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$65+ 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 1/31. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
Jan 21 — Jan 281
Tue 1/21
Tue 1/28
1 adult, Economy
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The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in December or February, booked 56 days in advance, depart on a Saturday or Tuesday 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 January 16, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$150
(Frontier)

One-way from

$65
(Frontier)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

December

Average price

$481
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flights.
Search Deals
From Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
Search Deals
High demand for flights, 7% potential price rise
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Best time to find cheap flights, 2% potential price drop
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Average for round-trip flights in January 2025
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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 January 16, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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.
Fri 2/147:17 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop11h 04mFrontier
Fri 2/218:21 amBWI - DSM
1 stop10h 56mFrontier
Deal found 1/15$150
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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.
Wed 2/263:39 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop17h 04mMultiple Airlines
Fri 2/2810:48 amBWI - DSM
2 stops13h 37mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 1/15$255
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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 2/198:00 amDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 53mUnited Airlines
Sat 2/226:30 amBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 07mUnited Airlines
Deal found 1/15$292
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/16. 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.
Tue 2/45:30 amDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 47mAmerican Airlines
Wed 2/1211:51 amBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 43mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/16$297
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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.
Tue 3/111:00 pmDSM - DCA
Nonstop2h 24mAmerican Airlines
Tue 3/1810:11 amDCA - DSM
Nonstop3h 08mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/15$323
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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 2/265:55 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 58mDelta
Fri 2/286:00 amBWI - DSM
1 stop4h 49mDelta
Deal found 1/15$332
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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 2/1911:29 amDSM - IAD
1 stop6h 32mUnited Airlines
Sat 2/225:25 pmIAD - DSM
1 stop5h 00mUnited Airlines
Deal found 1/15$343
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/16. 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.
Fri 4/117:00 amDSM - BWI
2 stops10h 00mSouthwest
Wed 4/161:30 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop7h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 1/16$347
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/16. 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 3/18:00 amDSM - DCA
1 stop5h 09mUnited Airlines
Tue 3/411:30 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 01mUnited Airlines
Deal found 1/16$353
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/16. 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 3/111:30 amDSM - IAD
1 stop4h 32mDelta
Tue 3/186:00 amIAD - DSM
1 stop4h 41mDelta
Deal found 1/16$353
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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.
Wed 2/264:00 pmDSM - DCA
2 stops6h 05mSouthwest
Fri 2/282:45 pmDCA - DSM
2 stops9h 50mSouthwest
Deal found 1/15$372
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/15. 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 1/312:06 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop4h 29mAmerican Airlines
Tue 2/49:11 amIAD - DSM
1 stop5h 25mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/15$380

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 January 16, 2025.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Fri 2/14

7:17 pm-7:21 am

1 stop11h 04m

Baltimore/Washington

Fri 2/21

8:21 am-6:17 pm

1 stop10h 56m

$150

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 2/26

3:39 pm-9:43 am

1 stop17h 04m

Baltimore/Washington

Fri 2/28

10:48 am-11:25 pm

2 stops13h 37m

$255

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 2/19

8:00 am-1:53 pm

1 stop4h 53m

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 2/22

6:30 am-10:37 am

1 stop5h 07m

$292

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Tue 2/4

2:06 pm-7:57 pm

1 stop4h 51m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 2/12

5:26 pm-10:05 pm

1 stop5h 39m

$297

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Tue 3/11

1:00 pm-4:24 pm

Nonstop2h 24m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Tue 3/18

10:11 am-12:19 pm

Nonstop3h 08m

$323

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 2/26

6:30 am-11:41 am

1 stop4h 11m

Baltimore/Washington

Sun 3/2

6:00 am-11:31 am

1 stop6h 31m

$337

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Wed 2/19

11:29 am-7:01 pm

1 stop6h 32m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 2/22

5:25 pm-9:25 pm

1 stop5h 00m

$343

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Fri 4/11

7:00 am-6:00 pm

2 stops10h 00m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 4/16

1:30 pm-7:55 pm

1 stop7h 25m

$347

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Sat 3/1

11:30 am-5:02 pm

1 stop4h 32m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Tue 3/18

6:00 am-9:41 am

1 stop4h 41m

$353

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Sat 3/1

8:00 am-2:09 pm

1 stop5h 09m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Tue 3/4

11:30 am-5:31 pm

1 stop7h 01m

$353

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/15

Showing 1-10 of 33 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 January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy2 starsTrust 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 January 10, 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 $241). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in March is currently the most expensive (average of $290). 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 January 16, 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 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 January 16, 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 January 16, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with United Airlines, American Airlines and Frontier 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
4,659 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.7

Reviews

1 / 10

We BARELY made the connection and when we got onboard we were treated like disobedient children who should have arrived earlier because we had to ask other passengers to move so we could sit with our kids. The flight attendants on the first flight were nice but the second one, they were snippy and fairly rude.

Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,659 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,659 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.7

Reviews

1 / 10

We BARELY made the connection and when we got onboard we were treated like disobedient children who should have arrived earlier because we had to ask other passengers to move so we could sit with our kids. The flight attendants on the first flight were nice but the second one, they were snippy and fairly rude.

Delta
8.0
Very good
8,511 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,659 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.7

Reviews

1 / 10

We BARELY made the connection and when we got onboard we were treated like disobedient children who should have arrived earlier because we had to ask other passengers to move so we could sit with our kids. The flight attendants on the first flight were nice but the second one, they were snippy and fairly rude.

United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,965 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,659 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.7

Reviews

1 / 10

We BARELY made the connection and when we got onboard we were treated like disobedient children who should have arrived earlier because we had to ask other passengers to move so we could sit with our kids. The flight attendants on the first flight were nice but the second one, they were snippy and fairly rude.

American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,659 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.7

Reviews

1 / 10

We BARELY made the connection and when we got onboard we were treated like disobedient children who should have arrived earlier because we had to ask other passengers to move so we could sit with our kids. The flight attendants on the first flight were nice but the second one, they were snippy and fairly rude.

Frontier
6.1
Okay
3,435 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,659 reviews

Crew

8.7

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.7

Reviews

1 / 10

We BARELY made the connection and when we got onboard we were treated like disobedient children who should have arrived earlier because we had to ask other passengers to move so we could sit with our kids. The flight attendants on the first flight were nice but the second one, they were snippy and fairly rude.

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 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 United Airlines and American Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $292 and $297, 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 ($65), American Airlines ($139), and Delta ($149).

  • 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 $241). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in March is currently the most expensive (average of $290). 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
Fairfax
Arlington
Alexandria
Springfield
Silver Spring
Rockville
Tysons
Gaithersburg
Fredericksburg
Linthicum Heights
Laurel
Falls Church
Greenbelt
Easton
Oxon Hill
Herndon
Woodbridge
Bowie
Reston
National Harbor

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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 January 16, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$142Average$257FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$229Average$428FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$255Average$414FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$262Average$471FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$331Average$386FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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