Des Moines Destination Guide
City of Des Moines
Des Moines is the capital and largest city in the state of Iowa and with a population of approximately 200,000, is the financial, industrial, political, and
retail hub of the state. Situated at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, Des Moines has vibrant neighborhoods like the East Village
and Historic Valley Junction; educational institutions such as Drake University and
Des Moines University and is the headquarters for numerous financial and over 60 insurance companies. Des Moines it is one of the top three
centers for insurance companies in the world, has distinguished architecture like the state capitol building, governor’s mansion and the preserved
historic homes of the past centuries and is a city on the rise.
Initially established as a military garrison in 1843, Fort Des Moines was opened to settlers two year later and became the city of Des Moines in 1857
and the state capitol in 1858. Long past its days as strictly a cornfield and farming community, Des Moines today offers an exciting mix of urban city
life set in the midst of the heartland of America.
The city’s residents enjoy a low cost of living and employment offered by companies such as the Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo, ING Group,
and Marsh. In fact, Forbes Magazine ranked Des Moines as the “Fourth Best Place for Business" in 2007.
When the weather changes people make use of downtown’s 3.5 miles skywalk system, allowing them to move between buildings without going
outside.
Residents and visitors alike experience the cultural and recreational activities that abound in the area - the galleries, shops, and restaurants of its
downtown neighborhoods including the city’s original Farmers Market; attractions such as the Des Moines Art Center, the Des Moines Botanical
Center, the Fort Des Moines Museum and Educational Center, and the Science Center of Iowa; recreational areas like Big Creek State Park and the
Chichaqua Valley Trail, the architecture of the State Capitol Building and the history within; and the areas fairs and festivals including the Des Moines
Arts Festival, Iowa State Fair, National Hot Air Balloon Classic, and Pella Tulip Time Festival. Sports fans enjoy the annual Drake Relays and the
home games of the Iowa Cubs baseball team, the hockey Iowa Stars, car racing at Knoxville Raceway and the Iowa Speedway, and the collegiate
sports teams of Drake University.
If you are planning a visit to the area, most visitors come in the summer time when the weather is warm. The milder weather seasons of spring and fall
also are pleasant times to visit. Regardless of when you visit, the people of Des Moines will welcome you to their city to enjoy and experience the
many attractions and activities the Des Moines area has to offer.
Des Moines Travel
Air:
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Des Moines International Airport (DSM), situated five miles south of downtown Des Moines on Fleur Drive, is the commercial airport for Des Moines
and the surrounding community. The single terminal, two-concourse airport is served by eight airlines offering non-stop flights to over 15 destinations
and connecting service to destinations around the world. Carriers currently offering flights at Des Moines International Airport include Allegiant Air (Las
Vegas, Orlando, Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg), American Eagle (Chicago, Dallas, New York City, St. Louis), Comair-Delta Connection (Cincinnati,
Atlanta, and Salt Lake City ), Continental Express (Houston), Midwest (Milwaukee), Northwest (Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis, Washington D.C.),
United Airlines (Denver and Chicago O'Hare), and US Airways (Phoenix).
Airport Services: Des Moines International Airport offers its passengers and guests numerous services including fee-based Wi-Fi available
throughout the airport; a Business Center, providing work stations, telephone service, computer ports and Internet access open 5am-10pm; a free cell
phone lot, located by the economy parking area, for those waiting for arriving passengers; 24 hour short and long-term and economy parking with
ample handicapped spaces; pre and post security ATM’s; several restaurants and cafes including the Capital City Brew Pub and a full food court; gift
shops; and baggage and ticketing on the lower level of the terminal. There are no hotels or gym facilities on the airport grounds. The Holiday Inn
Airport Hotel is within a quarter mile of the airport and the South Suburban YMCA, 401 East Army Post Road and only a 10 minute taxi ride from the
airport, offers a $10 all-day pass.
Airport Transportation: There are multiple transportation options for traveling between Des Moines International Airport and the city and surrounding
communities.
Bus: Des Moines Area Transit Authority (DART) runs Route #90, the Airport South Business Park Express, to and from the airport Monday through
Friday. Fare is $1.50. CyRide provides bus service to Ames on a daily basis (except major holidays). Fare is $12.
Shuttle Van/Shared Ride: No independent services operate at the airport. Numerous limousine companies offer pre-arranged pick-up and drop-off
Taxi: Capitol Cab and Yellow Cab are licensed operators at DSM. Taxi fare to downtown Des Moines is approximately $20-$25.
