CMH - DSM

$150 Find Cheap Flights from Columbus to Des Moines - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$304
Typical prices: $345-$531
United Airlines
Wed 10/17Fri 10/19
CMH - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$150
Typical prices: $179-$337
United Airlines
Wed 10/17
CMH - DSM • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
There are currently no direct flights between Columbus Airport and Des Moines. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 27% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $371 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 3h 40m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Columbus to Des Moines (CMH-DSM)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Columbus to Des Moines

Sat, Oct 17 - Mon, Oct 19
United Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 10:31 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 14m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
6:55 pm - 11:54 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
3h 59m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$304United Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Sat, Oct 17
United Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 10:31 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 14m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
11:27 am - 5:05 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 38m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$304United Airlines
Sat, Oct 17 - Mon, Oct 19
United Airlines Logo
3:04 pm - 9:23 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
7h 19m2 stops Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
6:55 pm - 11:54 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
3h 59m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$314United Airlines
Fri, Oct 2 - Mon, Oct 5
Delta Logo
5:07 pm - 10:26 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
6h 19m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
6:54 pm - 12:15 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 21m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$332Delta
Sat, Oct 10 - Mon, Oct 12
Southwest Logo
5:50 pm - 8:50 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 00m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
4:30 pm - 8:50 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
3h 20m1 stop Chicago Midway
$344Southwest
Fri, Oct 23 - Sun, Oct 25
Southwest Logo
8:20 pm - 11:15 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
3h 55m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 10:00 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
3h 30m1 stop Chicago Midway
$362Southwest
Thu, Oct 22 - Mon, Oct 26
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:42 pm - 10:08 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
25h 26m1 stop Fort Myers SW Florida Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 6:52 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
21h 27m2 stops Denver Intl Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$371Multiple Airlines
Mon, Sep 28 - Thu, Oct 1
Delta Logo
5:07 pm - 10:26 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
6h 19m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 11:22 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 22m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$393Delta
Thu, Oct 22 - Mon, Oct 26
American Airlines Logo
5:24 am - 8:56 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 32m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
7:29 am - 2:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
6h 16m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$397American Airlines
Sat, Dec 19 - Sun, Dec 20
American Airlines Logo
5:29 am - 9:12 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 43m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
3:26 pm - 10:05 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
5h 39m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$407American Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Columbus Airport to Des Moines flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

Round-trip flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines start at $304. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $345 to $531. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $304 on United Airlines.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

Saturday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Columbus Airport to Des Moines, it is 37% cheaper than the average day. Wednesday is the most expensive day with flight prices 18% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

  • October is the cheapest month to fly from Columbus Airport to Des Moines at $296 round-trip.
  • February ($629) and January ($577) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 112% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Key details for Columbus Airport to Des Moines flights

Low season

May

Cheapest flight

$150
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 2% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 14% increase in price.
Flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines

When to book flights from Columbus to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Columbus to Des Moines based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Columbus Airport to Des Moines flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    Flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines usually depart from Columbus (CMH) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines:

    • Economy Class
    • First Class

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines pass through?

    One-stop flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines most commonly connect through:

    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 58% of one-stop connections
    • Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 19% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 17% of one-stop connections
    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) - 4% of one-stop connections

    Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    On the Columbus Airport to Des Moines route, being flexible with your departure day can save you up to 47%. Saturday is the cheapest day at $256 round-trip on average, while Wednesday is the most expensive at $481: a $225 difference. Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • What popular places can I visit in Des Moines?

    Some of the most popular sights in Des Moines are Iowa Events Center, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines and Des Moines Civic Center. These are among the most viewed places in Des Moines on KAYAK.

  • How long is a flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    A nonstop flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines takes 0h 00m, covering 573 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID, or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

  • Have flight prices from Columbus Airport to Des Moines changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $257 to $1,102. That means the highest observed fare was about 4x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Columbus Airport to Des Moines looking right now?

    One-way fares from Columbus Airport to Des Moines are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $182, which is 25% below the typical average for this route.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    Flying via Lambert-St Louis (STL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 40m, compared with 3h 44m via Chicago Midway (MDW) and 4h 03m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW).

  • What is the time difference between Columbus Airport and Des Moines?

    Des Moines is 1 hour behind Columbus Airport (Central Time vs Eastern Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What car rental options are available at Des Moines Airport (DSM)?

    Des Moines Airport (DSM) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $33 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Hertz
    • Payless
    • Budget
    • Alamo
    • Avis

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Columbus Airport to Des Moines flight?

    Round-trip flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines range from $345 to $531, with an average of $405 over the past 12 months. Anything below $345 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Columbus Airport to Des Moines flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Saturday departure instead of Wednesday. On this route, Saturday flights average $256 - about $225 less than Wednesday (47% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Columbus Airport to Des Moines trip for October. Fares historically average $296 round-trip in that month - typically $333 less than the most expensive month, which is February (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Des Moines Airport.
    - Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Des Moines Airport
    - Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center By IHG
    - Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport

More options for your flight from Columbus to Des Moines

Complete your trip to Des Moines with a hotel stay or car rental