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Washington, D.C.

$116+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Washington, D.C. (WAS)

DSM — WAS
Sep 21 — Sep 281
Mon 9/21
Mon 9/28
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. are usually found in February or December, booked 72 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Tuesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Thu 9/1011:29 am -
1 stop23h 42m
Mon 9/147:00 am -
1 stop13h 33m
Deal found 8/17$238
Thu 9/1711:29 am -
1 stop9h 30m
Mon 9/211:06 pm -
1 stop7h 27m
Deal found 8/17$241
Fri 10/238:25 pm -
1 stop19h 31m
Mon 11/27:00 am -
1 stop7h 56m
Deal found 8/17$251
Fri 9/188:30 pm -
1 stop24h 29m
Mon 9/211:06 pm -
1 stop7h 27m
Deal found 8/17$254
Fri 10/28:30 pm -
1 stop14h 41m
Mon 10/51:06 pm -
1 stop7h 27m
Deal found 8/20$260
Thu 10/111:29 am -
1 stop9h 30m
Mon 10/57:00 am -
1 stop13h 33m
Deal found 8/17$269
Fri 11/68:30 pm -
1 stop24h 20m
Sun 11/86:00 pm -
1 stop26h 35m
Deal found 8/21$272
Mon 10/126:25 am -
2 stops26h 52m
Wed 10/146:21 pm -
1 stop23h 31m
Deal found 8/17$278
Sun 9/2711:29 am -
1 stop23h 42m
Wed 9/307:00 am -
1 stop28h 44m
Deal found 8/18$279
Fri 9/258:30 pm -
1 stop24h 29m
Mon 9/287:00 am -
1 stop13h 33m
Deal found 8/17$282
Sun 10/113:54 pm -
1 stop20h 07m
Wed 10/1410:22 am -
2 stops29h 20m
Deal found 8/17$285
Fri 9/188:30 pm -
1 stop19h 29m
Sun 9/206:00 pm -
1 stop26h 33m
Deal found 8/21$291

Find flight deals from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$238
(Expedia)

One-way from

$116
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

November

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$401

Good round-trip deal

$417 or less

Good one-way deal

$395 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Washington, D.C. (WAS) flight deals.
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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)
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 1% potential increase in price ($5 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($9 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in August 2026
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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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Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
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 Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 11/2

10:22 am-4:51 pm

1 stop5h 29m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 11/5

6:10 am-9:42 am

1 stop4h 32m

$325

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Tue 10/13

11:27 am-5:43 pm

1 stop5h 16m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 10/21

5:29 pm-11:35 pm

1 stop7h 06m

$325

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Wed 10/21

3:00 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop5h 20m

Baltimore/Washington

Sat 10/31

7:45 am-11:50 am

1 stop5h 05m

$325

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Tue 10/13

3:00 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop5h 20m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 10/21

2:15 pm-9:55 pm

2 stops8h 40m

$330

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Mon 11/2

1:50 pm-5:45 am

1 stop14h 55m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 11/5

5:20 pm-11:00 pm

2 stops6h 40m

$336

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM Des Moines - DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Wed 10/21

3:00 pm-11:00 pm

1 stop7h 00m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Sat 10/31

1:00 pm-5:45 pm

1 stop5h 45m

$337

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Fri 11/6

4:01 pm-9:45 pm

1 stop4h 44m

Baltimore/Washington

Wed 11/11

8:05 am-2:13 pm

1 stop7h 08m

$338

Des MoinesBaltimore

DSM Des Moines - BWI Baltimore/Washington

DSMBWI

Des Moines

Fri 10/9

6:54 pm-1:01 am

1 stop5h 07m

Baltimore/Washington

Thu 10/15

6:10 am-9:42 am

1 stop4h 32m

$338

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM Des Moines - DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Thu 9/10

2:25 pm-11:55 pm

2 stops8h 30m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Mon 9/14

6:40 pm-10:15 pm

1 stop4h 35m

$342

Des MoinesWashington, D.C.

DSM Des Moines - DCA Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

DSMDCA

Des Moines

Wed 9/16

2:40 pm-11:55 pm

2 stops8h 15m

Washington, D.C. Reagan-National

Wed 9/23

2:10 pm-10:00 pm

2 stops8h 50m

$347

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/21

Showing 1-10 of 54 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

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 August.
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

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $386). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in July is currently the most expensive (average of $470). 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?

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.

Weekly flight availability from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.

The most flights from DSM to WAS are scheduled on a Monday (4 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.?

Airfare is below average for this route at the moment.
Des Moines to Washington, D.C. flights typically cost between $368 and $492 in September.
The cheapest round-trip price found within the last 5 days was $238 on Frontier (Sep 10-Sep 14).

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

About 20% of weekly flights between Des Moines and Washington, D.C. have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 69 minutes.

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

Historically, flights departing in the early afternoon 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?

Tuesday 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.

How far ahead should I book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

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 76 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.

Reviews of airlines servicing Washington, D.C.

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
4,214 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Libby,Jun 2026

TUS - LAS

One delay in a 2 layover flight=a good trip. The crew was great.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,214 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,214 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Libby,Jun 2026

TUS - LAS

One delay in a 2 layover flight=a good trip. The crew was great.
Delta
7.8
Good
8,518 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,214 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Libby,Jun 2026

TUS - LAS

One delay in a 2 layover flight=a good trip. The crew was great.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,988 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,214 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Libby,Jun 2026

TUS - LAS

One delay in a 2 layover flight=a good trip. The crew was great.
Frontier
5.6
Fair
2,657 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,214 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Libby,Jun 2026

TUS - LAS

One delay in a 2 layover flight=a good trip. The crew was great.

Related info for your journey

  • 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 3 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 5h 20m. Delta provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $325. 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 $278. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by American Airlines and Southwest, with the lowest prices starting at $327 and $357, respectively. These flights start at 35% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • What are the most popular routes from Des Moines to Washington, D.C.?

    While some choose either Des Moines - Washington, D.C. Reagan-National or Des Moines - Baltimore/Washington, Des Moines - Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl 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, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. (average of $386). Flying from Des Moines to Washington, D.C. in July is currently the most expensive (average of $470). 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
Owings Mills
Arlington
Tysons
Lanham
Reston
Herndon
Rockville
Hyattsville
Fredericksburg
Falls Church
Hanover
Laurel
Springfield
Oxon Hill
Clinton
Hunt Valley
Woodbridge
Silver Spring
Largo

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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

AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
DeltaCheapest$278Average$454FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$283Average$439FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$310Average$424FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$312Average$497FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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