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DSMKDSM

Des Moines International Airport

Des Moines, US

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Des Moines International Airport

Des Moines, United States · North America

Iowa’s capital field put 3.25 million passengers through one TSA and 13 gates in 2025: easy when the 5 a.m. bank is quiet, no lounge, and the city bus no longer comes to the curb.

Airportist Score

6.9/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.5
Comfort & amenities7.3
Food & retail7.3
Ground access6.6
Reliability6.8
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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DSMKDSMMinor

Des Moines International Airport

Des Moines, United States · North America

Iowa’s capital field put 3.25 million passengers through one TSA and 13 gates in 2025: easy when the 5 a.m. bank is quiet, no lounge, and the city bus no longer comes to the curb.

Airportist Score

6.9/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.5
Comfort & amenities7.3
Food & retail7.3
Ground access6.6
Reliability6.8
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare DSM with another airport

Arrive
2 h
before departure
Typical security
12 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
About 15 minutes to downtown, 25–40 to the western suburbs
Uber / Lyft
Cheapest to city
No live terminal bus
Not printed on the airport page · Not a curb product today — HIRTA is pre-booked regional
On time
74%
of departures
Terminals
1
terminal, 2 concourses (A1–A5 / C1–C7), 1 TSA

DSM security wait times

5 photos

DSMGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Checkpoint opens 03:45 — budget the official 90 minutes to 2 hours

TSA opens at 3:45 a.m. and stays open until the last departure. Official arrive is 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Quick Facts: busiest hour is 5 a.m., busiest weekday Friday. Holiday copy asks for extra ticketing time. There is no official live wait tile. PreCheck is real; official pages do not print PreCheck lane hours.

Layout

One TSA, then A1–A5 left and C1–C7 right

After screening you walk Concourse A or Concourse C on the same sterile side — wrong gate is a walk, not a reclear.

Southwest’s ticket counter is the south end near bag claim; everyone else is north. Allegiant has no lobby kiosk. Official pages do not print a gate-by-airline card — confirm the FIDS.

Food

Seven kitchens, none of them a lounge

Portermill, Arugula & Rye, and Friedrichs sit just after TSA. Coffee & Bar / A Bar cover the far gates.

Berk & Chesters is landside and prints a limited menu; Saturday close is 15:30. Official amenities still say “three full-service restaurants” — trust the seven-name dining card.

Status

The new terminal is January 2027 — you are still in the 1948 building

LiftDSM Phase 1A is on track for January 2027. Today’s 13 gates and one checkpoint are still the live product.

Homepage says six new gates on the existing 13; the LiftDSM page says seven on the existing 12. Cite both. Phase 1B East (four more gates) is 2028–29. TSA Gold+ is only “exploring” — not live.

Live conditions

Right now at DSM

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Iowa trips that already picked one of the six live airlines
Drivers using EZ-PICKUP or the $7 Red / $8 Grey economy lots
Travelers who will eat at Portermill or Friedrichs after the single checkpoint

Watch out for

No passenger lounge and no Priority Pass
DART’s June 2026 network dropped the terminal — official Route 8 copy is leftover
Uber/Lyft pickup is in the garage, not at the curb
The new terminal is January 2027; you are still in the 1948/1970 building

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.3

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.3

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

6.6

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

6.8

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

2.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

3.25 million (CY 2025 official)

Terminals

1 terminal, 2 concourses (A1–A5 / C1–C7), 1 TSA

On-time departures

74%

Typical security

12 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for DSM.

