San Francisco

$160+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco (DSM - SFO)

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 3/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SFO
feb. 19 — feb. 261
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Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on enero 20, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 2/277:59 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop14h 04m
Frontier
jue. 3/56:15 am
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop10h 27m
Frontier
Deal found 1/18$172
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 2/277:59 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop14h 04m
Frontier
vie. 3/69:04 pm
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop20h 12m
Frontier
Deal found 1/18$184
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 2/267:27 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop7h 01m
Frontier
jue. 3/56:15 am
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop10h 27m
Frontier
Deal found 1/18$190
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/19. 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.
jue. 3/57:27 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop7h 01m
Frontier
dom. 3/89:04 pm
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop20h 12m
Frontier
Deal found 1/19$192
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 2/267:27 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop7h 01m
Frontier
vie. 3/69:04 pm
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop20h 12m
Frontier
Deal found 1/18$202
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 2/277:59 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop14h 04m
Multiple Airlines
mié. 3/47:35 am
SFO
-
DSM
2 stops26h 46m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/18$208
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/19. 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.
jue. 3/57:27 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop7h 01m
Multiple Airlines
jue. 3/125:47 pm
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop19h 14m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/19$222
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
vie. 2/277:59 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop14h 04m
Frontier
dom. 3/16:15 am
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop10h 27m
Frontier
Deal found 1/18$223
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 2/267:27 pm
DSM
-
SFO
1 stop7h 01m
Multiple Airlines
mié. 3/47:35 am
SFO
-
DSM
2 stops26h 46m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/18$226
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/18. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
lun. 3/27:17 pm
DSM
-
SFO
2 stops28h 22m
Frontier
jue. 3/56:15 am
SFO
-
DSM
1 stop10h 27m
Frontier
Deal found 1/18$227

Find flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco (SFO). 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 enero 20, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

Expedia
3 stars

Round-trip from

$172
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$160
(Frontier)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$453
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
One-way flight from Des Moines to San Francisco
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($26 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

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to San Francisco 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 enero 20, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

jue. 3/5

7:27 pm-12:28 am

1 stop7h 01m

San Francisco

jue. 3/12

8:09 pm-10:34 pm

2 stops24h 25m

$252

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

vie. 3/6

8:21 pm-12:29 am

1 stop6h 08m

San Francisco

vie. 3/13

6:00 am-7:16 pm

1 stop11h 16m

$331

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mar. 3/3

5:24 am-5:56 pm

2 stops14h 32m

San Francisco

sáb. 3/7

4:02 pm-9:09 am

2 stops15h 07m

$357

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mar. 3/3

6:50 am-1:48 pm

1 stop8h 58m

San Francisco

mié. 3/4

11:02 am-10:17 am

2 stops21h 15m

$364

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mar. 3/3

6:50 am-11:32 am

1 stop6h 42m

San Francisco

mar. 3/3

4:02 pm-10:17 am

2 stops16h 15m

$364

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mié. 2/18

6:10 am-1:35 pm

1 stop9h 25m

San Francisco

mié. 2/25

5:30 am-2:40 pm

1 stop7h 10m

$367

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mar. 3/3

5:24 am-5:56 pm

2 stops14h 32m

San Francisco

mié. 3/4

12:40 am-10:17 am

1 stop7h 37m

$372

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mié. 2/18

5:00 am-4:54 pm

1 stop13h 54m

San Francisco

mié. 2/25

6:00 am-1:28 pm

1 stop5h 28m

$377

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

mié. 3/4

6:50 am-1:48 pm

1 stop8h 58m

San Francisco

mié. 3/11

6:20 am-3:42 pm

1 stop7h 22m

$385

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

vie. 3/6

8:21 pm-12:29 am

1 stop6h 08m

$160

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/19

Showing 1-10 of 18 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

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 Francisco in January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
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 Francisco 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 Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust Expedia the most. Expedia 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 Francisco 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 Francisco

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

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

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

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. 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. Reviews last updated enero 20, 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Des Moines to San Francisco. 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.

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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.

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

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. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.
  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Frontier and Delta can get you from Des Moines to San Francisco in just under 6h 08m. Your travel time can differ by up to 8h 24m. Airlines will cover a distance of 1545 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    Our cheapest airline available from Des Moines to San Francisco is Frontier. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $110 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Delta and American Airlines, starting at $263 and $336 round-trip. Frontier is currently priced 74% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

    The cheapest airline one-way is Frontier, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $89. However, be on the lookout for offers from Delta and American Airlines, as they are both options that can get you from Des Moines to San Francisco for a low price.

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

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

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

    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.

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

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

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

Traveling to a place near San Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
South San Francisco
Santa Cruz
Roseville
Santa Clara
Livermore
Watsonville
San Bruno
Daly City
Sunnyvale
Vacaville
Turlock
San Carlos
San Ramon
Manteca
Vallejo
San Lorenzo
Davis
Hollister
Redwood City
Union City

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Alternative routes for Des Moines to San Francisco

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

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. 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 enero 20, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$110Average$255FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$263Average$369FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$336Average$431FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$336Average$409FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$350Average$500FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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