Des Moines Airport Cell Phone Lot: Free for 60 Minutes, Plus EZ-PICKUP and Pick-Up Rules (2026)

As of October 2026, the Des Moines airport cell phone lot is free for up to 60 minutes at a time. Inside the parking garage, EZ-PICKUP stalls give you up to 2 hours free while you stay with your car. Waiting at the front curb is not allowed during terminal construction, and unattended cars may be ticketed or towed.

This page is about picking people up at DSM; our Des Moines airport parking guide covers parking for your own trip.

Where Is the DSM Cell Phone Lot?

The Cell Phone Waiting Lot is south of the terminal, near the north end of the Blue Economy Lot.

Wait in your car until your passenger calls, then drive to EZ-PICKUP or, if they are already outside with their bags, to the curb. The airport's DSM parking map and directions shows the lot's location.

How EZ-PICKUP Works

EZ-PICKUP is a set of numbered stalls inside the garage where you can wait up to 2 hours free and your passenger walks to you.

1. Follow roadway signs to EZ-PICKUP in the parking garage.
2. Park in a numbered stall.
3. Text the stall number to your passenger.
4. They follow signs from the terminal and meet you at the stall.

Stay longer than 2 hours and the regular $2/hour rate applies. You must stay with the car; if you want to go inside, park in the regular garage. The airport's EZ-PICKUP page says the system stays in place until the new terminal opens, which the airport expects in January 2027.

Cell Phone Lot or EZ-PICKUP: Which Should You Use?

Use the Cell Phone Lot when the flight hasn't landed yet, and EZ-PICKUP once your passenger is heading out.

The Cell Phone Lot keeps you off the terminal roads during the wait. Its free time is 60 minutes at a time. EZ-PICKUP gives you up to 2 hours and lets your passenger walk straight to the car, which is easier than circling past a busy curb. If your passenger is already outside with bags in hand, you can drive from the Cell Phone Lot straight to the curb.

Can You Wait at the Curb at DSM?

No: as of October 2026, the curb is for active loading only, so stop there only when your passenger is outside and ready.

The airport says construction and increased passenger traffic have reduced curb space. Airport staff and security monitor the curb, and drivers who wait or leave the car can be cited. Use EZ-PICKUP or the Cell Phone Lot instead. The rule is tied to construction, so check current status on the airport's pick-up page before you go.

Meeting Someone Inside the Terminal

Park in the Hourly garage: the first 2 hours are free.

This also works if your passenger has no phone. After 2 hours it costs $2/hour up to $48/day. Our DSM hourly and garage parking guide has the full garage rates.

Rideshare and Taxi Pick-Up

Uber and Lyft pick up in the parking garage at the Ride App EZ Pickup area on level 1, and drop off at the airport entrance.

Taxis wait outside the baggage claim exit, according to the airport's ride app and taxi page.

Pick-Up Options Compared

Dropping Someone Off at DSM

Drop-offs can still use the front curb, as long as you only stop to unload and then move on.

Unattended vehicles at the curb can be ticketed or towed. If you want to walk your traveler inside, park in Garage Hourly, where the first 2 hours are free. Rideshare drivers drop passengers at the airport entrance.

Help for Passengers Who Need Assistance

Wheelchair assistance runs from the curb to the plane and back, provided by G2 Secure Staff.

Call (515) 256-5500 to arrange it, as listed in the airport's DSM traveler FAQ. If your passenger needs help getting to the car, park in Garage Hourly and meet them inside rather than using the Cell Phone Lot.

What Changes When the New Terminal Opens

The airport expects the new terminal to open in January 2027, and EZ-PICKUP is set to run until then.

The new terminal will be reached from the skywalk, by a crosswalk from the parking garage, or from the front curb. The airport has not yet said how pick-up will work after the move, so check its pick-up page before you go in early 2027.

Tips for a Smooth DSM Pick-Up

• Track the flight first so you don't use up your free time early.
• Agree on a plan: EZ-PICKUP if they have a phone, Garage Hourly if not.
• Allow for construction traffic near the terminal until the new terminal opens.
• Flying yourself? Long-term lots start at $7/day; see our Des Moines economy lot guide, the full list of DSM parking rates, or our guide to hotel parking near the airport.