There are 9 ways to get from Normal to Ames by train, bus, car, plane, shuttle, bus (Greyhound), 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.
Train, bus
best- 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$57–187Drive 306.2 mi
cheapest- Drive from Normal to Amescar 306.2 mi
5h 39m$56–81Train, 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$109–367Fly Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines, shuttle
- 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
8h 4m$181–891Bus 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 23m$93–203Bus
- 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$74–181Train 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$179–850Train 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$230–1,200Train 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 14m$199–520
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 491 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 - $190.
It takes approximately 11h 42m 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 46+ 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, UIC-Halsted, 900 W Harrison, Jefferson & Harrison, Chicago Bus Station, and Des Moines in around 13h 23m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–700
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–1,100
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–600
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–600
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $40–280
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Lambert–St. Louis International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–950
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Central Illinois Regional Airport At Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,000
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
- $55–210
- 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
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
- $40–95
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Bloomington to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–50
- 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
- +1 320.253.2226
- 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
- +1 800-448-0572
- 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
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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