HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Santa Barbara

$312+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to Santa Barbara (DSM - SBA)

This is the cheapest round-trip flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 2/10. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SBA
Jan 7 — Jan 141
Wed 1/7
Wed 1/14
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Des Moines to Santa Barbara with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Santa Barbara

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Santa Barbara
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to Santa Barbara. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 8, 2025.

This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/6. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/215:21 amDSM - SBA
1 stop6h 22mAmerican Airlines
Thu 12/256:12 amSBA - DSM
2 stops8h 53mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/6$442
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/6. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/249:00 amDSM - SBA
1 stop6h 12mUnited Airlines
Tue 12/305:00 amSBA - DSM
1 stop5h 42mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/6$453
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/6. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/216:20 pmDSM - SBA
1 stop6h 07mAmerican Airlines
Fri 12/2610:13 amSBA - DSM
1 stop5h 18mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/6$567
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/213:14 pmDSM - SBA
2 stops10h 44mUnited Airlines
Fri 12/267:30 amSBA - DSM
2 stops12h 10mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/7$667
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/198:00 amDSM - SBA
2 stops15h 48mUnited Airlines
Mon 12/227:30 amSBA - DSM
2 stops11h 00mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/7$812
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. 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.
Fri 12/195:21 amDSM - SBA
1 stop6h 22mAmerican Airlines
Mon 12/221:20 pmSBA - DSM
2 stops8h 15mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 12/7$827

Find flight deals from Des Moines to Santa Barbara

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to Santa Barbara (SBA). 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 December 8, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$307
(American Airlines)

Popular in

October

Cheapest in

July

Average price

$462
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Santa Barbara flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Santa Barbara flights.
Search Deals
From Des Moines to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 13% potential increase in price ($70 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 6% potential price decrease ($27 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 Santa Barbara 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 8, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Santa Barbara that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Santa Barbara

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSanta Barbara

DSM - SBA

DSMSBA

Des Moines

Tue 2/10

8:35 am-2:20 pm

2 stops7h 45m

Santa Barbara

Wed 2/18

11:20 am-7:20 pm

1 stop6h 00m

$312

Des MoinesSanta Barbara

DSM - SBA

DSMSBA

Des Moines

Sat 1/17

5:09 pm-8:52 pm

1 stop5h 43m

Santa Barbara

Wed 1/21

12:59 pm-8:34 pm

1 stop5h 35m

$342

Des MoinesSanta Barbara

DSM - SBA

DSMSBA

Des Moines

Sat 1/17

5:24 am-11:46 am

1 stop8h 22m

Santa Barbara

Wed 1/21

6:00 am-1:48 pm

1 stop5h 48m

$342

Des MoinesSanta Barbara

DSM - SBA

DSMSBA

Des Moines

Mon 1/19

5:24 am-9:24 am

1 stop6h 00m

Santa Barbara

Mon 2/23

4:42 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop5h 17m

$393

Des MoinesSanta Barbara

DSM - SBA

DSMSBA

Des Moines

Sat 2/14

5:03 pm-9:16 pm

1 stop6h 13m

Santa Barbara

Wed 2/18

1:12 pm-8:41 pm

1 stop5h 29m

$397

Des MoinesSanta Barbara

DSM - SBA

DSMSBA

Des Moines

Mon 1/12

5:09 pm-8:52 pm

1 stop5h 43m

Santa Barbara

Wed 1/14

5:00 am-12:52 pm

1 stop5h 52m

$417

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/5

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to Santa Barbara

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 Santa Barbara in December.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars

*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-Santa Barbara flights, users find the pricing of eDreams to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. eDreams Users can find the same prices on Des Moines-Santa Barbara flight deals on Cheapflights vs. eDreams >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-Santa Barbara flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-Santa Barbara flights, Cheapflights users trust eDreams the most. eDreams 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-Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara

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

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

Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Santa Barbara (average of $137). Flying from Des Moines to Santa Barbara in February is currently the most expensive (average of $292). 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 Santa Barbara

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara. Reviews last updated December 8, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest, United Airlines, and American Airlines from Des Moines to Santa Barbara by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

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.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,252 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

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.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,076 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

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.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,042 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

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 Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara?

    Departing from Des Moines to Santa Barbara will take you 5h 43m. Des Moines and Santa Barbara are separated by a distance of 1500 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Des Moines to Santa Barbara round-trip?

    According to our current data, Southwest ($353), United Airlines ($385), and American Airlines ($401) offers the cheapest pricing from Des Moines to Santa Barbara. Southwest is currently priced 23% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?

    Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Santa Barbara (average of $137). Flying from Des Moines to Santa Barbara in February is currently the most expensive (average of $292). 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 Santa Barbara?

Book flights to Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Buellton
Santa Ynez

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Des Moines to Santa Barbara

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Omaha to Las Vegas flights
Des Moines to Las Vegas flights
Omaha to San Diego flights
Omaha to Los Angeles flights
Cedar Rapids to Las Vegas flights
Des Moines to Los Angeles flights
Omaha to San Francisco flights
Des Moines to San Francisco flights
Cedar Rapids to San Diego flights
Moline to Los Angeles flights
Moline to Las Vegas flights
Des Moines to San Diego flights
Cedar Rapids to Los Angeles flights
Cedar Rapids to San Francisco flights
Omaha to Ontario flights
Omaha to Palm Springs flights
Des Moines to Palm Springs flights
Des Moines to Ontario flights
Cedar Rapids to Ontario flights
Cedar Rapids to Santa Ana flights
Cedar Rapids to Palm Springs flights
Des Moines to Santa Ana flights
Omaha to Reno flights
Omaha to Santa Ana flights
Cedar Rapids to San Jose flights
Moline to San Diego flights
Omaha to San Jose flights
Omaha to Sacramento flights
Des Moines to Reno flights
Omaha to Oakland flights
Des Moines to Sacramento flights
Moline to Palm Springs flights
Cedar Rapids to Reno flights
Omaha to Burbank flights
Moline to Ontario flights
Des Moines to San Jose flights
Des Moines to Burbank flights
Moline to San Francisco flights
Moline to Burbank flights
Cedar Rapids to Sacramento flights
Moline to Santa Ana flights
Sioux City to Las Vegas flights
Omaha to Long Beach flights
Omaha to Santa Barbara flights
Des Moines to San Luis Obispo flights
Omaha to Monterey flights
Cedar Rapids to Medford flights
Moline to Sacramento flights
Moline to San Jose flights

Top 3 airlines flying from Des Moines to Santa Barbara

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to Santa Barbara. 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 8, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$353Average$437FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$385Average$481FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$401Average$586FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.