WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 164
Iowa · Couples · Two nights

Des Moines

A golden capitol, a sculpture park and a big Saturday market.

Des Moines is easy and surprisingly stylish. Stay at the Surety, a design hotel in a 1913 bank building, walk the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, browse one of the country’s biggest Saturday farmers’ markets, tour the gold-domed capitol, see the botanical garden’s dome and have a steak at 801 Chophouse. In August, the Iowa State Fair is an American classic.

City weekendFarmers’ marketArt & gardens
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
An aerial view of Des Moines at sunset
Des Moines at sunset
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KIKV
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~844 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~5 hr 52 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car or rideshare

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

Land at Ankeny.

KIKV, Ankeny Regional, is a non-towered GA airport with a 6,000-foot runway, about 20 minutes north of downtown.

The FBO

Exec 1 Aviation

Ankeny Regional Airport, Ankeny, IA

515-965-1020

Confirm FBO hours, fees and ground transportation. No live fuel price is shown.

Midwest weather: summer thunderstorms and haze, gusty winds on the plains, and icing and low ceilings from late fall through winter. About 840 nm from Myrtle Beach: plan a fuel stop and three nights.

02 / Where to stay

A design hotel or a historic one.

Rates and availability need travel dates. State Fair week (August) books early.

03 / Where to eat

Steaks and contemporary dining.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

Market, art and gardens.

Plan around Saturday morning.

01

Downtown Farmers’ Market

A huge Saturday market, May to October.

Market
02

Pappajohn Sculpture Park & Des Moines Art Center

Outdoor sculpture and a fine art museum.

Art Center
03

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Gardens and a tropical dome on the river.

Garden
05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Fall

Best weather

Mild days for walking.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Des Moines events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample long weekend: market, art and gardens. Plan three nights for the flight. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at KIKV, subject to weather, your fuel stop and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    The sculpture park.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at Alba.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    The Saturday farmers’ market.

  2. Afternoon

    The botanical garden and the capitol.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at 801 Chophouse.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    The Art Center.

  2. Before leaving

    Allow time at the airport.

  3. Fly home

    Summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon; leave early.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging first.

Long flight

About 845 nm. Plan a fuel stop and three nights.

Market

Saturdays, May to October.

Best seasons

May to October.

Reviewed · Destination 164

Reviewed November 5, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.