DSM - CMH

$136 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Columbus - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$257
Typical prices: $352-$486
Frontier
Mon 12/3Sun 12/9
DSM - CMH • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$136
Typical prices: $218-$338
Southwest
Mon 12/17
DSM - CMH • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and Columbus Airport. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
April
Cheapest • 27% price drop
February
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Lambert-St Louis (STL)
Cheapest • Avg $380 (round-trip)
Chicago Midway (MDW)
Shortest trip • 3h 55m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Columbus Airport!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

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

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Des Moines to Columbus

Thu, Dec 3 - Wed, Dec 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:35 pm - 9:33 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
11h 58m2 stops Denver Intl Orlando
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:24 pm - 4:46 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
28h 22m1 stop Fort Lauderdale
$257Multiple Airlines
Thu, Nov 26 - Thu, Dec 3
Southwest Logo
5:10 am - 11:15 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
5h 05m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
6:10 am - 2:15 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
9h 05m1 stop Denver Intl
$271Southwest
Thu, Dec 3 - Thu, Dec 3
United Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 1:18 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 18m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
5:53 pm - 11:15 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
6h 22m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$271United Airlines
Thu, Dec 3 - Thu, Dec 10
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 1:18 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
6h 03m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 10:37 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 37m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$271United Airlines
Tue, Nov 24 - Tue, Dec 1
Delta Logo
5:30 am - 12:01 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
5h 31m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
1:10 pm - 6:06 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
5h 56m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$271Delta
Tue, Nov 24 - Wed, Dec 2
Delta Logo
5:30 am - 12:01 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
5h 31m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
6:30 am - 9:50 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 20m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$271Delta
Tue, Nov 24 - Wed, Dec 2
American Airlines Logo
7:11 am - 1:00 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 49m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
10:18 am - 1:35 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 17m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$271American Airlines
Tue, Nov 24 - Tue, Dec 1
American Airlines Logo
7:11 am - 1:00 pmDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 49m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
8:22 pm - 12:19 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
4h 57m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$271American Airlines
Tue, Nov 24 - Wed, Dec 2
Southwest Logo
5:10 am - 10:35 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
4h 25m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
5:40 am - 11:25 amCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
6h 45m2 stops Baltimore/Washington Chicago Midway
$276Southwest
Thu, Dec 3 - Sat, Dec 5
Southwest Logo
6:00 am - 10:30 amDSM  Des Moines-CMH Columbus
3h 30m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 12:00 pmCMH  Columbus-DSM Des Moines
7h 30m2 stops Baltimore/Washington Chicago Midway
$276Southwest
Booking Insights

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

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

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Saturday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to Columbus Airport. It’s 23% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 75% higher.

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

•April is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Columbus Airport at $289 round-trip.
•September ($625) and May ($561) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 116% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

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Key details for Des Moines to Columbus Airport flights

Low season

August

Cheapest flight

$136
Beat the crowds with an average 45% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 65% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Des Moines to Columbus Airport

When to book flights from Des Moines to Columbus

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

Your Des Moines to Columbus Airport flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

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

    Only Economy Class is available on flights from Des Moines to Columbus Airport.

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

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

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

    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.

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

    Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Columbus Airport range from $352 to $486, with an average of $394 over the past 12 months. Anything below $352 counts as a good deal.

  • Have flight prices from Des Moines to Columbus Airport 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 $1,833. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Des Moines to Columbus Airport are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $200, which is 28% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Columbus Airport (CMH)?

    Columbus Airport (CMH) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates averaging $78 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Payless
    • Budget
    • Alamo
    • Enterprise Rent-A-Car
    • Thrifty

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

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

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

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

    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 58% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 24% of one-stop connections
    • Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 7% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 6% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 57% on flights from Des Moines to Columbus Airport. Saturday is the cheapest departure day at $304 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $691, a difference of $387.

    Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

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

    Flying via Lambert-St Louis (STL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 38m, compared with 3h 55m via Chicago Midway (MDW) and 4h 10m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW).

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

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

  • What popular places can I visit in Columbus Airport?

    Some of the most popular sights in Columbus Airport are Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio Stadium and Nationwide Arena. These are among the most viewed places in Columbus Airport on KAYAK.

Your guide to booking Des Moines to Columbus Airport flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Saturday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Saturday flights average $304, about $387 less than Sunday fares (56% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Des Moines to Columbus Airport trip for April. Fares historically average $289 round-trip in that month - typically $336 less than the most expensive month, which is September (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Columbus Airport.

    • Days Inn by Wyndham Columbus Airport
    • Hilton Garden Inn Columbus Airport
    • Hampton Inn Columbus-International Airport

More options for your flight from Des Moines to Columbus

Complete your trip to Columbus with a hotel stay or car rental

Car rentals in Columbus
Hotels in Columbus
Vacations in Columbus