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Des Moines Iowa Map

Explore Des Moines, Iowa, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Des Moines, Iowa

How to Use This Des Moines, Iowa Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Des Moines, Iowa. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Iowa or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Des Moines.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Des Moines
State	Iowa (IA)
County	Polk County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Central Time (America/Chicago)

Latitude	41.57259
Longitude	-93.610243
Population	214,133
Density	937.6 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Codes	50316, 50309, 50301, 50302, 50303
Area Code	515
County Seat	Des Moines
School District	Des Moines Independent Community School District

🌦 Goto Des Moines Weather Page: Des Moines, Iowa — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines is a locality in Polk County, Iowa, United States. With a population of 214,133, Des Moines is a major urban centre in Iowa. The population density is 937.6 people per km². Des Moines is located at 41.5726°N, 93.6102°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. Des Moines is an incorporated locality. ZIP codes: 50316, 50309, 50301.

Des Moines emerges as a sturdy anchor upon the expansive, fertile plains of the Midwest, where the Des Moines River carves a deliberate path through the heart of the landscape. It lies 4.7 miles west-northwest of Pleasant Hill, IA (from Pleasant Hill, IA: bearing 284°T), and is situated 8.9 miles south of Ankeny. The horizon is defined by an immense, open sky that shifts from pale azure to a deep, bruised violet as evening light catches the dust rising from the surrounding fields. While the terrain is primarily shaped by the quiet persistence of agriculture, the subtle relief of the land offers a grounded perspective, with Buffalo Ridge standing as a silent, distant sentinel on the far horizon. Residents find a quiet respite in the immediate presence of Burke Park, a sanctuary that offers a momentary stillness against the steady, rhythmic pulse of the plains.

The origins of Des Moines are rooted in the necessity of frontier defense, evolving from a military outpost established to oversee the transition of these lands during the nineteenth century. As the outpost gave way to permanent settlement, the character of Des Moines was forged by the diligent hands of those who sought to cultivate the rich, dark soil of the region. This evolution from a fort into a center of governance and trade reflects a history of pragmatic growth, where the German and Scandinavian influences of early settlers instilled an unshowy, literate civility that persists in the modern era. The architecture of the older districts serves as a quiet record of this transition, standing as a testament to the endurance of those who built their lives amidst the prairie grasses.

Economic vitality in Des Moines is driven by a diverse integration of financial services, insurance sectors, and the technological support required to sustain such large-scale industry. The infrastructure is designed to facilitate the flow of goods and information, supported by a network of roads that mirror the orderly division of the surrounding tilled acreage. Education remains a cornerstone of the regional identity, with institutions like Drake University fostering an environment of intellectual inquiry that ripples outward into the professional community. Life moves with the deliberate pace of a place that understands the value of labor, where the machinery of commerce hums in concert with the seasonal demands of the harvest.

Cultural life in Des Moines is characterized by a deep appreciation for communal gatherings and the celebration of regional heritage through annual festivals that draw the populace into the public squares. While the city does not look toward the coast, it finds its recreation in the local geography, such as the quiet waters of Dean Lake, which offer a reflective mirror to the summer sun. The Iowa State Capitol, with its prominent gold-leaf dome, serves as the most recognizable landmark, casting a distinctive silhouette against the clouds. Notable figures such as Bill Bryson have captured the essence of this specific, unshowy life in their work, articulating the quiet beauty of a world where the primary rhythm is dictated by the turning of the seasons and the steady, honest work of the day.

Nearby Outdoor Places

Blank Park Zoo (Zoo / Wildlife Park) — 0.4 mi, 246° SW
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (Nature Reserve) — 0.5 mi, 356° N
Principal Riverwalk (Attraction) — 1.2 mi, 348° N
Iowa State Historical Museum (Museum) — 1.3 mi, 344° N
State Historical Building of Iowa (Museum) — 1.3 mi, 344° N
Iowa Hall of Pride (Museum) — 1.3 mi, 344° N
Iowa State Capitol Building (Landmark) — 1.3 mi, 349° N
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates (Historic Site) — 1.3 mi, 351° N
Jordan House (Historic Site) — 1.3 mi, 280° W
Civic Center of Greater Des Moines (Theatre / Concert Hall) — 1.6 mi, 335° NW
Pappajohn Sculpture Park (Attraction) — 1.6 mi, 321° NW
Drake University (Attraction) — 2.6 mi, 290° W
Fort Des Moines (Historic Site) — 2.6 mi, 138° SE
Des Moines Art Center (Art / Cultural Centre) — 2.6 mi, 315° NW
Living History Farms (Historic Site) — 8.0 mi, 254° W
Des Moines River Open Space (Local Park) — 0.3 mi, 015° N
EMC Overlook (Viewpoint) — 0.8 mi, 260° W
The Big Questions (Public Artwork) — 0.9 mi, 325° NW
Gray's Lake Park (Local Park) — 1.0 mi, 269° W
Peace Boulder (Monument) — 1.1 mi, 330° NW
G.A.R. Flagpole (Monument) — 1.1 mi, 025° NE
Shattering Silence (Monument) — 1.1 mi, 018° N
Liz Lidgett Gallery & Design (Gallery) — 1.2 mi, 348° N
Fleur Cinema & Cafe (Theatre) — 2.6 mi, 219° SW
Saylorville Recreation Area (Recreation Area) — 2.9 mi, 344° N
Sheslow Auditorium (Theatre) — 2.9 mi, 313° NW
Model Railroad (Attraction) — 3.3 mi, 064° NE
Walnut Woods State Park (State Park) — 6.4 mi, 251° W
Margo Frankel Woods State Park (State Park) — 6.8 mi, 358° N
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 15.7 mi, 082° E · 12k acres

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