Updated Sep 12, 2026

Official 13 Jan 2026 recap / 2026 Quick Facts PDF: CY 2025 **3,254,107** passengers (+2.4% vs official 2024 **3,176,952**). Third straight year over 3 million. June 2025 **316,703** (busiest month); 1 Dec 2025 **7,155** (busiest day). FAA prelim CY 2025 enplanements **1,596,784** (rank 85, +2.66% vs 1,555,454) is a different extract — do not mix.
One civil campus at **5800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321**. Owner / operator **Des Moines Airport Authority**. CEO / AirNav manager **Brian Mulcahy**. Admin / lost-and-found **515-256-5100** / **airinfo@dsmairport.com**. Parking SP+ **515-256-5038**. Wheelchair G2 **515-256-5500**. Conference / board **Mary Benson, 515-256-5100 / msbenson@dsmairport.com**. Board: 2nd Tuesday 09:00 CT.
Official airline-information page (12 Sep 2026), **six** names: **Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United**. Homepage **35** nonstops vs **34** named destination cards plus a live **Atlanta (ATL)** Delta card — use the named list. **STL ended 4 Mar 2026** (Southwest). **Do not add Spirit / Avelo / Sun Country / Air Canada**.
**One TSA** (official security/dining/amenities all say “the checkpoint”), then **Concourse A (A1–A5)** and **Concourse C (C1–C7)** on the same sterile side. Checkpoint **03:45 until the last departure**. Official arrive **90 minutes to 2 hours**. **No CLEAR** on official pages. **No passenger lounge.** Live Priority Pass USA (12 Sep 2026) does **not** include DSM.
`lib/airports.json`: IATA **DSM**, ICAO **KDSM**, 41.534066, −93.660948, America/Chicago. AirNav elev **957.9 ft**, 3 mi SW; 41.5339728, −93.6630722. RWY **5/23 9,004×150**, **13/31 9,001×150**. Iowa ANG **132nd Wing** sits on the field. **Do not create a second airport for KDSM or an ANGB page.** **Do not merge CID (Eastern Iowa / Cedar Rapids).**
No scheduled international passenger airline. Official 2025 recap’s Aer Lingus Dublin trip was an **Iowa State charter**, not a published card. AirNav / CBP: user-fee landing-rights for GA — CBP sheet **Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00**, AirNav **Mon–Fri 08:30–17:00**, weekend/night by appointment. Cite both. **Do not invent GE kiosks at the checkpoint.**

21 official sources

https://www.flydsm.com/
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/flights-and-travel/airline-information
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/flights-and-travel/nonstop-destinations
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/traveler-info/tsa-security
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/traveler-info/tsa-security/tsa-precheck-global-entry
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/traveler-info/check-in-information
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/traveler-info/lost-found
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/dining
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/parking
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/services-amenities
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/accessibility
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/ground-transportation/rental-cars
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/ground-transportation/ride-share-taxis
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/ground-transportation/buses-paratransit
https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/ground-transportation/hotel-shuttles
https://www.flydsm.com/lift-dsm
https://www.flydsm.com/airport-business/news/dsm-reflects-on-a-defining-year-of-growth-records-set-and-transformation-in-2025
https://www.airnav.com/airport/KDSM
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america
https://www.ridedart.com/bus-routes/
https://aviationdb.com/Aviation/OTP/Destination-OTP-2025.shtm

Full guide

Explore the DSM guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Des Moines International Airport and the Des Moines city center
City center
View Map
Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / LyftCheapest: No live terminal bus
View Getting There
Lounges
No passenger lounge. Official dining / amenities have none. American’s own DSM page: clubs not available. Live Priority Pass USA does not include DSM. “The Club DSM / Escape / Aspire” are fiction.
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
One checkpoint, then both concourses. Wrong letter is a walk, not a reclear.
11 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
One TSA, two concourses
View Amenities
Water
Where to refill for free, and where a bottle costs the least airside.
4 spots
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Des Moines International Airport and the Des Moines city center

