There are 6 ways to get from Washington to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus (Greyhound), train, bus, car, 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.
Fly to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines (DSM)plane DCA - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
3h 57m$369–1,537Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
26h 35m$169–322Train, bus
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
27h 7m$296–600Drive 1,004.5 mi
- Drive from Washington to Amescar 1,004.5 mi
17h 59m$184–265Fly to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)plane DCA - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Amestaxi
6h 16m$304–936Train, bus via Galesburg
- Take the train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Galesburg to Des Moinesbus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Amesbus
30h 8m$316–673
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines (DSM) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington to Ames is to bus which costs $160 - $330 and takes 26h 35m.
The fastest way to get from Washington to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 3h 57m and costs $360 - $1,600.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington station to Ames. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Ames via Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 26h 35m.
The distance between Washington and Ames is 941 miles. The road distance is 1010.3 miles.
The best way to get from Washington to Ames without a car is to bus which takes 26h 35m and costs $160 - $330.
It takes approximately 3h 57m to get from Washington to Ames, including transfers.
Washington to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington to Ames bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Ames is 1h behind Washington. It is currently 7:41 PM in Washington and 6:41 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington to Ames is 1010 miles. It takes approximately 17h 59m to drive from Washington to Ames.
What companies run services between Washington, DC, USA and Ames, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Washington Union Station to Ames via Chicago Bus Station and Des Moines in around 26h 35m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,400
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Philadelphia
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $330–1,500
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 3m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–800
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $350–1,600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 48m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $230–480
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 24m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $220–470
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–110
- 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 Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $100–200
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–95
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Galesburg to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–60
- 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
- $19–27
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $19–27
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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