DSM - SAN

$81 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Diego - 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 San Diego departing on 9/10. 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

Save 21% or more on flights. Compare deals from all over the web.

Never overpay with our price tracking tools.

Filter searches by price, airline and more to find your best flights.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$158
Typical prices: $310-$441
Frontier
Thu 10/1Mon 10/5
DSM - SAN • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$81
Typical prices: $210-$359
Frontier
Thu 9/10
DSM - SAN • 1 stop
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $315 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 5h 47m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 44% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 16% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San Diego!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Diego (DSM-SAN)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Diego 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 San Diego

Thu, Oct 1 - Mon, Oct 5
Frontier Logo
11:29 am - 3:59 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
6h 30m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
6:25 am - 7:33 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
11h 08m1 stop Denver Intl
$158Frontier
Mon, Oct 19 - Thu, Oct 22
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:31 pm - 11:59 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
11h 28m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:25 am - 10:50 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
10h 25m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$173Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 19 - Thu, Oct 22
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:31 pm - 11:59 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
11h 28m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:25 am - 10:50 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
10h 25m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$176Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 2 - Mon, Oct 5
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 11:51 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 21m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
6:25 am - 7:33 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
11h 08m1 stop Denver Intl
$193Frontier
Tue, Sep 15 - Sat, Sep 19
United Airlines Logo
1:35 pm - 5:09 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 34m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
2:15 pm - 10:55 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
6h 40m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$257United Airlines
Wed, Oct 21 - Sat, Oct 24
United Airlines Logo
5:45 am - 9:05 amDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 20m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
6:40 am - 5:48 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
9h 08m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$257United Airlines
Mon, Oct 19 - Wed, Oct 21
Southwest Logo
7:10 pm - 10:40 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 30m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
9:15 am - 5:50 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
6h 35m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$257Southwest
Tue, Sep 29 - Sat, Oct 3
Delta Logo
7:00 am - 1:18 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
8h 18m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:25 am - 2:06 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
5h 41m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$257Delta
Wed, Sep 30 - Sat, Oct 3
Delta Logo
2:46 pm - 8:37 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
7h 51m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:25 am - 2:06 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
5h 41m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$257Delta
Tue, Sep 15 - Sat, Sep 19
Southwest Logo
7:15 am - 1:00 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
7h 45m2 stops Denver Intl San Jose
Southwest Logo
6:35 am - 4:10 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
7h 35m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$262Southwest
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Des Moines to San Diego flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Des Moines to San Diego 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 San Diego?

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 San Diego departing in October.

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to San Diego from Des Moines usually cost between $329 and $471 in October.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $158 on Frontier (Oct 1-Oct 5).

What is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Diego?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Diego, 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 San Diego is December, where tickets cost $342 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $577 and $476 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Des Moines to San Diego?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $366, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Diego, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Des Moines to San Diego, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 44% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 15 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

August

Cheapest flight

$81
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 9% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flight from Des Moines to San Diego

When to book flights from Des Moines to San Diego

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

  • Where can I park at DSM before my flight to San Diego?

    The Long-Term Premium and Long-Term Parking Lots are close enough that you can walk to the terminal. However, the more affordable options, the Blue Lot Economy 2, the Green Lot Economy 3, and the Gray Lot Economy 4, are not within walking distance. But you can take a free shuttle from the Economy Lots to the terminals. At DSM, you cannot reserve parking in advance, but the homepage on the DSM website keeps track of how much space is available in each lot and the Live Shuttle Tracker tells you when the next shuttle is coming.

  • Does DSM provide facilities for nursing moms?

    Yes. There is a Mamava lactation suite located just after the TSA checkpoint near the DSM police desk. Regardless of which concourse you're going to, everyone passes through the same security checkpoint in the main terminal. Each freestanding Mamava unit contains a fold-down table, bench seating on either side, a USB port, an electrical outlet, a coat hook, and a mirror.

  • Does SAN have a military lounge?

    Yes. The USO at SAN is in Terminal 2, landslide. If you are traveling soldier or a member of a military family who wants to relax, regroup, or refresh after your flight from Des Moines, you can visit the USO and enjoy its benefits and facilities free of charge. Amenities include showers, comfortable seating, refreshments, TV, unlimited domestic calls, and much more.

  • Where can I pick up my rental car at SAN?

    All car rental companies are located in a separate building outside the SAN airport. At the Arrivals curb, you can catch a free shuttle to whichever car rental agency you need to go to. Some car rental agencies at San Diego Airport include Avis, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo, Hertz, Firefly, National, and more.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Des Moines to San Diego?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Des Moines to San Diego was $81 for a one-way ticket and $158 for a round-trip.

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

    A passport is not required to fly from Des Moines to San Diego.

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

    When flying out of Des Moines you will be using Des Moines. You will be landing at San Diego, also known as San Diego.

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

    The Airbus A320-100/200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Des Moines to San Diego flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Des Moines to San Diego?

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Des Moines to San Diego, Southwest or Delta?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Des Moines to San Diego are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $465 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $343 and an overall rating of 7.8.

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

    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 San Diego.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Diego 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 San Diego?

    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 San Diego with an airline and back to Des Moines with another airline. Booking your flights between Des Moines and SAN 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 San Diego?

    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 San Diego from Des Moines up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Des Moines to San Diego

  • Located virtually in the center of the state of Iowa, the Des Moines International Airport (DSM) serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air. The San Diego International Airport (SAN), located on the Pacific coast in California just north of the Mexican border, is a hub for Southwest, Alaska Airlines, and other smaller airlines.
  • Though is unlikely you will find a direct flight from Des Moines to San Diego, you can find one-stop flights on several airlines, such as United, often with a stop in Denver. Southwest, American, and Delta also have one-stop flights with layovers in cities such as Dallas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, in Atlanta. United, American, and Delta are among the airlines offering two-stop flights as well.
  • There is one animal relief area at DSM located outside the terminal. So, remember to make sure that your service animal or your pet goes to the bathroom before you enter the airport and go through security. This animal relief area is north of the Skywalk next to the parking garage.
  • A baggage claim at SAN, you can find the service Traveler’s Aid. Open every day from 8 am to 11 pm, Travelers Aid helps passengers who are stranded or distressed. For example, if your accommodation plans have fallen through, if your money has been lost or stolen, or if you need transportation assistance, Travelers Aid is there to help.
  • If you feel stiff and sore after your flight from Des Moines, consider getting a massage at one of the two Be Relax Spa locations at the San Diego Airport. There is one spa location at Gate 26 in Terminal 2 and another location atG ate 36 in Terminal 2. These spas are open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Des Moines to San Diego

Information on your arrival and departure airports