SMF - DSM

$129 Find Cheap Flights from Sacramento 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
$287
Typical prices: $424-$650
Multiple Airlines
Mon 10/1Fri 10/5
SMF - DSM • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$178
Typical prices: $223-$518
United Airlines
Mon 10/8
SMF - DSM • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Sacramento and Des Moines. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 23% price drop
November
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Lambert-St Louis (STL)
Cheapest • Avg $445 (round-trip)
Denver Intl (DEN)
Shortest trip • 5h 40m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Sacramento to Des Moines (SMF-DSM)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Sacramento to Des Moines

Thu, Oct 1 - Mon, Oct 5
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:44 pm - 10:57 amSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
13h 13m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:02 pm - 7:49 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
20h 47m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$287Multiple Airlines
Thu, Oct 1 - Mon, Oct 5
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:23 pm - 10:57 amSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
14h 34m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:02 pm - 7:49 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
20h 47m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$307Multiple Airlines
Sat, Sep 26 - Mon, Sep 28
Frontier Logo
11:53 am - 10:44 amSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
20h 51m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 10:58 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
16h 28m1 stop Denver Intl
$324Frontier
Mon, Nov 2 - Thu, Nov 5
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 4:07 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
5h 22m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
1:27 pm - 5:40 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
6h 13m1 stop Denver Intl
$355United Airlines
Thu, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 7
American Airlines Logo
11:29 am - 7:33 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
6h 04m1 stop Los Angeles Los Angeles
American Airlines Logo
6:27 pm - 11:28 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
7h 01m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$355American Airlines
Tue, Oct 20 - Sat, Oct 24
American Airlines Logo
2:50 pm - 11:07 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
6h 17m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
5:06 am - 9:25 amDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
6h 19m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$355American Airlines
Thu, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 7
United Airlines Logo
2:15 pm - 10:59 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
6h 44m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
1:27 pm - 7:40 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
8h 13m2 stops Denver Intl San Francisco
$360United Airlines
Sun, Nov 8 - Sat, Nov 14
American Airlines Logo
11:59 pm - 9:07 amSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
7h 08m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
8:10 am - 12:14 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
6h 04m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$406American Airlines
Fri, Oct 30 - Mon, Nov 2
Southwest Logo
12:25 pm - 10:20 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
7h 55m2 stops Portland Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
1:50 pm - 7:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
7h 55m2 stops Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl San Diego
$415Southwest
Tue, Oct 20 - Tue, Nov 10
Southwest Logo
11:15 am - 8:40 pmSMF  Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines
7h 25m2 stops San Diego Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
12:05 pm - 5:30 pmDSM  Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl
7h 25m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$416Southwest
Booking Insights

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

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

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

Friday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines, it is 13% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 62% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

  • January is the cheapest month to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines at $374 round-trip.
  • April ($1,051) and August ($704) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 181% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for Sacramento to Des Moines flights

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$178
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 20% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flight from Sacramento to Des Moines

When to book flights from Sacramento to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Des Moines?

    Flights from Sacramento to Des Moines usually depart from Sacramento Intl (SMF) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

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

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Sacramento to Des Moines:

    • Economy Class
    • First Class

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

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

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 74% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 12% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 5% of one-stop connections
    • Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 4% of one-stop connections

    Denver Intl (DEN) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

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

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 46% on the Sacramento to Des Moines route. Friday is the cheapest departure day at $426 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $786, a difference of $360. 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 Sacramento to Des Moines?

    A nonstop flight from Sacramento to Des Moines takes 0h 00m, covering 1,481 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Sacramento 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 are flight prices from Sacramento to Des Moines looking right now?

    One-way fares from Sacramento to Des Moines are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $242, which is 21% below the typical average for this route.

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

    Flying via Denver Intl (DEN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 5h 40m, compared with 5h 51m via Lambert-St Louis (STL) and 5h 55m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX).

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

    Des Moines is 2 hours ahead of Sacramento (Central Time vs Pacific 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 Sacramento to Des Moines flight?

    Round-trip flights from Sacramento to Des Moines range from $424 to $650, with an average of $485 over the past 12 months. Anything below $424 counts as a good deal.

Your guide to booking Sacramento 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 Friday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Friday flights average $426 - about $360 less than Sunday (46% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Sacramento to Des Moines trip for January. Fares historically average $374 round-trip in that month - typically $677 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

More options for your flight from Sacramento 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