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3 Days in Des Moines: Itinerary 2026
Start your day at the Des Moines Farmers' Market in the Historic East Village if it's Saturday (7 a.m. to noon, May through October). Otherwise, grab breakfast at Scenicβ¦ ποΈ Day 1 Morning Downtown
Start your day at the Des Moines Farmers' Market in the Historic East Village if it's Saturday (7 a.m. to noon, May through October). Otherwise, grab breakfast at Scenic Route Bakery (350 E Locust St, open 7 a.m.) and explore the Iowa State Capitol (1007 E Grand Ave, free tours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). From downtown hotels, it's a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute drive to the East Village.
π½οΈ Day 1 Afternoon and Evening
After lunch at Zombie Burger (300 E Grand Ave, around $12 for a burger), visit the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (909 Robert D. Ray Dr, $10 admission, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Then head to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park (1330 Grand Ave, free, open dawn to dusk) for a stroll. For dinner, try Centro (1003 Locust St, entrees $15-25) and catch a show at the Civic Center (221 Walnut St).
𦦠Day 2 Morning at Blank Park
Begin day two at Blank Park Zoo (7401 SW 9th St, opens 9 a.m., $16.95 for adults). It's about a 15-minute drive from downtown. After the zoo, visit the nearby Fort Des Moines Museum (75 E Army Post Rd, free, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday).
π³ Day 2 Afternoon in Valley Junction
Drive 10 minutes to Valley Junction in West Des Moines for lunch at The Foundry (111 S 11th St, open 11 a.m.). Browse the antique shops along 5th Street, then walk the trails at Raccoon River Park (2500 Grand Ave, free). In the evening, catch a movie at the Flix Brewhouse (3800 Merle Hay Rd) or return downtown for dinner at Malo (900 Mulberry St, small plates $8-14).
π Day 3 Morning in Ankeny
On day three, drive 20 minutes north to Ankeny for breakfast at The Cafe (2610 SE Delaware Ave, open 7 a.m.). Then explore the Ankeny Art Center (1520 SW Ordnance Rd, free, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday). If you have kids, the Playground for Everyone at Hawkeye Park (1000 NW 4th St) is a great stop.
πΊ Day 3 Afternoon and Evening
Return to downtown and visit the State Historical Museum of Iowa (600 E Locust St, free, open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday). Then take a brewery tour at Exile Brewing Co. (1514 Walnut St, tours $10, open 4 p.m.). For your final dinner, splurge at 801 Chophouse (801 Grand Ave, steaks $30-60) or keep it casual at Fong's Pizza (223 4th St, open until 2 a.m.).
π Getting Around
Des Moines is car-friendly, but downtown is walkable. DART buses run every 15-30 minutes on major routes, with a day pass costing $4. Rideshares like Uber and Lyft are plentiful, with typical fares between downtown and the airport around $20. From the airport (DSM) to downtown, it's a 10-minute drive or a 20-minute bus ride on route 8.
π‘ Practical Tips
Purchase a Des Moines Attractions Pass for discounted entry to multiple museums. Many downtown restaurants offer happy hour specials from 4 to 6 p.m. Check the Des Moines Register's events calendar for festivals during your visit. Weather in 2026 can vary, so pack layers for spring and fall.
The itinerary covers the big stuff well, but I'd add the Salisbury House on Tonawanda Drive if you have any interest in history or architecture. It's a 1920s Tudor mansion modeled on an English manor, tours run about $15 and take an hour, and it's a nice contrast to all the downtown stops. Parking is easy and it never feels crowded.
On the Farmers' Market, one detail the post doesn't mention: the market actually stretches a couple blocks up Court Avenue too, not just the East Village, so if the main drag is shoulder to shoulder, walk west and you'll find breathing room plus the food vendors. Cash is still handy for some of the smaller stands.
A couple of tweaks from someone who lives here. The Farmers' Market is great but it's a zoo by 9 a.m., so go early or skip it and hit the one in Valley Junction on a Sunday instead, way more relaxed. Also the Botanical Garden is small, an hour is plenty, don't block out a whole afternoon for it. And if you're doing 801 Chophouse, know that the real Des Moines splurge is the pork tenderloin at any small town bar, but that's a different kind of trip.
good base for a first trip but day 3 is backwards imo. ankeny is a chain restaurant wasteland unless u count the cafe, which is fine but not worth the drive. id flip it and spend that morning at the east village instead, allspice has a great brunch and u can actually walk it from downtown.
also the exile tour is only thurs fri sat now, they cut it back, so check before u plan around it. and fong's is the right call for the last night, crab rangoon pizza at midnight is basically a des moines rite of passage.
one thing nobody mentions, the skywalk downtown is a legit way to kill a rainy afternoon, 4 miles of it and u can get from the capitol area to court ave without going outside
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Things to Do in Des Moines (2026)
Begin your visit at the Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E Grand Ave, where free guided tours run hourly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The building's 275-foot dome iβ¦ ποΈ Start at the Capitol
Begin your visit at the Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E Grand Ave, where free guided tours run hourly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The building's 275-foot dome is the only one in the U.S. covered in 23-karat gold leaf, and the law library on the second floor is a hidden gem. Afterward, walk two blocks to the State Historical Museum of Iowa, also free, to see the 1904 Wright Flyer and a massive mammoth skeleton.
