New Garage Opening as Part of LiftDSM Project
July 1, 2025
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is pleased to announce the official opening of the new section of its parking garage at 9 AM today, a major milestone in the LiftDSM initiative to enhance the travel experience for passengers across Iowa.
Construction on the new garage began in the summer of 2023 and was completed by The Weitz Company. The expansion adds more than 1,100 new covered parking spaces, conveniently located for access to both the current and future terminals. The garage’s total capacity increases by 63%, going from 1,800 to over 2,900 stalls.
“We’re excited to provide our travelers with more convenient, covered parking as we prepare for the future of air travel in Iowa,” said Brian Mulcahy, Chief Executive Officer at DSM. “This expansion directly supports our long-term vision through the LiftDSM program, making travel to and from the airport easier and more accessible. I also want to thank Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Transportation for the Iowa Commercial Aviation Infrastructure Fund grant that supported this construction.”
New Traffic Flow and Features
The entrance to the parking garage has shifted. Drivers will now access the garage from the right side of Terminal Drive, follow the one-way loop road, and be guided by signage to either daily or hourly parking.
Like the original garage, the expansion features the popular red light/green light parking guidance system above each stall to quickly identify available spaces and an upgraded real-time stall count board at the entrance showing available spots by level.
Additional enhancements coming soon include color-coded graphics on the pillars throughout the garage, making it easier for travelers to remember where they parked. Patrons can simply snap a photo of the nearest pillar to help locate their vehicle when they return. Each level will feature a unique color, and parking garage maps will be installed throughout the facility to assist with navigation.
Paving of the adjacent surface lot is scheduled to begin in July, with additional enhancements continuing throughout the year.
Customer-Friendly Improvements and EZ Pick-Up
To reduce curbside congestion, DSM has introduced a new EZ Pick-Up process. Visitors picking up arriving passengers can enter the hourly lot and wait in a designated area, where they can drop a pin to their traveler to identify their exact location. This service is free from 9 PM to midnight and helps eliminate the need to circle the terminal.
Daily and hourly parking rates remain unchanged at $20 per day and $48 per day, respectively.
Thanks to Our Partners
DSM thanks its partners and the public for their support and patience during construction and looks forward to continuing to elevate the passenger experience through LiftDSM. We’re excited to have this important project completed, delivering more convenience and capacity for our travelers.
“We’re proud to be working alongside amazing partners in the community to see this project come to fruition,” said Mike Tousley, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Weitz. “It’s a great example of forward-thinking infrastructure that serves the community’s growing needs.”
The next major LiftDSM milestone will be the completion of four new deicing pads, which began construction in June 2025 and are on track to be finished by October of this year. These continued improvements are all part of our commitment to building a better, efficient, easy to use airport for Iowa.