Transfer Options from Des Moines Airport to Downtown

The capital city of Iowa, Des Moines is filled with attractions for the whole family to enjoy. Be sure to visit the beautiful Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, marvel at the Des Moines Art Center and Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and enjoy some local treats at the Downtown Farmers Market.

There are two different transfer options from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines, taxi or bus. Taking a Des Moines airport taxi is the quickest and most comfortable way to travel. The journey time in a taxi is just 10 minutes and the cost will be around $17 (€17). Taking the local DART route 8 bus will take 30 minutes and will cost just $1.75 (€1.75) one-way.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Des Moines at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Taxi	€17.50	10min	24/7
Bus	€3.50	30min	06:19–17:26

How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown by Taxi

The quickest and easiest way to get from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines is to take a taxi. The journey time in a Des Moines airport taxi is just 10 minutes and the average cost is $17 (€17) for one passenger.

How much is a taxi from Des Moines Airport to Downtown?

The average cost of a local taxi from Des Moines airport to downtown is $17 (€17). This includes the obligatory airport surcharge of $4.50 (€4.50). However, there are extra charges for additional passengers over 12 years old ($0.50 (€0.50)) and for travelling at night ($2 (€2)).

If you’d prefer to take a transfer from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines that has a fixed price, we recommend pre-booking with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

$17 (€17)

Trip Duration

10 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Des Moines Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Des Moines Airport?

Taxis are located right outside of the terminal at Des Moines airport. Simply exit the arrivals hall and you will see the long line of taxis waiting to pick up passengers.

Convenience

After a long fight, you simply want to get to your hotel as quickly as possible so you can relax. That’s why taking a taxi is the most convenient way to get from Des Moines airport to downtown. The journey time is just 10 minutes and taxis are available no matter what day or time you land.

Editor’s Note

I you're landing in Des Moines on the weekend, taking a taxi is your only transfer option. To avoid wait times for the local taxis, we recommend pre-booking your taxi with Welcome for guaranteed on-time pickups and door-to-door transfers.

Useful Tips

There's an extra set cost of $2 (€2) added to your fare if you're travelling at night.

You can bring any luggage that fits in the trunk for free.

Children under 12 years of age don't class as extra passengers and can travel for free.

How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown by Bus

There’s a local DART bus from Des Moines airport to downtown that runs Monday through Friday. The local route 8 bus takes 30 minutes to reach downtown and costs $1.75 (€1.75), making it a good budget transport option if you’re not travelling on a weekend.

How much is the bus from Des Moines Airport to Downtown?

The cost of a one-way ticket on the bus from Des Moines airport to downtown is $1.75 (€1.75). This is payable to the bus driver when you get on the bus. If you’re travelling with children under the age of 5, they can travel for free on the local DART buses.

Cost

$1.75 (€1.75)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

*There's a waiting time of up to 7 hours for the local route 8 bus.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The local route 8 bus is available Monday to Friday from 06:19 to 17:26.

Where do I find the bus at Des Moines Airport?

The local DART buses all run from the South Park & Ride at Des Moines airport. Simply follow the signs for the Park & Ride and you will see the DART-branded bus stops.

Convenience

If you’re travelling during the week and land when a bus is departing, taking the local route 8 bus from Des Moines airport to downtown is a good cheap transfer option. However, the buses don’t run on a weekend and there are wait times of up to 7 hours between the morning buses and evening buses.

Timetables

DART Local Route 8 Bus

Editor’s Note

If you're landing on a weekend, there will be no bus service. You will need to take a taxi from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines instead.

Useful Tips

Children under the age of 5 travel for free.

There's very limited space for luggage on the bus, be sure to travel light.

Bring change in cash to pay the bus driver for your ticket, as they can't break large bills.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

20 minute gap between transfers
Regular Car Sanitisation
Contactless ride
Sanitiser in every car

What’s the taxi fare from Des Moines Airport to downtown?

The average taxi fare from Des Moines airport to downtown is $17 (€17). However, there are additional charges for things such as travelling at night and the number of passengers. To secure a set rate fare for your Des Moines airport taxi, we recommend booking in advance with Welcome Pickups instead.

What’s the distance from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines?

The distance from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines is around 7.5 km. Taking a Des Moines airport taxi will take just 10 minutes to reach downtown, while the local route 8 bus will take closer to 30 minutes.

Is there a direct bus from Des Moines airport to downtown?

Yes, the DART local route 8 bus runs from Des Moines airport to downtown Monday to Friday. The total journey time on the bus is 30 minutes and the cost of a one-way ticket is $1.75 (€1.75).

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How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown Des Moines

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How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown by Taxi

How much is a taxi from Des Moines Airport to Downtown?

Cost

$17 (€17)

Trip Duration

10 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Des Moines Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Des Moines Airport?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown by Bus

How much is the bus from Des Moines Airport to Downtown?

Cost

$1.75 (€1.75)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The local route 8 bus is available Monday to Friday from 06:19 to 17:26.

Where do I find the bus at Des Moines Airport?

Convenience

Timetables

DART Local Route 8 Bus

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Frequently asked questions

What’s the taxi fare from Des Moines Airport to downtown?

What’s the distance from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines?

Is there a direct bus from Des Moines airport to downtown?

Was this helpful?

The best way to arrive in Des Moines

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Book a trusted, English-speaking driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular taxi Learn more

How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown by Taxi

How much is a taxi from Des Moines Airport to Downtown?

Cost

$17 (€17)

Trip Duration

10 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Des Moines Airport.

Where do I find a taxi at Des Moines Airport?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Des Moines Airport to Downtown by Bus

How much is the bus from Des Moines Airport to Downtown?

Cost

$1.75 (€1.75)

Trip Duration

30 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

The local route 8 bus is available Monday to Friday from 06:19 to 17:26.

Where do I find the bus at Des Moines Airport?

Convenience

Timetables

DART Local Route 8 Bus

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Frequently asked questions

What’s the taxi fare from Des Moines Airport to downtown?

What’s the distance from Des Moines airport to downtown Des Moines?

Is there a direct bus from Des Moines airport to downtown?

Was this helpful?

The best way to arrive in Des Moines

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Transfer Options in Des Moines

Des Moines Taxi - Prices & Useful Tips for your Cab Service in Des Moines

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