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Nothing cleaner nearby

Des Moines is breathing 2.5 cigarettes a week

8
PM2.5 µg/m³
44
AQI
3.1
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
Look farther for cleaner air

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.

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

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
#1MarshalltownPM2.5 4Checking road routesaves 1.3 cigs/wk

Iowa· PM2.5 4 µg/m³

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

50% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

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

50% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Ames
Cel-shaded illustration of Ames
#2AmesPM2.5 4.4Checking road routesaves 1.1 cigs/wk

Iowa· PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³

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

45% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.4 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.4/22 × 7 = 1.4 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

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

45% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Pella
Cel-shaded illustration of Pella
#3PellaPM2.5 5Checking road routesaves 1.0 cigs/wk

Iowa· PM2.5 5 µg/m³

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

38% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 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

38% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Norwalk
Cel-shaded illustration of Norwalk
#4NorwalkParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Carlisle
Cel-shaded illustration of Carlisle
#5CarlisleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Altoona
Cel-shaded illustration of Altoona
#6AltoonaParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Ankeny
Cel-shaded illustration of Ankeny
#7AnkenyParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Grimes
Cel-shaded illustration of Grimes
#8GrimesParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Bondurant
Cel-shaded illustration of Bondurant
#9BondurantParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Polk City
Cel-shaded illustration of Polk City
#10Polk CityParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Waukee
Cel-shaded illustration of Waukee
#11WaukeeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Mitchellville
Cel-shaded illustration of Mitchellville
#12MitchellvilleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Omaha
Cel-shaded illustration of Omaha
#13OmahaPM2.5 17~2 h 30 min drive

Nebraska· PM2.5 17 µg/m³

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

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 17 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 17/22 × 7 = 5.4 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Des Moines

112% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Marengo
Cel-shaded illustration of Marengo
#14MarengoParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Terre Haute
Cel-shaded illustration of Terre Haute
#15Terre HauteParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Hudson
Cel-shaded illustration of Hudson
#16HudsonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Hampton
Cel-shaded illustration of Hampton
#17HamptonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 2.5 cigs/wk

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 — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Cedarburg
Cel-shaded illustration of Cedarburg
#18CedarburgPM2.5 3.1Checking road routesaves 1.6 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.1 µg/m³

Historic mill town on Cedar Creek near Milwaukee, a walkable stone-building Main Street with inns.

61% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.1 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.1/22 × 7 = 1.0 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

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

61% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Milwaukee
Cel-shaded illustration of Milwaukee
#19MilwaukeePM2.5 3.7~7 h drivesaves 1.4 cigs/wk

Wisconsin· PM2.5 3.7 µg/m³

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

54% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.7 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.7/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

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

54% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Lafayette
Cel-shaded illustration of Lafayette
#20LafayettePM2.5 3.8Checking road routesaves 1.3 cigs/wk

Indiana· PM2.5 3.8 µg/m³

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

53% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.8 µg/m³ here vs 8 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.8/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

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

53% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
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 Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 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 →

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What this means · Des Moines

Phew.

2.5cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

8 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each 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 · The fine print

The receipts

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 8 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 8/22 × 7 = 2.5 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →