Des Moines

Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair.

Understand
Because of Iowa's early presidential caucus date, the city is also a hotbed of political dreams and discourse every four years when presidential candidates tour the state and have multiple debates within the city.

The meaning of 'Des Moines' is not clear as local Native Americans, the Moingona, had already been using a term (which meant 'river of the mounds') due to the number of burial mounds which were popular in the area. French Trappist Monks (Moines de la Trappe) called their settlement areas at the mouth of the Des Moines River 'La Rivière des Moines' which, in English, translates to 'the river of the monks.' "De Moyn," which means "middle," may have been used on the map of explorer Jacques Marquette to help others locate the Des Moines River-area (equidistant between the larger Mississippi and Missouri rivers). "Des Moines," today pronounced "duh MOIN," is at the junction of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River.

Fort Des Moines was settled in 1843 by a group of dragoons from the Sac and Fox Agency (Fort Sanford) led by Captain James Allen. Allen was going to name the area Fort Raccoon, but was instructed by the War Department to use the name Fort Des Moines. In 1846, the fort was dissolved and the city was created.

The city's population was just under 215,000 in 2020, and the metro area had about 700,000 residents.

Climate
Due in part to the moist and rich soils that make Iowa an agricultural powerhouse, summers are filled with very humid air. Coupled with heat, this can result in a very high heat index. This can make outdoor life very uncomfortable (and sometimes dangerous) for those unaccustomed to such conditions, even visitors from hot climates, such as the Southwest, where the heat lacks the coupling of humidity. Rain and thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer; occasionally severe, with tornadoes of varying intensities (though rarely very destructive) sometimes a possibility.

During the winter, it is not at all unusual to have road closures due to snowfall or ice. Iowa is no stranger to heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures in this season either, which can be just as much of a concern to those unaccustomed as the summer heat. Fall is pleasantly cool, and typically more dry than wet.

Tourist information

 * Catch Des Moines tourism website

By car
Most travelers to Des Moines are likely to come via interstate, on either I-80 (from the east or west) or I-35 (from the north or south). Travelers will not have to worry about encountering any tollways or major traffic jams. Once in the area, those wishing to enter the city will use I-235 to get into Des Moines proper.

The majority of area residents get around by use of their automobiles, so bringing or renting one is a good idea. The roads are in good shape and most drivers would not be classified as aggressive.


 * The main thoroughfare, I-235, runs through the downtown area and is free of tolls. Semi-trailers passing through are advised to avoid I-235 as the traffic is usually heavier, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours (7AM-8AM and 4:30PM-6PM) as people travel to and from work. Additionally, the speed limit on I-235 is 5–10 mph less than on I-80/I-35.
 * The city has two interstates surrounding it, I-80 (running east/west) and I-35 (north/south). Chicago is roughly 330 mi (539 km) east of Des Moines while Omaha is about 135 mi (215 km) west of the city.  Popular destinations along I-35 include Kansas City, just under 200 mi (320 km) to the south and Minneapolis/Saint Paul to the north, nearly 250 mi (500 km) away.
 * Safe-driving tips, road closures due to weather and construction, and other pieces of information, are available from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Wi-fi is available throughout the state at public rest areas.

By bus
The is at 1501 2nd Ave. Greyhound doesn't serve Des Moines directly but they do offer through-ticketing with both bus lines.

By car
The colder weather months (Nov-Feb) often bring snow and ice to area roads. Visitors who park their cars should be prepared in case their car is "snowed in" by snow removal trucks. Also, strict attention to parking rules and snow emergencies is recommended to avoid being towed away at the car owner's expense. During the winter months, a snow brush, ice scraper, and plenty of windshield washer fluid is essential, and many natives opt to carry a shovel, some sand, and a bag of ice melt/road salt in the trunk just in case.

Gasoline is reasonably cheap in the Des Moines area, partially from subsidies afforded to ethanol which is widely available at most gas stations to travelers. The most popular mixture, 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline, is generally considered safe for newer autos (not to be confused with 85% ethanol/15% gasoline blend). Ethanol and its usage can stir up quite a debate even in the corn-loving state of Iowa.

The Des Moines River serves as the marker for street names having the prefix "East" or not (and occasionally "West" when on the western side). This is especially important for streets running north-south. "1st Ave" would be on the west side of the river, E 1st Ave the eastern side and are thus completely different streets. Streets running east-west and which exist on both sides of the river typically have an "East" prefix if east of the river. There are some "West" prefixes for those on the other side of the river but this is less common. Perhaps more confusing, there are streets which lie on both sides of the river, such as Grand Ave, which is "E Grand Ave" east of the river but simply "Grand Ave" west of the river. Unlike the north-south streets, it is possible to arrive at your destination by simply continuing east or west—depending on your final destination. The demarcation for "SE" and "SW" prefixes is a bit more ambiguous but would certainly refer to a street south of Grand Ave/E Grand Ave and either the western or eastern side of the river. For most part, "NW" refers to streets west of the river and "NE" east of it, but not always so. Additionally, there is no standard reference point for determining when a street gains a "NW" or "NE" prefix.

Downtown has several one-way streets to ease traffic flow during rush hours. Turning left is allowed unless otherwise designated.

By rental car
The airport is a popular place to get a rental car and has the following rental companies present next to the baggage claim area: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. There are other locations throughout the city to rent.

