HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
California

$48+ Cheap flights from Iowa 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 5/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — LAX
Feb 28 — Mar 71
Sat 2/28
Sat 3/7
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Iowa to California with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheap flight deals from Iowa to California

Cheapest flights from Iowa to California
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Iowa to California. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 29, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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.
Sun 2/221:43 pm
OMA
-
SAN
1 stop23h 02m
Frontier
Wed 2/257:11 am
SAN
-
OMA
1 stop24h 19m
Frontier
Deal found 1/27$135
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/28. 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.
Sun 3/11:43 pm
OMA
-
SFO
1 stop20h 20m
Frontier
Wed 3/47:35 am
SFO
-
OMA
1 stop6h 30m
Frontier
Deal found 1/28$136
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/2312:34 pm
OMA
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 2/2512:59 am
LAS
-
OMA
1 stop6h 31m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/27$147
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/237:17 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop7h 13m
Frontier
Thu 2/266:20 am
LAX
-
DSM
1 stop10h 22m
Frontier
Deal found 1/27$148
This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/28. 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/237:19 pm
OMA
-
LAS
1 stop6h 25m
Frontier
Wed 2/2512:59 am
LAS
-
OMA
1 stop6h 31m
Frontier
Deal found 1/28$148
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/231:59 pm
OMA
-
SFO
1 stop9h 40m
Frontier
Thu 2/2610:46 pm
SFO
-
OMA
1 stop12h 18m
Frontier
Deal found 1/26$148
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/2312:34 pm
OMA
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 10m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 2/2412:59 am
LAS
-
OMA
1 stop13h 06m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/27$150
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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.
Fri 2/207:24 pm
OMA
-
SAN
1 stop6h 44m
Frontier
Tue 2/248:00 am
SAN
-
OMA
2 stops30h 05m
Frontier
Deal found 1/27$152
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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.
Fri 3/68:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop26h 12m
Frontier
Wed 3/118:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop8h 51m
Frontier
Deal found 1/27$153
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/28. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/912:31 pm
OMA
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 03m
Allegiant Air
Fri 2/137:05 am
LAS
-
OMA
Nonstop2h 39m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 1/28$154
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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.
Fri 3/68:21 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop23h 27m
Frontier
Wed 3/116:00 am
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop11h 16m
Frontier
Deal found 1/27$154
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/27. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 2/212:31 pm
OMA
-
LAS
Nonstop3h 03m
Allegiant Air
Fri 2/67:00 am
LAS
-
OMA
Nonstop2h 41m
Allegiant Air
Deal found 1/27$155

Find flight deals from Iowa to California

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Iowa to California flight deals. Data was last updated January 29, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$135
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$48
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$313

Good round-trip deal

$137 or less

Good one-way deal

$128 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Los Angeles flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Los Angeles flights.
Search Deals
From Iowa to California
Search Deals
One-way flight from Iowa to California
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($22 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Iowa to California.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Iowa to California.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Iowa 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 January 29, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Iowa to California that are best for you.

