Which airports can I use when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Flights from St. Louis to Des Moines usually depart from Lambert-St Louis (STL) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

What cabin classes can I book on flights from St. Louis to Des Moines?

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

How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?

On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $239 round-trip via Denver Intl (DEN), compared to $415 for nonstop.

Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from St. Louis to Des Moines?

The Airbus A320-100/200 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by American Airlines and JetBlue. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A319 variants.

Which airports do connecting flights from St. Louis to Des Moines pass through?

One-stop flights from St. Louis to Des Moines most commonly connect through: • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 70% of one-stop connections • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 19% of one-stop connections • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 8% of one-stop connections • Denver Intl (DEN) - 3% 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 St. Louis to Des Moines?

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 65% on the St. Louis to Des Moines route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $239 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $680, a difference of $441. 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 UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Science Center of Iowa and Hy Vee Hall. These are among the most viewed places in Des Moines on KAYAK.

How long is a flight from St. Louis to Des Moines?

There are currently no nonstop flights available from St. Louis to Des Moines. Flights with 1 layover take between 4h 07m and 6h 54m in total, depending on the connection.

Do I need a passport to fly from St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 $235 to $540. That means the highest observed fare was about 2x higher than the lowest one.

How are flight prices from St. Louis to Des Moines looking right now?

One-way fares from St. Louis to Des Moines are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about $190.

How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Flying via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 07m, compared with 4h 32m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) and 5h 25m via Chicago Midway (MDW).

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 St. Louis to Des Moines flight?

Round-trip flights from St. Louis to Des Moines range from $316 to $519, with an average of $386 over the past 12 months. Anything below $316 counts as a good deal.

What is the cheapest airline to fly from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Southwest ($235) and American Airlines ($265) are the cheapest airlines to fly round-trip from St. Louis to Des Moines according to KAYAK data over the last 5 days.

What is the most popular layover airport when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) is the most popular layover for the St. Louis to Des Moines route. 70% of KAYAK users who booked 1-stop round-trips over the past 3 months connected via ORD.

What is the cheapest layover airport when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Flights via Denver Intl (DEN) offer the most affordable fares, with an average round-trip price of $239. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.

When flying from St. Louis to Des Moines which airport offers the shortest layover?

Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) had the shortest average connection time for St. Louis to Des Moines layovers at 153 minutes over the past 3 months.

$133 CHEAP FLIGHTS from St. Louis to Des Moines (STL - DSM)

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.

Cheapest round-trip

$235

Typical prices: $316-$519

Southwest

Sun 12/2Wed 12/5

STL - DSM • 1 stop

Cheapest one-way

$133

Typical prices: $158-$236

American Airlines

Mon 10/15

STL - DSM • 1 stop

When to travel

November

Cheapest • 32% price drop

August

Most popular

Good to know

Top layover airports

Denver Intl (DEN)

Cheapest • Avg $239 (round-trip)

Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD)

Shortest trip • 4h 07m (one-way)

Insights

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KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.

We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!

Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from St. Louis to Des Moines (STL-DSM)

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

Round-trip

One-way

Last minute

Recent round-trip flight deals from St. Louis to Des Moines

Wed, Dec 2 - Sat, Dec 5

6:30 am - 2:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 45m1 stop Denver Intl

5:20 am - 11:40 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

6h 20m1 stop Chicago Midway

$235Southwest

Sat, Oct 24 - Sat, Oct 31

6:35 am - 1:40 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 05m1 stop Denver Intl

5:20 am - 11:05 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

5h 45m1 stop Chicago Midway

$236Southwest

Wed, Dec 2 - Sat, Dec 5

6:30 am - 2:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 45m1 stop Denver Intl

5:20 am - 12:40 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

7h 20m2 stops Chicago Midway Nashville Intl

$240Southwest

Wed, Oct 14 - Tue, Oct 20

5:50 am - 11:30 amSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

5h 40m1 stop Chicago Midway

6:35 pm - 11:15 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

4h 40m1 stop Denver Intl

$242Southwest

Mon, Oct 19 - Thu, Oct 22

5:27 pm - 12:14 amSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

6h 47m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

7:31 pm - 12:19 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

4h 48m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$265American Airlines

Sat, Oct 17 - Fri, Oct 23

7:29 am - 1:30 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

6h 01m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

7:31 pm - 12:19 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

4h 48m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$266American Airlines

Sat, Oct 17 - Sat, Oct 24

6:21 am - 10:11 amSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

3h 50m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

10:57 am - 2:45 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

3h 48m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$271Delta

Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Oct 21

3:12 pm - 10:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 03m1 stop Houston George Bush Intcntl

5:22 pm - 11:44 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

6h 22m1 stop Denver Intl

$305United Airlines

Thu, Oct 22 - Sun, Oct 25

8:00 am - 2:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

6h 15m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

6:45 pm - 11:24 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

4h 39m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$337United Airlines

Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Oct 21

3:12 pm - 10:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 03m1 stop Houston George Bush Intcntl

