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Des Moines

$99+ Cheap flights from San Francisco to Des Moines (SFO - 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 10/22. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — DSM
Oct 15 — Oct 221
Wed 10/15
Wed 10/22
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Des Moines are usually found in September or January, booked 81 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Thursday and return on a Thursday

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Des Moines

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) 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 15, 2025.

Round-trip from

$149
(Priceline)

One-way from

$99
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$319
From San Francisco to Des Moines
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One-way flight from San Francisco to Des Moines
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 10% potential increase in price ($52 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($13 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in September 2025
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Find flight deals from San Francisco to Des Moines

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Des Moines
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Des Moines. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 15, 2025.

This Priceline 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 Priceline is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/156:34 amSFO - DSM
1 stop5h 18mFrontier
Wed 10/222:37 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop9h 50mFrontier
Deal found 9/15$149
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 11/56:34 amSFO - DSM
1 stop29h 13mFrontier
Mon 11/172:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 42mFrontier
Deal found 9/15$178
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.
Sun 11/28:09 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop15h 38mFrontier
Mon 11/172:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 42mFrontier
Deal found 9/15$210
This CheapOair 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 CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/296:29 amSFO - DSM
1 stop5h 11mFrontier
Thu 10/22:25 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 51mFrontier
Deal found 9/15$211
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 11/68:55 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 18mMultiple Airlines
Sun 11/162:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop26h 08mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$220
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/14. 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 9/296:29 amSFO - DSM
1 stop5h 11mFrontier
Fri 10/32:25 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 51mFrontier
Deal found 9/14$221
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 11/78:55 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop17h 43mMultiple Airlines
Sun 11/162:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop26h 08mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$236
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 11/48:55 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop17h 13mMultiple Airlines
Sun 11/162:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop26h 08mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$238
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 11/56:34 amSFO - DSM
1 stop29h 13mMultiple Airlines
Wed 11/197:30 amDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 13mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$242
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 11/610:23 amSFO - DSM
2 stops34h 17mMultiple Airlines
Mon 11/172:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 42mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$244

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco 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 15, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Des Moines that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Des Moines

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Sun 11/2

8:09 pm-1:47 pm

1 stop15h 38m

Des Moines

Sun 11/16

2:32 pm-2:40 pm

1 stop26h 08m

$210

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Wed 11/5

8:00 am-1:47 pm

2 stops27h 47m

Des Moines

Sun 11/16

2:32 pm-2:40 pm

1 stop26h 08m

$214

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Mon 9/29

6:29 am-1:40 pm

1 stop5h 11m

Des Moines

Fri 10/3

2:25 pm-12:16 am

1 stop11h 51m

$221

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Fri 10/31

6:34 am-1:47 pm

1 stop5h 13m

Des Moines

Sun 11/2

2:32 pm-2:40 pm

1 stop26h 08m

$283

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Fri 10/31

5:45 am-10:37 pm

1 stop14h 52m

Des Moines

Sun 11/2

9:00 am-12:14 am

2 stops17h 14m

$318

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Tue 11/4

12:35 am-10:26 am

1 stop7h 51m

Des Moines

Wed 11/12

4:59 pm-12:12 am

1 stop9h 13m

$337

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Mon 12/22

11:59 pm-10:47 am

1 stop8h 48m

Des Moines

Wed 1/7

5:01 am-11:58 am

1 stop8h 57m

$348

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Thu 10/23

5:15 am-2:23 pm

1 stop7h 08m

Des Moines

Sat 10/25

6:00 am-9:42 am

1 stop5h 42m

$384

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Wed 10/22

6:34 am-1:52 pm

1 stop5h 18m

Des Moines

Sun 10/26

2:37 pm-2:22 pm

1 stop25h 45m

$395

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Wed 10/15

11:30 am-8:55 pm

2 stops7h 25m

Des Moines

Wed 10/22

7:25 am-5:05 pm

2 stops11h 40m

$398

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/14

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
2

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

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

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

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

The best time to book flights from San Francisco to Des Moines is 81 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

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

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from San Francisco 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 SFO to DSM?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco 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 15, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from San Francisco to Des Moines at noon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 24% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

What is the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco to Des Moines?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Des Moines. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Des Moines flight should consider departing on Wednesday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

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

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 15, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from San Francisco to Des Moines. 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
4,242 reviews

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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
8,929 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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
3,172 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,242 reviews

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

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 Francisco 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 Francisco to Des Moines?

    A quick flight from San Francisco to Des Moines can take about 15h 38m. Frontier provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $210. San Francisco and Des Moines are separated by a distance of 1545 mi.

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

    Frontier, at $138, was found to be the cheapest airline from San Francisco to Des Moines.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Delta and American Airlines. Users have found that Frontier is 69% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from San Francisco 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 Francisco to Des Moines.

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

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

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from San Francisco 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

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Top 5 airlines flying from San Francisco to Des Moines

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from San Francisco 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 15, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$138Average$288FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$319Average$467FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$341Average$486FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$356Average$446FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$388Average$540FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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