Travelling from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport (DSM): What you need to know
Your next great adventure starts at one of Chicago's main airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Explore the options for booking a flight from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) departing from either of these.
1 hour 25 minutes is the average duration of a direct Chicago to Des Moines International Airport flight.
Des Moines International Airport is located in Des Moines. The city's timezone is UTC-5, which is the same as Chicago.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the most popular route. There are 58 direct flights a week to pick from. If you have plans before you fly, take the last flight with American Airlines at 10:24pm. Choose the first ORD to DSM departure operated by American Airlines at 7:39am if you'd rather not wait around.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are tried-and-true travel tips. Show up at the airport on time to board your flight from Chicago to DSM.
High season means busier airports, so aim to get there even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for an international journey to keep to your schedule.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Reach your destination without the detour from O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Nonstop flights from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) operate from here.
When leaving from ORD, you can take a direct flight from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport with United Airlines.
Most travellers choose to book seats with United Airlines between ORD and DSM.
With 76.37% of services arriving as scheduled, United Airlines is the best performing carrier for punctuality on this route.
The journey from central Chicago to ORD takes about 55 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 40 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to O'Hare International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure gate:
74.85% of flights taking off from O'Hare International Airport arrive at their destination on time.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
With public transport, you can travel from central Chicago to MDW in around 45 minutes. The airport is roughly 19 kilometres away, and getting there by car will take approximately 20 minutes.
Flying off with the first light? You might like to check in to one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your Chicago to DSM flight:
77.88% of flights leaving Chicago Midway International Airport arrive according to schedule.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
From the centre of Chicago, RFD is around 137 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 25 minutes to get there by car and 4 hours 15 minutes or so if you use public transport.
Wake up, take it easy and still make your Chicago to Des Moines International Airport flight with plenty of time to spare. These accommodation options near Chicago Rockford International Airport make it a breeze to get to the terminal if you're setting off early:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that monitors how often flights touch down within the expected time frame. At RFD, that figure is 76.19%.
The street address of Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
About Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport. Check in to one of these accommodation options near DSM instead:
The address for DSM is 5800 Fleur Drive, Suite 201.
Getting from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to central Des Moines
The centre of Des Moines is roughly 6 kilometres from Des Moines International Airport. Travel times by car hire or cab will vary based on traffic conditions and time of day, so do some research ahead of your trip.
It takes around 45 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
At the moment, $150 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $290. Keep in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
To pick up cheap flights from Chicago to DSM, book in advance. Airlines usually offer lower prices when flights first go on sale.
Cheap Chicago to Des Moines International Airport tickets are easier to find if you're not locked into specific dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search tool to compare fares across every month and then fly out on the cheapest day.
Snapping up a cheap flight ticket from Chicago to DSM couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as there's a price drop.
Lock in a cheap flight from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport by using filters. Choose your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Picture the kind of break you want when planning the timing of your trip. April is the quietest month to go to Des Moines. July is when most people book flights from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport (DSM), which may be ideal if you're chasing more excitement.
When booking your Chicago to DSM flight ticket, consider the kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Des Moines, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC (59ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport in January when temperatures are between -13ºC (9ºF) and 2ºC (36ºF).
More about Des Moines
After booking your flight from Chicago to Des Moines International Airport, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Des Moines:
Your Des Moines visit won't be complete without checking out the sights. Major attractions you won't want to miss include Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Science Centre of Iowa & Blank IMAX Dome Theatre and State Historical Museum.
Explore more of the United States
Kansas City is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be explored once you've seen Des Moines. Around 290 kilometres away to the south, well-known attractions include Jazz 1, National WWI Museum and Memorial and Jazz Pantheon.
Around 193 kilometres west of Des Moines, Omaha is another favourite stop in the United States. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Kiewit Luminarium, Suzanne & Walter Scott Aquarium and OUR BODY: The Universe Within.
