Des Moines to Washington flights
Washington lies 1,436 km (892 mi) east of Des Moines, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 35 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.
Open Washington in Google Maps
| Des Moines | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 214,133 | 689,545 |
| Elevation | 264 m (866 ft) | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Nearest large airport | DSM, 8 km out | DCA, 5 km out |
| Postal codes | 50301–50983 | 20001–56972 |
Clocks in Washington are 1 h ahead of Des Moines right now, so a 2 h 35 min journey lands 3 h 35 min later by the destination clock.
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 Washington
Washington is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,169 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD, 37 km), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI, 45 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | DCA | 5 km (3 mi) | 7,169 ft | 15 ft |
| Washington Dulles International Airport | IAD | 37 km (23 mi) | 11,500 ft | 312 ft |
| Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport | BWI | 45 km (28 mi) | 10,503 ft | 146 ft |
Book a flight to Washington
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Staying in Washington
Our booking partner lists 1,105+ places to stay in Washington (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 752 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (358), and 34 are five-star. Across 255 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 260,731 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Washington
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Washington from Des Moines?
1,436 km (892 mi) in a straight line, east of Des Moines.
How long does it take to get from Des Moines to Washington by air?
About 2 h 35 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 Washington?
Washington is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/New_York against America/Chicago).
Which airports are used for Des Moines to Washington flights?
Typically Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); Washington also has IAD, BWI.
Where can I stay in Washington?
Our booking partner lists 1,105+ places to stay in Washington, 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.