HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Des Moines

$108+ Cheap flights from San Diego to Des Moines (SAN - DSM)

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 10/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SAN — DSM
Oct 17 — Oct 241
Fri 10/17
Fri 10/24
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from San Diego to Des Moines 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.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Diego to Des Moines are usually found in May or July, booked 84 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Wednesday and return on a Monday

Cheap flight deals from San Diego to Des Moines

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Diego (SAN) to Des Moines (DSM). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated September 17, 2025.

Round-trip from

$194
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$108
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

February

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$395
From San Diego to Des Moines
Search Deals
One-way flight from San Diego to Des Moines
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 15% potential increase in price ($76 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($13 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in September 2025
Search Deals

Find flight deals from San Diego to Des Moines

Cheapest flights from San Diego to Des Moines
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Diego to Des Moines. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 17, 2025.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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.
Thu 10/26:15 amSAN - DSM
1 stop14h 25mMultiple Airlines
Mon 10/62:25 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop11h 28mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$194
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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.
Tue 9/301:35 pmSAN - DSM
1 stop22h 52mMultiple Airlines
Mon 10/62:25 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop11h 28mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$199
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/166:41 amSAN - DSM
1 stop5h 11mFrontier
Wed 10/222:37 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop11h 13mFrontier
Deal found 9/15$201
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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.
Thu 10/28:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop12h 15mMultiple Airlines
Wed 10/87:30 amDSM - SAN
1 stop15h 50mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$202
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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.
Tue 9/308:00 amSAN - DSM
1 stop28h 27mMultiple Airlines
Wed 10/87:30 amDSM - SAN
1 stop15h 50mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$207
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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.
Wed 10/16:15 amSAN - DSM
1 stop6h 12mMultiple Airlines
Mon 10/62:25 pmDSM - SAN
2 stops10h 52mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$234
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. 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.
Fri 10/246:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop14h 12mMultiple Airlines
Sat 11/110:00 amDSM - SAN
1 stop13h 24mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$239
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/28:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop12h 15mMultiple Airlines
Sun 10/53:43 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop22h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/16$241

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San Diego to Des Moines 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 September 17, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Diego to Des Moines that are best for you.

Fly from

San Diego

Fly to

Des Moines

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Thu 10/16

6:41 am-1:52 pm

1 stop5h 11m

Des Moines

Wed 10/22

2:37 pm-11:50 pm

1 stop11h 13m

$201

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Tue 9/30

8:00 am-2:27 pm

1 stop28h 27m

Des Moines

Wed 10/8

7:30 am-9:20 pm

1 stop15h 50m

$207

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Fri 10/24

6:25 am-10:37 pm

1 stop14h 12m

Des Moines

Sat 11/1

10:00 am-9:24 pm

1 stop13h 24m

$239

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Fri 10/10

6:25 am-10:37 pm

1 stop14h 12m

Des Moines

Mon 10/13

2:39 pm-11:50 pm

1 stop11h 11m

$252

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 10/15

6:41 am-1:52 pm

1 stop5h 11m

Des Moines

Sun 10/19

2:37 pm-11:50 pm

1 stop11h 13m

$261

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Fri 10/3

6:15 am-10:37 pm

1 stop14h 22m

Des Moines

Sun 10/5

3:43 pm-11:48 am

1 stop22h 05m

$264

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 11/19

7:10 am-3:35 pm

1 stop6h 25m

Des Moines

Mon 11/24

5:45 am-11:50 am

1 stop8h 05m

$268

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Thu 10/16

6:25 am-10:40 pm

1 stop14h 15m

Des Moines

Sun 10/19

2:37 pm-9:57 am

1 stop21h 20m

$286

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Thu 10/16

2:24 pm-10:56 pm

1 stop6h 32m

Des Moines

Wed 10/22

3:48 pm-10:24 pm

1 stop8h 36m

$291

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 12/10

12:43 pm-10:59 pm

1 stop8h 16m

Des Moines

Wed 12/17

5:00 am-8:47 am

1 stop5h 47m

$297

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/16

Showing 1-10 of 18 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Des Moines from San Diego 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 San Diego to Des Moines

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San Diego to Des Moines. Price data was last updated on September 12, 2025.

Booking 80 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from San Diego to Des Moines. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

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

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from San Diego to Des Moines in June is currently the most expensive (average of $402). 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 SAN to DSM?

Find hourly flight availability from San Diego to Des Moines. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated September 17, 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from San Diego to Des Moines is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the evening tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the afternoon could potentially save you up to 70% on airfare.

Reviews of airlines servicing Des Moines

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Des Moines. 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 Des Moines. Reviews last updated September 17, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, United Airlines, and American Airlines from San Diego to Des Moines to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

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
4,242 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

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
8,926 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

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
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

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
699 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

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.
Frontier
5.8
Fair
3,173 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

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 San Diego to Des Moines. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • How long is the flight from San Diego to Des Moines?

    Frontier can get you from San Diego to Des Moines in just under 5h 11m. Your travel time can differ by up to . The distance from San Diego to Des Moines is about 1425 mi.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Diego to Des Moines round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from San Diego to Des Moines is Allegiant Air. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $75 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Frontier and Delta, starting at $134 and $237 round-trip. These flights start at 81% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Diego to Des Moines 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from San Diego to Des Moines in June is currently the most expensive (average of $402). 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

Traveling to a place near Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Johnston
Altoona
Boone
Ames
West Des Moines
Ankeny

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 San Diego to Des Moines

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Los Angeles to Omaha flights
San Francisco to Omaha flights
Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids flights
San Diego to Omaha flights
San Francisco to Des Moines flights
Ontario to Omaha flights
San Francisco to Cedar Rapids flights
Los Angeles to Des Moines flights
Las Vegas to Omaha flights
Ontario to Cedar Rapids flights
Ontario to Des Moines flights
San Diego to Cedar Rapids flights
San Jose to Omaha flights
Burbank to Omaha flights
San Francisco to Moline flights
Los Angeles to Moline flights
Santa Ana to Omaha flights
Sacramento to Cedar Rapids flights
Santa Ana to Moline flights
Santa Barbara to Des Moines flights
Palm Springs to Omaha flights
Fresno to Omaha flights
Sacramento to Des Moines flights
San Jose to Cedar Rapids flights
Santa Ana to Cedar Rapids flights
Burbank to Moline flights
Santa Ana to Des Moines flights
Ontario to Moline flights
San Jose to Moline flights
Bakersfield to Omaha flights
Medford to Cedar Rapids flights
Burbank to Cedar Rapids flights
San Diego to Moline flights
San Jose to Des Moines flights
Las Vegas to Des Moines flights
Long Beach to Omaha flights
Oakland to Omaha flights
Las Vegas to Cedar Rapids flights
Fresno to Cedar Rapids flights
Sacramento to Omaha flights
Bakersfield to Des Moines flights
Burbank to Des Moines flights
Reno to Cedar Rapids flights
Santa Barbara to Cedar Rapids flights
Las Vegas to Moline flights
Los Angeles to Sioux City flights
San Luis Obispo to Omaha flights
Sacramento to Moline flights
Monterey to Omaha flights

Top 6 airlines flying from San Diego to Des Moines

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from San Diego to Des Moines. 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 September 17, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$75Average$171FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$134Average$239FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$237Average$472FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$286Average$450FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$286Average$406FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$306Average$445FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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.