There are 6 ways to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines by plane, bus (Flixbus, Greyhound), train, bus, or car
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$115–514Bus
- Take the bus from Philadelphia 30th St Station to Allentown Transportation Centerbus
- Take the bus from Allentown to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
27h 49m$181–322Train, bus via Washington
- Take the train from 30th Street Station to Washington Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
28h 36m$253–576Drive 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 28m$202–898Train, bus
- Take the train from 30th Street Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain Cardinal
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus Greyhound US0123 / ...
34h 28m$292–646
Philadelphia to Des Moines by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines is to bus which costs $180 - $330 and takes 27h 49m.
The fastest way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines is to fly which takes 4h 22m and costs $110 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from Philadelphia station to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from Philadelphia 30th St Station and arriving at Des Moines via Allentown and Chicago Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 27h 49m.
The distance between Philadelphia and Des Moines is 990 miles. The road distance is 1080.2 miles.
The best way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 27h 49m and costs $180 - $330.
It takes approximately 4h 22m to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines, including transfers.
Philadelphia to Des Moines bus services, operated by Martz Bus, depart from Philadelphia 30th St Station.
The best way to get from Philadelphia to Des Moines is to fly which takes 4h 22m and costs $110 - $550. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $180 - $330 and takes 27h 49m.
Philadelphia to Des Moines bus services, operated by Martz Bus, arrive at Allentown Transportation Center station.
Des Moines is 1h behind Philadelphia. It is currently 6:13 PM in Philadelphia and 5:13 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 30th St Station to Des Moines via Allentown Transportation Center, Allentown, and Chicago Bus Station in around 27h 49m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 4m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $95–490
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–490
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–490
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–550
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 4m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180–900
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–950
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–490
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–490
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 44m
- When
- Thursday
- Estimated price
- $95–490
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
- $30–70
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–400
- 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
- $240–550
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-233-8604
- Website
- martzbus.com
Bus from Philadelphia 30th St Station to Allentown Transportation Center
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Website
- https://martzbus.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Allentown to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–180
- 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 Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–100
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide
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.
There are 252+ hotels available in Des Moines.












