RDU - DSM

$86 Find Cheap Flights from Raleigh to Des Moines

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Raleigh to Des Moines departing on 3/11. 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

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Des Moines

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Raleigh to Des Moines, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Raleigh to Des Moines, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travelers love KAYAK
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$230
Overall average: $362
Frontier
Sun 4/19Fri 4/24
RDU - DSM • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$86
Typical prices: $188-$443
Frontier
Wed 3/11
RDU - DSM • 1 stop
Top airlines
Frontier
Cheapest • from $230 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Raleigh and Des Moines. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Minneapolis (MSP)
Cheapest • Avg $388 (round-trip)
St. Louis (STL)
Shortest trip • 4h 12m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 48% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
December
Cheapest • 21% price drop
June
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 Des Moines!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Raleigh to Des Moines (RDU-DSM)

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

Sun, Apr 19 - Fri, Apr 24
Frontier Logo
10:51 am - 1:09 pm
RDU
-
DSM
27h 18m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
2:04 pm - 9:04 pm
DSM
-
RDU
30h 00m
1 stop
$230Frontier
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
Frontier Logo
6:47 pm - 7:14 pm
RDU
-
DSM
25h 27m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:14 pm - 5:05 pm
DSM
-
RDU
19h 51m
1 stop
$240Frontier
Wed, Mar 11 - Sun, Mar 15
Frontier Logo
8:47 am - 9:45 am
RDU
-
DSM
25h 58m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
10:40 am - 8:58 am
DSM
-
RDU
21h 18m
1 stop
$245Frontier
Thu, Apr 9 - Mon, Apr 13
Frontier Logo
10:03 pm - 7:14 pm
RDU
-
DSM
22h 11m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
8:14 pm - 5:05 pm
DSM
-
RDU
19h 51m
1 stop
$248Frontier
Sun, Apr 19 - Fri, Apr 24
Frontier Logo
9:49 pm - 1:09 pm
RDU
-
DSM
16h 20m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
2:04 pm - 9:04 pm
DSM
-
RDU
30h 00m
1 stop
$256Frontier
Sat, Mar 14 - Fri, Mar 20
Frontier Logo
10:38 pm - 9:45 am
RDU
-
DSM
12h 07m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
10:15 am - 9:56 pm
DSM
-
RDU
10h 41m
1 stop
$260Frontier
Wed, Apr 8 - Wed, Apr 15
United Airlines Logo
5:20 pm - 11:02 pm
RDU
-
DSM
6h 42m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 12:10 pm
DSM
-
RDU
4h 50m
1 stop
$271United Airlines
Wed, Apr 8 - Wed, Apr 15
United Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 10:43 pm
RDU
-
DSM
6h 58m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 2:06 pm
DSM
-
RDU
6h 46m
2 stops
$276United Airlines
Sun, Apr 5 - Fri, Apr 10
Frontier Logo
8:35 pm - 7:14 pm
RDU
-
DSM
23h 39m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:14 pm - 7:57 am
DSM
-
RDU
10h 43m
2 stops
$279Frontier
Wed, Apr 8 - Wed, Apr 15
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 12:29 pm
RDU
-
DSM
7h 29m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 2:06 pm
DSM
-
RDU
6h 46m
2 stops
$282United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Raleigh to Des Moines flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Raleigh to Des Moines to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Raleigh to Des Moines, 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 Raleigh to Des Moines is December, where tickets cost $333 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are February and June, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $802 and $467 respectively.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Raleigh to Des Moines, 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 Raleigh to Des Moines, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 48% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 9 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$86
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 18% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 11% increase in price.
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
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 Raleigh to Des Moines

  • What is the cheapest flight from Raleigh to Des Moines?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Raleigh to Des Moines was $86 for a one-way ticket and $230 for a round-trip.

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

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from Raleigh to Des Moines. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

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

    Raleigh and Des Moines are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Raleigh from Raleigh-Durham and will be arriving at Des Moines.

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

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Raleigh to Des Moines?

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Raleigh to Des Moines are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $390 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 $428 and an overall rating of 7.9.

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

    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 Raleigh to Des Moines.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Des Moines from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Des Moines?

    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 Des Moines with an airline and back to Raleigh with another airline. Booking your flights between Raleigh and DSM 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 Raleigh to Des Moines?

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

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from Raleigh to Des Moines

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Raleigh to Des Moines. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Raleigh to Des Moines? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4299 reviews
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
Airline reviews

It was canceled. Supposedly weather. But there was no snow in Baltimore. At least we found out before driving to airport

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Feb 2026
BWI - PBI
Read more Southwest reviews

It was canceled. Supposedly weather. But there was no snow in Baltimore. At least we found out before driving to airport

I have not flown Southwest in awhile and had a very pleasant experience. From ticketing to boarding to the flight. The flight left on time and landed ahead of schedule. It won't be so long next time!!

The Southwest experience has definitely taken a dive from its early days. You can no longer deferentiate from other airlines. Air travel is too expensive. Southwest is no longer budget friendly. They have lost me as a loyal customer.

