Washington, D.C.

$100+ 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 5/24. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
Mar 30 — Apr 61
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1. Tell us where you want to go
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in May or December, booked 56 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday and return on a Saturday

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 March 25, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$232
(Mytrip)

One-way from

$100
(Mytrip)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$494

Good round-trip deal

$323 or less

Good one-way deal

$373 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flights.
From Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
One-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($19 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($11 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in March 2025
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS).
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS).

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 March 25, 2025.

This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Mon 4/77:30 amDSM - BWI
1 stop24h 45mMultiple Airlines
Wed 4/96:31 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop22h 38mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 3/24$232
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/23. 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.
Wed 5/216:35 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop5h 13mDelta
Tue 5/275:15 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop4h 31mDelta
Deal found 3/23$297
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Fri 3/288:17 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop14h 46mFrontier
Sun 3/307:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop13h 45mFrontier
Deal found 3/24$300
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Sat 6/282:17 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop8h 00mDelta
Wed 7/26:00 amIAD - DSM
1 stop4h 38mDelta
Deal found 3/24$303
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Fri 4/186:45 amDSM - DCA
Nonstop2h 28mAmerican Airlines
Sun 4/207:55 pmDCA - DSM
Nonstop2h 54mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 3/24$304
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Fri 4/187:20 amDSM - DCA
1 stop7h 50mDelta
Sun 4/206:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop5h 41mDelta
Deal found 3/24$319
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Wed 5/78:07 amDSM - BWI
1 stop5h 09mUnited Airlines
Wed 5/146:45 amBWI - DSM
2 stops10h 29mUnited Airlines
Deal found 3/24$320
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/23. 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.
Thu 5/225:30 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop5h 40mSouthwest
Tue 5/274:10 pmBWI - DSM
2 stops6h 55mSouthwest
Deal found 3/23$322
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Thu 5/298:30 amDSM - IAD
2 stops34h 47mMultiple Airlines
Mon 6/23:13 pmIAD - DSM
2 stops25h 23mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 3/24$336
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/23. 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.
Wed 5/76:45 amDSM - IAD
1 stop5h 37mAmerican Airlines
Wed 5/148:02 pmIAD - DSM
1 stop4h 56mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 3/23$343
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Sat 4/128:30 amDSM - DCA
2 stops11h 55mSouthwest
Tue 4/226:55 pmDCA - DSM
1 stop4h 10mSouthwest
Deal found 3/24$348
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/24. 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.
Sat 5/108:07 amDSM - DCA
2 stops10h 34mUnited Airlines
Wed 5/145:00 pmDCA - DSM
1 stop5h 52mUnited Airlines
Deal found 3/24$350

Cheapflights Fare Finder

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 March 25, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Washington, D.C.

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 4/7

7:30 am-9:15 am

1 stop24h 45m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 4/9

6:31 pm-4:09 pm

1 stop22h 38m

$232

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 5/21

6:30 am-12:29 pm

1 stop4h 59m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 5/28

4:47 pm-10:30 pm

1 stop6h 43m

$297

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Fri 4/18

6:45 am-10:13 am

Nonstop2h 28m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sun 4/20

7:55 pm-9:49 pm

Nonstop2h 54m

$304

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Wed 5/21

5:50 pm-10:54 pm

1 stop4h 04m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 5/28

6:00 am-10:41 am

1 stop5h 41m

$304

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Fri 4/18

8:17 pm-12:04 pm

1 stop14h 47m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sun 4/20

6:00 pm-7:19 pm

1 stop26h 19m

$317

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Fri 4/18

7:20 am-4:10 pm

1 stop7h 50m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sun 4/20

6:00 am-10:41 am

1 stop5h 41m

$319

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 5/7

8:07 am-2:16 pm

1 stop5h 09m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 5/14

6:45 am-4:14 pm

2 stops10h 29m

$320

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Thu 5/22

5:30 pm-12:10 am

1 stop5h 40m

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 5/27

4:10 pm-10:05 pm

2 stops6h 55m

$322

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Thu 5/29

8:30 am-8:17 pm

2 stops34h 47m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Mon 6/2

3:13 pm-3:36 pm

2 stops25h 23m

$336

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Wed 5/7

6:45 am-1:22 pm

1 stop5h 37m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Wed 5/14

8:02 pm-11:58 pm

1 stop4h 56m

$343

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/24

Showing 1-10 of 31 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 March.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice 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.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

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 March 21, 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 $387). 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 March 25, 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 at noon tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 64% 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 March 25, 2025.

The most flights from DSM to WAS are scheduled on a Monday (3 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (3 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 March 25, 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.

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.
8.0
Very good

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Ila,Mar 2025

HOU - DAL

Our original flight was delayed. We were able to change our flight and got home at close to the same time. Looking forward to when you have assigned seating.

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 3 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 Delta is currently your cheapest option to Washington, D.C., with prices starting at $297. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Frontier and American Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $300 and $304, respectively. These flights start at 26% 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 Allegiant Air ($100), American Airlines ($122), and Southwest ($122).

  • What are the most popular routes 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 $387). 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
Tysons
Springfield
Rockville
Woodbridge
Gaithersburg
Fredericksburg
Linthicum Heights
Silver Spring
Falls Church
Laurel
Easton
Herndon
Bowie
Gettysburg
National Harbor
Oxon Hill
Reston

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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 March 25, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$148Average$232FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$229Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$255Average$415FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$259Average$466FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$331Average$376FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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