Train: There is no train or light rail service to MDT.
Rental Car:
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Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty all operate at Des Moines Airport. Rental car desks are on the lower level next to
the baggage claim area.
Alternative Airport: ">Omaha’s Eppley Airfield (OMA), 130 miles west of Des Moines, is the nearest commercial airport to Des Moines. ExpressJet,
Frontier, and Southwest airlines, which do not serve Des Moines International Airport, offer arriving and departing service at Omaha.
Train: The nearest Amtrak station and service is in Osceola, 48 miles south of Des Moines. Amtrak’s California Zephyr, traveling between San
Francisco and Chicago, stops at Osceola’s Amtrak Station at Main & East Clay Streets.
Bus: Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Trailways serve Des Moines and connect the city to most destinations in the country. The bus terminal is
located in downtown Des Moines at 1107 Keosauqua Way.
Car: Des Moines is easily reached via two major Interstate highways. I-80 runs east-west from Teaneck, New Jersey (outside New York City) to its
terminus in San Francisco, California. I-35 runs north-south from Duluth, Minnesota to its terminus in Laredo, Texas. Both Interstates connect to I-235
on the outskirts of Des Moines. I-235 routes directly through downtown Des Moines.
Getting Around Des Moines: The automobile is the preferred means of transportation in and around the Des Moines area. Des Moines Area Transit
Authority (DART), the local bus system serving Des Moines may serve your needs especially if you are only traveling in the downtown area. The city’s
three-and-one-half mile skywalk system is one of the largest skywalk systems in the world and links downtown entertainment, meeting facilities, hotels,
restaurants, and shopping. Taxi service is available but in nearly all cases you will need to request your cab by phone.
Des Moines Lodging
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The city of Des Moines and the surrounding area welcomes visitors with a variety of lodging options ranging from luxury properties such as the
downtown
Renaissance Savery Hotel and the Historic Hotel Fort Des Moines; full-service properties like the Marriott Des Moines; popular brands like the Quality
Inn and Suites Events Center; and B&B’s and Inns such as The Cottage near Drake University.
The downtown area is the heart of Des Moines and accommodations here will have you close to many businesses, entertainment, restaurants and
shopping. Along with the Renaissance Savery Hotel and the Hotel Fort Des Moines, additional downtown accommodation choices include the Marriott
Des Moines Downtown on Grand Avenue (connected directly to the Iowa Events Center and Wells Fargo Arena), Embassy Suites on the River,
Holiday Inn Downtown, Holiday Inn Express at Drake, and the Quality Inn and Suites Events Center. If you are interested in downtown B&B and Inns,
The Cottage, a 1929 Georgian home and Butler House, a restored 1923 Tudor mansion, are both located near Drake University.
Hotel choices in the northwest of Des Moines, including Grimes, Johnston, and Urbana, include lodgings like the Ramada Northwest - Des Moines,
Holiday Inn, Quality Inn & Suites, and the Stoney Creek Inn Conference Center. North Des Moines, including the Alkeny area, is home to over
half-a-dozen properties such as Best Western, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Red Roof Inn & Suites. East of the city, Altoona offers
the Heartland Inn, Howard Johnson Express, and Settle Inn and Suites.
If you are looking for a quick getaway, and prefer to stay by the airport, the closest properties to DSM include the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn Hotel
– only a quarter mile from the airport and the Comfort Inn Des Moines, Hampton Inn Airport, Heartland Inn Des Moines, Radisson Hotel Des Moines,
and Super 8 Des Moines, all within one-half mile Des Moines International Airport.
The accommodation options mentioned are just a sample of the many choices available to you in the Des Moines area. Be sure to check our hotel
booking page for properties available for the dates you will be visiting Des Moines or any of the communities in the Des Moines area.
Des Moines Restaurants
The diverse culture of Greater Des Moines is reflected in its vast assortment of restaurants and eateries. Des Moines cuisine styles run the gamut from
wholesome, comfort foods to haute cuisine; American to international; corn-fed beef to vegetarian.
The East Village and
Historic Valley Junction offer numerous fine dining and cafe experiences. In the East Village try the Continental and Lucca for great meals in a trendy
but comfortable environment.
Across the river, to the west, the highly rated 801 Steak & Chop House at 801 Grand Avenue is famous for its classic and rich food as well as the
business and celebrity clients who eat there. Forty Three Restaurant and Wine Bar – a French brasserie at1000 Walnut Street, is located in the
historic Hotel Fort Des Moines. For a complete change of pace, Buzzard Billy’s Flying Carp Cafe, 100 Court Avenue, offers Cajun and Creole fare with
authentic pop culture memorabilia.
