There are 7 ways to get from State College to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus, train, car, taxi, 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 to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Penn State University Park Airport (SCE) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SCE - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
6h 50m$161–615Fly to Mason City, bus
cheapest- Fly from Penn State University Park Airport (SCE) to Mason City (MCW)plane SCE - MCW
- Take the bus from Mason City to Amesbus
9h 12m$111–470Bus, shuttle
- Take the bus from State College Regional Airport to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
24h 57m$261–475Bus, train
- Take the bus from State College Bus Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Stationbus
- Take the train from Pittsburgh Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolistrain
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus
29h 12m$563–936Drive 882.9 mi
- Drive from State College to Amescar 882.9 mi
15h 30m$162–233Fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Penn State University Park Airport (SCE) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane SCE - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
7h 7m$221–615Bus
- Take the bus from State College Regional Airport to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depotbus
- Take the bus from St. Paul to Amesbus
29h 50m$216–360
State College to Ames by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from State College to Ames is to drive which costs $160 - $240 and takes 15h 30m.
The fastest way to get from State College to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 6h 50m and costs $160 - $650.
No, there is no direct bus from State College to Ames. However, there are services departing from State College and arriving at Ames via State College Regional Airport, Chicago Bus Station and St. Paul. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 29h 50m.
The distance between State College and Ames is 874 miles. The road distance is 888.1 miles.
The best way to get from State College to Ames without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 24h 57m and costs $260 - $480.
It takes approximately 6h 50m to get from State College to Ames, including transfers.
State College to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from State College Regional Airport station.
State College to Ames bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind State College. It is currently 2:58 PM in State College and 1:58 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between State College to Ames is 888 miles. It takes approximately 15h 30m to drive from State College to Ames.
What companies run services between State College, PA, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from State College to Ames via State College Regional Airport, Chicago Bus Station, and St. Paul in around 29h 50m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–420
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Des Moines via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–430
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–460
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Mason City via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $80–420
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Mason City via Washington Dulles, Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 53m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–460
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Saturday and Tuesday
- Estimated price
- $100–500
Flights from Penn State University Park Airport to Des Moines via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–480
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Pittsburgh Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 46m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $260–410
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $220–350
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 320.253.2226
- Website
- Executive Express
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
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
- Executive Express
- Schedules at
- Executive Express Coverage Areas for Minnesota and Iowa
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from State College Regional Airport to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $100–160
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from State College Regional Airport to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $100–160
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–100
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $55–90
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from State College Bus Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $27–40
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Saint Paul Union Depot
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $70–110
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 800-858-8555
- Website
- Trailways
Bus from State College Bus Station to Pittsburgh Intermodal Station
- Saver
- $27–90
- Flexible
- $50–95
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from St. Paul to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
Bus from Mason City to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $30–45
Bus from St. Paul to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $55–85
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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Booking & Getting There
There are 56+ hotels available in Ames.











