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$85+ 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 11/17. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
ago. 23 — ago. 301
sáb. 8/23
sáb. 8/30
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in September or May, booked 71 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Tuesday and return on a Wednesday

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 agosto 18, 2025.

Round-trip from

$168
(Priceline)

One-way from

$85
(Priceline)

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$392

Good round-trip deal

$296 or less

Good one-way deal

$195 or less
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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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 1% potential increase in price ($5 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in August 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS).
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (WAS).
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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 agosto 18, 2025.

This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/17. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 9/262:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 34mFrontier
lun. 9/297:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/17$168
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 9/42:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 34mFrontier
dom. 9/77:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/16$184
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/17. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
lun. 10/202:39 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 20mFrontier
mié. 10/227:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 52mFrontier
Deal found 8/17$187
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
dom. 9/72:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop20h 45mFrontier
vie. 9/127:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$190
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 9/182:25 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop26h 17mFrontier
dom. 9/216:27 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop20h 13mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$193
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 9/262:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 34mFrontier
dom. 9/287:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/16$195
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/17. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
lun. 9/82:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop25h 34mFrontier
sáb. 9/131:00 pmDCA - DSM
1 stop25h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/17$196
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 9/112:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 34mFrontier
lun. 9/157:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/16$207
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 9/252:25 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop20h 45mFrontier
lun. 9/297:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 40mFrontier
Deal found 8/16$209
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/18. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 11/132:32 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop6h 27mFrontier
dom. 11/167:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 47mFrontier
Deal found 8/18$211
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 10/152:37 pmDSM - DCA
1 stop20h 27mFrontier
lun. 10/207:00 amDCA - DSM
1 stop7h 52mFrontier
Deal found 8/16$213
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
lun. 9/292:22 pmDSM - BWI
1 stop7h 01mMultiple Airlines
jue. 10/25:41 pmBWI - DSM
1 stop24h 33mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/16$220

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 agosto 18, 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

vie. 11/7

2:32 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 27m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

dom. 11/9

7:00 am-1:47 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$168

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

vie. 9/5

2:25 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

dom. 9/7

7:00 am-1:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$168

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

vie. 9/26

2:25 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

lun. 9/29

7:00 am-1:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$168

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

jue. 11/6

2:32 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 27m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

dom. 11/9

7:00 am-1:47 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$168

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

lun. 11/3

2:32 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 27m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

dom. 11/9

7:00 am-1:47 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$184

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

lun. 11/3

2:32 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 27m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

vie. 11/7

7:00 am-1:47 pm

1 stop7h 47m

$184

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

jue. 9/4

2:25 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

dom. 9/7

7:00 am-1:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$184

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

vie. 9/5

2:25 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

vie. 9/12

7:00 am-1:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$184

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

vie. 9/5

2:25 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

jue. 9/11

7:00 am-1:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$184

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

jue. 9/11

2:25 pm-9:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

lun. 9/15

7:00 am-1:40 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$184

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/18

Showing 1-10 of 56 results
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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 August 8, 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 71 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, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $302). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in April is currently the most expensive (average of $337). 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 agosto 18, 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 65% 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 agosto 18, 2025.

The most flights from DSM to WAS are scheduled on a Saturday (3 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (2 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.

St. Louis (STL) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $412.

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 19m.

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 0h 54m.

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 agosto 18, 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
4,246 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,925 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,246 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

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 6h 27m. Frontier provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $168. The distance between Des Moines and Washington, D.C. is about 895 mi.

  • 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 54% 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 ($85), 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 - Washington, D.C. Reagan-National, Des Moines - Baltimore/Washington 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, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $302). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in April is currently the most expensive (average of $337). 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
Woodbridge
Arlington
Alexandria
Tysons
Silver Spring
Springfield
Fredericksburg
Gaithersburg
Towson
Linthicum Heights
Fairfax
Manassas
Falls Church
Laurel
Rockville
Oxon Hill
National Harbor
Dundalk
Waldorf
Bowie

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 agosto 18, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$180Average$394FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$198Average$381FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$259Average$460FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$262Average$412FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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