Best Time to Visit Des Moines
Best time to visit Des Moines: May, August, September and October. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Des Moines
Go in May, August, September and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Des Moines month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 15° | 1,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 42° | 23° | 0,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| March | 56° | 35° | 2,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 63° | 45° | 5,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 74° | 53° | 4,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 83° | 65° | 7,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| July | 85° | 69° | 5,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 82° | 66° | 4,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 79° | 62° | 2,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 67° | 50° | 3,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 50° | 35° | 2,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 39° | 25° | 1,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Des Moines compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Des Moines.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 122 mi | 55°F | +33°F warmer | 33 in |
| Nebraska | 169 mi | 55°F | +34°F warmer | 32 in |
| Kansas City | 179 mi | 58°F | +36°F warmer | 44 in |
| Kansas | 206 mi | 58°F | +37°F warmer | 40 in |
| Missouri | 222 mi | 58°F | +37°F warmer | 40 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Layers - the daily swing is 58°F, so mornings feel nothing like afternoons
- A packable rain shell - 4 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Des Moines is a city in Iowa. Des Moines is known for State fair and river walk. It has a population of about 215.000.
Right now it is 59°F (15°C) in Des Moines with partly cloudy. It feels like 58°F. Today runs from 48°F to 71°F. Chance of precipitation is 1%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.8/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Des Moines is May, August, September and October. The climate is continental. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 85°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 15°F.
The closest major airport is O'Hare International Airport (ORD), about 296 mi away. Nearby highlights include Mississippi River and Starved Rock State Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for October. The forecast high of 71°F is 3.8°F above the 67°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 3 PM to 6 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. sightseeing is the strongest bet in Des Moines today at 9.8/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Des Moines right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 10:51 PM, Oct 26 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌦️ 56° / 52°
Light rain · 56% rain · wind 12 mph
☁️ 63° / 55°
Overcast · 21% rain · wind 9 mph
Things to do in Des Moines
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Des Moines.
Quick facts about Des Moines
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| State | Iowa |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 41°35′12.5″N 93°37′30″W (41.5868, -93.625) |
| Population | 215.000 |
| Known for | State fair and river walk |
| Local time | 10:51 PM (UTC-05:00) |
| Best months | May, August, September and October |
| Climate | Continental |
Explore Des Moines
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Des Moines?
Des Moines is a city in Iowa. Its coordinates are 41.5868, -93.625. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Des Moines right now?
It is currently 59°F (15°C) with partly cloudy. Humidity is 77% and wind is 4 mph.
When is the best time to visit Des Moines?
May, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Des Moines, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Des Moines in?
Des Moines observes America/Chicago (UTC-05:00). The local time is 10:51 PM.
How many people live in Des Moines?
Des Moines has a population of approximately 215.000.
What is the nearest airport to Des Moines?
The closest airports are O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 296 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Des Moines?
Popular options include Mississippi River and Starved Rock State Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-us) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated October 26, 2026 at 10:51 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