Truly memorable dining can be experienced at
Trostel's Greenbriar, 5810 Merle Hay Road in Johnston, just northwest of the city. The Des Moines Register awarded the restaurant with 4-stars. Main
menu items at Trostel’s include aged steaks, duck, prime rib, rack of lamb, and seafood.
Des Moines Shopping
Art galleries, boutiques, specialty shops, and shopping malls are all part of the Des Moines shopping scene. The downtown area of Des Moines offers
galleries, boutiques, and specialty shops and a great shopping environment. The area also has several large malls.
The East Village, located on the east side of downtown Des Moines between the river and the Capitol area, is a progressive, pedestrian friendly
neighborhood that offers festivals, street markets, a diverse bar scene, and one-of-a-kind retail shopping. One of the original commerce areas of Des
Moines, the East Village also encompasses some of Iowa’s most historically significant buildings, including the State Capitol.
Historic Valley Junction, 5th Street and nearby streets on the western side of the river, is a charming, renovated railroad district, with a collection of
more than 120 retail businesses, including art galleries, fashion boutiques, antique shops, restaurants and specialty stores.
Antique collectors will enjoy the numerous antique shops in the area including the 36,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles and primitives found at
The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall , 701 NE 50th Street. Collectimania, 3200 Delaware Avenue, has a large variety of antiques, consignment items,
and jewelry. The Majestic Lion Antique Center, 5048 2nd Avenue, presents over 150 select dealers offering nearly every type of antique imaginable in
a more than 35,000 square foot area. Art lovers and buyers won’t want to miss the Kavanaugh Gallery at 131 5th Street, the Olson-Larsen Galleries at
203 5th Street, or the Sticks Gallery at 521 East Locust.
The Downtown Farmers Market, downtown on Court Avenue, is open May through October on Saturday mornings and offers shoppers fresh fruits and
vegetables, home-baked breads and pastries, hand-made clothing and jewelry, specialty cheeses and wines, and music and entertainment.
Merle Hay Mall, 3850 Merle Hay Road in northwest Des Moines, is Iowa's largest enclosed shopping mall with 1.2 million square feet of retail space.
The mall features four major department stores -including Kohl’s, Sears, and Younkers, and more than 100 specialty stores such as Aeropostal, CJ
Banks, Lane Bryant, Old Navy, Kids Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, and Waldenbooks. Kaleidoscope at the Hub, 555 Walnut Street and just west of
the river, is a beautiful downtown complex offering more than 30 national and local shops. Retailers at the Hub include BOSS, Christopher & Banks,
JNK Wears, and Rocs on 6th.
Southridge Mall, 1111 East Army Post Road in southern Des Moines, offers a variety of shops such as department stores JC Penny, Sears, Target,
and Younkers along with retailers Coach House Gifts, House of Leathers, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Zales.
Jordan’s Town Creek Center, 101 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, is a two-level enclosed mall featuring 125 retailers with Dillards
Scheel’s, and Younkers, a theater, and a Residence Inn by Marriott.
Des Moines Events
Throughout the year Des Moines and the surrounding communities hold numerous civic and privately sponsored cultural, music, and sporting events.
Major music concerts are held at the Wells Fargo Arena at the Events Center, 730 3rd Street and at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, 221
Walnut Street. The Civic also presents live professional theater direct from Broadway and is home to the Des Moines Symphony. The Des Moines
Metropolitan Opera performs at the Blank Performing Arts Center on the Simpson College campus in Indianola. The Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd
Street, presents 12-14 musicals, comedies and dramas each year. Iowa Speedway, 30 miles east of Des Moines occasionally holds large outdoor
concerts.
Major exhibitions, trade shows, and conventions are presented at Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center.
A number of annual festivals and events are held in the Des Moines area including the Drake Relays at Drake University, held in April, a premier
sporting event with a history going back over 90 years; the
Pella Tulip Time Festival , in nearby Pella, comes each May; exhibits by over 150 artists and live music concerts are part of late June’s three-day Des
Moines Arts Festival held in Western Gateway Park. Late July-early August means its time for the National Hot Air Balloon Classic, a nine day premier
ballooning event that attracts balloonists from all over the country, in Indianola; the famous 10-day Iowa State Fair has been held each August since
1854 and includes animal, agriculture, and food exhibits as well as activities and local and major live entertainment performances; September sees the
annual Pelican Festival at Jester Park in Grangier; and the
Covered Bridge Festival occurs each October in nearby Madison County featuring artisans demonstrating the old-fashioned ways, booths with
wonderful crafts and delectable foods, nonstop music and entertainment, a quilt show, antique vehicle parade, and guided bus tours of the covered
bridges.
