DSM - CHS

$172 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Charleston - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Des Moines to Charleston departing on 11/16. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$304
Typical prices: $333-$594
Multiple Airlines
Wed 9/30Tue 10/6
DSM - CHS • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$174
Multiple Airlines
Mon 11/16
DSM - CHS • 2 stops
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $327 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.8 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and Charleston. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $361 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 4h 31m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 29% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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We hope you love your trip to Charleston!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Charleston (DSM-CHS)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Des Moines to Charleston that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Des Moines to Charleston

Wed, Sep 30 - Tue, Oct 6
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:45 pm - 8:38 amDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
18h 53m1 stop Orlando Sanford Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:18 am - 11:55 amCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
27h 37m1 stop Orlando
$304Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 12 - Thu, Oct 15
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:19 am - 12:31 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
25h 12m1 stop Tampa St. Petersburg
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:39 pm - 8:09 amCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
11h 30m1 stop Tampa
$312Multiple Airlines
Tue, Jan 5 - Tue, Jan 12
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:01 pm - 8:38 amDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
18h 37m1 stop Orlando Sanford Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:21 pm - 11:05 amCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
22h 44m1 stop Tampa
$318Multiple Airlines
Sun, Sep 20 - Tue, Sep 29
American Airlines Logo
10:35 am - 7:11 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
7h 36m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
4:46 pm - 11:12 pmCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
7h 26m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$327American Airlines
Thu, Sep 3 - Sun, Sep 6
American Airlines Logo
2:21 pm - 9:56 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
6h 35m1 stop Washington, D.C. Reagan-National
American Airlines Logo
12:23 pm - 7:13 pmCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
7h 50m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$345American Airlines
Thu, Sep 3 - Thu, Sep 10
American Airlines Logo
2:21 pm - 9:56 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
6h 35m1 stop Washington, D.C. Reagan-National
American Airlines Logo
8:04 am - 12:04 pmCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
5h 00m1 stop Charlotte Douglas
$346American Airlines
Thu, Jan 7 - Thu, Jan 14
Delta Logo
10:55 am - 4:36 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
4h 41m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:30 am - 10:18 amCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
4h 48m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$365Delta
Sat, Jan 9 - Sat, Jan 9
Delta Logo
6:20 am - 12:21 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
5h 01m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Delta Logo
4:30 pm - 10:29 pmCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
6h 59m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$365Delta
Thu, Jan 7 - Mon, Jan 11
United Airlines Logo
3:15 pm - 9:04 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
4h 49m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
3:19 pm - 9:17 pmCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
6h 58m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$365United Airlines
Thu, Jan 7 - Mon, Jan 11
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 3:24 pmDSM  Des Moines-CHS Charleston
8h 09m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Newark
United Airlines Logo
6:05 am - 10:20 amCHS  Charleston-DSM Des Moines
5h 15m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$370United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Des Moines to Charleston flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Des Moines to Charleston to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

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

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Des Moines to Charleston departing in September.

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to Charleston from Des Moines usually cost between $387 and $438 in September.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $304 on Multiple Airlines (Sep 30-Oct 6).

What is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Charleston?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Des Moines to Charleston, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Des Moines to Charleston is January, where tickets cost $312 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are February and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $608 and $518 respectively.

Good to know

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$172
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 38% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 14% lower on average.
Flight from Des Moines to Charleston

When to book flights from Des Moines to Charleston

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Des Moines to Charleston based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Des Moines to Charleston

  • What is the cheapest flight from Des Moines to Charleston?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Des Moines to Charleston was $174 for a one-way ticket and $304 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Des Moines and Charleston?

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from Des Moines to Charleston. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Des Moines to Charleston?

    Des Moines and Charleston are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Des Moines from Des Moines and will be arriving at Charleston.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Des Moines to Charleston?

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Des Moines to Charleston?

    Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between Des Moines and Charleston, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Des Moines to Charleston, Delta or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Des Moines to Charleston are Delta and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $442 and an overall rating of 7.8, Delta is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $406 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Des Moines to Charleston?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Des Moines to Charleston.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Des Moines to Charleston?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Charleston from Des Moines is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Des Moines to Charleston?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Charleston with an airline and back to Des Moines with another airline. Booking your flights between Des Moines and CHS can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Des Moines to Charleston?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Charleston from Des Moines up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Des Moines to Charleston

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Des Moines to Charleston. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Des Moines to Charleston? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.8
DeltaOverall score based on 8491 reviews
7.8Entertainment
7.8Comfort
8.1Boarding
7.2Food
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

the flight got cancelled - few hours before the departure time - no time to change

2.0 MediocreWojciech, Aug 2026
Read more Delta reviews

the flight got cancelled - few hours before the departure time - no time to change

Flight was delayed before take off and at landing. Baggage took 20 minutes. Flight crew would not serve full soft drink and had to ask multiple times before receiving water.

