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Salinas

$148+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Salinas, CA, CA

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 12/20. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SFO
Jan 14 — Jan 211
Wed 1/14
Wed 1/21
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Salinas are usually found in September or August, booked 1 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Salinas

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

This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/14. 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 CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/228:29 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop5h 55mFrontier
Mon 1/56:24 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 20mFrontier
Deal found 12/14$313
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/14. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/243:15 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 14mAmerican Airlines
Thu 1/19:15 amSFO - DSM
1 stop6h 16mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/14$362
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/13. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/208:29 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop5h 55mFrontier
Sat 12/276:24 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 20mFrontier
Deal found 12/13$393
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/15. 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.
Mon 12/228:29 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop5h 55mFrontier
Fri 1/26:24 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 20mFrontier
Deal found 12/15$397
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/13. 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 12/243:15 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 14mAmerican Airlines
Sat 1/312:59 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 48mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/13$413
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/14. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/255:30 amDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 13mUnited Airlines
Wed 12/315:00 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 33mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/14$437
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/14. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/232:35 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop11h 49mFrontier
Fri 1/26:24 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 20mFrontier
Deal found 12/14$447
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/14. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/245:06 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop7h 59mUnited Airlines
Wed 12/315:00 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 33mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/14$477

Find flight deals from Des Moines to Salinas

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Des Moines to Salinas flight deals. Data was last updated December 15, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$182
(Frontier)

One-way from

$148
(Expedia)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$506
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-San Francisco flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-San Francisco flights.
Search Deals
From Des Moines to Salinas
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to Salinas
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 8% potential increase in price ($39 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

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

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Salinas

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 1/16

8:18 pm-8:46 pm

1 stop26h 28m

San Francisco

Mon 1/19

6:25 am-7:23 pm

1 stop10h 58m

$211

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 1/14

7:00 am-9:55 am

1 stop28h 55m

San Francisco

Sun 1/18

9:42 pm-7:23 pm

2 stops19h 41m

$283

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sun 1/4

4:30 pm-11:54 am

2 stops45h 24m

San Francisco

Wed 1/7

4:01 pm-3:40 pm

1 stop21h 39m

$310

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 1/14

3:25 pm-8:10 pm

1 stop6h 45m

San Francisco

Sat 1/17

12:17 am-10:50 am

1 stop8h 33m

$342

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 1/27

4:21 pm-8:59 pm

1 stop6h 38m

San Francisco

Tue 2/3

6:10 am-3:41 pm

1 stop7h 31m

$377

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 1/28

4:21 pm-8:59 pm

1 stop6h 38m

San Francisco

Wed 2/4

12:46 pm-9:24 pm

1 stop6h 38m

$377

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 1/27

4:00 pm-9:37 pm

1 stop7h 37m

San Francisco

Tue 2/3

7:00 am-2:50 pm

1 stop5h 50m

$377

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 1/29

11:35 am-7:12 pm

1 stop9h 37m

San Francisco

Tue 2/10

8:00 am-5:06 pm

1 stop7h 06m

$385

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Mon 2/23

11:30 am-6:50 pm

2 stops9h 20m

San Francisco

Tue 3/3

9:50 am-9:10 pm

2 stops9h 20m

$395

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sun 2/22

4:21 pm-11:47 pm

1 stop9h 26m

San Francisco

Wed 2/25

6:10 am-3:40 pm

1 stop7h 30m

$412

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/12

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
2

Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Salinas

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Salinas 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 Salinas

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

Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Salinas (average of $188). Flying from Des Moines to Salinas in December is currently the most expensive (average of $340). 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 S9N?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to Salinas. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated December 15, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Des Moines to Salinas in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 52% on the flight price compared to flying in the morning, which is usually more expensive.

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

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

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

Reviews of airlines servicing Salinas

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Salinas. 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 Salinas. Reviews last updated December 15, 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Des Moines to Salinas have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

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
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

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
7.9
Good
8,008 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

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
9,092 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

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
11,052 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

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
3,080 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,250 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.6

Boarding

8.1

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 Des Moines to Salinas. 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 Salinas?

    Most people fly from Des Moines (DSM) if they book a flight from Des Moines to Salinas. On average, Des Moines has 0 outbound flights to Salinas per day from 5 airlines. Des Moines is conveniently located just 3.6 mi from Des Moines’s city center.

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

    Airlines like Frontier, American Airlines, and Delta fly from Des Moines to Salinas in about 6h 38m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 19h 50m. The distance from Des Moines to Salinas is about 1545 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Des Moines to Salinas are Frontier ($80), Delta ($143), and American Airlines ($156).

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Salinas (average of $188). Flying from Des Moines to Salinas in December is currently the most expensive (average of $340). 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

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Top 5 airlines flying from Des Moines to Salinas

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to Salinas. 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 December 15, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$158Average$255FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$265Average$378FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$288Average$463FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$296Average$483FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$330Average$456FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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