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Washington, D.C.

$80+ 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 5/4. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
Mar 11 — Mar 181
Wed 3/11
Wed 3/18
1 adult, Economy
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1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

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3. Compare prices and book

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in May or August, booked 90 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday and return on a Saturday

Cheap 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 February 9, 2026.

This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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 2/237:17 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop25h 42m
Frontier
Fri 2/278:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop12h 04m
Frontier
Deal found 2/7$171
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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 4/172:20 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop6h 39m
Frontier
Mon 4/207:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop7h 29m
Frontier
Deal found 2/7$181
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/9. 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.
Sun 2/227:45 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop16h 15m
Frontier
Wed 2/252:00 pm
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop29h 42m
Frontier
Deal found 2/9$192
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/242:20 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop6h 39m
Frontier
Mon 4/277:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop7h 29m
Frontier
Deal found 2/7$202
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/8. 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 5/82:20 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop6h 39m
Frontier
Sun 5/106:00 pm
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop20h 29m
Frontier
Deal found 2/8$213
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/8. 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 3/75:00 am
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop8h 41m
American Airlines
Sat 3/143:21 pm
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop8h 13m
American Airlines
Deal found 2/8$253
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/8. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/258:21 pm
DSM
-
BWI
2 stops27h 20m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/17:12 pm
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop28h 39m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 2/8$258
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/9. 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.
Thu 2/197:32 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop16h 43m
Frontier
Mon 2/238:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop11h 32m
Frontier
Deal found 2/9$261
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/6. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/27:17 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop25h 42m
Frontier
Thu 3/58:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop11h 42m
Frontier
Deal found 2/6$264
This Orbitz deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/5. 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 Orbitz is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/202:20 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop25h 39m
Frontier
Fri 4/247:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop7h 29m
Frontier
Deal found 2/5$270
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/8. 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 5/12:20 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop6h 39m
Frontier
Mon 5/47:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop7h 29m
Frontier
Deal found 2/8$271
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/7. 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 2/215:10 am
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop5h 30m
Southwest
Mon 2/236:35 pm
DCA
-
DSM
1 stop4h 55m
Southwest
Deal found 2/7$277

Find 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 February 9, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$171
(CheapOair)

One-way from

$80
(Frontier)

Popular in

November

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$392

Good round-trip deal

$379 or less

Good one-way deal

$239 or less
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
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 3% potential increase in price ($13 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($11 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in February 2026
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).
Search Deals

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 February 9, 2026.
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 MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Fri 4/17

2:20 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 39m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Mon 4/20

7:00 am-1:29 pm

1 stop7h 29m

$181

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 3/25

8:21 pm-12:41 am

2 stops27h 20m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 4/1

7:12 pm-10:51 pm

1 stop28h 39m

$258

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Sat 2/21

5:10 am-11:40 am

1 stop5h 30m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Mon 2/23

6:35 pm-10:30 pm

1 stop4h 55m

$277

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Sat 3/7

5:00 am-2:41 pm

1 stop8h 41m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sat 3/14

9:59 am-11:54 am

Nonstop2h 55m

$290

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Thu 3/5

10:04 am-6:04 pm

1 stop7h 00m

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 3/7

5:00 am-1:05 pm

1 stop9h 05m

$297

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Sat 4/18

8:56 am-7:03 pm

1 stop9h 07m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Tue 4/21

6:42 am-12:52 pm

1 stop7h 10m

$300

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Wed 3/11

8:21 pm-1:02 pm

1 stop15h 41m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sun 3/15

6:00 pm-7:16 pm

1 stop26h 16m

$310

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Sat 2/14

5:10 am-11:40 am

1 stop5h 30m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sun 2/15

6:35 pm-10:15 pm

1 stop4h 40m

$313

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 4/15

5:45 pm-10:57 pm

1 stop4h 12m

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 4/18

6:03 am-9:54 am

1 stop4h 51m

$317

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 3/25

3:40 pm-8:25 pm

1 stop3h 45m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 4/1

1:55 pm-8:50 pm

1 stop7h 55m

$317

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/9

Showing 1-10 of 55 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

*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 February 6, 2026.

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 90 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, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $177). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February is currently the most expensive (average of $357). 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 February 9, 2026.

When flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C., the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

How often are flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. delayed?

About 25% of weekly flights between Des Moines and Washington, D.C. have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 85 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Des Moines to Washington, D.C. flights?

Historically, flights departing at night are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Monday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Friday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Des Moines to Washington, D.C. flights?

Over the last year, TezJet have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 100% of flights being delayed.

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 February 9, 2026.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Delta
7.9
Good
8,174 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,259 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,258 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,282 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

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.. 4 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.

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    A quick flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. can take about 5h 30m. Frontier provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $277. The distance between Des Moines and Washington, D.C. is about 895 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

  • 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 $151. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by United Airlines and Southwest, with the lowest prices starting at $166 and $234, respectively. These flights start at 63% 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 Delta ($114), Southwest ($144), and United Airlines ($172).

  • 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, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $177). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February is currently the most expensive (average of $357). 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 Washington, D.C.?

Book flights to Washington, D.C. if you plan to visit one of these locations
Alexandria
Woodbridge
Tysons
Arlington
Owings Mills
Springfield
Silver Spring
Herndon
Fredericksburg
Hanover
Laurel
Linthicum Heights
Rockville
Upper Marlboro
Manassas
Bowie
Largo
McLean
Clinton
Towson

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Top 4 airlines flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Discover the top 4 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 February 9, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
DeltaCheapest$151Average$397FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$166Average$440FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$198Average$394FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$270Average$417FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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