IND - DSM

$100 Find Cheap Flights from Indianapolis to Des Moines - Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$249
Typical prices: $278-$491
United Airlines
Sat 10/20Mon 10/22
IND - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$100
Typical prices: $173-$296
Multiple Airlines
Sun 10/14
IND - DSM • 2 stops
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Indianapolis and Des Moines. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 18% price drop
September
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
Cheapest • Avg $259 (round-trip)
Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD)
Shortest trip • 4h 05m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!
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Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Indianapolis to Des Moines (IND-DSM)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Indianapolis to Des Moines

Tue, Oct 20 - Thu, Oct 22
United Airlines Logo
5:40 am - 10:31 amIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
5h 51m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
11:27 am - 4:34 pmDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
4h 07m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$249United Airlines
Tue, Nov 3 - Tue, Nov 3
American Airlines Logo
5:36 am - 8:46 amIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
4h 10m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
7:26 pm - 12:38 amDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
4h 12m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$279American Airlines
Mon, Nov 2 - Tue, Nov 3
Southwest Logo
6:30 am - 1:10 pmIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
7h 40m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 10:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
6h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway
$279Southwest
Fri, Oct 23 - Mon, Oct 26
American Airlines Logo
8:58 pm - 12:14 amIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
4h 16m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
7:31 pm - 12:19 amDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
3h 48m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$280American Airlines
Tue, Nov 3 - Tue, Nov 3
Southwest Logo
5:35 am - 11:25 amIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
6h 50m2 stops Baltimore/Washington Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
3:30 pm - 10:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
6h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway
$284Southwest
Fri, Oct 23 - Mon, Oct 26
American Airlines Logo
8:58 pm - 12:14 amIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
4h 16m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
7:31 pm - 12:19 amDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
3h 48m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$299American Airlines
Thu, Oct 8 - Thu, Oct 15
Delta Logo
7:00 am - 10:11 amIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
4h 11m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
10:57 am - 3:28 pmDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
3h 31m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$318Delta
Mon, Oct 5 - Sun, Oct 11
United Airlines Logo
3:03 pm - 5:48 pmIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
3h 45m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 12:42 pmDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
3h 42m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$318United Airlines
Wed, Oct 14 - Sat, Oct 17
United Airlines Logo
7:05 am - 12:34 pmIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
6h 29m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 10:56 amDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
3h 56m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$339United Airlines
Fri, Dec 11 - Wed, Dec 16
Delta Logo
3:12 pm - 8:54 pmIND  Indianapolis-DSM Des Moines
6h 42m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Delta Logo
4:53 pm - 11:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-IND Indianapolis
5h 52m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$357Delta
Booking Insights

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

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

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

Round-trip flights from Indianapolis to Des Moines start at $249. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $278 to $491. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $249 on United Airlines.

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

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Indianapolis to Des Moines, it is 19% cheaper than the average day. Wednesday is the most expensive day with flight prices 60% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

  • September is the cheapest month to fly from Indianapolis to Des Moines at $278 round-trip.
  • April ($566) and January ($533) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 103% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Indianapolis to Des Moines flights

Low season

March

Cheapest flight

$100
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 5% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 18% lower on average.
Flight from Indianapolis to Des Moines

When to book flights from Indianapolis to Des Moines

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

Your Indianapolis to Des Moines 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 Indianapolis to Des Moines?

    Flights from Indianapolis to Des Moines usually depart from Indianapolis (IND) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

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

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

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

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

    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 86% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 10% of one-stop connections
    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) - 3% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 1% of one-stop connections

    Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 50% on the Indianapolis to Des Moines route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $278 round-trip on average, while Wednesday is the most expensive at $546, a difference of $268. 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 Des Moines?

    Some of the most popular sights in Des Moines are Iowa Events Center, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines and Des Moines Civic Center. These are among the most viewed places in Des Moines on KAYAK.

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

    A nonstop flight from Indianapolis to Des Moines takes 0h 00m, covering 406 miles.

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

    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 Indianapolis to Des Moines 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 $249 to $1,046. That means the highest observed fare was about 4x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Indianapolis to Des Moines are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $167, which is 36% below the typical average for this route.

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

    Flying via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 05m, compared with 4h 16m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) and 4h 39m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW).

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

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

  • What car rental options are available at Des Moines Airport (DSM)?

    Des Moines Airport (DSM) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $33 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Hertz
    • Payless
    • Budget
    • Alamo
    • Avis

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

    Round-trip flights from Indianapolis to Des Moines range from $278 to $491, with an average of $340 over the past 12 months. Anything below $278 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Indianapolis to Des Moines 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 Wednesday. On this route, Tuesday flights average $278 - about $268 less than Wednesday (49% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Indianapolis to Des Moines trip for September. Fares historically average $278 round-trip in that month - typically $288 less than the most expensive month, which is April (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Des Moines Airport.
    - Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Des Moines Airport
    - Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport
    - Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center By IHG

More options for your flight from Indianapolis to Des Moines

Complete your trip to Des Moines with a hotel stay or car rental

Car rentals in Des Moines
Hotels in Des Moines
Vacations in Des Moines