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$90+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Illinois

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 5/13. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — ORD
Apr 18 — Apr 251
Sat 4/18
Sat 4/25
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Illinois

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Illinois
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to Illinois. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on March 19, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/19. 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.
Mon 4/136:00 am
DSM
-
ORD
1 stop28h 05m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/151:27 pm
ORD
-
DSM
1 stop26h 33m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/19$247
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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.
Wed 4/85:30 am
DSM
-
MDW
Nonstop1h 25m
Southwest
Tue 4/148:50 pm
MDW
-
DSM
Nonstop1h 20m
Southwest
Deal found 3/18$269
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 4/811:25 am
DSM
-
ORD
Nonstop1h 34m
United Airlines
Tue 4/148:00 pm
ORD
-
DSM
Nonstop1h 32m
United Airlines
Deal found 3/18$269
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/14. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/177:45 am
DSM
-
ORD
1 stop16h 42m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 5/199:42 pm
ORD
-
DSM
1 stop15h 49m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/14$272
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/14. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/156:00 am
DSM
-
ORD
1 stop7h 44m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 5/199:42 pm
ORD
-
DSM
1 stop15h 49m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/14$275
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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.
Sun 5/107:45 am
DSM
-
ORD
1 stop16h 42m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 5/2012:40 pm
ORD
-
DSM
2 stops33h 51m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/16$277
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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.
Mon 3/306:00 am
DSM
-
ORD
1 stop18h 59m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 4/212:00 pm
ORD
-
DSM
1 stop10h 51m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/16$278
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/135:25 am
DSM
-
MDW
Nonstop1h 20m
Southwest
Wed 4/1510:00 am
MDW
-
DSM
Nonstop1h 25m
Southwest
Deal found 3/16$280
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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.
Tue 4/148:56 am
DSM
-
ORD
Nonstop1h 40m
American Airlines
Sat 4/1812:15 pm
ORD
-
DSM
Nonstop1h 31m
American Airlines
Deal found 3/18$280
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/14. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/156:00 am
DSM
-
ORD
1 stop7h 44m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 5/203:55 pm
ORD
-
DSM
2 stops30h 36m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/14$283
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/16. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/912:00 pm
DSM
-
ORD
Nonstop1h 47m
American Airlines
Mon 4/139:56 am
ORD
-
DSM
Nonstop1h 34m
American Airlines
Deal found 3/16$286
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. 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.
Mon 4/202:04 pm
DSM
-
ORD
2 stops19h 36m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/227:15 pm
ORD
-
DSM
1 stop20h 45m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/17$287

Find flight deals from Des Moines to Illinois

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Des Moines to Illinois flight deals. Data was last updated March 19, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$259
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$90
(Frontier)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$289

Good round-trip deal

$387 or less

Good one-way deal

$193 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Chicago (CHI) flights.
Search Deals
From Des Moines to Illinois
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to Illinois
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($14 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($4 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in March 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Illinois.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Illinois.
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to Illinois 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 March 19, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Illinois that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - MDW