By bus

 * The free D-Line shuttle bus route 42 operates a downtown loop. This bus travels from Western Greenway Park to the State Capitol Building along Grand Avenue and Locus Street.  The bus stops at several downtown hotels, the State Historical Society of Iowa Museum, city hall, and central public library.  This bus runs Monday through Friday from 6:30AM to 6PM.
 * The free D-Line shuttle bus route 42 operates a downtown loop. This bus travels from Western Greenway Park to the State Capitol Building along Grand Avenue and Locus Street.  The bus stops at several downtown hotels, the State Historical Society of Iowa Museum, city hall, and central public library.  This bus runs Monday through Friday from 6:30AM to 6PM.

By bicycle
Drivers tend to not be overly aggressive in Des Moines, and there is ample shoulder room or sidewalks to avoid a date with a jalopy. Some corridors to downtown have bike-only lanes and all city buses allow bikes on board. (See the Do section for more information on getting to your destination on a nicely-shaded, groomed trail.)



See




Do
The city and surrounding area has a vast array of activities for all ages, from the annual Iowa State Fair, rated by USA Today as one of the Top 10 best things to do in the summertime in the U.S., to the Des Moines Arts Festival in downtown, also rated as a Top 10 member for the nation's arts festivals, indeed there are plenty of sights and sounds to make your experience a memorable one.





Professional and college sports
While the city is not host to any of the "big league" teams, events are a lot of fun and there's plenty left in your wallet after you've purchased a ticket. Home games are well-attended and oftentimes the team is tops in its own respective league in terms of attendance.



Get up and move




Gambling


Further from Des Moines are two casinos of mention:



Host events
Many of the state athletic tournaments, for both girls and boys take place in Des Moines. For three consecutive weekends, wrestling, girls' basketball, and boys' basketball brings much activity in February and March to the Wells Fargo Arena area and downtown. The state track meet is held at Drake Stadium and boys' soccer tournaments at Cownie Park in May. The boys' baseball tournament, in July, is played at Principal Park.

The following are events not unique to Des Moines but the city will have the pleasure of being host to listed events:



Learn
Des Moines is home to a few institutions of higher learning, the largest being Drake University with enrollment around 5,000.



Work
For general information about employment and employers in the area, the is a good starting place. Also check out.

In 2012, Forbes ranked the capital city of Iowa only behind the nation's capital, Washington DC, in terms of best cities for jobs.

Buy
The shopping experiences in can be described as progressive, as it's a pedestrian friendly area downtown which offers a variety of small businesses and boutiques. The streets are nicely lined and there's much to do after hours to fill a hungry traveler's stomach. In West Des Moines, the historic is also an outdoor line-up of shops and local businesses with much to offer, including live music and art and craft fairs throughout the year. and both lie in West Des Moines, the former being the state's largest shopping mall with a variety of stores and entertainment, including ice skating in the winter. and rest on the northwest and southeast corners of the city, respectively. Altoona, on the east side, will have an enclosed outdoor shopping experience available once The Shoppes at Prairie Crossing is completed.



Eat
What to eat in Des Moines? Iowa is a meat-and-potatoes kind of place, with generous servings, and the possibility of a piece of pie afterwards. But when you're in Des Moines, keep an eye out for the locally invented steak de burgo, a beef tenderloin featuring garlic, butter, and sometimes a bit of cream.

Drink
Travelers would likely find the Court District district downtown enjoyable. There, one can find a variety of bars, breweries, dance clubs, live music hot spots and restaurants. It also draws a larger crowd when events downtown take place, such as games for the Iowa Cubs and Barnstormers. East Village rests near the capitol and has several restaurants featuring wine and mixed drinks which can be classified as upscale, but also has bars and live music venues. From the Western Gateway on westwards, bump elbows at any number of sipping places along Ingersoll Avenue.

Alcohol sales cease at 2AM for all locations selling alcohol (stores included) in accordance with state law.

Sleep

 * Several major chains have rooms available in the area. The city does not have a large number of bed and breakfast establishments (although not the case with Iowa in general).  Peak booking periods, especially downtown near Wells Fargo Arena, are common for three successive weeks in March when the city hosts the state athletic championships for wrestling, girls' basketball and boys' basketball.

Stay safe
In case of an emergency requiring police, fire, or medical assistance, dial 911 for help. The Des Moines Police is the local law enforcement agency. Each suburb also has its own police department, such as the Windsor Heights Police Department.

Des Moines is an extremely safe city during all parts of the day. One can take the evening air without feeling nervous. Just like in all other cities with a sizable number of people, there are areas and neighborhoods that may be more troublesome for some groups of people than others. Visitors are likely to avoid these small pockets, however.

Pickpockets and grand ripoff schemes that plague other cities in the U.S. and around the globe are not pervasive in the area. Still, the best thing to do is use your judgment—if you don't want attention, don't do things to draw people's attention.

Stay healthy
In any emergency which requires medical assistance, call 911.

All hospitals—not clinics—have 24-hour emergency services available.

Connect

 * The local area code is "515." The area code must be included when dialing all numbers.
 * Des Moines International Airport - Offers wireless Internet access.
 * Iowa was one of the first states in the U.S. to provide wireless Internet access at rest areas.

Newspapers

 * The Des Moines Register - Iowa's most-circulated daily newspaper.
 * City View - Free alternative newsweekly with features on social issues and heated political talk.
 * Juice - Free weekly which focuses on fashion, events, and light-hearted issues for their young adult readers.
 * Calendar - Features information about local shows, concerts, movie showtimes and releases, and restaurant reviews. Released weekly and is free.  Also appears as an insert in The Des Moines Register towards the end of the week.

Consulates

 * 🇩🇰 Denmark
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany


 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇴 Norway

Go next

 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.
 * If you're interested in seeing larger metropolitan areas, check out the Twin cities or Kansas City, each a 3-4 hour drive north and south, respectively, on Interstate 35.