RDU - DSM

$127 Find Cheap Flights from Raleigh to Des Moines - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$291
Typical prices: $341-$488
Delta
Mon 10/29Mon 11/5
RDU - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$127
Typical prices: $199-$388
Multiple Airlines
Sun 10/28
RDU - DSM • 2 stops
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Raleigh and Des Moines. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
May
Cheapest • 31% price drop
May
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Orlando (MCO)
Cheapest • Avg $230 (round-trip)
Lambert-St Louis (STL)
Shortest trip • 3h 59m (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 Raleigh to Des Moines (RDU-DSM)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Raleigh to Des Moines

Thu, Oct 29 - Thu, Nov 5
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 10:11 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
5h 11m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 12:04 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
5h 04m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$291Delta
Sat, Oct 17 - Mon, Oct 19
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:14 pm - 9:58 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
21h 44m1 stop Sarasota Bradenton Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:49 pm - 9:08 amDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
17h 19m1 stop Fort Myers SW Florida Intl
$295Multiple Airlines
Thu, Oct 29 - Thu, Nov 5
Southwest Logo
1:50 pm - 11:15 pmRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
10h 25m2 stops Baltimore/Washington Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 10:40 amDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
4h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway
$296Southwest
Thu, Oct 22 - Sun, Oct 25
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 5:02 pmRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
11h 32m2 stops Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Fort Lauderdale
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:00 am - 9:10 amDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
24h 10m1 stop Philadelphia
$299Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 23 - Mon, Oct 26
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 10:11 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
5h 11m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
5:50 pm - 11:41 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
4h 51m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$307Delta
Mon, Oct 19 - Mon, Oct 26
American Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 12:14 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
4h 49m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
2:01 pm - 9:48 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
6h 47m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$325American Airlines
Mon, Oct 19 - Sat, Oct 24
American Airlines Logo
8:25 pm - 12:14 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
4h 49m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
2:01 pm - 9:38 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
6h 37m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$325American Airlines
Tue, Dec 29 - Tue, Jan 5
United Airlines Logo
6:12 am - 10:46 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
5h 34m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
9:37 am - 4:29 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
5h 52m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$325United Airlines
Tue, Oct 27 - Thu, Oct 29
United Airlines Logo
5:19 pm - 9:55 pmRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
5h 36m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
9:50 am - 3:57 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
5h 07m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$325United Airlines
Fri, Oct 23 - Mon, Oct 26
Southwest Logo
6:55 am - 11:10 amRDU  Raleigh-Durham-DSM Des Moines
5h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
4:30 pm - 11:15 pmDSM  Des Moines-RDU Raleigh-Durham
5h 45m2 stops Chicago Midway Nashville Intl
$343Southwest
Booking Insights

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

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

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

Round-trip flights from Raleigh to Des Moines start at $291. Prices are below average for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from $341 to $488. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $291 on Delta.

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

Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Raleigh to Des Moines, it is 21% cheaper than the average day. Monday is the most expensive day with flight prices 12% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

•May is the cheapest month to fly from Raleigh to Des Moines at $288 round-trip.
•January ($697) and February ($677) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 142% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Raleigh to Des Moines flights

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$127
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 67% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 31% lower on average.
Flight from Raleigh to Des Moines

When to book flights from Raleigh to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Des Moines flight questions, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

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

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

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

    A nonstop flight from Raleigh to Des Moines takes 0h 00m, covering 890 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Raleigh 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.

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

    Round-trip flights from Raleigh to Des Moines range from $341 to $488, with an average of $418 over the past 12 months. Anything below $341 counts as a good deal.

  • Have flight prices from Raleigh 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 $291 to $1,690. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from Raleigh to Des Moines are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $164, which is 38% below the typical average for this route.

  • 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

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

    Flights from Raleigh to Des Moines usually depart from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

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

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

    • Charlotte Douglas (CLT) - 38% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 20% of one-stop connections
    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) - 12% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 11% of one-stop connections

    Charlotte Douglas (CLT) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 30% on the Raleigh to Des Moines route. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $333 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $472, a difference of $139. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

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

    Flying via Lambert-St Louis (STL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 3h 59m, compared with 4h 27m via Chicago Midway (MDW) and 4h 47m via Charlotte Douglas (CLT).

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

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

  • 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.

Your guide to booking Raleigh 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 Wednesday departure instead of Monday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $333 - about $139 less than Monday (29% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Raleigh to Des Moines trip for May. Fares historically average $288 round-trip in that month - typically $409 less than the most expensive month, which is January (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

More options for your flight from Raleigh 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