For some reason, TSA Atlanta didn’t have my bag on the flight on time and they don’t have to provide Delta a reason for that.

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the poor service and unprofessional staff we encountered when traveling with an infant. Our flight was delayed, and the gate staff failed to manage the boarding process appropriately. Due to incorrect, unavailable, or missing 'pink tag' stroller and car seat check-in procedures at the gate, we were forced to board last. Furthermore, the gate staff was rude and dismissive, causing significant distress to our infant. To make matters worse, one of our checked items—an infant sleeper/lounger—was returned to us broken. Given the unsafe handling of essential equipment and unprofessional treatment, I expect a prompt resolution regarding compensation for the damaged items.

I am still at the Airport! Delayed Delayed and Delyaed

The landing was the worst I’ve experienced with a flight.

It was last minute due to weather - considering - it was amazing! Good smiles, friendly staff and they were making sure we knew what was going on when and where.

All good on Delta's part. Passengers could be a little more courteous to each other.

The pilots were good. Disappointing when planes don't have electrical ports

No complaints - left 20 minutes later than planned but still arrived on time.

The flight to America was freezing. The overnight flight back to the UK was boiling hot and the cabin stank of toilet or occasionally perfume, even though I was several rows back from either bathroom. Food was tiny portions. Two small pieces of tough and dry beef in random gravy with pretend mashed potato raking up most of it. Very little veg. Salad was ok. Wooden cutlery broke within minutes of using. Lots of old films for entertainment. Some new ones. Generally a bit rubbish.

It was a good experience, unfortunately my checked baggages were come late and not arrived on time.

Very stressful to locate United Airline boarding area, delayed flight, changing boarding area again to another location with all tiredness 😩. But flying was fine.

Flight staff and all was fine. Food always sucks on planes so nothing new.

1 flight cancelled Had to fly out of different city Flight at new departure city was delayed 3 hours causing us to miss connecting flights. By the time we did make it to Prague our luggage did not. Had to wait day and a half for luggage to be delivered. Customer service was not good. Agents did not arrive at gate until 5-10 minutes before boarding

It was better than excellent. The staff in Mason City were great. The young woman that pushed my wheelchair did more than could be expected of her. She came from India 17 years ago. I don't remember her name.

Awful. No counter attendants. No dinner offered due to delays.

Very rough getting into denver. my kid threw up it was so rough.

Liked that we left on time for each flight. Snacks not the best, but we're okay.

I had requested wheelchair assistance prior to flight. The airport staff had no record of it. It was not provided at Cedar Rapids which was a small airport, so I managed on my own. At O'Hare airport the same thing happened. The staff told me they had no record of my request for a wheel chair. But they finally provided it after a delay when I insisted that I needed it.

Very turbulent flight, no drinks, very little service, unorganized boarding, gate changed multiple times

Poor seat in rear of aircraft Food at Admiral’s Club Terminal D at DFW inedible

In flight connectivity (via T-Mobile) was often not working.

Terrible. Internet/kiosk glitch prevented baggage checkin. Line at ticket co in Ter was under serviced and did not move. Agents did not call for flight but rather allowed time to pass. Then told each person as they reached the front if line that it was too late to check bags so they’d have to rebook flights. At least 15 people missed the flight as a result of this incompetence.

It was exactly what I expected, actually arriving sooner than scheduled.

Terrible, they canceled my flight due to an issue they had, couldn't fly me into the same place within 24 hrs so had to fly in 2.5 hrs away from my destination and spend even more money. The customer service was terrible (except at the airport in Charleston). Had to call to get my checked baggage fees reimbursed 2 wks later in which one customer service agent was very rude, wouldn't listen and then hung up on me. The second lady I spoke with was actually able to help me with that part thankfully. Would not recommend flying AA.

Multiple gate changes and significant delay leaving DFW. Made for a late arrival

For the price of the ticket you get nothing. The plane had 1 bathroom in the back and when the flight attendant did service no one could use it. No announcement just was told to go back to my seat. Ridiculous and rude.

In-flight Wi-Fi didn’t work and the flight was 25 minutes late. The Embraer plane I was on was pretty old and the tray table was broken.

American Airlines no longer has Bischoff biscuits. This is intolerable.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Des Moines to Charleston

Information on your arrival and departure airports