©
Des Moines trip planner
Create a fully customized day-by-day itinerary for free
You have 1 trip in progress.
See all
Des Moines
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is on and named after the Des Moines River, which likely was adapted from the French colonial name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks." The city's population was 203,433 as of the 2010 census. The five-county metropolitan area is ranked 91st in terms of population in the United States with 599,789 residents according to the 2013 estimate by the United States Census Bureau.Des Moines is a major center of the U.S. insurance industry and has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. The city was credited as the "number one spot for U.S. insurance companies" in a Business Wire article and named the third-largest "insurance capital" of the world. The city is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation, Ruan Transportation, EMC Insurance Companies, and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other major corporations such as Wells Fargo, Voya Financial, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, ACE Limited, Marsh, Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred have large operations in or near the metro area. In recent years Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and Facebook have built data processing and logistical facilities in the Des Moines metro. Forbes magazine ranked Des Moines as the "Best Place for Business" in both 2010 and 2013. In 2014, NBC ranked Des Moines as the "Wealthiest City in America," according to its criteria.Our United States trip itinerary planner combines visitor reviews with your personal interests to make an itinerary informed by experts, but tailored to suit your style.
Source
Create a full itinerary — for free!
Plan your trip to Des Moines
Get a personalized tripA full day by day itinerary based on your preferences Customize itRefine your trip. We'll find the
best routes and schedules Manage itEverything in one place. Everyone on the same page.Know more
Popular things to do in Des Moines
Side trips from Des Moines
Museums in Des Moines
Parks in Des Moines
Hidden gems in Des Moines
Places to visit with Des Moines
DubuqueTrip planner
Best for: Aquarium, Landmark, Park
Council BluffsTrip planner
Best for: Casino, History Museum, Specialty Museum
Sioux CityTrip planner
Best for: Nightlife, History Museum, Specialty Museum
WintersetTrip planner
Best for: Bridge, Historic Site, Observation Deck
Cedar RapidsTrip planner
Best for: Specialty Museum, Entertainment Center, Historic Site
Recently planned trips to Des Moines
2 days in Des Moines
BY A USER FROM CANADA
Des Moines
31 days in Des Moines & Washington DC
BY A USER FROM INDIA
Des Moines
Washington DC
10 days in Des Moines
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Adventureland
Blank Park Zoo
Gray's Lake Park
5 days in Des Moines
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Clive Aquatic Center
Terrace Hill
West End Architectural Salvage
3 days in Des Moines
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Adventureland
Science Center of Iowa
Blank Park Zoo
1 day in Des Moines & Destin
BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES
Des Moines
Miramar Beach