DSM - OAK

$127 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Oakland - Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$300
Typical prices: $384-$539
Frontier
Tue 10/16Mon 10/22
DSM - OAK • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$127
Typical prices: $180-$293
Multiple Airlines
Tue 10/23
DSM - OAK • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and Oakland. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 36% price drop
September
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Cheapest • Avg $349 (round-trip)
Denver Intl (DEN)
Shortest trip • 5h 50m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Oakland (DSM-OAK)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Des Moines to Oakland

Fri, Oct 16 - Thu, Oct 22
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 11:52 amDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
17h 27m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:17 am - 10:50 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
10h 33m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$300Multiple Airlines
Wed, Oct 21 - Tue, Oct 27
Southwest Logo
6:35 pm - 10:10 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
5h 35m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
10:35 am - 8:40 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
8h 05m2 stops Los Angeles Denver Intl
$310Southwest
Wed, Oct 21 - Tue, Oct 27
Southwest Logo
6:35 pm - 10:10 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
5h 35m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
7:15 am - 5:50 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
8h 35m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$310Southwest
Wed, Oct 21 - Tue, Oct 27
Southwest Logo
5:35 am - 12:05 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
8h 30m2 stops Chicago Midway Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
7:55 am - 5:50 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
7h 55m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$316Southwest
Sun, Nov 1 - Thu, Nov 5
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:45 am - 9:23 amDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
27h 38m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:55 pm - 9:35 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
25h 40m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$326Multiple Airlines
Wed, Nov 18 - Wed, Dec 2
Delta Logo
2:48 pm - 11:55 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
11h 07m2 stops Minneapolis St Paul Salt Lake City
Delta Logo
5:55 am - 4:11 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
8h 16m2 stops Salt Lake City Minneapolis St Paul
$327Delta
Tue, Nov 17 - Wed, Dec 2
Delta Logo
2:48 pm - 11:55 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
11h 07m2 stops Minneapolis St Paul Salt Lake City
Delta Logo
5:55 am - 4:11 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
8h 16m2 stops Salt Lake City Minneapolis St Paul
$327Delta
Thu, Nov 12 - Wed, Nov 18
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 12:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
9h 20m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
1:40 pm - 8:50 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
5h 10m1 stop Denver Intl
$341Southwest
Thu, Nov 12 - Wed, Nov 18
Southwest Logo
1:50 pm - 9:55 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
10h 05m2 stops Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Ontario
Southwest Logo
1:40 pm - 8:50 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
5h 10m1 stop Denver Intl
$346Southwest
Thu, Oct 29 - Mon, Nov 2
Southwest Logo
7:10 pm - 10:35 pmDSM  Des Moines-OAK Oakland
5h 25m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
5:35 am - 1:10 pmOAK  Oakland-DSM Des Moines
5h 35m1 stop Denver Intl
$349Southwest
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Des Moines to Oakland flights

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

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

Friday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to Oakland, it is 26% cheaper than the average day. Saturday is the most expensive day with flight prices 15% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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Key details for Des Moines to Oakland flights

Low season

June

Cheapest flight

$127
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 36% lower on average.
Flight from Des Moines to Oakland

When to book flights from Des Moines to Oakland

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Des Moines to Oakland 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 Oakland 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 Des Moines to Oakland?

    Flights from Des Moines to Oakland usually depart from Des Moines (DSM) and arrive at Oakland (OAK).

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

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

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

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

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 62% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 35% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 4% of one-stop connections

    Denver Intl (DEN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 36% on the Des Moines to Oakland route. Friday is the cheapest departure day at $349 round-trip on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at $539, a difference of $190. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What popular places can I visit in Oakland?

    Some of the most popular sights in Oakland are Oakland Arena, Fox Theater and Jack London Square. These are among the most viewed places in Oakland on KAYAK.

  • How long is a flight from Des Moines to Oakland?

    A nonstop flight from Des Moines to Oakland takes 0h 00m, covering 1,534 miles.

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

    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 Des Moines to Oakland 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 $300 to $1,967. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Des Moines to Oakland are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $257, which is 7% above the typical average for this route.

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

    Flying via Denver Intl (DEN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 5h 50m, compared with 7h 11m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) and 7h 44m via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS).

  • What is the time difference between Des Moines and Oakland?

    Oakland is 2 hours behind Des Moines (Pacific Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What car rental options are available at Oakland Airport (OAK)?

    Oakland Airport (OAK) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $21 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Dollar
    • Thrifty
    • Budget
    • Hertz
    • Alamo

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

    Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Oakland range from $384 to $539, with an average of $466 over the past 12 months. Anything below $384 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Des Moines to Oakland 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 Friday departure instead of Saturday. On this route, Friday flights average $349 - about $190 less than Saturday (35% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Des Moines to Oakland trip for September. Fares historically average $300 round-trip in that month - typically $669 less than the most expensive month, which is November (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Oakland Airport.
    - Oakland Airport Executive Hotel
    - Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport By IHG
    - SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport

More options for your flight from Des Moines to Oakland

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

Car rentals in Oakland
Hotels in Oakland
Vacations in Oakland