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$130+ 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 8/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SFO
Jun 17 — Jun 241
Tue 6/17
Tue 6/24
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to San Francisco are usually found in September or August, booked 15 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap 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 June 12, 2025.

Round-trip from

$260
(Frontier)

One-way from

$130
(Frontier)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$438
From Des Moines to San Francisco
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One-way flight from Des Moines to San Francisco
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($29 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($5 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in June 2025
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Find 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 June 12, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/9. 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 7/147:33 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 46mFrontier
Fri 7/186:37 amSFO - DSM
1 stop10h 11mFrontier
Deal found 6/9$260
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. 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 9/46:09 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop7h 00mAmerican Airlines
Tue 9/912:47 amSFO - DSM
1 stop6h 52mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 6/11$297
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/12. 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.
Sat 8/165:44 amDSM - SFO
1 stop10h 40mDelta
Tue 8/1912:35 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 43mDelta
Deal found 6/12$306
This WAYA deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/11. 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 WAYA is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 7/237:30 amDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 45mMultiple Airlines
Mon 7/2810:37 amSFO - DSM
1 stop9h 58mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 6/11$316
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/10. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 9/912:15 pmDSM - SFO
2 stops9h 35mSouthwest
Sat 9/136:50 amSFO - DSM
2 stops11h 30mSouthwest
Deal found 6/10$325
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 6/12. 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 8/148:00 amDSM - SFO
2 stops13h 24mUnited Airlines
Mon 8/1811:25 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop9h 14mUnited Airlines
Deal found 6/12$388

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 June 12, 2025.
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

Mon 7/14

7:33 pm-12:19 am

1 stop6h 46m

San Francisco

Fri 7/18

6:37 am-6:48 pm

1 stop10h 11m

$260

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 9/4

6:09 pm-11:09 pm

1 stop7h 00m

San Francisco

Tue 9/9

12:47 am-9:39 am

1 stop6h 52m

$297

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sat 8/16

5:44 am-2:24 pm

1 stop10h 40m

San Francisco

Tue 8/19

12:35 am-10:18 am

1 stop7h 43m

$306

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 7/23

7:30 am-12:15 pm

1 stop6h 45m

San Francisco

Mon 7/28

10:37 am-10:35 pm

1 stop9h 58m

$316

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 9/9

12:15 pm-7:50 pm

2 stops9h 35m

San Francisco

Sat 9/13

6:50 am-8:20 pm

2 stops11h 30m

$325

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 8/14

8:00 am-7:24 pm

2 stops13h 24m

San Francisco

Mon 8/18

11:25 pm-10:39 am

1 stop9h 14m

$388

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 8/8

7:33 pm-12:19 am

1 stop6h 46m

$130

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 7/25

2:39 pm-11:50 pm

1 stop11h 11m

$155

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 7/25

6:40 pm-7:29 am

2 stops14h 49m

$192

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sat 7/19

7:47 pm-12:08 am

1 stop6h 21m

$195

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 6/9

Showing 1-10 of 13 results
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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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on June 9, 2025.

Booking 15 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $364). 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 SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated June 12, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco in the afternoon. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 22% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco?

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

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

Rainfall in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in San Francisco ranges from 0.0 - 4.4 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.4 in. July is typically the driest time to visit San Francisco when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to San Francisco, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, September is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

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 June 12, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Alaska Airlines, Southwest and Delta from Des Moines to San Francisco. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,287 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,946 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,790 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
10,000 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.1

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.1

Crew

8.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

James,Apr 2025

LAX - SFO

Good flight except the uncontrollable cold air from the ceiling.

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.

  • 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 $260 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are American Airlines and Delta, starting at $297 and $306 round-trip. Frontier is currently priced 40% 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 $130. 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $364). 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 Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Mountain View
South San Francisco
Livermore
Turlock
Santa Cruz
Manteca
Fairfield
Watsonville
Antioch
Hollister
Milpitas
Newark
Hayward
Alameda
Sunnyvale
Daly City
Union City
Campbell
Capitola

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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 June 12, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$110Average$224FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$316Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$316Average$490FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
DeltaCheapest$319Average$470FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$356Average$434FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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