Flights to Des Moines
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
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.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines International Airport | DSM | 8 km (5 mi) | 9,004 ft | 958 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 9,004 ft, DSM handles short and medium-haul aircraft, so a long-haul trip will connect somewhere else first. The airport sits at 958 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to Des Moines
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Routes to and from Des Moines
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines to Toronto | Canada | 1,184 km (736 mi) | about 2 h 16 min |
| Des Moines to Chicago | United States | 495 km (308 mi) | about 1 h 23 min |
| Des Moines to Houston | United States | 1,326 km (824 mi) | about 2 h 27 min |
| Des Moines to San Antonio | United States | 1,424 km (885 mi) | about 2 h 35 min |
| Des Moines to Dallas | United States | 1,020 km (634 mi) | about 2 h 3 min |
| Des Moines to Fort Worth | United States | 1,040 km (646 mi) | about 2 h 5 min |
| Des Moines to Austin | United States | 1,314 km (816 mi) | about 2 h 26 min |
| Des Moines to Columbus | United States | 911 km (566 mi) | about 1 h 55 min |
| Des Moines to Charlotte | United States | 1,317 km (818 mi) | about 2 h 26 min |
| Des Moines to Indianapolis | United States | 660 km (410 mi) | about 1 h 36 min |
| Des Moines to Winnipeg | Canada | 961 km (597 mi) | about 1 h 59 min |
| Des Moines to Denver | United States | 981 km (609 mi) | about 2 h |
| Des Moines to Mississauga | Canada | 1,162 km (722 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Des Moines to Washington | United States | 1,436 km (892 mi) | about 2 h 35 min |
| Des Moines to Nashville | United States | 845 km (525 mi) | about 1 h 50 min |
| Des Moines to Oklahoma City | United States | 762 km (473 mi) | about 1 h 44 min |
| Des Moines to Brampton | Canada | 1,154 km (717 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Des Moines to Detroit | United States | 877 km (545 mi) | about 1 h 52 min |
| Des Moines to Memphis | United States | 781 km (486 mi) | about 1 h 45 min |
| Des Moines to Louisville | United States | 765 km (476 mi) | about 1 h 44 min |
| Des Moines to Baltimore | United States | 1,459 km (906 mi) | about 2 h 37 min |
| Des Moines to Hamilton | Canada | 1,143 km (710 mi) | about 2 h 13 min |
| Des Moines to Shanghai | China | 11,156 km (6,932 mi) | about 15 h 3 min |
| Des Moines to Chongqing | China | 11,836 km (7,354 mi) | about 15 h 55 min |
| Des Moines to Chengdu | China | 11,777 km (7,318 mi) | about 15 h 51 min |
| Des Moines to Beijing | China | 10,459 km (6,499 mi) | about 14 h 10 min |
| Des Moines to Istanbul | Turkey | 9,164 km (5,694 mi) | about 12 h 30 min |
| Des Moines to Tianjin | China | 10,512 km (6,532 mi) | about 14 h 14 min |
| Des Moines to Wuhan | China | 11,494 km (7,142 mi) | about 15 h 29 min |
| Des Moines to Lahore | Pakistan | 11,787 km (7,324 mi) | about 15 h 52 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Des Moines?
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the closest large airport at 8 km (5 mi). It is the only one with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How far is DSM from Des Moines city centre?
8 km (5 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Des Moines on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
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.