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$124+ 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 1/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
Dec 23 — Dec 301
Mon 12/23
Mon 12/30
1 adult, Economy
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The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in May 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 December 18, 2024.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$139
(Frontier)

One-way from

$124
(Frontier)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$367
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.
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From Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
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One-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS)
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High demand for flights, 6% potential price rise
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Best time to find cheap flights, 3% potential price drop
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Average for round-trip flights in December 2024
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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 December 18, 2024.

This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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 12/251:15 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop7h 12mDelta
Wed 1/16:00 amBWI - DSM
1 stop7h 25mDelta
Deal found 12/18$306
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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 12/185:15 pmDSM - IAD
1 stop5h 10mDelta
Sun 1/196:00 amIAD - DSM
1 stop4h 52mDelta
Deal found 12/18$312
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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.
Mon 12/232:39 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop20h 29mFrontier
Fri 1/37:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 39mFrontier
Deal found 12/18$328
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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.
Sun 12/226:25 amDSM - DCA
1 stop4h 11mDelta
Wed 12/258:20 amDCA - DSM
1 stop5h 05mDelta
Deal found 12/18$367
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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.
Sun 12/2211:58 amDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 01mAmerican Airlines
Wed 12/2511:59 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 25mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/17$387
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/16. 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.
Tue 12/244:10 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop4h 50mSouthwest
Thu 12/266:35 pmDCA - DSM
1 stop6h 20mSouthwest
Deal found 12/16$432
This Gotogate deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/17. 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 Gotogate is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/227:08 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop16h 51mFrontier
Sat 1/45:54 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop25h 24mFrontier
Deal found 12/17$447
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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 12/258:00 amDSM - BWI
1 stop7h 13mUnited Airlines
Tue 12/315:16 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 36mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/18$467
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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.
Sat 12/285:45 amDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 37mAmerican Airlines
Tue 1/75:26 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 39mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/18$536
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/16. 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.
Tue 12/244:10 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop3h 55mSouthwest
Thu 12/263:05 pmBWI - DSM
2 stops9h 50mSouthwest
Deal found 12/16$542
This United deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/18. 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 is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/1811:29 amDSM - IAD
1 stop6h 21mUnited Airlines
Sun 1/1912:35 pmIAD - DSM
2 stops10h 17mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/18$545
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/16. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/2010:52 amDSM - IAD
1 stop7h 12mMultiple Airlines
Mon 12/2312:40 pmIAD - DSM
3 stops33h 14mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/16$573

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 December 18, 2024.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Fri 1/24

10:57 am-6:17 pm

1 stop6h 20m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 1/30

9:20 pm-9:57 am

1 stop13h 37m

$139

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Mon 1/13

5:55 am-9:29 am

Nonstop2h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Wed 1/15

10:09 am-12:11 pm

Nonstop3h 02m

$296

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Sat 2/1

4:15 pm-10:35 pm

1 stop5h 20m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sat 2/8

10:30 am-5:12 pm

1 stop7h 42m

$302

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Sat 2/1

3:00 pm-11:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 2/8

12:29 pm-5:12 pm

1 stop5h 43m

$302

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Tue 1/21

3:28 pm-8:59 pm

1 stop4h 31m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Thu 1/23

1:00 pm-5:54 pm

1 stop5h 54m

$303

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Thu 1/16

5:33 am-12:56 pm

1 stop6h 23m

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 1/21

6:00 am-9:52 am

1 stop4h 52m

$315

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 2/3

2:41 pm-5:13 pm

2 stops25h 32m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 2/6

6:20 am-3:50 pm

1 stop10h 30m

$320

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Mon 12/23

2:39 pm-12:08 pm

1 stop20h 29m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Fri 1/3

7:00 am-1:39 pm

1 stop7h 39m

$328

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Mon 2/3

3:28 pm-9:01 pm

1 stop4h 33m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Thu 2/6

8:25 am-2:44 pm

1 stop7h 19m

$334

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Sat 1/18

3:20 pm-10:25 pm

1 stop6h 05m

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 1/21

6:40 am-12:20 pm

2 stops6h 40m

$341

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/17

Showing 1-10 of 29 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 December.
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 December 13, 2024.

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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $299). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in June is currently the most expensive (average of $377). 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 December 18, 2024.

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.

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 December 18, 2024.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Delta, American Airlines 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
4,848 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

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
4,848 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,848 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

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
8,604 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,848 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

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
9,055 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,848 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

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
4,848 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

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
3,479 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,848 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Comfort

8.1

Food

7.2

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 1 outbound flight 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 $139. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by American Airlines and Delta, with the lowest prices starting at $296 and $302, respectively. These flights start at 65% 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 ($124), Delta ($136), and American Airlines ($139).

  • 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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $299). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in June is currently the most expensive (average of $377). 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

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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 December 18, 2024.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$142Average$257FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$228Average$411FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$229Average$438FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$262Average$470FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$331Average$386FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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