Des Moines (DSM) Terminal Map & Navigation Guide
Everything you need to navigate Des Moines: the official terminal map link, what airlines fly from each concourse, how to move between terminals, and gate-finding tips that save you backtracking. Verify your specific gate on your boarding pass — assignments change.
Where can I find the official Des Moines terminal map?
The DSM airport authority publishes the most up-to-date map on its official website. Use the link below before you travel so you know the terminal layout and gate locations before you clear security.
Official map
Des Moines official terminal map — airport authority website
Maps are updated when terminals are renovated or new concourses open. Terminal 5 at LAX, for example, has been closed since October 2025 for reconstruction — always confirm your terminal from your boarding pass rather than relying on a saved map.
What is in each Des Moines terminal?
Here is what each terminal or concourse at DSM handles — which airlines fly from it, the gate range, and key amenities to know before you go.
Concourse A
Gates A1–A5, served by Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air. Reached through the dedicated Concourse A security checkpoint on the west side of the Main Terminal. Post-security dining/retail includes Mill Supply Co. and A Bar near the start of the concourse.
Concourse C
Gates C1–C7, served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines. Reached through the dedicated Concourse C security checkpoint on the east side of the Main Terminal. Post-security dining/retail includes Coffee & Bar and the post-security Hudson shop-in-shop cluster near the concourse split.
How do I get between terminals at Des Moines?
DSM has a single terminal building with two concourses (no airside tram or people mover needed). Concourse A and Concourse C sit on opposite sides of the shared Main Terminal, but each has its own dedicated TSA checkpoint — there is no airside walkway connecting the two past security, so landside-to-landside movement between checkpoints takes about 5–10 minutes on foot.
Timing tip
Always allow 15–30 minutes for any inter-terminal transfer at DSM — wait times for people-movers, buses, or security re-screening add up faster than the physical distance suggests. Build the buffer into your Leave-By time, not your gate arrival time.
How do I find my gate at Des Moines?
Go directly to the checkpoint that matches your concourse: Concourse A (Southwest, United, Allegiant — gates A1–A5) checkpoint is on one side of the Main Terminal, Concourse C (American, Delta, Frontier — gates C1–C7) checkpoint is on the other. Queuing at the wrong one means exiting and re-clearing security at the correct checkpoint. Note: DSM is currently building an entirely new terminal (the Lift DSM project, targeted to open in 2027 with 18 connected gates); until that opens, this two-concourse layout remains current, though expect construction signage around the property.
A few habits that prevent last-minute sprints:
- Open your airline app two hours before departure. Gate assignments update in the app before they appear on printed boarding passes and sometimes before terminal displays are updated.
- Check departure screens immediately after clearing security. Every terminal at DSM has overhead departure boards near the checkpoint exit — confirming your gate here costs 30 seconds and can save a long detour.
- Note which security checkpoint serves your concourse. At multi-concourse airports, entering through the wrong checkpoint can mean exiting security and re-queuing, which adds 20 minutes or more.
- International arrivals follow the customs signs first. If you are connecting from an international arrival, clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection before looking for your domestic connection gate — the process is one-way.
What is the easiest way to navigate Des Moines?
Experienced travellers at DSM use a short checklist every time:
- Review the map before leaving home. Open the Des Moines official map on your phone while you are still home so the terminal layout is familiar.
- Know your terminal before you arrive. At airports with multiple separate buildings (JFK, LAX, DTW, MSP) confirm your terminal from your boarding pass — rideshare and taxi drivers need the correct terminal to drop you at the right curb.
- Use automated people-movers instead of walking. At large airports with trains (ATL Plane Train, DFW Skylink, DEN AGTS) a single train ride replaces 20–30 minutes of walking. Look for signs to the train immediately after clearing security.
- Follow colour-coded signage. Most airports (TPA Blue/Red, SEA North/South Satellite, PHX T3/T4) use colour or number coding from curbside through gates — picking the right colour zone at check-in means you do not cross the terminal twice.
- Check the live TSA wait before you leave. Knowing the current security wait at DSM lets you time your departure so you arrive at the gate relaxed, not sprinting.
Common questions about Des Moines maps
Where can I find the official DSM terminal map?
The official Des Moines terminal map is on the airport authority website at https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/maps-directions. Maps are updated when new gates or concourses open; always verify your specific gate on your boarding pass.
How do I get between terminals at DSM?
DSM has a single terminal building with two concourses (no airside tram or people mover needed). Concourse A and Concourse C sit on opposite sides of the shared Main Terminal, but each has its own dedicated TSA checkpoint — there is no airside walkway connecting the two past security, so landside-to-landside movement between checkpoints takes about 5–10 minutes on foot.
How do I find my gate at DSM?
Go directly to the checkpoint that matches your concourse: Concourse A (Southwest, United, Allegiant — gates A1–A5) checkpoint is on one side of the Main Terminal, Concourse C (American, Delta, Frontier — gates C1–C7) checkpoint is on the other. Queuing at the wrong one means exiting and re-clearing security at the correct checkpoint. Note: DSM is currently building an entirely new terminal (the Lift DSM project, targeted to open in 2027 with 18 connected gates); until that opens, this two-concourse layout remains current, though expect construction signage around the property. Your boarding pass shows the exact gate. Open your airline app about two hours before departure — gate assignments sometimes change after check-in closes. Look for departure boards throughout the terminal for real-time gate information.
What is the easiest way to navigate DSM?
Use the official interactive map at https://www.flydsm.com/passengers/at-the-airport/maps-directions before you arrive to familiarise yourself with the layout. Go directly to the checkpoint that matches your concourse: Concourse A (Southwest, United, Allegiant — gates A1–A5) checkpoint is on one side of the Main Terminal, Concourse C (American, Delta, Frontier — gates C1–C7) checkpoint is on the other. Queuing at the wrong one means exiting and re-clearing security at the correct checkpoint. Note: DSM is currently building an entirely new terminal (the Lift DSM project, targeted to open in 2027 with 18 connected gates); until that opens, this two-concourse layout remains current, though expect construction signage around the property.
What is in each DSM terminal?
Concourse A: Gates A1–A5, served by Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air. Reached through the dedicated Concourse A security checkpoint on the west side of the Main Terminal. Post-security dining/retail includes Mill Supply Co. and A Bar near the start of the concourse. Concourse C: Gates C1–C7, served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines. Reached through the dedicated Concourse C security checkpoint on the east side of the Main Terminal. Post-security dining/retail includes Coffee & Bar and the post-security Hudson shop-in-shop cluster near the concourse split.
Leave-By calculator
Know exactly when to leave for DSM
The TSA Wait Times Leave-By calculator folds the live DSM security wait, your drive time, and terminal navigation into one exact time to leave home — so you reach your gate without guessing.
See also: Live DSM TSA wait times · DSM terminals guide · DSM security tips