San Francisco Bay Area

$67+ Cheap flights from Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco Bay Area

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 2/27. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SFO
Feb 7 — Feb 141
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Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area flight deals. Data was last updated January 8, 2026.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$144
(Frontier)

One-way from

$67
(Trip.com)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$446
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-San Francisco flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-San Francisco flights.
From Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area
One-way flight from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($32 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026

Find flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 8, 2026.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. 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.
Mon 2/237:17 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop7h 11mFrontier
Thu 2/268:48 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 54mFrontier
Deal found 1/6$144
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/8. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 2/137:17 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop14h 46mFrontier
Mon 2/166:15 amSFO - DSM
1 stop10h 17mFrontier
Deal found 1/8$152
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/8. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/68:21 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop25h 48mFrontier
Mon 3/96:00 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 16mFrontier
Deal found 1/8$155
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 2/207:17 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop7h 11mFrontier
Fri 2/276:15 amSFO - DSM
1 stop10h 49mFrontier
Deal found 1/6$161
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. 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 3/168:21 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop25h 48mFrontier
Tue 3/249:04 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop20h 12mFrontier
Deal found 1/7$191
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. 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 CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/127:32 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 56mFrontier
Thu 2/198:48 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 59mFrontier
Deal found 1/6$202
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. 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.
Tue 3/1710:40 amDSM - SFO
2 stops35h 29mFrontier
Tue 3/249:04 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop20h 12mFrontier
Deal found 1/7$214
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 1/295:24 amDSM - SJC
1 stop6h 00mAmerican Airlines
Wed 2/42:32 pmSJC - DSM
1 stop6h 51mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/7$264
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/7. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 1/2910:59 amDSM - SJC
2 stops10h 13mDelta
Wed 2/410:45 pmSJC - DSM
1 stop9h 56mDelta
Deal found 1/7$268
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 2/118:35 amDSM - OAK
1 stop8h 20mSouthwest
Wed 2/185:40 amOAK - DSM
1 stop7h 00mSouthwest
Deal found 1/6$279
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/5. 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.
Tue 2/174:20 pmDSM - SJC
1 stop6h 33mDelta
Mon 2/2310:35 pmSJC - DSM
1 stop10h 44mDelta
Deal found 1/5$287
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/6. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 5/72:35 pmDSM - SJC
1 stop8h 18mDelta
Mon 5/1110:56 pmSJC - DSM
1 stop8h 23mDelta
Deal found 1/6$289

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area 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 January 8, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

San Francisco Bay Area

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 2/20

7:17 pm-5:58 pm

2 stops24h 41m

San Francisco

Fri 2/27

8:48 am-7:04 pm

1 stop8h 16m

$216

Des MoinesOakland

DSM - OAK

DSMOAK

Des Moines

Wed 2/11

8:35 am-2:55 pm

1 stop8h 20m

Oakland

Wed 2/18

5:40 am-2:40 pm

1 stop7h 00m

$279

Des MoinesSan Jose

DSM - SJC

DSMSJC

Des Moines

Tue 2/17

4:20 pm-8:53 pm

1 stop6h 33m

San Jose

Mon 2/23

10:35 pm-11:19 am

1 stop10h 44m

$287

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 2/11

8:35 am-2:55 pm

1 stop8h 20m

San Francisco

Thu 2/12

1:00 pm-11:35 pm

1 stop8h 35m

$311

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 3/4

4:20 pm-8:57 pm

1 stop6h 37m

San Francisco

Mon 3/9

7:29 pm-10:22 am

2 stops12h 53m

$340

Des MoinesSan Jose

DSM - SJC

DSMSJC

Des Moines

Fri 3/27

4:25 pm-8:24 pm

1 stop5h 59m

San Jose

Tue 3/31

7:50 pm-10:22 am

2 stops12h 32m

$347

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 2/13

7:17 pm-12:28 am

1 stop7h 11m

San Francisco

Sun 2/22

8:48 am-6:50 pm

1 stop8h 02m

$360

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 2/27

1:00 pm-6:00 pm

1 stop7h 00m

San Francisco

Tue 3/3

5:30 am-2:40 pm

1 stop7h 10m

$363

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Mon 4/6

4:25 pm-8:59 pm

1 stop6h 34m

San Francisco

Wed 4/8

6:25 am-3:42 pm

1 stop7h 17m

$363

Des MoinesSan Jose

DSM - SJC

DSMSJC

Des Moines

Fri 2/27

9:04 am-1:41 pm

1 stop6h 37m

San Jose

Tue 3/3

3:55 pm-11:43 pm

1 stop5h 48m

$366

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/8

Showing 1-10 of 56 results
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Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco Bay Area 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 Francisco Bay Area

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

Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area (average of $169). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area in May is currently the most expensive (average of $304). 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 Francisco Bay Area

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco Bay Area. 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 Francisco Bay Area. Reviews last updated January 8, 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Entertainment

7.5

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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 San Francisco Bay Area. 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 San Francisco Bay Area?

    Des Moines (DSM) is the airport you will fly out of if you book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area. It is only a 3.6 mi journey to Des Moines (DSM) from Des Moines’s city center.

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area?

    Airlines like Frontier, Southwest, and Delta fly from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area in about 6h 33m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 18h 08m. The distance from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area is about 1527 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 San Francisco Bay Area one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with United Airlines, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $80. Frontier flights start at $89 while deals on Delta start at $143 one-way.

  • What are the most popular routes from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area?

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area?

    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 Francisco Bay Area.

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

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

    Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area (average of $169). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area in May is currently the most expensive (average of $304). 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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Alternative routes for Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top 5 airlines flying from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to San Francisco Bay Area. 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 January 8, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$158Average$252FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$265Average$378FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$296Average$483FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$296Average$582FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$330Average$457FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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