Is CLEAR at DSM?
No — Des Moines (DSM) does not have a CLEAR lane right now. CLEAR operates at more than 60 U.S. airports, but DSM is not one of them, so a CLEAR Plus membership will not speed you up here. The lane that does cut your DSM wait is TSA PreCheck — here is how to use it, and how the three programs compare.
Is CLEAR at DSM right now?
No — there is no CLEAR lane at DSM today. CLEAR runs at 60-plus U.S. airports, and Des Moinesis not on that list, so a CLEAR Plus membership earns you nothing here. Don’t pay for it on DSM’s account alone. We update this page if CLEAR opens a lane at DSM — the current airport list is at clearme.com.
The nearest airports with a CLEAR lane
If you already carry CLEAR Plus — or you are deciding whether to — these are the closest airports to Des Moines where the membership actually works:
| Airport | From DSM |
|---|---|
| CLEAR at MCI — Kansas City, MO | 164 mi |
| CLEAR at MSP — Minneapolis, MN | 232 mi |
| CLEAR at STL — St. Louis, MO | 260 mi |
Straight-line distances. A CLEAR Plus membership works at every CLEAR airport, so it can still pay off if your trips route through one of these.
What gets you through DSM security faster instead
The lane that actually cuts your DSM wait is TSA PreCheck at DSM — the lighter screening where you keep your shoes, belt, and laptop packed. See how big the gap is on the live DSM TSA wait times board, where the standard wait is about 14 minutes and the PreCheck wait is about 5 minutes right now.
CLEAR, PreCheck, or Global Entry at DSM?
Three programs speed you up in different ways — and the first two stack. Here is the quick version:
| Program | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | $76.75–$855 years | Most U.S. domestic flyers |
| Global Entry | $1205 years | International travelers (best value — it includes PreCheck) |
| CLEAR Plus | $209per year | Frequent flyers at CLEAR airports |
Want the deep dive? Read TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR and Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck. Flying internationally from DSM? Check Global Entry at DSM — it bundles PreCheck for not much more.
How CLEAR changes your Leave-By Time
A faster ID check only helps if it shortens the line you are actually in. Rather than guess, set your Leave-By Time: it folds the live DSM security wait, your drive with traffic, and the walk to your gate into one exact time to leave home — so you know when to leave today, not a rule of thumb.
Driving to DSM? Compare DSM airport parking and fold the lot and shuttle into the same Leave-By Time.
See also: is PreCheck open at DSM and how early to arrive at the airport.
Common questions about CLEAR at DSM
Is CLEAR at DSM?
No — DSM does not have a CLEAR lane right now. CLEAR runs at more than 60 U.S. airports, but Des Moines is not one of them, so a CLEAR Plus membership will not speed you up here. The nearest airports with CLEAR lanes are MCI (164 miles away), MSP (232 miles away), STL (260 miles away).
What gets me through DSM security faster instead?
TSA PreCheck is the one to get at DSM: it is the lighter screening lane where you keep your shoes, belt, and laptop packed. Check the live DSM wait to see the PreCheck-vs-standard gap before you leave.
Will CLEAR come to DSM?
CLEAR keeps adding airports, so DSM could get a lane later — but plan around what is there today. We update this page when CLEAR opens at DSM.
Is a CLEAR membership still useful if I fly through DSM?
Only if you also fly through CLEAR airports. A CLEAR Plus membership works network-wide, so it can still pay off if DSM is just one stop on trips that also touch CLEAR hubs.