DSMMDW

Des Moines

Sat 4/4

5:20 am-6:40 am

Nonstop1h 20m

Chicago Midway

Sat 4/4

10:05 am-11:30 am

Nonstop1h 25m

$291

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Mon 4/13

7:16 pm-8:50 pm

Nonstop1h 34m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 4/18

9:05 am-10:44 am

Nonstop1h 39m

$291

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - ORD

DSMORD

Des Moines

Mon 5/4

8:25 pm-10:01 pm

Nonstop1h 36m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 5/7

9:01 am-10:37 am

Nonstop1h 36m

$291

Des MoinesSt. Louis

DSM - STL

DSMSTL

Des Moines

Tue 5/12

5:30 am-11:30 am

1 stop6h 00m

Lambert-St Louis

Sat 5/16

5:40 am-11:30 am

1 stop5h 50m

$293

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - MDW

DSMMDW

Des Moines

Wed 5/6

6:55 am-2:15 pm

1 stop7h 20m

Chicago Midway

Mon 5/11

6:00 am-1:10 pm

1 stop7h 10m

$300

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - MDW

DSMMDW

Des Moines

Mon 6/1

4:20 pm-5:40 pm

Nonstop1h 20m

Chicago Midway

Thu 6/4

5:15 am-12:50 pm

1 stop7h 35m

$301

Des MoinesSt. Louis

DSM - STL

DSMSTL

Des Moines

Tue 5/12

1:04 pm-9:09 pm

2 stops8h 05m

Lambert-St Louis

Sat 5/16

6:45 am-3:44 pm

2 stops8h 59m

$303

Des MoinesChicago

DSM - MDW

DSMMDW

Des Moines

Tue 4/28

6:55 am-2:15 pm

1 stop7h 20m

Chicago Midway

Thu 4/30

10:05 am-6:35 pm

2 stops8h 30m

$305

Des MoinesSt. Louis

DSM - STL

DSMSTL

Des Moines

Tue 4/14

6:30 pm-11:10 pm

1 stop4h 40m

Lambert-St Louis

Tue 4/21

8:35 am-2:05 pm

1 stop5h 30m

$307

Des MoinesSt. Louis

DSM - STL

DSMSTL

Des Moines

Mon 4/27

5:25 am-2:55 pm

2 stops9h 30m

Lambert-St Louis

Tue 5/5

1:15 pm-10:10 pm

2 stops8h 55m

$308

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/18

Showing 1-10 of 60 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Illinois

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

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

Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Illinois (average of $140). Flying from Des Moines to Illinois in January is currently the most expensive (average of $189). 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 DSM to IL?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to Illinois. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated March 19, 2026.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from Des Moines to Illinois is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are at noon tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the morning could potentially save you up to 31% on airfare.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Des Moines to Illinois?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Des Moines to Illinois. Price data was last updated on March 14, 2026.

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

Weekly flight availability from Des Moines to Illinois

Explore weekly flight availability from Des Moines to Illinois. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated March 19, 2026.

The most flights from DSM to USIL are scheduled on a Thursday (46 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (10 on average).

Reviews of airlines servicing Illinois

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Illinois. 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 Illinois. Reviews last updated March 19, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,United Airlines, andAmerican Airlines from Des Moines to Illinois by reading reviews from past customers. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,319 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,319 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,319 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,436 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,319 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,472 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,319 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Related info for your journey

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

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Des Moines to Illinois?

    If you book a flight to Illinois from Des Moines, you will be flying from Des Moines, which is the city’s only airport. Des Moines (DSM) is located 3.6 mi from the center of Des Moines.

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to Illinois?

    Airlines like Southwest, United Airlines, and Delta fly from Des Moines to Illinois in about 1h 20m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 6h 45m. Des Moines and Illinois are separated by a distance of 305 mi. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops.

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

    One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $94 on United Airlines. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include American Airlines from $94 and Southwest from $104 one-way.

  • What are the most popular routes from Des Moines to Illinois?

    The most popular route from Des Moines to Illinois is Des Moines - Chicago O'Hare Intl. You may also consider Des Moines - Lambert-St Louis or Des Moines - Chicago Midway.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from Des Moines to Illinois?

    No one likes to see their flight delayed. When booking a flight from Des Moines to Illinois consider choosing Japan Airlines (74%), Emirates (72%) or Qatar Airways (71%) as they are the most reliable in getting you off to your destination on time.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Des Moines to Illinois?

    While on average a flight from Des Moines to Illinois is generally $921, our data shows the cheapest flight currently is $138. When looking at the most popular route, (Des Moines - Chicago O'Hare Intl), you can expect to pay $269 for that flight.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to Illinois 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 Des Moines to Illinois?

    Currently, February is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Illinois (average of $140). Flying from Des Moines to Illinois in January is currently the most expensive (average of $189). 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.

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Alternative routes for Des Moines to Illinois

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Omaha to Hobby flights
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Des Moines to O'Hare Intl flights
Omaha to Nashville flights
Moline to Orlando flights
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Omaha to San Francisco flights
Des Moines to Los Angeles flights
Omaha to Tampa flights
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Omaha to Miami flights
Des Moines to Reagan-National flights
Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers flights
Omaha to George Bush Intcntl flights
Omaha to Newark flights
Omaha to Midway flights
Omaha to Dulles Intl flights
Des Moines to Hobby flights
Des Moines to San Diego flights
Des Moines to Dulles Intl flights
Moline to Tampa flights
Des Moines to San Francisco flights
Cedar Rapids to Tampa flights

Top 2 airlines flying from Des Moines to Illinois

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to Illinois. 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 March 19, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$148Average$234FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$189Average$256FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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