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) - 75% of one-stop connections • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 13% of one-stop connections • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 8% of one-stop connections • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 2% of one-stop connections

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

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 47% on flights from Sacramento to Des Moines. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $420 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $782, a difference of $362. 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 Sacramento to Des Moines?

A nonstop flight from Sacramento to Des Moines takes 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.

Have flight prices from Sacramento 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 $369 to $966. That means the highest observed fare was about 3x higher than the lowest one.

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 $178, which is 47% 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 38m, compared with 6h 03m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) and 6h 22m via Los Angeles (LAX).

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 averaging $81 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 $419 to $638, with an average of $488 over the past 12 months. Anything below $419 counts as a good deal.

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

Round-trip flights from Sacramento to Des Moines typically range from $419 to $638. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $369, on American Airlines.

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines. It’s 14% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 60% higher.

What’s 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 February ($582) 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.

Which airline is the cheapest to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines?

American Airlines ($369) and United Airlines ($374) are the cheapest airlines to fly round-trip from Sacramento to Des Moines according to KAYAK data over the last 5 days.

What’s the most popular layover airport when flying from Sacramento to Des Moines?

Denver Intl (DEN) is the most popular layover for the Sacramento to Des Moines route. 75% of KAYAK users who booked 1-stop round-trips over the past 3 months connected via DEN.

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

Flights via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) offer the most affordable fares, with an average round-trip price of $475. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.

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

Denver Intl (DEN) had the shortest average connection time for Sacramento to Des Moines layovers at 3h 23m over the past 3 months.

$125 CHEAP FLIGHTS from Sacramento to Des Moines (SMF - DSM)

Save 25% 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

$369

Typical prices: $419-$638

American Airlines

Tue 11/20Fri 11/23

SMF - DSM • 1 stop

Cheapest one-way

$125

Typical prices: $226-$455

Multiple Airlines

Sun 12/2

SMF - DSM • 2 stops

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

When to travel

January

Cheapest • 23% price drop

September

Most popular

Good to know

Top layover airports

Minneapolis St Paul (MSP)

Cheapest • Avg $475 (round-trip)

Denver Intl (DEN)

Shortest trip • 5h 38m (one-way)

Insights

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

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

Fri, Nov 20 - Mon, Nov 23

1:07 pm - 11:36 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

8h 29m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl

5:00 am - 12:14 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

9h 14m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl

$369American Airlines

Fri, Nov 20 - Mon, Nov 23

4:08 pm - 11:42 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

5h 34m1 stop Denver Intl

1:27 pm - 8:36 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

9h 09m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles

$374United Airlines

Thu, Feb 25 - Mon, Mar 1

7:35 am - 9:24 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

11h 49m2 stops Seattle/Tacoma Intl Minneapolis St Paul

4:00 pm - 8:23 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 23m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$374Delta

Thu, Feb 25 - Mon, Mar 1

6:00 am - 9:24 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

13h 24m2 stops Los Angeles Minneapolis St Paul

4:00 pm - 8:23 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 23m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$374Delta

Thu, Nov 26 - Sat, Nov 28

5:00 am - 12:31 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

5h 31m1 stop Denver Intl

5:30 am - 9:45 amDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 15m1 stop Denver Intl

$422United Airlines

Fri, Feb 12 - Mon, Feb 15

5:00 am - 12:32 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

5h 32m1 stop Denver Intl

5:07 pm - 9:15 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 08m1 stop Denver Intl

$465United Airlines

Fri, Nov 20 - Mon, Nov 23

5:55 am - 3:50 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

7h 55m2 stops Los Angeles Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

7:15 pm - 12:15 amDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

7h 00m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

$538Southwest

Thu, Nov 26 - Sat, Nov 28

7:10 am - 2:00 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

4h 50m1 stop Denver Intl

6:45 am - 12:00 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

7h 15m2 stops Denver Intl Ontario

$548Southwest

Mon, Dec 21 - Sun, Jan 3

4:21 pm - 11:44 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

5h 23m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl

2:32 pm - 8:13 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

7h 41m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl

$575American Airlines

Mon, Dec 21 - Sun, Jan 3

5:00 am - 3:31 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

8h 31m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth

5:00 am - 9:26 amDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 26m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl

$575American Airlines

Recent last minute flight deals from Sacramento to Des Moines

Tue, Nov 3 - Wed, Nov 4

9:55 am - 7:16 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

7h 21m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

5:30 am - 9:45 amDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 15m1 stop Denver Intl

