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Washington, D.C.

$95+ 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 10/30. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
Nov 22 — Nov 291
Sat 11/22
Sat 11/29
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in May or November, booked 90 days in advance, depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

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 October 23, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/21. 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 10/312:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 27mFrontier
Mon 11/38:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop6h 47mFrontier
Deal found 10/21$176
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/20. 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.
Thu 10/302:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 27mFrontier
Mon 11/38:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop6h 47mFrontier
Deal found 10/20$179
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/23. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 11/22:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop25h 27mFrontier
Thu 11/66:00 pmDCA - DSM
1 stop20h 47mFrontier
Deal found 10/23$188
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/22. 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 11/72:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 27mFrontier
Sun 11/98:15 amDCA - DSM
1 stop6h 32mFrontier
Deal found 10/22$192
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/22. 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.
Thu 10/302:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 27mFrontier
Fri 10/318:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop6h 47mFrontier
Deal found 10/22$199
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/21. 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 11/102:32 pmDSM - BWI
2 stops21h 23mMultiple Airlines
Wed 11/129:36 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop13h 24mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/21$207
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/22. 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.
Mon 11/32:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 27mFrontier
Fri 11/78:15 amDCA - DSM
1 stop6h 32mFrontier
Deal found 10/22$208
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/22. 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 12/66:00 amDSM - DCA
Nonstop2h 29mAmerican Airlines
Sat 12/138:00 pmDCA - DSM
Nonstop3h 05mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 10/22$231
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/21. 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 12/94:15 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop3h 45mSouthwest
Thu 12/117:10 amBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 15mSouthwest
Deal found 10/21$248
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/21. 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 12/87:58 pmDSM - IAD
2 stops17h 31mMultiple Airlines
Fri 12/129:20 pmIAD - DSM
1 stop13h 28mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/21$249
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/22. 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 12/65:35 amDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 30mAmerican Airlines
Sat 12/137:29 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 16mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 10/22$250
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/22. 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 12/611:23 amDSM - BWI
1 stop4h 51mDelta
Sat 12/136:00 amBWI - DSM
1 stop5h 38mDelta
Deal found 10/22$251

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 October 23, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$176
(Frontier)

One-way from

$95
(Priceline)

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$377

Good round-trip deal

$406 or less

Good one-way deal

$168 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. 0% potential increase in price ($3 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in October 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).
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 October 23, 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 MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Mon 11/3

2:32 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 27m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Fri 11/7

8:15 am-1:47 pm

1 stop6h 32m

$208

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 1/12

11:09 am-11:38 pm

1 stop11h 29m

Baltimore/Washington

Fri 1/16

6:00 am-7:31 pm

2 stops14h 31m

$221

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Tue 12/9

4:15 pm-9:00 pm

1 stop3h 45m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 12/11

7:10 am-11:25 am

1 stop5h 15m

$248

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Sat 12/6

3:00 pm-10:08 pm

1 stop6h 08m

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 12/13

10:47 am-4:58 pm

1 stop7h 11m

$251

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Sat 12/6

11:23 am-5:00 pm

1 stop4h 37m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Sat 12/13

9:00 am-2:12 pm

1 stop6h 12m

$251

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 11/12

10:55 am-8:34 am

1 stop20h 39m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 11/13

4:55 pm-9:18 am

2 stops17h 23m

$259

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Fri 12/5

7:58 pm-4:59 pm

1 stop20h 01m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Fri 12/12

8:00 am-7:03 pm

1 stop12h 03m

$266

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Tue 12/9

5:34 am-12:42 pm

1 stop6h 08m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Thu 12/11

6:02 am-9:40 am

1 stop4h 38m

$268

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Wed 1/7

11:04 am-7:15 pm

1 stop7h 11m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Mon 1/12

6:00 am-9:30 am

1 stop4h 30m

$268

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Wed 1/7

7:00 am-1:55 pm

1 stop5h 55m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Mon 1/12

6:10 am-9:30 am

1 stop4h 20m

$268

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 10/22

Showing 1-10 of 57 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 October.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust 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 October 17, 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 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 $184). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February is currently the most expensive (average of $326). 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 October 23, 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 afternoon tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 55% 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 October 23, 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).

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

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

St. Louis (STL) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 75% of 1-stop itineraries from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C., chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Chicago (ORD) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $387.

What’s the fastest layover option from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C., based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Chicago (ORD) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 4h 29m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C., chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Chicago (ORD) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 04m.

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 October 23, 2025.
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
4,236 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Mike,Aug 2025

OKC - AUS

AC was not adequate, even on a night flight. WiFi subpar even for the airlines
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,236 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,236 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Mike,Aug 2025

OKC - AUS

AC was not adequate, even on a night flight. WiFi subpar even for the airlines
Delta
7.9
Good
7,982 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,236 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Mike,Aug 2025

OKC - AUS

AC was not adequate, even on a night flight. WiFi subpar even for the airlines
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,995 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,236 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Mike,Aug 2025

OKC - AUS

AC was not adequate, even on a night flight. WiFi subpar even for the airlines
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,032 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,236 reviews

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Mike,Aug 2025

OKC - AUS

AC was not adequate, even on a night flight. WiFi subpar even for the airlines

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 2 outbound flights 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 3h 45m. Frontier provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $248. The distance between Des Moines and Washington, D.C. is about 907 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 Southwest is currently your cheapest option to Washington, D.C., with prices starting at $180. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Delta and United Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $198 and $259, respectively. These flights start at 55% 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 ($101), Southwest ($122), and Delta ($126).

  • 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 $184). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February is currently the most expensive (average of $326). 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
Springfield
Silver Spring
Hanover
Gaithersburg
Fredericksburg
Fairfax
Linthicum Heights
Falls Church
Owings Mills
Manassas
Largo
Oxon Hill
Laurel
Towson
National Harbor
Waldorf

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 October 23, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$180Average$398FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$198Average$383FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$259Average$435FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$270Average$418FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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