Which airports can I use when flying from Milwaukee to Des Moines?

Flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines usually depart from Milwaukee-Mitchell (MKE) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

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

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

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

One-stop flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines most commonly connect through: • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 65% of one-stop connections • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 30% of one-stop connections • Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 4% 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines?

Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 59% on the Milwaukee to Des Moines route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $245 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $588, a difference of $343. 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines?

A nonstop flight from Milwaukee to Des Moines takes 0h 00m, covering 310 miles.

Do I need a passport to fly from Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 $209 to $1,471. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

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

One-way fares from Milwaukee to Des Moines are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $296, which is 8% above the typical average for this route.

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

Flying via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 35m, compared with 3h 49m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and 4h 07m via Lambert-St Louis (STL).

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 Milwaukee to Des Moines flight?

Round-trip flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines range from $276 to $498, with an average of $356 over the past 12 months. Anything below $276 counts as a good deal.

What is the cheapest airline to fly from Milwaukee to Des Moines?

Delta ($209) and Southwest ($227) are the cheapest airlines to fly round-trip from Milwaukee to Des Moines according to KAYAK data over the last 5 days.

What is the most popular layover airport when flying from Milwaukee to Des Moines?

Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) is the most popular layover for the Milwaukee to Des Moines route. 65% 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines?

Flights via Lambert-St Louis (STL) offer the most affordable fares, with an average round-trip price of $170. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.

When flying from Milwaukee to Des Moines which airport offers the shortest layover?

Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) had the shortest average connection time for Milwaukee to Des Moines layovers at 132 minutes over the past 3 months.

$159 CHEAP FLIGHTS from Milwaukee to Des Moines (MKE - DSM)

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Cheapest round-trip

$209

Typical prices: $276-$498

Delta

Sun 11/4Wed 11/7

MKE - DSM • 1 stop

Cheapest one-way

$159

Typical prices: $163-$294

United Airlines

Sat 11/24

MKE - DSM • 1 stop

Nonstop flights

Not available

There are currently no direct flights between Milwaukee and Des Moines. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.

Insights

When to travel

December

Cheapest • 31% price drop

April

Most popular

Good to know

Top layover airports

Lambert-St Louis (STL)

Cheapest • Avg $170 (round-trip)

Minneapolis St Paul (MSP)

Shortest trip • 3h 35m (one-way)

Insights

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We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!

Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines (MKE-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 Milwaukee to Des Moines

Wed, Nov 4 - Sat, Nov 7

4:00 pm - 9:00 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

5h 00m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

4:01 pm - 9:13 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

5h 12m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$209Delta

Wed, Oct 14 - Wed, Oct 21

8:20 am - 10:00 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

13h 40m2 stops Lambert-St Louis Chicago Midway

5:35 am - 11:05 amDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

5h 30m1 stop Chicago Midway

$227Southwest

Mon, Nov 9 - Thu, Nov 12

4:50 pm - 11:05 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

6h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway

5:25 am - 11:00 amDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

5h 35m1 stop Chicago Midway

$237Southwest

Wed, Oct 14 - Tue, Oct 20

4:00 pm - 10:00 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

6h 00m1 stop Chicago Midway

5:35 am - 11:05 amDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

5h 30m1 stop Chicago Midway

$264Southwest

Sun, Nov 1 - Mon, Nov 2

4:50 pm - 11:00 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

6h 10m1 stop Chicago Midway

4:25 pm - 10:10 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

5h 45m1 stop Chicago Midway

$277Southwest

Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Oct 21

6:32 pm - 11:35 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

5h 03m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

11:27 am - 3:11 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

3h 44m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$279United Airlines

Sun, Nov 1 - Mon, Nov 2

5:30 am - 11:30 amMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

6h 00m1 stop Chicago Midway

4:25 pm - 11:05 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

6h 40m2 stops Chicago Midway Lambert-St Louis

$282Southwest

Fri, Oct 16 - Fri, Oct 23

5:00 pm - 11:15 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

6h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway

4:30 pm - 10:35 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

6h 05m1 stop Chicago Midway

$290Southwest

Sun, Nov 1 - Mon, Nov 2

7:55 am - 11:00 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

15h 05m2 stops Lambert-St Louis Chicago Midway

4:25 pm - 11:05 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

6h 40m2 stops Chicago Midway Lambert-St Louis

$293Southwest

Wed, Oct 14 - Tue, Oct 20

8:20 am - 10:00 pmMKE Milwaukee-Mitchell-DSM Des Moines

13h 40m2 stops Lambert-St Louis Chicago Midway

5:35 am - 3:55 pmDSM Des Moines-MKE Milwaukee-Mitchell

10h 20m2 stops Chicago Midway Nashville Intl

$295Southwest

Booking Insights

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

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

Prices

Airlines

Layovers

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

Round-trip flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines start at $209. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $276 to $498. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $209 on Delta.

Find deals

Low season	August
High season	April
Cheapest flight	$159

Most popular time to fly with an average 63% increase in price.

Flight from Milwaukee to Des Moines

When to book flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines?
Flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines usually depart from Milwaukee-Mitchell (MKE) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).
What cabin classes can I book on flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines?
Only Economy Class is available on flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines.
Which airports do connecting flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines pass through?
One-stop flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines most commonly connect through:

• Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 65% of one-stop connections
• Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 30% of one-stop connections
• Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 4% 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines?
Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 59% on the Milwaukee to Des Moines route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $245 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $588, a difference of $343. 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines?
A nonstop flight from Milwaukee to Des Moines takes 0h 00m, covering 310 miles.
Do I need a passport to fly from Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 $209 to $1,471. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.
How are flight prices from Milwaukee to Des Moines looking right now?
One-way fares from Milwaukee to Des Moines are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $296, which is 8% above the typical average for this route.
How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Milwaukee to Des Moines?
Flying via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 35m, compared with 3h 49m via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) and 4h 07m via Lambert-St Louis (STL).
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 Milwaukee to Des Moines flight?
Round-trip flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines range from $276 to $498, with an average of $356 over the past 12 months. Anything below $276 counts as a good deal.

If your dates can be flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Tuesday flights average $245 - about $343 less than Sunday (58% savings) based on the last 12 months.
If you can choose when to travel, plan your Milwaukee to Des Moines trip for December. Fares historically average $245 round-trip in that month - typically $335 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
- Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center By IHG
- Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport

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MKE - DSM

$159 Find Cheap Flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines - Compare and Save

Everything you should know

Cheap Flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines (MKE-DSM)

Recent round-trip flight deals from Milwaukee to Des Moines

Recent one-way flight deals from Milwaukee to Des Moines

Recent last minute flight deals from Milwaukee to Des Moines

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

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

What is the cheapest airline to fly from Milwaukee to Des Moines?

What is the most popular layover airport when flying from Milwaukee to Des Moines?

What is the cheapest layover airport when flying from Milwaukee to Des Moines?

When flying from Milwaukee to Des Moines which airport offers the shortest layover?

Key details for Milwaukee to Des Moines flights

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When to book flights from Milwaukee to Des Moines

Your Milwaukee to Des Moines flight questions, answered

Your guide to booking Milwaukee to Des Moines flights

More options for your flight from Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee to Des Moines

Find direct flights to and from Milwaukee and Des Moines

Flights from domestic origins to Des Moines

Flights to other popular destinations

Find deals for your return flight