Des Moines sports teams are lead by the baseball Iowa Cubs, the AAA minor-league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Stars, the American
Hockey League affiliate of the NHL Dallas Stars. The Cubs play home games in 11,000-seat Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, situated at the confluence of
the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River in downtown Des Moines; the Stars host games at the Wells Fargo Arena at 833 5th Avenue. The Iowa
Energy basketball team of the NBA Development League began play in 2007 at the Wells Fargo Arena.
Drake University athletes compete in NCAA Division I in the Missouri Valley Conference in all sports except football which is in the Division I-AA
Pioneer Football League. The Drake Relays highlights sporting events at Drake University. The Iowa State Cyclones, of Iowa State University – 60
miles north of Des Moines - play in the NCAA’s Division I-A as part of the Big 12 Conference. The Knoxville Raceway race car season in highlighted
by the Knoxville Nationals held each August. Iowa Speedway features Indy Car and other races.
Des Moines Attractions
Visitor centers are a great resource for information on accommodations, brochures, city maps, restaurant guides and more. Their knowledgeable staff
is available to help make the most of your experience. The Des Moines Information Center is located at 400 Robert D. Ray Drive near East Locust
Street in downtown Des Moines. Be sure to stop in!
The Des Moines area offers numerous attractions and activity options. A sampling of the most popular are listed below.
Blank Park Zoo: 7401 SW 9th Street – The Blank Park Zoo offers the opportunity to experience the wonders of nature found in exhibits based on
Africa, the Australian Outback, and tropical rainforests. The Zoo offers education classes, tours, and rental facilities.
Capitol Building: East 9th & Grand Avenue – The Capitol Building, with its 23-karat golden dome towering above the city, houses the governor's
offices, legislature and the old Supreme Court room. Guided tours are available.
Des Moines Art Center: 4700 Grand Avenue – The Art Center’s permanent collection of major 19th, 20th, and 21st century masterpieces are housed
in a striking contemporary building complex. Admission to the museum is free.
Des Moines Botanical Center: 909 Robert D. Ray Drive – The Center has over 15,000 exotic plants displayed and also provides special events and
dining and meeting facilities.
Des Moines Waterworks Park and Arboretum: 2201 Valley Drive - Water Works Park covers 1,500-acres of wooded area popular for fishing,
jogging, picnicking, and relaxing. The Arie den Boer Arboretum has nearly 300 varieties of crab apple trees.
Downtown Farmer’s Market: Court Avenue in Historic Court Avenue District in Downtown – Each Saturday from May through October, 7am until
noon, vendors offer everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to pastries, jewelry, and wine. Live music and other entertainment are provided.
Fort Des Moines Museum and Educational Center: 75 East Army Post Road – Fort Des Moines describes itself as "America's Greatest Memorial to
Black and Female Soldiers." The 20,000 square foot museum, situated in a five-acre historic park, has artifacts, photographs and interactive exhibits.
Historic Jordan House: 2001 Fuller Road, West Des Moines – This 1850 Victorian house was a station on the Underground Railroad. Its 16 rooms
now tell the history of Valley Junction/West Des Moines.
Hoyt Sherman Place: 501 Woodland Avenue (15th & Woodland) – Sherman Place is a grand manor home built in 1877 by prominent businessman
Hoyt Sherman. The home is now a museum and performing arts center. The original house and gallery display an impressive collection of 19th and
20th century paintings and elaborately carved 17th century furniture as well as many rare, ancient artifacts.
Iowa Gold Star Military Museum: Camp Dodge 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston - The Iowa Gold Star Museum displays artifacts and tells the story
of Iowa veterans from the Mexican War of 1846 to present day. It also has a reference library on military subjects and Iowa veterans.
Living History Farms: 2600 NW 111th Street, Urbandale - This 550-acre, open-air museum tells the story of Midwestern agriculture and rural life.
Interpreters dressed in period costume recreate the daily routines of early Iowans. Exhibits include the 1700 Ioway Indian Village, an 1850 Pioneer
Farm, an 1875 frontier town, and a 1900 horse-powered farm and modern Crop Center.
