# Things to see in Des Moines, Iowa (United States): 30 places and when to go

> Des Moines, Iowa is a city in United States with around 381,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 30 places in and around it, mainly History (12), Food and drink (8), With kids (7). The best known are Iowa State Capitol, Des Moines Art Center and Basilica of St. John. The best time to come is March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 15 h of daylight, and in December, 9 h. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/des-moines/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **Where:** United States · 41.58, -93.62
- **Population:** About 381,000
- **Places:** 30 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- **What people come for:** [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/) (12) · [Food and drink](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/gastronomia/) (8) · [With kids](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/familia/) (7) · [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/fauna/) (3) · [Museums and art](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/museos/) (2) · [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/espiritual/) (2)
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Also possible:** November to February.
- **Nearest airport:** ORD Chicago, 476 km as the crow flies

## What to see in Des Moines, Iowa

The places in and around Des Moines, Iowa, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.

- [Iowa State Capitol](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/iowa-state-capitol/): State capitol building of the U.S. state of Iowa · 1.8 km
- [Des Moines Art Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/des-moines-art-center/): Art museum in Des Moines, Iowa · 5.1 km
- [Basilica of St. John](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/basilica-of-saint-john/): Church in Iowa, United States · 3.0 km
- [St. Ambrose Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/saint-ambrose-cathedral/): Church in Iowa, United States · 1.1 km
- [Blank Park Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/blank-park-zoo/): Non-profit organization in the USA · 6.7 km
- [Iowa State Fair](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/richard-l-easter-museum-complex/): Annual fair in Iowa, US · 6.3 km
- [Des Moines Building](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/des-moines-building/): Historic building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States · 892 m
- [David W. Smouse Opportunity School](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/smouse-opportunity-center/): History · 3.2 km
- [Walnut Woods State Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/walnut-woods-state-park/): State park in Polk County, Iowa · 11 km
- [Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma Johnson House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/capt-nicholas-w-and-emma-johnson-house/): Historic building in Des Moines, Iowa · 3.1 km
- [Fish and Game Pavilion and Aquarium](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/dnr-building/): History · 5.6 km
- [Edward B. and Nettie E. Evans House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/edward-b-and-nettie-e-evans-house/): Historic house in Iowa, United States · 3.3 km
- [Heritage Carousel of Des Moines](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/heritage-carousel-of-des-moines/): Park in Polk County, Iowa, United States of America · 3.8 km
- [James Sansom Carpenter House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/james-sansom-carpenter-house/): Des Moines, Iowa, NRHP-listed · 6.5 km
- [Larnerd Case House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/larnerd-case-house/): Des Moines, Iowa, NRHP-listed · 6.3 km
- [William W. and Elizabeth J. Ainsworth House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/william-w-and-elizabeth-j-ainsworth-house/): United States historic place · 2.6 km
- [515 Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/515-brewing-company/): Brewery · 8.8 km
- [Blue Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/blue-zoo/): With kids · Wildlife · 15 km
- [Cascade Falls Aquatic Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/cascade-falls-aquatic-center/): With kids · 15 km
- [Court Avenue Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/court-avenue-brewing-company/): Brewery · 602 m
- [Exile Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/exile-brewing-company/): Brewery · 1.5 km
- [Firetrucker Brewery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/firetrucker-brewery/): Brewery · 17 km
- [Gay Lea Wilson Trail West](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/gay-lea-wilson-trail-west/): Hiking · 9.6 km
- [George J. Nahas Aquatic Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/george-j-nahas-aquatic-center/): With kids · 5.1 km

And the other 6, by what you come to do:

- **With kids**: [Living History Farms](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/living-history-farms/), [Teachout Aquatic Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/teachout-aquatic-center/)
- **Food and drink**: [Lua Brewing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/lua-brewing/), [Red Boot Distillery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/red-boot-distillery/), [T12 Distillery @ The Foundary (formerly Foundry Distilling Co.)](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/t12-distillery-the-foundary-formerly-foundry-distilling-co/), [Twisted Vine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/twisted-vine/)

## When to go to Des Moines, Iowa

The best time to visit Des Moines, Iowa is **March to October**; also possible: November to February. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 18 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 23 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 40 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 08 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 21 |
| June | Best time | 15 h |
| July | Best time | 14 h 44 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 41 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 16 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 51 |
| November | Possible | 9 h 37 |
| December | Possible | 9 h |

In June there are 15 h of daylight, and in December, 9 h. In April, 30 of the 30 places are at their best.

When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir).

## Getting to Des Moines, Iowa

The nearest main airport is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD, Chicago), 476 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse), and what to sort out before you leave is in [its checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=41.58%2C-93.62)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.58%2C-93.62)

## Other towns nearby

- [Polk City](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/polk-city/): 6 places · 23 km
- [Ames, Iowa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/ames/): 9 places · 53 km
- [Grinnell](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/grinnell/): 7 places · 77 km
- [Ottumwa, Iowa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/ottumwa/): 7 places · 119 km
- [Cedar Rapids, Iowa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/cedar-rapids/): 9 places · 168 km
- [Iowa City, Iowa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/iowa-city/): 11 places · 174 km

And all of United States, in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is there to see in Des Moines, Iowa?

The best known: [Iowa State Capitol](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/iowa-state-capitol/), [Des Moines Art Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/des-moines-art-center/), [Basilica of St. John](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/basilica-of-saint-john/), [St. Ambrose Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/saint-ambrose-cathedral/), [Blank Park Zoo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/blank-park-zoo/). In all, 30 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.

### When is the best time to visit Des Moines, Iowa?

March to October; also possible: November to February. In June there are 15 h of daylight, and in December, 9 h.

### How do you get to Des Moines, Iowa?

The nearest main airport is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 476 km away. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=41.58%2C-93.62) opens the route on the map.

### How do I add it to my trip?

Create a trip with Des Moines, Iowa as the destination and these 30 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright), licensed under the ODbL, from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0, cities from [Natural Earth](https://www.naturalearthdata.com/) and airports from [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).