SAN - DSM

$122 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Des Moines - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$303
Typical prices: $336-$499
Frontier
Sun 12/30Wed 1/3
SAN - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$122
Typical prices: $181-$403
Multiple Airlines
Tue 11/20
SAN - DSM • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San Diego and Des Moines. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 26% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Minneapolis St Paul (MSP)
Cheapest • Avg $385 (round-trip)
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Shortest trip • 5h 33m (one-way)
Insights
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
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Des Moines (SAN-DSM)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Diego to Des Moines

Wed, Dec 30 - Sun, Jan 3
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:16 pm - 7:31 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
25h 15m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:21 pm - 12:29 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
24h 08m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$303Multiple Airlines
Thu, Nov 26 - Tue, Dec 1
American Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 2:35 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
6h 20m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 8:40 amDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 40m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$305American Airlines
Thu, Nov 26 - Tue, Dec 1
American Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 2:35 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
6h 20m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
2:28 pm - 6:25 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 57m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$305American Airlines
Thu, Dec 17 - Tue, Dec 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:36 am - 7:31 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
10h 55m1 stop Denver Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:23 pm - 12:24 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
18h 01m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$309Multiple Airlines
Fri, Nov 27 - Fri, Dec 4
United Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 4:07 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
7h 47m2 stops Los Angeles Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
5:15 pm - 10:30 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
7h 15m1 stop Denver Intl
$350United Airlines
Thu, Nov 12 - Mon, Nov 16
Frontier Logo
4:53 pm - 7:35 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
24h 42m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 11:57 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 27m1 stop Denver Intl
$358Frontier
Fri, Jan 1 - Sat, Jan 9
United Airlines Logo
4:28 pm - 11:59 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
5h 31m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
3:00 pm - 9:34 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
8h 34m1 stop Houston George Bush Intcntl
$369United Airlines
Wed, Dec 30 - Sun, Jan 3
Frontier Logo
4:16 pm - 7:31 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
25h 15m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:26 pm - 1:50 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
19h 24m2 stops Denver Intl Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$373Frontier
Mon, Jan 18 - Wed, Jan 27
Southwest Logo
10:35 pm - 10:10 amSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
9h 35m1 stop Nashville Intl
Southwest Logo
6:55 am - 1:05 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
8h 10m2 stops Denver Intl Oakland
$374Southwest
Tue, Nov 10 - Sat, Nov 14
Southwest Logo
10:55 am - 8:50 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
7h 55m2 stops Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 1:00 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
8h 00m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$401Southwest
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Diego to Des Moines flights

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

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Diego to Des Moines. It’s 12% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 102% higher.

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

•January is the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Des Moines at $296 round-trip.
•December ($546) and March ($462) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 84% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

Find deals

Key details for San Diego to Des Moines flights

Low season

December

Cheapest flight

$122
Beat the crowds with an average 31% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 40% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San Diego to Des Moines

When to book flights from San Diego to Des Moines

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

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

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

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

  • How long is a flight from San Diego to Des Moines?

    A nonstop flight from San Diego to Des Moines takes 00m, covering 1,425 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from San Diego 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 San Diego to Des Moines flight?

    Round-trip flights from San Diego to Des Moines range from $336 to $499, with an average of $401 over the past 12 months. Anything below $336 counts as a good deal.

  • Have flight prices from San Diego 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 $278 to $972. That means the highest observed fare was about 3x higher than the lowest one.

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

    One-way fares from San Diego to Des Moines are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $225, which is 7% 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    Flights from San Diego to Des Moines usually depart from San Diego (SAN) and arrive at Des Moines (DSM).

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

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

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 50% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 36% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 9% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 4% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 57% on flights from San Diego to Des Moines. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $354 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $814, a difference of $460.

    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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    Flying via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 5h 33m, compared with 5h 42m via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) and 6h 31m via Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

  • What is the time difference between San Diego and Des Moines?

    Des Moines is 2 hours ahead of San Diego (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.

Your guide to booking San Diego to Des Moines flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $354, about $460 less than Sunday fares (57% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San Diego to Des Moines trip for January. Fares historically average $296 round-trip in that month - typically $250 less than the most expensive month, which is December (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 San Diego 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