Chicago to Des Moines (ORD–DSM) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
Flight Schedule
109 flights
Verified 10h ago
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No flights match your filters.
No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
✦ 1-Stop Connections
→
Separate tickets — book each leg independently. Collect and recheck bags at .
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✧ 2-Stop Connections
Separate tickets — book each leg independently. Collect and recheck bags at each hub.
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Chicago to Des Moines
6 carriers, 262 flights/week nonstop.
6 Airlines
262 Flights/wk
298 mi
0h 59m nonstop
42 1-stop hubs
ORD–DSM is served by 6 airlines with nonstop service. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 298 miles in approximately 0h 59m. Beyond nonstop, 42 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Carriers on this route
Airline Landscape
All carriers operating nonstop ORD–DSM service, compared side by side.
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA American Airlines | 78 | 319, CR7, E70, E75 | 0h59-1h36 | Oneworld | – | |
| AS Alaska Airlines | 70 | 319, CR7, E70, E75 | 1h22-1h33 | Oneworld | – | |
| UA United Airlines | 65 | 319, 737, 738, CR5, CR7, E75L, E7W | 1h21-1h40 | Star Alliance | – | |
| AC Air Canada | 28 | CR5, E7W | 1h27-1h38 | Star Alliance | – | |
| EI Aer Lingus | 14 | CR7, E75 | 1h25-1h35 | – | – | |
| CM Copa Airlines | 7 | CR5 | 1h27 | Star Alliance | – |
Aircraft on this route
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Schedule
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, ORD to DSM direction.
Mon
38
flights
Tue
38
flights
Wed
39
flights
Thu
38
flights
Fri
39
flights
Sat
43
flights
Sun
41
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
50
Nonstop flights
262
Outbound / wk
325
Return / wk
Connections
Connection Landscape
Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for ORD to DSM.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
42
Hubs
~3h
Fastest
~23h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
2,383
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.
Reliability
On-Time Performance
What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
ORD → DSM
42%
Frequent delays expected. Consider flexible booking.
Departing
42%
Arriving
67%
Return
DSM → ORD
0%
Frequent delays expected. Consider flexible booking.
Departing
0%
Arriving
85%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots.
ORD delays → DSM delays →
Alternatives
Other ways to reach Des Moines from Chicago
Nearby airports with service to Des Moines International Airport.
| Metric | ORD→DSM | MDW→DSM | MKE→DSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from ORD | – | 15 mi | 67 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 262 | 20 | 1 |
| Flight time | 0h 59m | 1h 20m | 1h 13m |
| Departure OTP | 42% | – | – |
Chicago (MDW) to Des Moines flights · Milwaukee (MKE) to Des Moines flights · South Bend (SBN) to Des Moines flights
Airports within 200 miles of ORD with service to Des Moines International Airport.
Know before you go
Travel Essentials
Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
0h
Des Moines is 0 hours
the same as
Chicago.
ORD: CDT · DSM: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 6:00 PM in Des Moines.
ORD: CDT · DSM: CDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Chicago, it's 6:00 PM in Des Moines.
Distance & Flight Time
298 mi / 480 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 0h 59m to 1h 40m.
Getting to ORD
CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.
Facts
ORD–DSM Quick Facts
Key statistics for the Chicago to Des Moines route.
Route details
Distance298 mi / 480 km
Flight time0h 59m to 1h 40m
Time difference0 hours
Airlines (nonstop)6
Weekly flights262 out / 325 return
1-stop connections42 hubs
Origin: ORD
Full nameChicago O'Hare International Airport
IATA / ICAOORD / KORD
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr80.0M
Elevation680 ft / 207 m
Destination: DSM
Full nameDes Moines International Airport
IATA / ICAODSM / KDSM
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr3.1M
Elevation958 ft / 292 m
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ORD to DSM flights.
Nonstop flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Des Moines International Airport take approximately 0h 59m to 1h 40m. The route covers 298 miles.
6 airlines operate nonstop service: American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Copa Airlines, Aer Lingus and United Airlines.
There are approximately 262 nonstop flights per week from ORD to DSM. The return direction has about 325 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through RST, OMA, MKE, SBN, MHK, CLE, MEM, DAL, STL, PIT, BWI, TEX, TEB, BIF, COS, HOU, MSY, PBI, PSP, YVR, SJO, AUS, LGA, BNA, MSP, MIA, IAH, DEN, DCA, FLL, CLT, DFW, ATL, SRQ, LAS, DTW, MDW, MCO, LAX, PHX, SNA and RSW. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Yes, return flights from DSM to ORD are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
See the On-Time Performance section for the latest delay data at both airports. This shows departure and arrival reliability to help you plan.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.
American Eagle (operated by SkyWest or Envoy) and United Express (operated by SkyWest or GoJet) both operate regional jet nonstops on ORD-DSM. Each carrier typically offers two to three daily round trips. Aircraft are CRJ-700s, CRJ-550s, or ERJ-175s depending on the operating carrier and rotation. Block time is 55 minutes. Chicago Midway does not offer nonstop service to Des Moines; Southwest operates ORD-DSM only through connections.
The drive from downtown Chicago to downtown Des Moines covers 330 miles on I-80 and takes four to five hours depending on traffic, with no tolls west of Iowa City. Total door-to-door time for ORD-DSM including check-in, security, and ground transport at both ends typically runs three to four hours. For passengers leaving from Chicago's western suburbs or arriving to locations south of Des Moines, the drive is often comparable in time and eliminates airport handling. For downtown-to-downtown city pairs, the flight saves time.
United Express on ORD-DSM uses ERJ-175s configured with 12 first class and 64 economy seats, or CRJ-700s with 9 first and 51 economy. American Eagle uses CRJ-550s, which have 10 Flagship First seats, 20 Main Cabin Extra seats, and 20 Main Cabin seats on a 50-seat-equivalent airframe, meaning fewer total passengers with more premium space. The CRJ-550 is a deliberate down-gauge to reduce total seats and improve per-seat revenue on thinner markets like DSM.
Chicago O'Hare to Des Moines: Regional Jet Shuttle
ORD-DSM is a thin but consistent regional market operated entirely by mainline partner regional carriers. American Eagle and United Express between them run five to six daily nonstops, all on regional jets, covering the 290-mile route in under an hour of block time. The route is primarily driven by business travel: Des Moines houses the headquarters of Principal Financial, Wells Fargo's home mortgage division, and Meredith Corporation, among others. Leisure demand is limited but present during Iowa State Fair week in August, which is the single largest passenger spike of the year for DSM. Des Moines International operates from a single terminal with two concourses; capacity is modest and the airport is routinely ranked among the easiest to navigate in the Midwest.
Hub Connection Value
O'Hare is both a United hub and an American hub, making ORD the logical connection point for Des Moines passengers routing to the coasts, Europe, or Latin America on either carrier. United connects ORD to 50+ international destinations; American connects to 30+ international markets including transatlantic and transpacific routes from ORD. The ORD-DSM regional jet frequency, typically spread across morning, midday, and evening banks, aligns with O'Hare's international departure banks to minimize minimum connection times. Passengers connecting through ORD should confirm terminal assignments: United uses Terminals 1 and 2; American uses Terminal 3.