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DSM to DCA: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport)
895 mi
1,441 km · 778 nm
2h 25m
estimated nonstop flight time
+1h
time difference · heading east
See live DSM→DCA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
895 miles nonstop takes roughly 2h 25m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport · Washington, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near DSM
- OTM · Ottumwa Regional Airport70 mi away
- FOD · Fort Dodge Regional Airport75 mi away
- ALO · Waterloo Regional Airport96 mi away
- CID · The Eastern Iowa Airport104 mi away
Near DCA
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from DCA?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Washington (DCA) is 895 miles (1,441 km, 778 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to DCA?
A nonstop flight takes about 2h 25m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and Washington?
Washington is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to DCA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–DCA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.