California

$45+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to California

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 8/7. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — LAX
Jun 16 — Jun 231
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Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to California

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to California
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to California. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on May 17, 2026.

This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/16. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/302:42 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 14m
Allegiant Air
Thu 10/81:50 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 52m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/16$164
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/3110:26 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 12m
Allegiant Air
Thu 6/43:16 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 55m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/15$167
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/12. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 6/229:56 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 10m
Allegiant Air
Thu 6/252:51 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 55m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/12$168
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 7/1310:01 pm
DSM
-
ONT
1 stop19h 06m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 7/213:40 pm
ONT
-
DSM
1 stop19h 19m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 5/15$171
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 6/288:36 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 10m
Allegiant Air
Fri 7/34:12 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 59m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/13$173
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 10/191:47 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 14m
Allegiant Air
Fri 10/234:18 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 52m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/13$174
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/16. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 5/259:42 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 12m
Allegiant Air
Thu 5/283:45 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 59m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/16$177
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/12. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 6/159:56 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 6/246:15 am
LAS
-
DSM
1 stop5h 16m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 5/12$178
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/12. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 5/271:49 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 12m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 5/296:30 am
LAS
-
DSM
1 stop14h 18m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 5/12$180
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/16. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 8/137:00 am
DSM
-
SNA
Nonstop3h 42m
Allegiant Air
Thu 8/2012:26 pm
SNA
-
DSM
Nonstop3h 17m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/16$180
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/119:01 pm
DSM
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 10m
Allegiant Air
Mon 9/143:46 pm
LAS
-
DSM
Nonstop2h 55m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/15$181
This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 5/16. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/152:18 pm
DSM
-
SNA
Nonstop3h 38m
Allegiant Air
Sun 10/184:06 pm
SNA
-
DSM
Nonstop3h 15m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 5/16$181

Find flight deals from Des Moines to California

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Des Moines to California flight deals. Data was last updated May 17, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$164
(Cheapflightsfares)

One-way from

$45
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

May

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$412

Good round-trip deal

$126 or less

Good one-way deal

$73 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Los Angeles Los Angeles flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Los Angeles Los Angeles flights.
From Des Moines to California
One-way flight from Des Moines to California
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 4% potential increase in price ($18 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($5 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in May 2026
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to California.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to California.

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to California that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated May 17, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to California that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 11/7

2:15 pm-9:15 pm

1 stop9h 00m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sat 11/14

6:30 am-2:11 pm

1 stop5h 41m

$305

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 8/22

3:02 pm-8:23 pm

1 stop7h 21m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 8/26

5:00 am-12:32 pm

1 stop5h 32m

$305

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 10/31

11:04 am-8:00 pm

1 stop10h 56m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 11/3

11:40 am-7:12 pm

1 stop5h 32m

$305

Des MoinesFresno

DSM - FAT

DSMFAT

Des Moines

Thu 9/10

9:56 pm-7:59 am

1 stop12h 03m

Fresno Airterminal

Mon 9/14

10:49 am-8:41 pm

1 stop7h 52m

$323

Des MoinesSanta Ana

DSM - SNA

DSMSNA

Des Moines

Thu 8/13

2:25 pm-7:00 pm

1 stop6h 35m

Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Thu 8/20

11:30 am-9:15 pm

2 stops7h 45m

$336

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Fri 11/6

6:30 pm-12:32 am

1 stop8h 02m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sat 11/14

6:30 am-2:11 pm

1 stop5h 41m

$341

Des MoinesFresno

DSM - FAT

DSMFAT

Des Moines

Mon 6/1

9:17 pm-1:15 pm

1 stop17h 58m

Fresno Airterminal

Tue 6/16

2:06 pm-12:55 pm

1 stop20h 49m

$342

Des MoinesSanta Ana

DSM - SNA

DSMSNA

Des Moines

Thu 9/24

10:00 am-11:37 am

Nonstop3h 37m

Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Mon 9/28

5:00 pm-1:52 pm

2 stops42h 52m

$343

Des MoinesOntario

DSM - ONT

DSMONT

Des Moines

Wed 6/3

2:16 pm-10:05 am

1 stop21h 49m

Ontario

Tue 6/9

10:50 am-1:31 pm

1 stop24h 41m

$345

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 6/30

7:00 pm-10:35 pm

1 stop5h 35m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 7/7

8:10 am-6:20 pm

2 stops8h 10m

$345

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 5/12

Showing 1-10 of 60 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to California

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to California from Des Moines with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Des Moines to California

How far ahead should I book a flight from Des Moines to California?

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Des Moines to California, you should look to book at least 66 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to California?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to California (average of $73). Flying from Des Moines to California in March is currently the most expensive (average of $145). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from DSM to CA?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to California. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated May 17, 2026.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Des Moines to California in the evening. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 73% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Des Moines to California?

Reviews of airlines servicing California

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to California. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to California. Reviews last updated May 17, 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest,Delta, andUnited Airlines from Des Moines to California. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Des Moines to California. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Des Moines to California?

    Des Moines (DSM), located 3.6 mi from the city center, is the airport you fly out of when you book flights from Des Moines to California.

  • How popular is this Des Moines to California flight route?

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to California?

    Airlines like United Airlines, Delta, and Allegiant Air fly from Des Moines to California in about 7h 21m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 4h 42m. Des Moines and California are separated by a distance of 1443 mi. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Des Moines to California one-way?

    The cheapest airline one-way is Allegiant Air, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $60. However, be on the lookout for offers from United Airlines and Frontier, as they are both options that can get you from Des Moines to California for a low price.

  • What are the most popular routes from Des Moines to California?

  • What are the cheapest flights from Des Moines to California?

    While on average a flight from Des Moines to California is generally $976, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $115. When looking at the most popular route, (Des Moines - Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl), you can expect to pay $95 for that flight.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Des Moines to California that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Des Moines to California flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Des Moines to California?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Des Moines to California.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Des Moines to California?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to California by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to California?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to California (average of $73). Flying from Des Moines to California in March is currently the most expensive (average of $145). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

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Alternative routes for Des Moines to California

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 6 airlines flying from Des Moines to California

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to California. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated May 17, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$100Average$249FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Allegiant AirCheapest$101Average$178FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
DeltaCheapest$118Average$367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$213Average$463FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$217Average$469FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$222Average$420FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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