There are 10 ways to get from Normal to Ames by plane, shuttle, train, bus, car, taxi, 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 Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal (BMI) to Des Moines (DSM)plane BMI - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 10m$131–511Drive 306.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Normal to Amescar 306.2 mi
5h 39m$56–81Train, bus
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
11h 42m$57–171Train, bus via Kansas City
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Kansas Citytrain
- Take the bus from Kansas City to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
14h 36m$106–335Fly Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal (BMI) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane BMI - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
7h 15m$191–511Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- 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
7h$131–516Train to Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to St. Louistrain
- Fly from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport (STL) to Des Moines (DSM)plane STL - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 53m$165–709Train to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Take the train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- 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
7h 18m$196–506Bus via Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD)
- Take the bus from Watterson Commons to O'Hare International Terminal 2bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
13h 27m$90–185Bus
- Take the bus from Bloomington to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
14h 49m$74–162
Normal to Ames by train, foot, and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Normal to Ames is to drive which costs $55 - $85 and takes 5h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Normal to Ames is to drive which takes 5h 39m and costs $55 - $85.
No, there is no direct bus from Normal to Ames. However, there are services departing from Bloomington and arriving at Ames via Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 14h 49m.
The distance between Normal and Ames is 307 miles. The road distance is 308 miles.
The best way to get from Normal to Ames without a car is to train and bus which takes 11h 42m and costs $55 - $180.
It takes approximately 6h 10m to get from Normal to Ames, including transfers.
Normal to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Bloomington station.
Normal to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Normal to Ames is 308 miles. It takes approximately 5h 39m to drive from Normal to Ames.
There are 54+ hotels available in Ames.
What companies run services between Normal, IL, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Watterson Commons to Ames via O'Hare International Terminal 2, O'Hare, LaSalle, Chicago Bus Station, and Des Moines in around 13h 27m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–320
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–320
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $50–330
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $35–270
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–270
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–460
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–470
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 19m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $14–55
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Bloomington-Normal to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 52m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–170
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Bloomington-Normal to St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 45m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $17–60
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- 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/
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
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $40–80
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Bloomington to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- 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
Bus from Kansas City to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–90
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 800-448-0572
- ticketsales@peoriacharter.com
- Website
- peoriacharter.com
Bus from Watterson Commons to O'Hare International Terminal 2
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–60
- Schedules at
- peoriacharter.com
- cash
- $60
- online
- $45
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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