Des Moines: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Des Moines is a city of 214,133 people in United States (Iowa), 264 m (866 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre. It has 2 railway stations on record, including Des Moines Union Station.
Key facts
Open Des Moines in Google Maps
Daylight in Des Moines runs from about 9 h 13 min a day in late December to 15 h 15 min in late June (computed for 41.6° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Des Moines is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 9,004 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Flights to Des Moines: every airport, routes and times
By rail: stations on record include Des Moines Union Station, East Des Moines Union Depot. Trains to Des Moines
Buses to Des Moines · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Omaha, 198 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Kansas City, 290 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Minneapolis, 377 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Saint Paul, 374 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Lincoln, 271 km — trains · buses · car rental · tours
- Madison, 383 km
- Overland Park, 305 km — buses · car rental
- Sioux Falls, 334 km — trains · buses · car rental
- Kansas City, 290 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Rockford, 381 km — trains
Twin towns and sister cities: Gatineau, Saint-Étienne, Kofu, Naucalpan, Shijiazhuang, Paspébiac, Stavropol, Province of Catanzaro.
Common questions
Which airport serves Des Moines?
Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre.
How big is Des Moines?
About 214,133 people live in Des Moines, across 235 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).
What time zone is Des Moines in?
America/Chicago, currently UTC-5.
What currency is used in Des Moines?
The Dollar (USD). Traffic drives on the right.
Which cities are near Des Moines?
Omaha (198 km), Kansas City (290 km), Minneapolis (377 km), Saint Paul (374 km), Lincoln (271 km).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.