Butte to Des Moines: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Butte from Des Moines?

The distance from Butte to Des Moines is 988.4 miles (1590.7 km) as the crow flies. Des Moines is located E of Butte. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1186.1 miles, taking about 23h 52min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 29min. Both are located in United States — Butte in Montana and Des Moines in Iowa.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Butte and Des Moines. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.