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$61+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Washington, D.C. (WAS)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 3/19. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
feb. 25 — mar. 41
mar. 2/25
mar. 3/4
1 adult, Economy
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The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in December or May, booked 56 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to Washington, D.C. (WAS). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$150
(Frontier)

One-way from

$61
(Frontier)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

December

Average price

$393

Good round-trip deal

$362 or less

Good one-way deal

$233 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flight deals.
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Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flights.
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From Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($32 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($13 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in February 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS).
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS).
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Find flight deals from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on febrero 20, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
sáb. 3/87:57 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop9h 24mFrontier
lun. 3/1012:30 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop7h 47mFrontier
Deal found 2/20$150
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 3/53:46 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop6h 54mMultiple Airlines
mié. 3/127:00 amBWI - DSM
2 stops11h 33mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/19$240
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
sáb. 4/55:22 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop6h 14mDelta
mar. 4/83:00 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop7h 20mDelta
Deal found 2/20$297
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
sáb. 4/512:25 pmDSM - DCA
Nonstop2h 28mAmerican Airlines
mar. 4/810:00 amDCA - DSM
Nonstop2h 55mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/19$329
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 3/198:17 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop14h 46mFrontier
lun. 3/247:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop13h 17mFrontier
Deal found 2/20$330
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 4/48:00 amDSM - IAD
1 stop5h 11mUnited Airlines
lun. 4/73:30 pmIAD - DSM
1 stop7h 22mUnited Airlines
Deal found 2/20$331
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
dom. 3/302:07 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop7h 10mAmerican Airlines
mar. 4/17:30 amBWI - DSM
1 stop7h 17mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/19$332
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 4/36:35 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop4h 53mDelta
lun. 4/75:22 pmIAD - DSM
1 stop4h 24mDelta
Deal found 2/20$336
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mar. 3/116:20 amDSM - DCA
2 stops9h 15mSouthwest
jue. 3/138:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop4h 05mSouthwest
Deal found 2/19$344
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
sáb. 4/51:59 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop4h 42mAmerican Airlines
mar. 4/89:10 amIAD - DSM
1 stop5h 03mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/19$349
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 3/146:57 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop20h 57mFrontier
lun. 3/176:03 pmIAD - DSM
1 stop25h 45mFrontier
Deal found 2/20$350
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
lun. 4/75:59 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop4h 52mDelta
dom. 4/136:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop4h 37mDelta
Deal found 2/19$357

Find flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Washington, D.C.

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

sáb. 3/8

7:57 pm-6:21 am

1 stop9h 24m

Baltimore/Washington

lun. 3/10

12:30 pm-7:17 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$150

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

mié. 3/5

3:46 pm-11:40 pm

1 stop6h 54m

Baltimore/Washington

mié. 3/12

7:00 am-5:33 pm

2 stops11h 33m

$240

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

sáb. 4/5

5:22 pm-12:36 am

1 stop6h 14m

Baltimore/Washington

mar. 4/8

3:00 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop7h 20m

$297

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

sáb. 4/5

12:25 pm-3:53 pm

Nonstop2h 28m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

mar. 4/8

10:00 am-11:55 am

Nonstop2h 55m

$329

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

mié. 3/19

8:17 pm-12:03 pm

1 stop14h 46m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

lun. 3/24

7:00 am-7:17 pm

1 stop13h 17m

$330

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

vie. 4/4

8:00 am-2:11 pm

1 stop5h 11m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

lun. 4/7

3:30 pm-9:52 pm

1 stop7h 22m

$331

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

dom. 3/30

2:07 pm-10:17 pm

1 stop7h 10m

Baltimore/Washington

mar. 4/1

7:30 am-1:47 pm

1 stop7h 17m

$332

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

jue. 4/3

6:35 pm-12:28 am

1 stop4h 53m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

lun. 4/7

5:22 pm-8:46 pm

1 stop4h 24m

$336

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

mar. 3/11

6:20 am-4:35 pm

2 stops9h 15m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

jue. 3/13

8:00 am-11:05 am

1 stop4h 05m

$344

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

sáb. 4/5

1:59 pm-7:41 pm

1 stop4h 42m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

mar. 4/8

9:10 am-1:13 pm

1 stop5h 03m

$349

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/18

Showing 1-10 of 36 results
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Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-Washington, D.C. flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Des Moines-Washington, D.C. flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-Washington, D.C. flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-Washington, D.C. flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Washington, D.C. from Des Moines with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Travel insights for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

How far ahead should I book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. Price data was last updated on February 14, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C., you should look to book at least 56 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $309). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in June is currently the most expensive (average of $389). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from DSM to WAS?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the morning tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 65% on airfare.

Weekly flight availability from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Explore weekly flight availability from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

The most flights from DSM to WAS are scheduled on a Monday (3 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

Rainfall in Washington, D.C. by month

Plan your trip to Washington, D.C. by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Washington, D.C. ranges from 2.6 - 4.0 inches per month. May is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.0 in. February is typically the driest time to visit Washington, D.C. when rainfall is around 2.6 in.

Temperature in Washington, D.C. by month

Plan your trip to Washington, D.C. by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Washington, D.C., use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 80.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 35.6 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing Washington, D.C.

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Washington, D.C.. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Washington, D.C.. Reviews last updated febrero 20, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest, Delta and United Airlines from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Delta
8.0
Very good
8,220 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,766 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Allegiant Air
7.3
Good
765 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Feb 2025

MCO - STL

Cancelled at last minute, SWA unable to assist in formulating alternate plans. Wound up renting a car and driving 13 hours to beat bad weather forecast at home. Not SWA’s fault that there was significant bad weather across the country.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    Des Moines (DSM), located 3.6 mi from the city center, is the airport you fly out of when you book flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. 5 airlines have flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. on a regular basis. Booking flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. should not be difficult; the airport handles an average of 2 outbound flights to Washington, D.C. per day.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. round-trip?

    Flying on Frontier is currently your cheapest option to Washington, D.C., with prices starting at $150. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Delta and American Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $297 and $329, respectively. These flights start at 62% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are Frontier ($61), American Airlines ($127), and Delta ($137).

  • What are the most popular routes from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    While some choose either Des Moines - Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl or Des Moines - Baltimore/Washington, Des Moines - Washington, D.C. Reagan-National is the most popular route from Des Moines to Washington, D.C..

  • Can I find deals for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Des Moines to Washington, D.C. flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C..

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $309). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in June is currently the most expensive (average of $389). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Arlington
Alexandria
Fairfax
Springfield
Rockville
Tysons
Gaithersburg
Silver Spring
Fredericksburg
Linthicum Heights
Laurel
Falls Church
Woodbridge
Easton
Herndon
Bowie
Reston
National Harbor
Oxon Hill
Gettysburg

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 5 airlines flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$148Average$257FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$229Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$262Average$476FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$273Average$417FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$331Average$376FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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