Fly from

Iowa

Fly to

California

Route

Depart

Return

Price

OmahaSan Francisco

OMA - SFO

OMASFO

Omaha Eppley Airfield

Wed 2/18

5:00 pm-12:28 am

1 stop9h 28m

San Francisco

Sun 2/22

10:46 pm-1:04 pm

1 stop12h 18m

$204

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Mon 4/27

3:32 pm-11:34 am

1 stop22h 02m

San Diego

Sun 5/3

3:20 pm-10:11 pm

1 stop28h 51m

$212

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Fri 2/27

7:59 pm-12:30 am

1 stop6h 31m

Los Angeles

Mon 3/2

6:01 am-6:32 pm

1 stop10h 31m

$221

Cedar RapidsLas Vegas

CID - LAS

CIDLAS

Cedar Rapids

Wed 5/27

3:13 pm-6:53 pm

1 stop5h 40m

Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

Fri 5/29

12:36 am-10:33 am

1 stop7h 57m

$229

OmahaSan Francisco

OMA - SFO

OMASFO

Omaha Eppley Airfield

Fri 3/6

9:03 pm-6:30 pm

2 stops23h 27m

San Francisco

Mon 3/9

6:00 am-8:18 pm

1 stop12h 18m

$241

OmahaSan Diego

OMA - SAN

OMASAN

Omaha Eppley Airfield

Mon 4/20

8:59 pm-8:04 pm

1 stop25h 05m

San Diego

Fri 4/24

12:36 pm-8:14 pm

1 stop5h 38m

$246

Cedar RapidsLas Vegas

CID - LAS

CIDLAS

Cedar Rapids

Wed 6/24

12:05 pm-4:23 pm

1 stop6h 18m

Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

Wed 7/1

6:25 am-3:44 pm

1 stop7h 19m

$249

OmahaSan Francisco

OMA - SFO

OMASFO

Omaha Eppley Airfield

Thu 2/19

3:11 pm-10:56 pm

1 stop9h 45m

San Francisco

Tue 2/24

8:42 am-2:15 pm

1 stop27h 33m

$249

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 2/28

8:00 am-3:35 pm

1 stop9h 35m

Los Angeles

Tue 3/3

4:10 pm-11:43 pm

1 stop5h 33m

$250

OmahaSan Francisco

OMA - SFO

OMASFO

Omaha Eppley Airfield

Mon 2/23

1:59 pm-9:39 pm

1 stop9h 40m

San Francisco

Thu 2/26

10:46 pm-1:04 pm

1 stop12h 18m

$252

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/28

Showing 1-10 of 60 results
1
2
3
...
6

Best time to book a flight from Iowa to California

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to California from Iowa 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 Iowa to California

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

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Iowa to California (average of $88). Flying from Iowa to California in November is currently the most expensive (average of $143). 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 IA to CA?

Find hourly flight availability from Iowa 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 January 29, 2026.

It’s optimal to fly from Iowa to California in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 67% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the morning.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Iowa to California?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Iowa to California. Price data was last updated on May 25, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Iowa to California flight should consider departing on Monday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Tuesday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

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 January 29, 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Iowa to California, such as Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,127 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,215 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,206 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Allegiant Air
7.2
Good
706 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Iowa to California. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • How popular is this Iowa to California flight route?

    Within the past month, 2 users have taken a look at flights from Iowa to California.

  • How long is the flight from Iowa to California?

    Frontier, United Airlines, and Delta can get you from Iowa to California in just under 5h 40m. Your travel time can differ by up to 3h 48m. Airlines will cover a distance of 1315 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Iowa to California?

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Iowa 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 Iowa to California?

    Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Iowa to California (average of $88). Flying from Iowa to California in November is currently the most expensive (average of $143). 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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Iowa to California

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
John F Kennedy Intl to Fort Lauderdale flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Miami flights
Newark to Miami flights
Newark to Fort Lauderdale flights
LaGuardia to Miami flights
LaGuardia to Fort Lauderdale flights
San Francisco to John F Kennedy Intl flights
John F Kennedy Intl to West Palm Beach flights
Newark to West Palm Beach flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Los Angeles flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Orlando flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Las Vegas flights
Los Angeles to John F Kennedy Intl flights
San Francisco to Newark flights
O'Hare Intl to Sky Harbor Intl flights
Seattle to Los Angeles flights
Newark to Las Vegas flights
Seattle to Las Vegas flights
O'Hare Intl to Las Vegas flights
Newark to Orlando flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Tampa flights
Minneapolis to Sky Harbor Intl flights
Los Angeles to Seattle flights
O'Hare Intl to Dallas/Fort Worth flights
LaGuardia to Orlando flights
San Francisco to LaGuardia flights
Newark to Tampa flights
John F Kennedy Intl to San Francisco flights
LaGuardia to Tampa flights
Dallas/Fort Worth to John F Kennedy Intl flights
Boston to Fort Lauderdale flights
Newark to Los Angeles flights
San Francisco to Las Vegas flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Sky Harbor Intl flights
Dulles Intl to Miami flights
Boston to Miami flights
Reagan-National to Miami flights
Los Angeles to Honolulu flights
Dallas/Fort Worth to LaGuardia flights
Boston to Tampa flights
LaGuardia to West Palm Beach flights
Detroit to Orlando flights
Seattle to Sky Harbor Intl flights
Newark to Sky Harbor Intl flights
John F Kennedy Intl to Dallas/Fort Worth flights
John F Kennedy Intl to New Orleans flights
Dallas/Fort Worth to Las Vegas flights
Minneapolis to Orlando flights
Newark to New Orleans flights
O'Hare Intl to Fort Lauderdale flights

Top 6 airlines flying from Iowa to California

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Iowa 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 January 29, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$89Average$158FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$91Average$247FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$118Average$350FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$213Average$449FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$222Average$422FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$228Average$415FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.