Des Moines to Salt Lake City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Des Moines from Salt Lake City?

The distance from Des Moines to Salt Lake City is 949.9 miles (1528.7 km) as the crow flies. Salt Lake City is located W of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1139.8 miles, taking about 22h 56min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 25min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Salt Lake City in Utah.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Des Moines and Salt Lake City. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.