Getting Around Des Moines
Parking, the skywalk, bike share, DART and the airport. Fares carry their source and check date.
Know your dates? Pick your dates and see what's on each day.
Parking & ParkDSM
The city runs the public garages downtown, and the ParkDSM app shows where they are and lets you pay from your phone. We don't keep our own garage list: we couldn't check one against the city's, and rates and hours change, so the app and the sign at the entrance are the ones to trust.
City of Des Moines parkingSkywalk System
The Des Moines Skywalk is a network of enclosed, climate-controlled walkways connecting buildings across downtown. It is free and open to the public. It matters most in an Iowa winter.
- Hours: There is no single schedule: each building sets its own hours, so some segments close in the evening and on weekends. If a door is locked, the street is the way through.
- Connects: hotels, parking garages, restaurants, offices, the Iowa Events Center and the Des Moines Civic Center
- Getting in: look for the “Skywalk” signs at building entrances
BCycle Bike Share
Des Moines BCycle runs bike share stations downtown and in nearby neighborhoods, handy for short trips and the trail system.
Pricing and passes are set by BCycle and change; the BCycle site and app show current rates before you unlock a bike.
BCycle websiteRideshare
Both Uber and Lyft operate throughout the Des Moines metro. Waits are usually shortest downtown and longer in the suburbs. Fares move with demand, so check the app for a live quote rather than a printed range.
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is on the south side of the city, 4.2 mi straight line from downtown; the drive is longer.
Getting downtown
- Uber and Lyft: Pick up at the arrivals curb. The app quotes the fare before you book.
- Taxi: Ask for the fare to your hotel before you set off; it is not a flat rate.
- Hotel shuttles: Some hotels run one. Ask when you book rather than assuming.
- Rental cars: Counters are at the airport.
- DART bus: DART buses serve the airport. Check ridedart.com for the route that runs there now; it costs the regular DART one-trip fare.
For airlines and nonstop destinations, see flydsm.com.
Public Transit (DART)
DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit) operates bus routes across the metro, with real-time tracking and mobile fare payment in the MyDART app.
- One trip: $1.75 (regular fare)
- Half fare: $0.75 (seniors, riders with disabilities, Medicare)
- Day pass: $4 (unlimited trips)
- Weekly pass: $16
- Monthly pass: $48
Distances From Downtown
Measured in a straight line from downtown Des Moines, so the road is always further. For a bus trip, DART's trip planner has the route and the time.
| Place | From downtown |
|---|---|
| East Village | 0.7 mi straight line |
| Ingersoll | 1.8 mi straight line |
| Des Moines International Airport (DSM) | 4.2 mi straight line |
| Windsor Heights | 4.4 mi straight line |
| Valley Junction | 4.6 mi straight line |
| Clive | 5.2 mi straight line |
| Urbandale | 5.3 mi straight line |
| West Des Moines | 6.2 mi straight line |
| Johnston | 7.0 mi straight line |
| Altoona | 9.2 mi straight line |
| Ankeny | 10.0 mi straight line |
| Waukee | 13.5 mi straight line |
Plan around where you're going
- Parking for tonight's events: see what's on tonight, then pick the nearest garage above.
- Hotels near Casey's Center at the Iowa Events Center, nearest first.
- Events at Casey's Center and the Iowa Events Center
- Events at the Des Moines Civic Center
- Plan a trip for your dates: what's on each day you're here.
- All Des Moines hotels
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there Uber in Des Moines?
Yes. Both Uber and Lyft operate throughout the Des Moines metro area. Waits are usually shortest downtown and longer in the suburbs; check the app for a live estimate.
Where should I park downtown?
Downtown Des Moines has multiple parking garages, and the ParkDSM app lets you pay from your phone. Rates and street-parking hours change, so confirm posted signage or the app before you leave the car.
Does Des Moines have a subway?
No, Des Moines does not have a subway or light rail system. The city is served by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit) buses. Check ridedart.com for current routes and schedules.
How do I get from the airport to downtown?
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is on the south side of the city, 4.2 mi straight line from downtown; the drive is longer. Options include Uber and Lyft, Taxi, Hotel shuttles, Rental cars, and the bus. DART buses serve the airport. Check ridedart.com for the route that runs there now; it costs the regular DART one-trip fare.
What is the Des Moines Skywalk?
The Des Moines Skywalk is a network of enclosed, climate-controlled walkways connecting buildings across downtown. It is free and open to the public. There is no single schedule: each building sets its own hours, so some segments close in the evening and on weekends. If a door is locked, the street is the way through.