This airport DSM
City center Des Moines

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil building (opened 1950 on a 1933 field; present concourses 1970). Ticketing / TSA / gates up; bags / GT / most family restrooms down. 13 gates on the 2026 Quick Facts card: A1–A5 and C1–C7. There is no Concourse B.
One TSA, then A left / C right on the same sterile walk. Official pages do not print a gate-by-airline card. Wikipedia assigns A to Allegiant / Southwest / United and C to American / Delta / Frontier — confirm the FIDS.
Southwest ticket counter: south end near bag claim. Other counters: north end. Allegiant: no kiosk. Self-bag-tag: all airlines except Allegiant and Southwest.
Nursing: Mamava immediately after TSA, across from the DSM Police Desk (UnityPoint).
Family restrooms: landside across from Southwest / bags; airside C7 (adult changing table) and downstairs at A5 (child table only).
Pet relief: outside, north of the skywalk by the parking garage (fenced, fake hydrant). No airside pet area on the official card. Pets in carriers; ticketed passengers only.
ATMs: official FAQ two — ground level and concourse/gate level, both near restaurants.
SmarteCarte at bag claim: $6 + $1 deposit.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Live parking card (12 Sep 2026; do not use the 2026 Quick Facts PDF rates — those still print garage daily $20, Blue $12, Red $8, Grey $7): Hourly garage first 2 hours free, then $2/hour / $48/day. Daily garage $2/hour / $21/day. Blue $14/day card-only, ~10 min shuttle. Red $7/day card-only, ~15 min shuttle. Grey $8/day card-only, ~10 min shuttle. All economy lots $2/hour until the daily cap.
Shuttles 24/7. Grey route vs Blue-Red route — ride the same color back. Track on the official shuttle page. 60 consecutive days max; longer stays call SP+ 515-256-5038. No official coupons. Jump-starts: not for hybrid/EV.
EZ-PICKUP: hourly garage numbered stalls, 2 hours free, stay with the car, text the stall to the passenger. After 2 hours, $2/hour. Parking page leftover “20 minutes free” on the security page is stale.
Cell lot: official south of the airport, free, stay with the car. Curb is active load/unload only.
Uber/Lyft: drop-off at the entrance. Pickup inside the parking garage at the dedicated Ride App EZ Pickup stalls (WHO 13: left of the private EZ-PICKUP row). Do not wait on the arrivals curb.
Taxis: outside bag claim. Official list: Yellow Cab 515-282-8111. No official tariff. Named limos on the same card if you booked one.
Rentals: RCC opened 10 Jun 2026, 2540 Leland Ave. Free shuttle outside bag claim, ~4 minutes, about every 10 minutes, 24/7. Official brands: Alamo 515-256-5353, Avis 515-256-5623, Budget 515-287-2612, Enterprise, Hertz, National 515-256-5353, Payless. Do not assume Dollar / Thrifty / Sixt. Locals may drive to the RCC.
Buses: official leftover DART Route 8 / 515-283-8100. Live DART network from 14 Jun 2026 is Route 8 Watrous and does not list the terminal. HIRTA 877-686-0029 is pre-booked regional, not a curb bus. Greyhound / Jefferson / Trailways / Windstar are off-campus.

Ride to Des Moines

Pickup at DSM. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Des Moines city center for a live price.

To city center

Des Moines

~6.6 km

Typical fare

See app

Live quotes open in the ride app

On-demand apps

Uber → city Lyft → city

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Des Moines — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Hourly garage / economy lots

Live card: hourly first 2 hours free, then $2/hr / $48 day. Daily garage $21. Blue $14, Grey $8, Red $7.

Time to city

Walk the skywalk or shuttle; about 15 minutes to downtown once you leave the campus

Cost

$7–$21/day economy or daily garage; $48 only if you stay in hourly overnight

Tip: Trust the live parking card, not the Quick Facts PDF. EZ-PICKUP is the 2-hour free meet. Cell lot is south of the airport.

FastestBest for luggage

Uber / Lyft

Drop-off at the entrance curb. Pickup inside the garage at Ride App EZ Pickup.

Time to city

About 15 minutes to downtown, 25–40 to the western suburbs

Cost

App price; official pages do not print a flat

Tip: Follow garage signs to the Ride App stalls, left of private EZ-PICKUP. Do not wait on arrivals.

