San Diego

$95+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to San Diego (DSM - SAN)

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 4/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SAN
Apr 10 — Apr 171
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to San Diego are usually found in August or July, booked 36 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Diego
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to San Diego. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on March 11, 2026.

This Travelocity deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/7. 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 Travelocity is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 5/48:23 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop5h 36m
Frontier
Fri 5/86:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop5h 04m
Frontier
Deal found 3/7$211
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/7. 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.
Sat 4/410:00 am
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop23h 21m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 4/1612:25 pm
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop22h 44m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/7$212
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/7. 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 5/182:20 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop11h 41m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 5/192:47 pm
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop20h 12m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/7$225
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/10. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/272:04 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop11h 55m
Frontier
Mon 5/46:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop11h 13m
Frontier
Deal found 3/10$236
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/10. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/410:00 am
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop23h 21m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/812:00 pm
SAN
-
DSM
2 stops30h 13m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/10$237
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/6. 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 7/310:01 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop22h 36m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 7/106:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop11h 01m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/6$247
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/8. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/108:14 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop5h 48m
Frontier
Sun 4/129:28 pm
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop19h 46m
Frontier
Deal found 3/8$248
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/6. 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.
Sat 3/218:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop5h 47m
Frontier
Wed 3/256:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop10h 51m
Frontier
Deal found 3/6$251
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/7. 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 5/182:20 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop11h 41m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 5/219:59 pm
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop20h 53m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/7$255
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/7. 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 5/182:20 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop11h 41m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 5/202:47 pm
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop27h 57m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/7$257
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/6. 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.
Wed 3/258:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop5h 47m
Frontier
Mon 3/306:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop10h 51m
Frontier
Deal found 3/6$260
This Travelocity deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/6. 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 Travelocity is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/308:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop5h 47m
Frontier
Fri 4/36:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop10h 49m
Frontier
Deal found 3/6$264

Find flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego (SAN). 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 March 11, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$211
(Travelocity)

One-way from

$95
(Frontier)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$510
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-San Diego flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-San Diego flights.
From Des Moines to San Diego
One-way flight from Des Moines to San Diego
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 15% potential increase in price ($66 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($14 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in March 2026

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to San Diego 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 11, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to San Diego that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip
Quickest round-trip

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Wed 4/22

6:30 pm-9:45 pm

1 stop5h 15m

San Diego

Wed 4/29

6:35 am-2:05 pm

1 stop5h 30m

$317

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Wed 4/15

6:55 am-12:40 pm

2 stops7h 45m

San Diego

Wed 4/22

6:35 am-2:05 pm

1 stop5h 30m

$322

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Wed 4/15

6:55 am-12:40 pm

2 stops7h 45m

San Diego

Fri 4/17

2:35 pm-9:55 pm

1 stop5h 20m

$377

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Fri 8/21

1:40 pm-5:00 pm

1 stop5h 20m

San Diego

Tue 8/25

6:40 am-5:02 pm

1 stop8h 22m

$392

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Thu 7/2

5:00 am-11:21 am

1 stop8h 21m

San Diego

Sun 7/5

6:30 am-4:15 pm

1 stop7h 45m

$427

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Thu 6/25

1:30 pm-6:20 pm

1 stop6h 50m

San Diego

Fri 7/3

6:35 am-4:00 pm

1 stop7h 25m

$457

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Fri 8/21

2:25 pm-7:20 pm

2 stops6h 55m

San Diego

Tue 8/25

11:10 am-9:00 pm

2 stops7h 50m

$457

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Mon 5/4

1:45 pm-7:00 pm

2 stops7h 15m

San Diego

Fri 5/8

12:30 pm-9:55 pm

2 stops7h 25m

$467

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Sat 6/13

6:10 am-11:30 am

2 stops7h 20m

San Diego

Wed 6/17

7:50 am-6:20 pm

2 stops8h 30m

$477

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Mon 4/13

3:21 pm-10:59 pm

1 stop9h 38m

San Diego

Fri 4/17

7:14 pm-4:15 pm

1 stop19h 01m

$478

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/6

Showing 1-10 of 21 resultsSorted by cheapest first
1
2
3

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to San Diego

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego in March.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
JustAirTicketPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-San Diego flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Des Moines-San Diego flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-San Diego flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-San Diego flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Des Moines-San Diego flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

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

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to San Diego. Price data was last updated on March 6, 2026.

The price you pay for your flight from Des Moines to San Diego may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 36 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

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

Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego (average of $95). Flying from Des Moines to San Diego in March is currently the most expensive (average of $157). 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.

Reviews of airlines servicing San Diego

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Diego. 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 San Diego. Reviews last updated March 11, 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Des Moines to San Diego, such as Southwest,Delta, andUnited Airlines. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

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.

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

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.

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

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.

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

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.

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

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.

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

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 San Diego. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • How popular is this Des Moines to San Diego flight route?

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to San Diego?

    Departing from Des Moines to San Diego will take you 5h 15m. Airlines will cover a distance of 1425 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 flying from Des Moines to San Diego round-trip?

    Cheapflights users have booked flights from Des Moines to San Diego round-trip from $100. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Allegiant Air, from $101, and Delta, from $118. You may be able to fly from Des Moines to San Diego for 72% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

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

    $60 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Allegiant Air. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and Southwest, with prices starting from $85 and $143, respectively.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, May is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego (average of $95). Flying from Des Moines to San Diego in March is currently the most expensive (average of $157). 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
El Cajon
Chula Vista
National City
Coronado
La Mesa
Poway
Julian
Lemon Grove

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Top 6 airlines flying from Des Moines to San Diego

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to San Diego. 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 11, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$100Average$238FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
Allegiant AirCheapest$101Average$166FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
DeltaCheapest$118Average$336FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$282Average$422FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$286Average$369FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$303Average$472FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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