5:22 pm - 11:44 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

6h 22m1 stop Denver Intl

$371United Airlines

Recent last minute flight deals from St. Louis to Des Moines

Thu, Sep 24 - Sun, Sep 27

6:15 am - 10:17 amSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

4h 02m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

7:00 am - 10:31 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

3h 31m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$457Delta

Thu, Sep 24 - Sun, Sep 27

12:27 pm - 9:06 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

8h 39m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

9:39 am - 1:21 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

27h 42m2 stops Nashville Intl Jonesboro

$502Multiple Airlines

Thu, Sep 24 - Sun, Sep 27

6:00 am - 10:30 amSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

4h 30m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

6:00 am - 12:15 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

6h 15m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$519United Airlines

Sat, Sep 19 - Mon, Sep 21

12:35 pm - 8:50 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

8h 15m1 stop Denver Intl

3:50 pm - 7:05 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

3h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway

$519Southwest

Mon, Sep 21 - Wed, Sep 23

7:21 am - 1:59 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

6h 38m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

7:58 pm - 12:27 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

4h 29m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$519American Airlines

Tue, Sep 22 - Wed, Sep 23

7:27 am - 1:59 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

6h 32m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

2:29 pm - 8:44 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

6h 15m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$519American Airlines

Mon, Sep 21 - Thu, Sep 24

3:52 pm - 9:11 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

5h 19m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

7:00 am - 10:31 amDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

3h 31m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$519Delta

Mon, Sep 21 - Wed, Sep 23

3:15 pm - 10:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 00m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Chicago Midway

7:15 am - 2:20 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

7h 05m1 stop Denver Intl

$524Southwest

Tue, Sep 22 - Wed, Sep 23

3:45 pm - 10:00 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

6h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway

2:40 pm - 10:15 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

7h 35m2 stops Chicago Midway Nashville Intl

$524Southwest

Mon, Sep 21 - Wed, Sep 23

3:15 pm - 10:15 pmSTL Lambert-St Louis-DSM Des Moines

7h 00m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Chicago Midway

6:10 am - 4:25 pmDSM Des Moines-STL Lambert-St Louis

10h 15m2 stops Chicago Midway Dallas Love Field

$529Southwest

Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for St. Louis to Des Moines flights

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

Prices

Airlines

Layovers

How much is a round-trip flight from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Round-trip flights from St. Louis to Des Moines start at $235. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $316 to $519. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $235 on Southwest.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from St. Louis to Des Moines?

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from St. Louis to Des Moines, it is 39% cheaper than the average day. Monday is the most expensive day with flight prices 76% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

Find deals

Low season	April
High season	August
Cheapest flight	$133

Most popular time to fly and prices are also 32% lower on average.

Flight from St. Louis to Des Moines

When to book flights from St. Louis to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from St. Louis 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

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.

Which airports can I use when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?
Flights from St. Louis to Des Moines usually depart from Lambert-St Louis (STL) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).
What cabin classes can I book on flights from St. Louis to Des Moines?
Only Economy Class is available on flights from St. Louis to Des Moines.
How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?
On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $239 round-trip via Denver Intl (DEN), compared to $415 for nonstop.
Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from St. Louis to Des Moines?
The Airbus A320-100/200 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by American Airlines and JetBlue. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A319 variants.
Which airports do connecting flights from St. Louis to Des Moines pass through?
One-stop flights from St. Louis to Des Moines most commonly connect through:

• Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 70% of one-stop connections
• Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 19% of one-stop connections
• Chicago Midway (MDW) - 8% of one-stop connections
• Denver Intl (DEN) - 3% 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 St. Louis to Des Moines?
Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 65% on the St. Louis to Des Moines route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $239 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $680, a difference of $441. 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 UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Science Center of Iowa and Hy Vee Hall. These are among the most viewed places in Des Moines on KAYAK.
How long is a flight from St. Louis to Des Moines?
There are currently no nonstop flights available from St. Louis to Des Moines. Flights with 1 layover take between 4h 07m and 6h 54m in total, depending on the connection.
Do I need a passport to fly from St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 $235 to $540. That means the highest observed fare was about 2x higher than the lowest one.
How are flight prices from St. Louis to Des Moines looking right now?
One-way fares from St. Louis to Des Moines are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about $190.
How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from St. Louis to Des Moines?
Flying via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 07m, compared with 4h 32m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) and 5h 25m via Chicago Midway (MDW).
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 St. Louis to Des Moines flight?
Round-trip flights from St. Louis to Des Moines range from $316 to $519, with an average of $386 over the past 12 months. Anything below $316 counts as a good deal.

If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure instead of Monday. On this route, Tuesday flights average $239 - about $441 less than Monday (65% savings) based on the last 12 months.
If you can choose when to travel, plan your St. Louis to Des Moines trip for November. Fares historically average $261 round-trip in that month - typically $464 less than the most expensive month, which is February (based on the last 12 months).
If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Denver Intl Airport (DEN) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $239 round-trip on this route - about $176 less than direct flights (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

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STL - DSM

$133 Find Cheap Flights from St. Louis to Des Moines - Compare and Save

Everything you should know

Cheap Flights from St. Louis to Des Moines (STL-DSM)

Recent round-trip flight deals from St. Louis to Des Moines

Recent one-way flight deals from St. Louis to Des Moines

Recent last minute flight deals from St. Louis to Des Moines

Price, demand and travel trends for St. Louis to Des Moines flights

How much is a round-trip flight from St. Louis to Des Moines?

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from St. Louis to Des Moines?

What is the cheapest airline to fly from St. Louis to Des Moines?

What is the most popular layover airport when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?

What is the cheapest layover airport when flying from St. Louis to Des Moines?

When flying from St. Louis to Des Moines which airport offers the shortest layover?

Key details for St. Louis to Des Moines flights

Low season

High season

Cheapest flight

When to book flights from St. Louis to Des Moines

Your St. Louis to Des Moines flight questions, answered

Your guide to booking St. Louis to Des Moines flights

More options for your flight from St. Louis to Des Moines

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Cabin class types available on flights from St. Louis to Des Moines

Find direct flights to and from St. Louis and Des Moines

Flights from domestic origins to Des Moines

Flights to other popular destinations

Find deals for your return flight