Yellow Cab at bag claim

Official list: Yellow Cab 515-282-8111 outside baggage claim.

Time to city

About 15 minutes to downtown

Cost

Meter; official pages do not print a tariff

Tip: Ask before the trunk closes. Named limos are pre-booked, not a curb rank.

Cheapest

No live terminal bus

Official leftover DART Route 8. Live DART from 14 Jun 2026 does not list the terminal.

Time to city

Not a curb product today — HIRTA is pre-booked regional

Cost

Not printed on the airport page

Tip: Do not wait at bag claim for Route 8. Closest live DART 8 Watrous landmarks are Fleur grocery stops, not the terminal doors.

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

No passenger lounge. Official dining / amenities have none. American’s own DSM page: clubs not available. Live Priority Pass USA does not include DSM. “The Club DSM / Escape / Aspire” are fiction.
Live restaurants (12 Sep 2026): Berk & Chesters landside 10:30–17:00, Saturday to 15:30, limited menu. Friedrichs Coffee after TSA 04:00–30 min before last departure. Arugula & Rye left past the police desk 04:30–30 min before last. Portermill straight ahead 05:00–30 min before last (Iowa beers / wine / cocktails). Mill Supply Co. start of A from 05:00. Coffee & Bar on C 04:00–30 min before last C departure (alcohol Mon–Sat 06:00, Sunday 08:00). A Bar on A 04:00–30 min before last A3/A4/A5.
Hudson airside (Tech On The Go / 5th & Sunset + self-serve kiosk). Official pages do not print individual shop hours.
Wi-Fi: official FAQ SSID DSM Free Wi-Fi via Boingo. Amenities also mention Verizon 5G for Verizon customers.
Official pages do not map bottle fillers and do not print bottle prices.

excellent

One TSA, two concourses

Accessibility

One checkpoint from 03:45, then A1–A5 and C1–C7 on the same sterile walk. Southwest check-in is the south end near bags.

basic

No passenger lounge

Has Lounge

Official dining cards and the live Priority Pass USA list have no DSM club. The Cloud Room is a rentable conference room. LiftDSM’s lounge rendering is 2027.

good

Seven airside and landside kitchens

Food

Portermill, Arugula & Rye, Friedrichs, Mill Supply, Coffee & Bar, A Bar, and landside Berk & Chesters. Amenities copy that still says “three restaurants” is leftover.

good

DSM Free Wi-Fi

Fast WiFi

Official FAQ: unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi on SSID DSM Free Wi-Fi via Boingo. Amenities also mention Verizon 5G for Verizon customers.

good

Mamava, sunflower, family restrooms

Family Friendly

Mamava just after TSA across from the police desk. Family rooms at bags, C7 (adult table), and downstairs A5. Pet relief is landside by the garage only.

good

EZ-PICKUP + new RCC

Easy Transport

Two free hours in the hourly garage if you stay with the car. Rental Car Center at 2540 Leland Ave since 10 Jun 2026; free 4-minute shuttle from bags.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

One checkpoint, then both concourses. Wrong letter is a walk, not a reclear.
Southwest check-in is the south end near bag claim. Everyone else is north. Allegiant has no lobby kiosk and no self-bag-tag. No curbside check-in.
Eat from the seven-name dining card, not the amenities sentence that still says “three full-service restaurants.”
There is no passenger lounge. Live Priority Pass USA (12 Sep 2026) lists CHS / COS / GRR / GSP / XNA / SYR / TUL / PVD and the large hubs — not DSM. Aggregator “The Club DSM / Escape DSM” is fiction. The LiftDSM rendering labeled “Lounge | Post-Security” is a 2027 space.
Pickup: EZ-PICKUP in the hourly garage (2 hours free, stay with the car, text the stall number) or the free cell lot south of the airport. Uber/Lyft pickup is inside the garage at the Ride App EZ Pickup stalls — not the front curb. Drop-off is still the entrance curb.
The official buses page still names DART Route 8. DART’s 14 Jun 2026 network replaced that with Route 8 Watrous (Fleur Cash Saver / Fareway / Southgate / SE 14th Hy-Vee) and does not list a terminal stop. Do not wait at bag claim for a city bus.
Fill or buy water at Friedrichs / Arugula / Hudson. Official pages do not map bottle-fill stations.

