City or town
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.
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 (12) · Food and drink (8) · With kids (7) · Wildlife (3) · Museums and art (2) · Temples (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 CapitolState capitol building of the U.S. state of Iowa1.8 km
- Des Moines Art CenterArt museum in Des Moines, Iowa5.1 km
- Basilica of St. JohnChurch in Iowa, United States3.0 km
- St. Ambrose CathedralChurch in Iowa, United States1.1 km
- Blank Park ZooNon-profit organization in the USA6.7 km
- Iowa State FairAnnual fair in Iowa, US6.3 km
- Des Moines BuildingHistoric building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States892 m
- David W. Smouse Opportunity SchoolHistory3.2 km
- Walnut Woods State ParkState park in Polk County, Iowa11 km
- Capt. Nicholas W. and Emma Johnson HouseHistoric building in Des Moines, Iowa3.1 km
- Fish and Game Pavilion and AquariumHistory5.6 km
- Edward B. and Nettie E. Evans HouseHistoric house in Iowa, United States3.3 km
- Heritage Carousel of Des MoinesPark in Polk County, Iowa, United States of America3.8 km
- James Sansom Carpenter HouseDes Moines, Iowa, NRHP-listed6.5 km
- Larnerd Case HouseDes Moines, Iowa, NRHP-listed6.3 km
- William W. and Elizabeth J. Ainsworth HouseUnited States historic place2.6 km
- 515 Brewing CompanyBrewery8.8 km
- Blue ZooWith kids · Wildlife15 km
- Cascade Falls Aquatic CenterWith kids15 km
- Court Avenue Brewing CompanyBrewery602 m
- Exile Brewing CompanyBrewery1.5 km
- Firetrucker BreweryBrewery17 km
- Gay Lea Wilson Trail WestHiking9.6 km
- George J. Nahas Aquatic CenterWith kids5.1 km
And the other 6, by what you come to do:
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.
- JanPossible9:18
- FebPossible10:23
- MarBest time11:40
- AprBest time13:08
- MayBest time14:21
- JunBest time15:00
- JulBest time14:44
- AugBest time13:41
- SepBest time12:16
- OctBest time10:51
- NovPossible9:37
- DecPossible9:00
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
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.
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, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Polk City6 places23 km
- Ames, Iowa9 places53 km
- Grinnell7 places77 km
- Ottumwa, Iowa7 places119 km
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa9 places168 km
- Iowa City, Iowa11 places174 km
And all of United States, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Des Moines, Iowa?
The best known: Iowa State Capitol, Des Moines Art Center, Basilica of St. John, St. Ambrose Cathedral, 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 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.
Keep reading
- United StatesBefore travelling to United States: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed, but you do need an electronic authorisation, the ESTA, applied…
- History4315 places for history in United States, from Empire State Building to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: March to October. Each with its own season by altitude and
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.