madison, WI, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Des Moines (DSM) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to Des Moines via W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St and Chicago Bus Station in around 11h 41m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–850
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 38m
- When
- Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Reagan Washington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–850
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–550
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–850
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 57m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 33m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–1,100
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 29m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $22–40
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 608-752-5407
- vangalder@coachusa.com
- Website
- coachusa.com
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
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
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
- 6h 34m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–95
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1 (319) 753-2864
- info@burlingtontrailways.com
- Website
- burlingtontrailways.com
Bus from Chicago to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–160
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $65–95
- Flexible Fares
- $90–130
- Saver Fare
- $55–110
- Flex Fare
- $75–160
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $28–50
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $20–35
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Phone
- +1 414-266-4409
- ticketinfo@badgerbus.com
- Website
- badgerbus.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $23–30
- Website
- https://badgerbus.com
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $7–55
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 800-236-1240
- Website
- golamers.com
Bus from Madison, WI-Lake St. to Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–50
- Website
- https://www.golamers.com/
- Schedules at
- https://www.golamers.com/
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