There are 8 ways to get from Washington to Ames by plane, shuttle, bus (Greyhound), train, bus, car, taxi, or subway
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines, shuttle
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines (DSM)DCA - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
4h 6m$371–1,664Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Ames
26h 39m$118–325Train, bus
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Ames
27h 3m$149–717Drive 1,004.7 mi
- Drive from Washington to Ames1,004.7 mi
17h 46m$184–265Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport, taxi
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD)DCA - FOD
- Take the taxi from Fort Dodge Municipal Airport (FOD) to Ames
6h 39m$299–980Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to Des Moines, shuttle
- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Des Moines (DSM)IAD - DSM
- Take a shuttle bus from Des Moines International Airport, IA to Ames, IA - Iowa State University
7h 47m$232–998Bus via Des Moines
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Take the bus from Chicago to Des Moines
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Ames
27h 20m$137–396Train, bus via Minneapolis
- Take the train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Station
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Take the bus from Minneapolis to Ames
33h 14m$205–575
Washington to Ames by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington to Ames is to bus which costs $110 - $330 and takes 26h 39m.
The fastest way to get from Washington to Ames is to fly and shuttle which takes 4h 6m and costs $370 - $1,700.
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 39m.
The distance between Washington and Ames is 941 miles. The road distance is 1010.6 miles.
The best way to get from Washington to Ames without a car is to bus which takes 26h 39m and costs $110 - $330.
It takes approximately 4h 6m 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 3:48 PM in Washington and 2:48 PM in Ames.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington to Ames is 1011 miles. It takes approximately 17h 46m 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 39m.
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,500
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,500
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,700
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–900
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,500
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Fort Dodge Municipal Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–800
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,500
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–800
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–950
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–900
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Des Moines via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,600
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 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $100–600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Rockville Amtrak to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–270
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to St. Paul-Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 24m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $70–200
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–8
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- standard fare 5 a.m - 9:30 p.m.
- $5–8
- 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
- $70–180
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 34m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $45–100
- 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
- $3–45
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Minneapolis to Ames
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $20–95
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Phone
- +1 (319) 753-2864
- info@burlingtontrailways.com
- Website
- burlingtontrailways.com
Bus from Chicago to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $55–160
- Website
- https://burlingtontrailways.com
- Saver Fares
- $65–95
- Flexible Fares
- $90–130
- Saver Fare
- $55–110
- Flex Fare
- $75–160
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Estimated price
- $140–180
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