Principal Riverwalk: Anchored on the north by a signature pedestrian bridge at the Center Street Dam and on the south by the renovated railroad
bridge south of Court Avenue, the Principal Riverwalk connects the east and west sides of downtown Des Moines through a series of lighted and
landscaped walking paths and bridges.
Salisbury House: 4025 Tonawanda Drive – Salisbury House, a 42-room mansion built in the 1920’s, is filled with original art, rare books and antique
furnishings from around the world.
State Historical Society of Iowa Museum: 600 East Locust Street – Iowa's history lives on in this modern granite and glass structure at the foot of
the State Capitol. The Museum has unique permanent and temporary exhibits which explore the people, places, events, and issues of Iowa's past.
There is also a genealogy and Iowa history library and museum store on the grounds.
Science Center of Iowa: 401 West Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway – This 110,000 sq-ft facility features seven interactive learning areas, live
programs and hands-on activities encouraging learning and fun for all ages. The Center also has three theaters including an IMAX.
Sherman Hill: 14th Street and Woodland Avenue - Sherman Hill is Des Moines oldest neighborhood and during Victorian times home to many of the
City's most prominent businessmen and community leaders. Its architecture has earned it the distinction as Des Moines first “Historical District”.
Terrace Hill (Governors Mansion): 2300 Grand Avenue – The official home of Iowa’s governors, this beautiful 1869 mansion - situated at the crest of
a terraced hill high above the Raccoon River Valley, is filled with art, antiques and architecture that reflects Iowa’s rich history and heritage. Tours are
given Tuesdays through Saturdays, from March through December.
Day Trips:
Adventureland: Altoona’s Adventureland Amusement Park is only 15 miles east of Des Moines. The popular park contains over 100 rides, shows,
and attractions including some of the country's most exciting roller coasters and thrill rides that can challenge the most avid amusement park
enthusiasts.
Big Creek State Park: Just 20 miles north of downtown Des Moines in Polk City, Big Creek offers an 866-acre lake with biking, boating, fishing,
hiking, picnicking, swimming, and other leisure activities.
Chichaqua Valley Trail: Less than 15 miles northeast of downtown, Chichaqua Valley Trail, once an old railroad line, is now a paved recreational trail
accommodating hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers year round. The trail crosses the banks and timbered-bottom lands of the Skunk River.
Field of Dreams Movie Site: Located in Dyersville, 190 miles northeast of Des Moines, the baseball field in the movie “Field of Dreams” is still in its
original and pristine condition. The baseball field, home, and farm are all part of the site.
Iowa Speedway: Easily reached 30 miles east of the city in Newton, Iowa Speedway is Iowa’s largest race track. The 7/8 mile Tri-Oval track features
Indy Car Series, ARCA Remax Series, USAC Racing, Rolex Sports Car Series, ASA Late Model Series, USAC Silver Crown, and USAR.
Knoxville Raceway: 30 minutes southeast of Des Moines in Knoxville, Knoxville Raceway’s dirt track features sprint car racing April through
October.
Des Moines Media
Newsprint: The main daily newspaper for the Des Moines area is the
Des Moines Register . Weekly publications include the Des Moines Business Record, a paper geared towards the local business community; Cityview,
a weekly alternative paper; and Juice, a weekly publication of the Des Moines Register aimed at the 25- to 34-year-old age group
Local Television Stations: The local network TV stations for the Des Moines area include: WOI 5 (ABC), KCCU 8 (CBS), KDIN 11 (PBS), WHO 10
(NBC), KDSM 17 (FOX), KCWI 23 (CW), KFPX 39 (ION), and KDMI 56 (MyNetwork).
Des Moines Weather
Des Moines has a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons. Spring has relatively mild temperatures with April highs in the low-60s,
reaching the upper-70s by early June. Early spring evenings can be cool, in the low 40s, but by June will remain in the 60s. Summer is usually quite
hot with the warmest month, July, in the mid-to-upper 80s daily. Summer evenings cool to the mid-60s. The mid-60 degree temperatures of early
autumn quickly chill to the 30s by the beginning of December; evenings in the fall range from early season low-40s to below freezing by November.
Winters are brisk and cold with daytime high temperatures remaining below freezing until late February. Winter nighttime lows are usually in the ‘teens.
Des Moines’s annual precipitation of 35 inches is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year with the heaviest totals falling April through September.
Thunderstorms are common, especially in spring and summer. The city averages 33 inches of snow each winter season.
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