π³ Explore the Riverwalk
The Principal Riverwalk connects downtown to the East Village with a 1.2-mile loop of paved trails, public art, and the iconic Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge. Rent a B-cycle from one of six stations along the route for $1 per 30 minutes, or just stroll for free. In summer, the Friday night concert series at the Simon Estes Amphitheater draws locals with $5 craft beers and live blues.
π¨ Art and Culture Fix
The Pappajohn Sculpture Park, at 1330 Grand Ave, displays 28 large-scale works by artists like Claes Oldenburg and Jaume Plensa, and it's open daily from sunrise to midnight for free. For indoor art, the Des Moines Art Center at 4700 Grand Ave offers free admission and a strong collection of Edward Hopper and Georgia O'Keeffe. Check their website for Thursday evening lectures, often $10 for nonmembers.
π Eat Like a Local
Skip the chains and head to the East Village for Zombie Burger + Drink Lab at 300 E Grand Ave, where the 'Walking Ched' burger (with fried mac and cheese buns) costs about $12. For a classic Iowa pork tenderloin, try B&B Grocery, Meat & Deli at 2001 SE 6th St, a family-run spot since 1922 that closes at 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, the Downtown Farmers' Market fills Court Avenue from 7 a.m. to noon with 300 vendors, including the famous Bauder Pharmacy ice cream.
π Evening Entertainment
Catch a minor league baseball game at Principal Park, 1 Line Dr, where the Iowa Cubs play from April to September; tickets start at $8 and Tuesday nights feature $2 hot dogs. For live music, the Vaudeville Mews at 212 4th St hosts indie bands for $10 to $15 cover, while the Des Moines Civic Center at 221 Walnut St brings Broadway tours like Hamilton in 2026. After the show, grab a nightcap at The Lift, a dimly lit cocktail bar at 222 4th St with $9 old fashioneds.
π Getting Around Town
Des Moines is car-friendly, but downtown is walkable and DART buses cover most attractions for $1.75 per ride or $4 for a day pass. Ride-sharing is plentiful, with Uber from the airport to downtown costing about $20. If you're driving, metered parking is $1.50 per hour on weekdays, and the 7th & Grand ramp offers $5 flat rates after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
π½ Seasonal Highlights
In late August, the Iowa State Fair at 3000 E Grand Ave draws over a million visitors for butter sculptures, deep-fried Oreos, and the famous Big Boar. Fall brings the World Food & Music Festival in September at Western Gateway Park, with free entry and dishes from 50 countries for $5 or less. Winter's highlight is the Festival of Trees at the Iowa Events Center in late November, where decorated trees and gingerbread houses raise funds for Blank Children's Hospital.
ποΈ Where to Stay
For a central location, the Des Moines Marriott Downtown at 700 Grand Ave puts you steps from the skywalk system and has rooms from $159 per night. Budget travelers should consider the Surety Hotel at 206 6th Ave, a restored 1913 building with a popular lobby bar and rates around $129. If you prefer boutique charm, the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 1000 Walnut St reopened in 2019 after a $50 million renovation and offers free bike rentals to guests.
the farmers market tip about cash is real but the bigger move is parking. everyone tries to park on court ave & gets stuck circling for 20 min. park in the ramp at 3rd & court for a couple bucks or just park in the east village & walk over the riverwalk bridge, its like 10 min & way less headache
one thing the guide missed entirely is the lincoln ravine. its a little hidden neighborhood off 42nd & lincoln, narrow brick streets & old houses, feels like a different city. good for a slow walk in the spring. also water works park has better trails than most people realize, the big sycamore there is supposedly one of the oldest trees in the state
Good writeup, the Capitol dome detail is the kind of thing most visitors never hear. One thing I'd add on the Riverwalk: the B-cycle stations are handy but the bikes get picked clean on weekend afternoons, so if you're set on riding, grab one before 11 or you'll be walking the loop anyway. Also worth knowing the Women of Achievement Bridge is the best spot in town for a skyline photo at sunset, locals treat it like a free observation deck.
On the Civic Center note, if you're catching a Broadway tour, the $5 flat parking at the 7th & Grand ramp is a solid move, but it fills up fast on show nights, so aim to arrive 45 minutes early. And the Lift is a good call, though it's tiny, so go before 9 if you want an actual seat rather than standing room.