$616United Airlines

Tue, Nov 3 - Wed, Nov 4

2:15 pm - 11:42 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

7h 27m2 stops San Francisco Denver Intl

6:05 am - 12:00 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

7h 55m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$622United Airlines

Tue, Nov 3 - Wed, Nov 4

8:55 am - 5:50 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

6h 55m2 stops Palm Springs Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

7:00 am - 10:25 amDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

5h 25m1 stop Denver Intl

$626Southwest

Tue, Nov 3 - Wed, Nov 4

6:40 am - 5:50 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

9h 10m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

7:00 am - 1:55 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

8h 55m2 stops Denver Intl Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl

$631Southwest

Thu, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 7

12:19 pm - 10:33 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

8h 14m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

4:07 pm - 10:03 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

7h 56m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

$701Delta

Thu, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 7

9:46 am - 8:40 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

8h 54m2 stops Salt Lake City Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

12:25 pm - 10:30 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

12h 05m2 stops Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Salt Lake City

$711Delta

Mon, Nov 2 - Tue, Nov 3

5:43 pm - 10:32 amSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

14h 49m2 stops San Francisco Chicago O'Hare Intl

1:27 pm - 5:40 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 13m1 stop Denver Intl

$756United Airlines

Mon, Nov 2 - Tue, Nov 3

5:00 am - 12:31 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

5h 31m1 stop Denver Intl

6:05 am - 12:00 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

7h 55m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

$756United Airlines

Mon, Nov 2 - Tue, Nov 3

5:00 am - 12:31 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

5h 31m1 stop Denver Intl

1:27 pm - 5:40 pmDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 13m1 stop Denver Intl

$756United Airlines

Mon, Nov 2 - Tue, Nov 3

1:28 pm - 10:30 pmSMF Sacramento Intl-DSM Des Moines

7h 02m1 stop Houston George Bush Intcntl

5:30 am - 9:45 amDSM Des Moines-SMF Sacramento Intl

6h 15m1 stop Denver Intl

$756United Airlines

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 with more confidence.

Prices

Airlines

Layovers

How much is a round-trip flight from Sacramento to Des Moines? This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Sacramento to Des Moines departing in november.
What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines?: Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines. It’s 14% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 60% higher.
What’s the cheapest month to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines? KAYAK internal proprietary data takes all prices for each month over the last 12 months for round-trip flights from Sacramento to Des Moines, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers and then takes the median of all values for each month.: •January is the cheapest month to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines at $374 round-trip.
•April ($1,051) and February ($582) 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

Low season	February
High season	September
Cheapest flight	$125

Beat the crowds with an average 59% drop in travelers.

The most popular month to fly with an average 39% increase in travelers.

One-way 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

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.

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
How long is a flight from Sacramento to Des Moines?
A nonstop flight from Sacramento to Des Moines takes 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 much should I expect to pay for a Sacramento to Des Moines flight?
Round-trip flights from Sacramento to Des Moines range from $419 to $638, with an average of $488 over the past 12 months. Anything below $419 counts as a good deal.
Have flight prices from Sacramento 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 $369 to $966. That means the highest observed fare was about 3x higher than the lowest one.
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 $178, which is 47% 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 averaging $81 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Hertz
• Payless
• Budget
• Alamo
• Avis
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).
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) - 75% of one-stop connections
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 13% of one-stop connections
• Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 8% of one-stop connections
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 2% of one-stop connections
Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Sacramento to Des Moines?
Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 47% on flights from Sacramento to Des Moines. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $420 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $782, a difference of $362.

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 Sacramento to Des Moines?
Flying via Denver Intl (DEN) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 5h 38m, compared with 6h 03m via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) and 6h 22m via Los Angeles (LAX).
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 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.

If your dates are flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Tuesday flights average $420, about $362 less than Sunday fares (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
• Quality Inn & Suites Des Moines Airport
• Homewood Suites by Hilton - Des Moines Airport

More options for your flight from Sacramento to Des Moines

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Car rentals in Des Moines

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Vacations in Des Moines

SMF - DSM

$125 Find Cheap Flights from Sacramento to Des Moines - Compare and Save

Everything you should know

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Sacramento to Des Moines

Recent one-way flight deals from Sacramento to Des Moines

Recent last minute flight deals from Sacramento to Des Moines

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

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

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

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines?

Which airline is the cheapest to fly from Sacramento to Des Moines?

What’s the most popular layover airport when flying from Sacramento to Des Moines?

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

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

Key details for Sacramento to Des Moines flights

Low season

High season

Cheapest flight

When to book flights from Sacramento to Des Moines

Your Sacramento to Des Moines flight questions, answered

Your guide to booking Sacramento to Des Moines flights

More options for your flight from Sacramento 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 Sacramento to Des Moines

Find direct flights to and from Sacramento and Des Moines

Flights from domestic origins to Des Moines

Flights to other popular destinations

Find deals for your return flight