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Des Moines

$74+ 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 9/29. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — DSM
Jul 8 — Jul 151
Tue 7/8
Tue 7/15
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Des Moines are usually found in September or October, 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 July 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$192
(Priceline)

One-way from

$74
(Priceline)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$432
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. 11% potential increase in price ($58 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($14 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 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 July 3, 2025.

This Priceline deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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.
Thu 8/216:26 amSFO - DSM
1 stop5h 57mFrontier
Fri 8/226:20 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop7h 59mFrontier
Deal found 7/3$192
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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.
Thu 7/315:45 amSFO - DSM
1 stop14h 51mMultiple Airlines
Fri 8/81:25 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop9h 56mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/1$301
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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 8/412:50 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 26mDelta
Tue 8/196:00 amDSM - SFO
1 stop10h 27mDelta
Deal found 7/3$351
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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.
Tue 7/291:55 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 05mUnited Airlines
Tue 8/56:00 amDSM - SFO
1 stop5h 45mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/1$354
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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.
Sat 8/95:15 amSFO - DSM
1 stop5h 10mSouthwest
Tue 8/126:30 amDSM - SFO
2 stops8h 30mSouthwest
Deal found 7/1$359
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 12/246:15 amSFO - DSM
1 stop13h 51mAmerican Airlines
Wed 1/75:58 amDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 16mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/2$375

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 July 3, 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

Thu 8/21

6:26 am-2:23 pm

1 stop5h 57m

Des Moines

Fri 8/22

6:20 pm-12:19 am

1 stop7h 59m

$192

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Thu 7/31

5:45 am-10:36 pm

1 stop14h 51m

Des Moines

Fri 8/8

1:25 pm-9:21 pm

1 stop9h 56m

$301

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Mon 8/4

12:50 am-10:16 am

1 stop7h 26m

Des Moines

Tue 8/19

6:00 am-2:27 pm

1 stop10h 27m

$351

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Tue 7/29

1:55 pm-11:00 pm

1 stop7h 05m

Des Moines

Tue 8/5

6:00 am-9:45 am

1 stop5h 45m

$354

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Sat 8/9

5:15 am-12:25 pm

1 stop5h 10m

Des Moines

Tue 8/12

6:30 am-1:00 pm

2 stops8h 30m

$359

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Wed 12/24

6:15 am-10:06 pm

1 stop13h 51m

Des Moines

Wed 1/7

5:58 am-3:14 pm

1 stop11h 16m

$375

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Mon 9/29

6:29 am-1:40 pm

1 stop5h 11m

$74

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Mon 8/4

12:50 am-10:16 am

1 stop7h 26m

$176

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Mon 8/11

5:15 am-4:45 pm

2 stops9h 30m

$181

San FranciscoDes Moines

SFO - DSM

SFODSM

San Francisco

Thu 7/31

6:52 pm-12:35 pm

1 stop15h 43m

$184

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/2

Showing 1-10 of 12 results
1
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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 June 27, 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 $405). 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 July 3, 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.

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 July 3, 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
4,270 reviews

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,270 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,270 reviews

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,970 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,270 reviews

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,845 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,270 reviews

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,270 reviews

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Frontier
5.9
Fair
3,284 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,270 reviews

Entertainment

7.6

Overall

8.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.2

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.

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.

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

    Frontier, at $192, was found to be the cheapest airline from San Francisco to Des Moines.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Delta and United Airlines. Users have found that Frontier is 57% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

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

    For one-way options, check prices for Frontier. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $74. Users have also found prices from $176 and $181 on Delta and Southwest, respectively.

  • 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 $405). 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 Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
Altoona
Ames
Johnston
Boone
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 July 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$111Average$279FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$295Average$404FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$331Average$435FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$346Average$488FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$352Average$522FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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