Des-Moines
is the capital and largest city in Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the entire metropolitan area had an estimated population of 546,599. Forbes Magazine ranked Des Moines as the fourth "Best Place for Business" in 2007. Des Moines is an important city in United States presidential politics as the capital of Iowa, which is home to the Iowa caucuses. The Iowa caucuses has been the first major electoral event in nominating the President of the United States since 1972. Des Moines offers a wide variety of attractions, from outdoor recreation, fine museums, art galleries, theater and performing arts, exciting shopping venues and five-star restaurants. Des Moines offers 53 city parks that include hiking and biking trails, picnic facilities, swimming, tennis courts, three golf courses and three family aquatic centers. The Des Moines Art Center is housed in a striking contemporary complex designed by three internationally recognized architects. The museum contains a collection of major 19th, 20th and 21st century masterpieces. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center includes 15,000 exotic plants, along with a gift shop and Riverwalk Cafe. Other attractions in Des Moines include the Blank Park Zoo, the Des Moines Symphony and Ballet Des Moines, the Iowa State Fair, several racetracks, speedway and casinos. The Des Moines area also has several wineries, historical museums, campgrounds and equestrian centers. The Iowa State Capitol building features a 23-karat golden dome that towers over the city. Four smaller domes flank the main dome. The capitol houses the governors offices, legislature and the old Supreme Court room. Guided tours are available.
Surrounding areas: West Des Moines, Iowa (7.1 mi), Urbandale, Iowa (7.7 mi), Winterset, Iowa (26.6 mi), Ames, Iowa (30.9 mi), Knoxville, Iowa (32.2 mi), Boone, Iowa (35.6 mi)
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Des Moines Vacation Rentals
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Des Moines Weather & Climate
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The southern portion of Iowa has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and often humid and winters are cold and snowy. During the six warmer months of the year, the prevailing moist southerly flow from the Gulf of Mexico produces summer rainfall and thunderstorms. These storms are sometimes severe and may produce high winds, hail, torrential rains and occasionally a tornado. Hailstorms are more severe in the northwest portion of the state than in southern Iowa. Seasonal snowfall across the state is 32 inches and the snow season generally runs late October through late March. The most snowfall occurs in January, February and March and blizzards are a possibility. Autumn is often the most pleasant time of the year in Iowa, with mild days and cool nights that produce colorful fall foliage.
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| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
29°F |
11°F |
1.03 in. |
- |
| February |
35°F |
17°F |
1.19 in. |
- |
| March |
48°F |
28°F |
2.21 in. |
- |
| April |
61°F |
39°F |
3.58 in. |
- |
| May |
72°F |
51°F |
4.25 in. |
- |
| June |
81°F |
61°F |
4.57 in. |
- |
| July |
86°F |
66°F |
4.18 in. |
- |
| August |
83°F |
63°F |
4.51 in. |
- |
| September |
75°F |
54°F |
3.15 in. |
- |
| October |
63°F |
42°F |
2.62 in. |
- |
| November |
46°F |
29°F |
2.10 in. |
- |
| December |
33°F |
16°F |
1.33 in. |
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Des Moines Map & Transportation
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| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
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The closest airports in the area are the Des Moines International airport (DSM) located about 3 miles southwest of Des Moines, the Ankeny Regional airport (IKV) located approximately 8 miles northeast of Des Moines in Ankeny, Iowa, the Ames Municipal airport (AMW) located roughly 28 miles north of Des Moines in Ames, Iowa, the Newton Municipal airport (TNU) located around 31 miles east of Des Moines in Newton, Iowa, the Ottumwa Industrial airport (OTM) located about 68 miles southeast of Des Moines in Ottumwa, Iowa, the Arthur N Neu airport (CIN) located approximately 68 miles northwest of Des Moines in Carroll, Iowa, and finally the Fort Dodge Regional airport (FOD) located roughly 73 miles northwest of Des Moines in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
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Des Moines Attractions
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| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Adventureland | Altoona | IA | 9.2 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| White Water University Fun Park | Des Moines | IA | | | | The Beach Ottumwa | Ottumwa | IA | 75.8 mi. | | | Denison Aquatic Fun Center | Denison | IA | 94.7 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| A H Blank Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | | | | Grand View Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | | | | Sleepy Hollow Sports Park | Des Moines | IA | | | | Waveland Municipal Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | | | | Woodland Hills Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | | | | Ponderosa Public Golf Course | West Des Moines | IA | 4.8 mi. | | | Copper Creek Golf Course | Pleasant Hill | IA | 5.6 mi. | | | Willow Creek Golf Course | West Des Moines | IA | 5.7 mi. | | | Legacy Golf Club | Norwalk | IA | 7.8 mi. | | | Terrace Hills Golf Course | Altoona | IA | 9.3 mi. | | | Briarwood Golf Course | Ankeny | IA | 10.0 mi. | | | Otter Creek Golf Course | Ankeny | IA | 10.0 mi. | | | Rolling Hills Golf Course | Norwalk | IA | 10.4 mi. | | | Beaver Creek Golf Course | Grimes | IA | 11.5 mi. | | | Tournament Club of Iowa | Polk City | IA | 14.3 mi. | | | Toad Valley Public Golf Course | Runnells | IA | 14.6 mi. | | | Shady Oaks Golf Course | Ackworth | IA | 16.4 mi. | | | Jester Park Golf Club | Granger | IA | 16.5 mi. | | | River Valley Golf Course | Adel | IA | 20.4 mi. | | | Colfax Country Club | Colfax | IA | 20.6 mi. | | | Pleasantville Golf & Country Club | Pleasantville | IA | 22.9 mi. | | | Woodward Golf & Recreation | Woodward | IA | 24.6 mi. | | | Monroe Gateway Recreation | Monroe | IA | 27.1 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| Margo Frankel Woods State Park | | IA | 6.5 mi. | | | Walnut Woods State Park | | IA | 6.8 mi. | | | Big Creek State Park | | IA | 17.6 mi. | | | Lake Ahquabi State Park | | IA | 20.5 mi. | | | Lake Ahquabi State Park | | IA | 20.5 mi. | | | Pammel State Park | | IA | 30.7 mi. | | | Elk Rock State Park | | IA | 30.9 mi. | | | Ledges State Park | | IA | 31.1 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| Iowa State University Museums | Ames | IA | 31.8 mi. | (Multidisciplinary) | | Pella Historical Village | Pella | IA | 38.1 mi. | (History) | | Guthrie County Historical Village | Panora | IA | 39.4 mi. | (History) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| Blank Park Zoo | Des Moines | IA | | |
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