Skywalk DSM — Downtown Des Moines skywalk map
Skywalk DSM is an interactive map and walking-directions app for the downtown
Des Moines skywalk system — the roughly four-mile network of climate-controlled,
second-story indoor walkways that connect office towers, parking garages, hotels,
and dozens of businesses across downtown DSM. It's a community-built tool,
maintained by Alec Walker, that replaces the old static PDF maps and the
discontinued city skywalk app.
The map covers the entire downtown Des Moines, Iowa skywalk grid, with
point-to-point walking directions, a searchable directory of every business
along the way, hours and contact info on each stop, photos where available,
and notes on temporary closures. Works on your phone, no app install, no
account required.
What you can do
- Find walking directions through the downtown DSM skywalks between any two points
- Search restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, banks, hotels, and parking garages connected to the skywalk
- See which businesses are open right now
- Filter the map by category (food, coffee, retail, banking, hotel, healthcare)
- Share a route by URL with anyone
- Report a problem with anything on the map
Explore the downtown DSM skywalk by category
About the downtown Des Moines skywalk system
The Des Moines skywalk is one of the largest enclosed pedestrian networks in
the United States, with about four miles of indoor walkway connecting dozens
of buildings between the Iowa State Capitol grounds and the Western Gateway.
You can walk most of downtown DSM without ever stepping outside — handy in
January, July, and the unpredictable weeks in between.
This site requires JavaScript for the interactive map.
Read more about the project.