01

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Use the official 90-minute to 2-hour clock, especially at 05:00

Checkpoint opens 03:45. Quick Facts: 5 a.m. is the busiest hour.

PreCheck yes, no printed lane clock. No CLEAR. Global Entry interviews are Tue–Thu 12:00–16:00 — not a TSA machine. REAL ID since 7 May 2025. Ticketed passengers only.

Pro

One checkpoint, then every gate is a walk.

Watch-out

There is no official wait tile, so do not trust a third-party 5-minute claim.

02

FoodTraveler Tips & Hacks

Walk straight to Portermill or left to Arugula after TSA

Friedrichs from 04:00; Arugula 04:30; Portermill 05:00. Far-gate bars from 04:00.

Berk & Chesters is landside and limited. Saturday landside bar closes 15:30. Official pages do not map bottle fillers.

Pro

Iowa beer on tap at Portermill if the bank is long.

Watch-out

No lounge if you wanted a sit-down club instead of a restaurant.

03

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Pickup is in the garage; the city bus is gone

EZ-PICKUP or Ride App stalls inside the hourly garage. Red lot $7 / Grey $8.

Official DART Route 8 copy is leftover after the 14 Jun 2026 network. Yellow Cab at bag claim; no printed tariff. RCC shuttle from bags, not the old counters.

Pro

First two hours in the hourly garage are free if you stay with the car.

Watch-out

Do not wait on the arrivals curb for Uber, family, or a DART bus.

04

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

There is no passenger lounge

Live Priority Pass USA does not list DSM. Official dining cards have no club.

Do not buy a third-party Club DSM or Escape DSM pass. The Cloud Room is a rented meeting room. Spend the wait at Portermill or Friedrichs.

Pro

Nothing to chase — plan food on the sterile side.

Watch-out

Long sit with no shower and no day-pass club until the 2027 building.

Best quality

Friedrichs Coffee bottled water

Immediately after the TSA checkpoint

Buy a bottleMain terminalairside

Opens 04:00 and closes 30 minutes before the last departure. Official pages do not print a bottle price.

Price: posted register price

Arugula & Rye / Portermill bottled water

Just after TSA — Arugula & Rye left past the police desk; Portermill straight ahead

Buy a bottleMain terminalairside

Arugula from 04:30; Portermill from 05:00. Both close 30 minutes before the last departure.

Price: posted register price

Mill Supply Co. / Coffee & Bar / A Bar bottled water

Mill Supply at the start of A; A Bar for A3–A5; Coffee & Bar on C

Buy a bottleConcourses A and Cairside

Closer if you are already at the far gates. Official pages do not print a bottle price.

Price: posted register price

Best value

Hudson / Berk & Chesters bottled water

Hudson airside (self-serve kiosk) and Berk & Chesters landside

Buy a bottleMain terminallandside

Landside option 10:30–17:00 (Saturday to 15:30) if you are not through TSA yet. Official pages do not map bottle-fill stations.

Price: posted register price

Entry requirements

United States (US)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for United States.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Published alerts

Editorial profile notes — not a live alert feed. Live operations are on Overview and in the panel below.

Published alerts

Typical operations snapshot — editorial, not live news. File dated Sep 12, 2026.

Minor

No passenger lounge; live Priority Pass USA does not list DSMDART June 2026 network dropped the terminal; official Route 8 copy is leftoverLiftDSM terminal is still January 2027; roads and curb are in construction

Typical delay mix from the same editorial snapshot — not a live feed. Current operations are on Overview.

Typical departure delays18 min · 24%

Typical arrival delays18 min · 24%

Typical cancellations0 min · 2.2%

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

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