Des Moines to Chicago flights
Chicago lies 495 km (308 mi) east of Des Moines, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 23 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Des Moines | Chicago | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 214,133 | 2.7 million |
| Elevation | 264 m (866 ft) | 180 m (591 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) |
| Nearest large airport | DSM, 8 km out | MDW, 11 km out |
| Postal codes | 50301–50983 | 60601–60701 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Des Moines
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.
Arriving in Chicago
Chicago is served by 4 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 11 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,522 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, 25 km), Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY, 33 km), Michigan City Municipal Airport (MGC, 71 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Midway International Airport | MDW | 11 km (7 mi) | 6,522 ft | 620 ft |
| Chicago O'Hare International Airport | ORD | 25 km (16 mi) | 13,000 ft | 680 ft |
| Gary/Chicago International Airport (regional) | GYY | 33 km (21 mi) | 8,859 ft | 591 ft |
| Michigan City Municipal Airport (regional) | MGC | 71 km (44 mi) | 4,099 ft | 655 ft |
Book a flight to Chicago
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Staying in Chicago
Our booking partner lists 1,320+ places to stay in Chicago (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 651 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (290), and 15 are five-star. Across 244 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.5 out of 10. Guests have left 312,247 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Chicago
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Common questions
How far is Chicago from Des Moines?
495 km (308 mi) in a straight line, east of Des Moines.
How long does it take to get from Des Moines to Chicago by air?
About 1 h 23 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Des Moines and Chicago?
No, both are on America/Chicago at the moment.
Which airports are used for Des Moines to Chicago flights?
Typically Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW); Chicago also has ORD, GYY, MGC.
Where can I stay in Chicago?
Our booking partner lists 1,320+ places to stay in Chicago, bookable on this site.
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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.