There are 8 ways to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, bus, car, or bus (Flixbus, 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 from Philadelphia International Airport
best- Fly from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Des Moines (DSM)plane PHL - DSM
4h 22m$220–1,124Bus via Chicago
cheapest- Take the bus from Philadelphia Bus Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus FlixBus N2642
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0123S / ...
27h 30m$171–311Bus (Greyhound)
- Take the bus from Philadelphia Bus Station to Indianapolis Union Stationbus Greyhound US0421
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0157S
25h 40m$184–354Train, bus via Chicago
- Take the train from 30th Street Station to Washington Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Bloomington-Normaltrain
- Take the bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moinesbus
31h 25m$314–701Drive 1,073.9 mi
- Drive from Philadelphia to Des Moinescar 1,073.9 mi
17h 41m$196–284Train to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, fly
- Take the train from 30th Street Station to Washington Union Stationtrain
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines (DSM)plane DCA - DSM
6h 25m$358–1,708Train, bus
- Take the train from 30th Street Station to Indianapolistrain Cardinal
- Take the bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0157S
31h 55m$309–656Train, bus #2
- Take the train from 30th Street Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain Cardinal
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0123S / ...
34h 24m$337–732
Philadelphia to Des Moines by bus (Greyhound)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines is to bus via Chicago which costs $170 - $320 and takes 27h 30m.
The fastest way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines is to fly which takes 4h 22m and costs $220 - $1,200.
No, there is no direct bus from Philadelphia station to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from Philadelphia Bus Station and arriving at Des Moines via Indianapolis Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 25h 40m.
The distance between Philadelphia and Des Moines is 990 miles. The road distance is 1080.1 miles.
The best way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 25h 40m and costs $180 - $360.
It takes approximately 4h 22m to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines, including transfers.
Philadelphia to Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Philadelphia Bus Station.
The best way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines is to fly which takes 4h 22m and costs $220 - $1,200. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $180 - $360 and takes 25h 40m.
Philadelphia to Des Moines bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Indianapolis Union Station.
Des Moines is 1h behind Philadelphia. It is currently 10:47 PM in Philadelphia and 9:47 PM in Des Moines.
What companies run services between Philadelphia, PA, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
American Airlines, Allegiant Air, and three other airlines fly from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Des Moines (DSM) every 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Philadelphia Bus Station to Des Moines via Indianapolis Union Station in around 25h 40m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,100
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–1,100
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $210–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,600
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,600
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,600
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–1,100
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,200
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,600
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–1,100
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,600
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–1,100
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Northeast Regional
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 58m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $18–250
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/northeast-regional-train
- Coach
- $18–250
- Business Class
- $70–300
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 50m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- $30–650
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $30–470
- First Class
- $150–650
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from 30th Street Station to Washington Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $35–80
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $200–450
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Bloomington-Normal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 58m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $30–75
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from 30th Street Station to Indianapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 21h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $230–550
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from 30th Street Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $280–650
- 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 Philadelphia Bus Station to Indianapolis Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $100–210
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Indianapolis Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $75–150
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Bloomington-Normal to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 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/
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- https://www.flixbus.com
Bus from Philadelphia Bus Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $120–210
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Philadelphia to Des Moines is 1080 miles. It takes approximately 17h 41m to drive from Philadelphia to Des Moines.
Book your Philadelphia to Des Moines bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 514+ hotels available in Des Moines.










