Travelling from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines International Airport (DSM): what you need to know
2 hours 53 minutes is the average length of a direct flight from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport. Des Moines is 1 hour behind Washington DC and is in the UTC-5 timezone.
Every week, there are 19 flights from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport. If you'd like to be on board as soon as possible, go for the 05:36 American Airlines flight. If you'd rather make the most of your time before flying, the last departure from DCA to DSM is 22:11 with American Airlines.
If you're travelling during a bank holiday or other peak period, give yourself extra time. A good rule is two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Lines at check-in and security will be longer.
We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To look at your options for flights from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to explore your chosen city. Popular stopovers between DCA and DSM are:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
O'Hare International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
$99 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport. A return flight starts from $183. These prices may change depending on demand.
Book 10 months before flying. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find flight tickets from DCA to DSM.
Organise your trip for June. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport. If you're flexible with your dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest airfare across every month.
Getting a cheap ticket from DCA to DSM is straightforward with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when there's a better deal.
Play around with filters to find the perfect journey for you. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by airline, arrival and departure times, and number of stops.
Handy information about Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Located around 8 kilometres from the centre of Washington DC, Ronald Reagan National Airport can be reached in about 16 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey by public transport is roughly 43 minutes.
Need a handy hotel near DCA? If you're boarding an early flight from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure lounge:
Arriving at Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Book a hotel close to DSM if you're on a late flight from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Getting from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to central Des Moines
From Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines is approximately 10 kilometres away. It takes around 14 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It'll take around 43 minutes to get there by public transport.
When to fly to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
The quietest month for a flight from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport is April, while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to go to Des Moines based on whether you prefer a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Des Moines is July, with the temperature ranging between 15 ºC and 31 ºC. Lock in your flights from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Des Moines International Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you like.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from DCA to DSM in January. Average temperatures are between -13 ºC and 2 ºC then.
More about Des Moines
As soon as you've locked in your flights from DCA to DSM, you'll need to find somewhere to stay in Des Moines. Make one of these options your base for exploring this exciting city:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to work out where to start. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Hy-Vee Hall and Evelyn K Davis Park are highlights which should be on every Des Moines itinerary.
Complete your Des Moines trip with hotels and a car rental
Once you've secured your cheap ticket to Des Moines International Airport, browse the lowest prices and exclusive offers on hotels. You can also compare hundreds of car rental companies in one place to find the best car rental price for your Des Moines escape.
