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Washington, D.C.

$70+ 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 5/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — WAS
May 10 — May 171
Sun 5/10
Sun 5/17
1 adult, Economy
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Find cheap flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. with Cheapflights

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 February, booked 90 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Saturday and return on a Tuesday

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 April 10, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/7. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/107:45 am
DSM
-
BWI
1 stop8h 22m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 5/134:33 pm
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop23h 42m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/7$231
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/8. 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.
Thu 4/307:00 am
DSM
-
BWI
1 stop23h 11m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 5/36:35 am
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop8h 11m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/8$237
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 4/267:00 am
DSM
-
BWI
1 stop23h 11m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 5/291:10 pm
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop11h 14m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/9$245
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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 5/253:57 pm
DSM
-
BWI
1 stop30h 32m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 5/291:10 pm
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop11h 14m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/6$247
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/7. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/293:57 pm
DSM
-
BWI
1 stop19h 18m
Multiple Airlines
Sun 5/317:27 pm
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop28h 57m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/7$249
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/8. 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.
Sun 4/267:00 am
DSM
-
BWI
1 stop15h 54m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 5/279:13 pm
BWI
-
DSM
2 stops51h 11m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/8$251
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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.
Sun 5/244:41 pm
DSM
-
BWI
2 stops44h 50m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 5/291:10 pm
BWI
-
DSM
1 stop11h 14m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/6$266
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/2511:00 am
DSM
-
IAD
1 stop22h 22m
Multiple Airlines
Sat 5/237:27 pm
IAD
-
DSM
1 stop14h 26m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/9$297
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/5. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 6/255:02 pm
DSM
-
IAD
1 stop23h 57m
Allegiant Air
Mon 6/294:27 pm
IAD
-
DSM
1 stop23h 39m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 4/5$299
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/2410:23 am
DSM
-
IAD
1 stop20h 04m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 5/276:22 pm
IAD
-
DSM
2 stops29h 09m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/9$305
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/6. 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.
Fri 5/82:16 pm
DSM
-
DCA
1 stop21h 43m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 5/117:00 am
DCA
-
DSM
2 stops16h 57m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/6$310
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/9. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 6/74:01 pm
DSM
-
IAD
1 stop25h 00m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 6/1212:32 pm
IAD
-
DSM
1 stop11h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/9$311

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 April 10, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$231
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$70
(Frontier)

Popular in

November

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$455

Good round-trip deal

$397 or less

Good one-way deal

$213 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 ($2 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 April 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 April 10, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Thu 5/28

6:00 am-1:57 pm

1 stop6h 57m

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 6/2

6:10 am-10:27 am

1 stop5h 17m

$345

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 5/6

5:30 am-12:00 pm

1 stop5h 30m

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 5/9

6:50 am-11:30 am

1 stop5h 40m

$346

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Thu 5/28

6:15 am-11:43 am

1 stop4h 28m

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 6/2

8:00 am-1:37 pm

1 stop6h 37m

$350

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Thu 5/21

4:20 pm-12:15 am

1 stop6h 55m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 5/28

6:05 am-11:45 am

1 stop6h 40m

$365

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - IAD

DSMIAD

Des Moines

Thu 5/28

9:34 pm-8:12 am

1 stop9h 38m

Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl

Tue 6/2

5:30 pm-9:27 pm

2 stops52h 57m

$366

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Fri 6/12

6:39 pm-12:58 am

1 stop5h 19m

Baltimore/Washington

Tue 6/16

5:32 am-10:43 am

1 stop6h 11m

$371

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 6/22

6:39 pm-12:58 am

1 stop5h 19m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 6/24

6:08 am-9:43 am

1 stop4h 35m

$371

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 5/6

5:30 am-12:00 pm

1 stop5h 30m

Baltimore/Washington

Fri 5/8

2:40 pm-9:55 pm

1 stop8h 15m

$371

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM - BWI

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 6/22

4:40 pm-11:45 pm

1 stop6h 05m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 6/24

3:20 pm-10:45 pm

2 stops8h 25m

$376

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM - DCA

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Tue 6/2

5:30 am-11:05 am

1 stop4h 35m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Tue 8/11

4:35 pm-9:55 pm

1 stop6h 20m

$377

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 4/9

Showing 1-10 of 58 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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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 April.
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 April 9, 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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $192). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February is currently the most expensive (average of $354). 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 April 10, 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.

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 April 10, 2026.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest,Delta, andAmerican 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
4,334 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,334 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,334 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,399 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,334 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,564 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,334 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

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 4h 28m. United Airlines provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $350. 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 Delta is currently your cheapest option to Washington, D.C., with prices starting at $174. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Southwest and American Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $234 and $293, respectively. These flights start at 58% 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 ($99), Southwest ($129), and American Airlines ($162).

  • 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 $192). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in February is currently the most expensive (average of $354). 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
Owings Mills
Springfield
Arlington
Silver Spring
Herndon
Hyattsville
Hanover
Laurel
Rockville
Upper Marlboro
Largo
Bowie
Clinton
Towson
Cordova
Manassas
Falls Church

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 April 10, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
DeltaCheapest$174Average$384FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$198Average$402FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$238Average$457FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$270Average$408FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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