Flight was hours late, unable to sit next to spouse, I have had so much better experiences. Substantially better, only saving grace was that it was a short flight.

An entire day of delays. Cost lots of money. Meals and a hotel.

The WiFi and crew on the plane were good, however, the boarding experience was awful. I paid for the Choice Preferred and was boarded in group 5 so all overhead storage was full. They found room for our luggage, but further back making getting off the plane a nightmare. Also, we were in row 6 and the seats were extremely uncomfortable. Both my daughter and I had no leg room and couldn’t wait to get off the plane.

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

Still need to work out the kinks on the new assigned seating boarding process. Otherwise, a very good flight.

WiFi did not work. Boarding with the new seating assignments took too long. The temperature in the terminal was obnoxious. +/- 80°

The seats are now more narrow. I paid for front row the seats in the front are even more narrow than before.

The staff was fine. The plane was extremely tight, and I paid for the wifi and it did not work at all. I was actually going to ask for a refund.

two hour delay and the Delta representative on the PA system was unable to understand

An awesome flight crew. FC seat cushion just doesn’t cut it for a 3+ hour flight.

2+hrs delay without any reason provided and a cramped flight

We waited an hour on the runway to get a gate in Orlando

Flight was delayed by 3-hours and their fix was… complimentary pretzels.

Flight was delayed due to crew being not on time

Flight crew issues delayed my flight by 2 1/2 hours. Causing me to miss my connection.

The staff on board and gate was nice - a welcome change from the usual. We also arrived early, which was a great benefit, given that it takes 30 minutes plus to get bags at SRQ.

The staff was frielndly. The plane was terrible, it was too small and should be decommissioned. There were no back seat screens at all. The only beverages we had a choice from was coffee, tea or water. The only bathroom in the back was behind the flight attendant's jump seat and wasn't working. And I literally felt like I was sitting on top of the guy next to me. It was terribly hot in the plane and we had to sit on the tarmac in Chicago for 1/2 hour due to congestion in Mpls. Wouldn't they have know that before they even boarded us so that we could have sat in comfort in the terminal?

We got delayed three hours and nobody thought to have the bathroom fixed while we were sitting waiting to board? took a full hour to have maintenance come and check it off. Had to shut the bathroom down twice so that the pilots could go to the bathroom. Everyone missed their connections.

Flight left on time and we arrived 25 minutes early! There was a gate available when we arrived so early on a busy Sunday afternoon! Flight attendants came around twice with the drinks cart.

Wonderful. Quick boarding. Early departure and we arrived 30 minutes early at our destination. Unfortunately, when you arrive early, there is still a departing aircraft at our gate. We had to park for 30 minutes until the gate was clear. So our early arrival was not really early at the gate. Otherwise it was a quick and smooth flight. Appreciated the efficiency.

Everything was great except for the boarding process. Everyone is lining up all at the same time and it’s hard to tell between the groups as they are way too large.

Women boarding passengers at the gate was absolutely rude and disrespectful of passengers. The flight attendant was absolutely delightful! Smiling and connected with the passengers. So happy. The seats are cramped and uncomfortable but I guess that’s just the way it is Communication regarding flight was excellent

Overall we had a good experience during our flight from San Francisco to Houston.

Airport terminal was outdated, flight was on a small jet with no wifi

We were delayed for about an hour from taking off due to traffic control procedures at the destination airport. But once in the air, the flight went well. The crew members were great and provided cabin service despite moderate turbulence during much of the flight.

it was a very short flight so my expectations were low.

As great a red-eye flight as red-eye flights can be.

Arrived early picked up my bag in a few minutes- great trip - thank you

I like that the flight attendant was very attentive and helpful. The meal menu could have more of an variety of food choices.

We missed our flight and got stranded in Miami where we had to rent a hotel we could not afford. they would not work with us because they said it was weather related even though the gate attendant said it was not. I could go on but trying to get satisfaction has wore me down, which I believe is the intent. My only solution is to never fly AA again.

Overall it was a good flight. Because we traveled on a Saturday we were upgraded to FC since my wife and I are both Executive Platinum. The only areas for improvement we noted are better snack assortment and perhaps a little nicer plane as American is flying some older planes now. Everything else on this flight was excellent, which is frankly not the norm for American since we have had multiple issues on prior AA flights.

Didn't get a seat assignment until the last minute even though i picked a seat.

Flight was smooth, quick and felt safe. The 2 delays not happening would have been better but I guess that happens in the airline industry

2 hour delay due to equipment failure. No updates via the app and airport screens (which continued to show a departure time in the past). AA eventually switched planes and the new plane was not catered or cleaned correctly.

Could we please end the loud announcements about credit card offers on your flights? We are trying to sleep, work, watch videos, etc. and if we need a credit card, we will ask for one. Flying is already not what it used to be.

Bags took over and hour to come out. Delays due to wind caused rebooking.

Lower WiFi prices; allow us to see our flight on a map; more variety of drink choices.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Raleigh to Des Moines

Information on your arrival and departure airports