SAN - DSM

$104 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Des Moines - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$262
Typical prices: $335-$504
Multiple Airlines
Mon 10/29Fri 11/9
SAN - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$104
Typical prices: $174-$356
Multiple Airlines
Sat 10/6
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 $367 (round-trip)
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Shortest trip • 5h 32m (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 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

Thu, Oct 29 - Mon, Nov 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:32 pm - 9:10 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
22h 38m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:04 pm - 10:11 amDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
40h 07m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$262Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 9 - Mon, Oct 12
Frontier Logo
6:25 am - 7:30 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
11h 05m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:25 pm - 11:56 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 31m1 stop Denver Intl
$271Frontier
Fri, Oct 16 - Mon, Oct 19
Frontier Logo
6:25 am - 7:30 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
11h 05m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:25 pm - 11:56 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 31m1 stop Denver Intl
$271Frontier
Tue, Oct 20 - Fri, Oct 30
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:14 pm - 1:52 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
20h 38m2 stops San Francisco Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:30 pm - 3:58 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
21h 28m1 stop Denver Intl
$298Multiple Airlines
Tue, Oct 6 - Tue, Oct 13
American Airlines Logo
1:12 pm - 12:14 amSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
9h 02m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
7:42 pm - 11:38 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
5h 56m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$355American Airlines
Tue, Oct 6 - Tue, Oct 13
American Airlines Logo
1:53 pm - 11:07 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
7h 14m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
4:12 pm - 9:46 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
7h 34m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$355American Airlines
Tue, Oct 6 - Tue, Oct 13
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 4:20 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
5h 35m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
5:45 am - 11:35 amDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
7h 50m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles
$360United Airlines
Thu, Oct 29 - Mon, Nov 9
Southwest Logo
12:35 pm - 11:15 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
8h 40m2 stops Columbus Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
6:40 am - 12:15 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
7h 35m2 stops Denver Intl Reno
$404Southwest
Fri, Jan 22 - Mon, Jan 25
Southwest Logo
6:55 am - 1:55 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
5h 00m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
6:55 am - 12:55 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
8h 00m2 stops Denver Intl Oakland
$436Southwest
Thu, Nov 19 - Wed, Nov 25
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 4:07 pmSAN  San Diego-DSM Des Moines
5h 22m1 stop Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
1:27 pm - 8:24 pmDSM  Des Moines-SAN San Diego
8h 57m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles
$452United Airlines
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 from San Diego to Des Moines with more confidence.

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

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Diego to Des Moines, it is 10% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 77% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is 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 ($486) and March ($462) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 64% 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

March

Cheapest flight

$104
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 16% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 12% increase in price.
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 route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • 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).

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

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

    • Economy Class
    • First Class

  • 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) - 48% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 33% of one-stop connections
    • Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) - 10% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 6% 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 50% on the San Diego to Des Moines route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $360 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $706, a difference of $346. 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    A nonstop flight from San Diego to Des Moines takes 0h 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.

  • 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 $271 to $1,649. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x 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 $171, which is 30% below the typical average for this route.

  • 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 32m, compared with 5h 46m via Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS) and 6h 25m 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 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 San Diego to Des Moines flight?

    Round-trip flights from San Diego to Des Moines range from $335 to $504, with an average of $397 over the past 12 months. Anything below $335 counts as a good deal.

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 can be flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Tuesday flights average $360 - about $346 less than Sunday (49% 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 $190 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
    - Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center By IHG
    - Quality Inn & Suites 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