Plan Your Trip to Des Moines from Chicago

It’s only a trip if you hit the road. And would you look at that, the drive to Des Moines is just right for a weekend getaway. If you’re coming from the middle of downtown, which is 333 miles away, the Chicago to Des Moines drive time is 5.5 hours (assuming you’re going the speed limit). Anything shorter and you wouldn’t have an excuse to make a pit stop for snacks along the way.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED IN DES MOINES?

Sure, you could do a Des Moines day trip from Chicago. But with so many things to do — including literal acres of explorable sculptures, festivals that take over downtown, one of the country’s largest farmers’ markets, and of course, a summer full of chances to see the rising stars on the Chicago Cubs Triple-A team — we certainly recommend making it a Des Moines weekend getaway. Don’t believe us? See what’s happening here this weekend. Or time your trip in August to experience the Iowa State Fair.

WHERE TO STAY FOR YOUR WEEKEND GETAWAY

So you’ve decided, wisely, to take a two- or three-day trip to Des Moines. Now you need a place to stay. Now you need a place to stay. With 13,000+ rooms around the metro, there’s no shortage of boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and even a renovated landmark that has hosted 15 presidents and Elvis. If you’re wondering where to stay in Des Moines for an Iowa Cubs baseball game, here are the downtown Des Moines hotels that’ll have you mere minutes away from Principal Park.

Surety Hotel

This sister property to Hewing Hotel is a short walk from the downtown farmers’ market.

Hotel Renovo

With 201 farmhouse-inspired rooms, this hotel feels like a true escape from the big city.

Hilton Des Moines Downtown

Connected by skywalk, this hotel offers an air-conditioned stroll to the Casey’s Center.

Des Best Logo

EXPLORE MORE TO EAT, DRINK, DO, ETC.

Around here, we have a thing called Des Best of Des Moines. Yes, like, The Best of Des Moines. These best-of lists are voted on by locals to help visitors like you skip the tourist traps and instead discover our favorite places. Whether you have a hankering for a local delicacy, like Steak de Burgo, or want to find the happiest hours in town, we’ll serve up nothing but the best.