DSM - SMF

$170 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Sacramento - Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$287
Typical prices: $382-$561
Multiple Airlines
Tue 10/23Sat 10/27
DSM - SMF • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$170
Typical prices: $208-$352
Multiple Airlines
Thu 9/20
DSM - SMF • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and Sacramento. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to book
12 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 12 weeks in advance save around 56% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
November
Cheapest • 15% price drop
June
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Denver Intl (DEN)
Cheapest • Avg $480 (round-trip)
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Shortest trip • 5h 42m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Sacramento (DSM-SMF)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Des Moines to Sacramento

Fri, Oct 23 - Tue, Oct 27
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:00 pm - 6:53 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
22h 53m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:19 pm - 1:52 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
17h 33m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$287Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 26 - Fri, Oct 30
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:11 pm - 5:24 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
22h 13m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:59 am - 7:35 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
5h 36m1 stop Denver Intl
$288Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 5 - Mon, Oct 12
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 10:58 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
16h 28m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
11:52 am - 7:30 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
5h 38m1 stop Denver Intl
$298Frontier
Thu, Dec 3 - Wed, Dec 9
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 11:25 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
9h 55m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
1:35 pm - 8:45 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
5h 10m1 stop Denver Intl
$355Southwest
Thu, Nov 5 - Mon, Nov 9
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 12:14 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
9h 14m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
1:04 pm - 8:18 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
5h 14m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$355American Airlines
Thu, Dec 3 - Wed, Dec 9
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 11:25 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
9h 55m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
10:30 am - 8:45 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
8h 15m2 stops San Diego Denver Intl
$360Southwest
Fri, Dec 25 - Wed, Dec 30
United Airlines Logo
6:42 pm - 12:45 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
8h 03m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
2:15 pm - 11:15 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
7h 00m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$394United Airlines
Tue, Oct 13 - Sat, Oct 17
United Airlines Logo
5:45 am - 9:47 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
6h 02m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
2:25 pm - 11:35 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
7h 10m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$411United Airlines
Tue, Nov 24 - Tue, Dec 1
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 9:31 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
6h 31m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
11:52 pm - 8:46 amSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
6h 54m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$411American Airlines
Tue, Nov 24 - Tue, Dec 1
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 9:31 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
6h 31m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
11:52 pm - 8:46 amSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
6h 54m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$411American Airlines
Booking Insights

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

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

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

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to Sacramento, it is 9% cheaper than the average day. Monday is the most expensive day with flight prices 28% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

  • November is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Sacramento at $386 round-trip.
  • December ($609) and July ($566) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 57% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Des Moines to Sacramento the cheapest?

Flights from Des Moines to Sacramento are cheapest 12 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 56% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Key details for Des Moines to Sacramento flights

Low season

November

Cheapest flight

$170
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 15% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 5% increase in price.
Flight from Des Moines to Sacramento

When to book flights from Des Moines to Sacramento

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

    Flights from Des Moines to Sacramento usually depart from Des Moines (DSM) and arrive at Sacramento Intl (SMF).

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

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

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

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

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 92% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 4% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 4% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 1% 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 Sacramento?

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 29% on the Des Moines to Sacramento route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $414 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $582, a difference of $168. 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 Sacramento?

    Some of the most popular sights in Sacramento are Golden 1 Center, UC Davis Medical Center and Sacramento Capitol Park. These are among the most viewed places in Sacramento on KAYAK.

  • How expensive are last-minute Des Moines to Sacramento flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route - booked within 2 weeks of departure - run 82% above the route average of $454. Book 12 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    A nonstop flight from Des Moines to Sacramento takes 0h 00m, covering 1,481 miles.

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

    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 are flight prices from Des Moines to Sacramento looking right now?

    One-way fares from Des Moines to Sacramento are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $238, which is 16% below the typical average for this route.

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

    Flying via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 5h 42m, compared with 5h 43m via Denver Intl (DEN) and 6h 29m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP).

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

    Sacramento 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 Sacramento Intl Airport (SMF)?

    Sacramento Intl Airport (SMF) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $24 for economy cars. Top options include:
    · Thrifty
    · Dollar
    · Budget
    · Hertz
    · Payless

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

    Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Sacramento range from $382 to $561, with an average of $454 over the past 12 months. Anything below $382 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Des Moines to Sacramento 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 Tuesday departure instead of Monday. On this route, Tuesday flights average $414 - about $168 less than Monday (29% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 12 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 56% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Des Moines to Sacramento trip for November. Fares historically average $386 round-trip in that month - typically $223 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).

More options for your flight from Des Moines to Sacramento

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