HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Des Moines

$87+ 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 7/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SAN — DSM
Jun 17 — Jun 241
Tue 6/17
Tue 6/24
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 August, booked 84 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Monday and return on a Tuesday

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 June 12, 2025.

Round-trip from

$121
(Cheapflightsfares)

One-way from

$87
(Mytrip)

Popular in

February

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$366

Good round-trip deal

$127 or less

Good one-way deal

$73 or less
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. 13% potential increase in price ($63 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($12 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in June 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from San Diego to Des Moines.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from San Diego to Des Moines.
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 June 12, 2025.

This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/10. 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 7/45:00 pmSAN - DSM
Nonstop3h 35mAllegiant Air
Fri 7/182:39 pmDSM - SAN
Nonstop3h 31mAllegiant Air
Deal found 6/10$121
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. 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.
Thu 6/265:50 pmSAN - DSM
1 stop16h 44mMultiple Airlines
Mon 6/302:45 pmDSM - SAN
Nonstop3h 37mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 6/11$180
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/12. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/56:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop11h 31mFrontier
Mon 9/88:41 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop5h 09mFrontier
Deal found 6/12$260
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/17:13 amSAN - DSM
1 stop6h 10mAmerican Airlines
Thu 10/27:08 amDSM - SAN
1 stop8h 55mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 6/11$285
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/9. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/2210:15 pmSAN - DSM
1 stop9h 07mDelta
Sat 9/2712:35 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop7h 51mDelta
Deal found 6/9$287
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/111:08 amSAN - DSM
2 stops10h 48mUnited Airlines
Thu 10/23:25 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop8h 49mUnited Airlines
Deal found 6/11$370
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 7/48:10 amSAN - DSM
2 stops9h 25mSouthwest
Tue 7/86:25 amDSM - SAN
2 stops10h 00mSouthwest
Deal found 6/11$401
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/10. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 7/108:15 amSAN - DSM
2 stops13h 44mAlaska Airlines
Sun 7/135:35 amDSM - SAN
1 stop8h 13mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 6/10$512

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 June 12, 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

Fri 7/4

5:00 pm-10:35 pm

Nonstop3h 35m

Des Moines

Fri 7/18

2:39 pm-4:10 pm

Nonstop3h 31m

$121

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Thu 6/26

5:50 pm-12:34 pm

1 stop16h 44m

Des Moines

Mon 6/30

2:45 pm-4:22 pm

Nonstop3h 37m

$180

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Fri 9/5

6:25 am-7:56 pm

1 stop11h 31m

Des Moines

Mon 9/8

8:41 pm-11:50 pm

1 stop5h 09m

$260

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Tue 8/19

10:45 pm-10:21 am

1 stop9h 36m

Des Moines

Fri 8/22

7:32 am-2:07 pm

1 stop8h 35m

$287

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 7/30

6:15 am-4:40 pm

1 stop8h 25m

Des Moines

Tue 8/5

5:23 pm-11:29 pm

1 stop8h 06m

$304

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Fri 7/4

12:30 pm-7:35 pm

1 stop5h 05m

Des Moines

Tue 7/8

6:25 am-2:25 pm

2 stops10h 00m

$340

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Tue 8/19

7:15 am-12:14 am

2 stops14h 59m

Des Moines

Fri 8/22

2:17 pm-11:59 pm

2 stops11h 42m

$377

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 7/30

6:45 am-4:15 pm

1 stop7h 30m

Des Moines

Tue 8/5

5:12 pm-11:44 pm

2 stops8h 32m

$402

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Thu 7/10

6:15 am-10:36 pm

1 stop14h 21m

$87

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Fri 7/11

5:00 pm-10:35 pm

Nonstop3h 35m

$90

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 6/12

Showing 1-10 of 14 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 June 9, 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 $411). 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 June 12, 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 68% on airfare.

Rainfall in Des Moines by month

Plan your trip to Des Moines by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Des Moines ranges from 1.0 - 4.9 inches per month. June is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.9 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Des Moines when rainfall is around 1.0 in.

Temperature in Des Moines by month

Plan your trip to Des Moines by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Des Moines, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 77.0 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 23.0 F).

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 June 12, 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from San Diego to Des Moines, such as Alaska Airlines, Southwest and Delta. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,287 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,950 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,790 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Allegiant Air
7.3
Good
725 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

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.

  • 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 $121 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Frontier and American Airlines, starting at $260 and $287 round-trip. These flights start at 71% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Allegiant Air, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $90. American Airlines flights start at $144 while deals on United Airlines start at $184 one-way.

  • What are the cheapest flights from San Diego to Des Moines?

    The cheapest flight price from San Diego to Des Moines is $73. On average you can expect to pay $112. The most popular route, (San Diego - Des Moines), can usually be booked for $182.

  • 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 $411). 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 San Diego?

Book flights to San Diego if you plan to visit one of these locations
Altoona
Ames
Johnston
Boone
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
Ontario to Omaha flights
Los Angeles to Des Moines flights
Santa Ana to Omaha flights
San Diego to Cedar Rapids flights
San Diego to Moline flights
San Francisco to Cedar Rapids flights
San Francisco to Des Moines flights
Ontario to Des Moines flights
San Jose to Omaha flights
Las Vegas to Omaha flights
San Diego to Omaha flights
Oakland to Omaha flights
Long Beach to Omaha flights
San Jose to Cedar Rapids flights
Los Angeles to Cedar Rapids flights
Sacramento to Omaha flights
San Francisco to Moline flights
Santa Ana to Cedar Rapids flights
Las Vegas to Des Moines flights
Burbank to Des Moines flights
Burbank to Omaha flights
Sacramento to Des Moines flights
Bakersfield to Des Moines flights
Santa Ana to Des Moines flights
Los Angeles to Moline flights
Long Beach to Des Moines flights
Ontario to Cedar Rapids flights
Palm Springs to Omaha flights
San Jose to Des Moines flights
Santa Ana to Moline flights
Oakland to Moline flights
Oakland to Cedar Rapids flights
Palm Springs to Des Moines flights
Monterey to Des Moines flights
Oakland to Des Moines flights
Ontario to Moline flights
Santa Barbara to Des Moines flights
Burbank to Cedar Rapids flights
Fresno to Cedar Rapids flights
Las Vegas to Cedar Rapids flights
San Jose to Moline flights
Sacramento to Moline flights
Fresno to Des Moines flights
Reno to Omaha flights
Medford to Cedar Rapids flights
Reno to Cedar Rapids flights
San Luis Obispo 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 June 12, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$113Average$181FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$134Average$262FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$237Average$432FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$303Average$406FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$308Average$484FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$335Average$465FlexibilityNo 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.