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Des Moines air right now

ModerateAQI 55

Des Moines’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

55
AQI now
11
PM2.5 · µg/m³
1 cleaner spot within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Omaha looks like the better move.27% cleaner air with a verified 2 h 30 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Des Moines Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Marshalltown
Cel-shaded illustration of Marshalltown
AQI 39
#1MarshalltownChecking road route

Iowa· Good

Iowa community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

35% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 7.1 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 7.1/22 × 7 = 2.3 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

35% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Ames
Cel-shaded illustration of Ames
AQI 44
#2AmesChecking road route

Iowa· Good

Iowa community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

27% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Pella
Cel-shaded illustration of Pella
AQI 45
#3PellaChecking road route

Iowa· Good

Iowa community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 8.1 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.1/22 × 7 = 2.6 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

26% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Norwalk
Cel-shaded illustration of Norwalk
AQI unavailable
#4NorwalkChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Carlisle
Cel-shaded illustration of Carlisle
AQI unavailable
#5CarlisleChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Altoona
Cel-shaded illustration of Altoona
AQI unavailable
#6AltoonaChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Ankeny
Cel-shaded illustration of Ankeny
AQI unavailable
#7AnkenyChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Grimes
Cel-shaded illustration of Grimes
AQI unavailable
#8GrimesChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Bondurant
Cel-shaded illustration of Bondurant
AQI unavailable
#9BondurantChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Polk City
Cel-shaded illustration of Polk City
AQI unavailable
#10Polk CityChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Waukee
Cel-shaded illustration of Waukee
AQI unavailable
#11WaukeeChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Mitchellville
Cel-shaded illustration of Mitchellville
AQI unavailable
#12MitchellvilleChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Omaha
Cel-shaded illustration of Omaha
AQI 44
#13Omaha~2 h 30 min drive

Nebraska· Good

A major Nebraska city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

27% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 8 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

27% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the NCORE monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Marengo
Cel-shaded illustration of Marengo
AQI unavailable
#14MarengoChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Terre Haute
Cel-shaded illustration of Terre Haute
AQI unavailable
#15Terre HauteChecking road route

Missouri

Missouri community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Hudson
Cel-shaded illustration of Hudson
AQI unavailable
#16HudsonChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Hampton
Cel-shaded illustration of Hampton
AQI unavailable
#17HamptonChecking road route

Iowa

Iowa community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Minocqua
Cel-shaded illustration of Minocqua
AQI 7
#18MinocquaChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

Northwoods lake town surrounded by hundreds of lakes, deep in Wisconsin's forest belt, with resorts.

88% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1.3 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.3/22 × 7 = 0.4 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

88% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
St. Germain
Cel-shaded illustration of St. Germain
AQI 7
#19St. GermainChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

Small lake-country Northwoods village amid hundreds of lakes, with resorts and open-water air.

88% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1.3 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.3/22 × 7 = 0.4 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

88% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Eagle River
Cel-shaded illustration of Eagle River
AQI 8
#20Eagle RiverChecking road route

Wisconsin· Good

Chain-of-lakes Northwoods town far from urban sources, with lake air and a deep stock of resorts.

86% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1.5 µg/m³ here vs 11 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1.5/22 × 7 = 0.5 here; 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

9.5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Des Moines right now

86% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

Air quality in nearby cities →
Omaha air qualityKansas City air qualityTopeka air qualitySioux Falls air qualityPeoria air qualityMinneapolis air qualityRockford air qualityMadison air qualitySt. Louis air qualitySpringfield air qualityMilwaukee air qualityChicago air quality

What this means · Des Moines

Moderate

AQI 55

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 11 µg/m³ (Elevated), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Elevated.

11 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

3.5/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 11 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →