DSM

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$155
Typical prices: $297-$548
Frontier
Tue 10/16Fri 10/19
DEN - DSM • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$46
Typical prices: $168-$368
Frontier
Fri 11/16
DEN - DSM • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with American Airlines, United Airlines and others. Average duration is 2h 06m.
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 126 per week
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 58% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 24 weeks in advance save around 43% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 13% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Des Moines

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

Recent round-trip flight deals to Des Moines

Fri, Oct 16 - Mon, Oct 19
Frontier Logo
4:48 pm - 7:30 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 42mnonstop
Frontier Logo
8:25 pm - 9:30 pmDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
2h 05mnonstop
$155Frontier
Fri, Sep 18 - Mon, Sep 21
Frontier Logo
4:48 pm - 7:33 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 45mnonstop
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 9:29 pmDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
1h 59mnonstop
$156Frontier
Wed, Oct 28 - Fri, Oct 30
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:39 am - 7:38 amDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
19h 59m1 stop Nashville Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:30 pm - 9:36 pmDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
2h 06mnonstop
$166Multiple Airlines
Wed, Oct 21 - Sun, Oct 25
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:36 am - 1:18 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 42mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:49 pm - 3:12 pmDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
25h 23m1 stop Nashville Intl
$173Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 19 - Thu, Oct 22
United Airlines Logo
9:03 pm - 11:48 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 45mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
5:45 am - 6:47 amDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
2h 02mnonstop
$237United Airlines
Sat, Oct 31 - Thu, Nov 5
United Airlines Logo
5:48 pm - 8:36 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 48mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
1:27 pm - 2:39 pmDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
2h 12mnonstop
$237United Airlines
Tue, Sep 15 - Sat, Sep 26
Southwest Logo
11:15 am - 1:55 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 40mnonstop
Southwest Logo
4:50 pm - 5:40 pmDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
1h 50mnonstop
$237Southwest
Thu, Nov 19 - Thu, Nov 26
Southwest Logo
11:30 am - 2:15 pmDEN  Denver Intl-DSM Des Moines
1h 45mnonstop
Southwest Logo
6:10 am - 7:15 amDSM  Des Moines-DEN Denver Intl
2h 05mnonstop
$237Southwest
Wed, Sep 16 - Wed, Sep 23
American Airlines Logo
11:58 am - 5:36 pmLAX  Los Angeles-DSM Des Moines
3h 38mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
6:07 pm - 8:03 pmDSM  Des Moines-LAX Los Angeles
3h 56mnonstop
$295American Airlines
Wed, Sep 16 - Sat, Sep 19
American Airlines Logo
11:58 am - 5:36 pmLAX  Los Angeles-DSM Des Moines
3h 38mnonstop
American Airlines Logo
6:57 pm - 8:53 pmDSM  Des Moines-LAX Los Angeles
3h 56mnonstop
$295American Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Des Moines

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

What is the cheapest flight to Des Moines?

Denver to Des Moines is the cheapest route at $155 round-trip, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.

How much is a flight to Des Moines?

A round-trip flight to Des Moines costs $410 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Round-trip fares from Houston Hobby Airport average $139, while Las Vegas runs a bit higher at $186.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Des Moines?

Thursday is the cheapest day to fly to Des Moines at $395 round-trip on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Sunday is the most expensive at $500.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Des Moines?

  • October is the cheapest month to fly to Des Moines with an average price of $358 round-trip.
  • March ($445) and July ($443) are the most expensive.
  • Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Des Moines?

Afternoon flights to Des Moines are the cheapest at $408 round-trip on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at $430.

What is a good deal for flights to Des Moines?

Flights under $297 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found round-trip flights to Des Moines at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:

  • Houston Hobby Airport $104
  • Las Vegas $142
  • Denver $187
.

When are flights to Des Moines the cheapest?

Flights to Des Moines are cheapest 24 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 43% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight to Des Moines

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines, Delta and Frontier

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Daniel Scheffler

Daniel Scheffler

Expert on Allegiant Air

Daniel Scheffler is a travel writer, podcaster, and producer. Born in Africa, bred in Europe and now living in America he has traveled to 140 countries (and all 50 U.S. states). Plus he has stayed at over 2500 hotels across the globe. His original shows Everywhere and Without Maps (available on Spotify) showcase his beliefs, travel is about humanity and sharing that beauty. And thus it reminds you that you shouldn’t believe everything you think.

Key details for flights to Des Moines

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$46
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 3% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 6% increase in price.
Flight from Denver to Des Moines

When to book flights to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel 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 questions about flights to Des Moines, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • How to get from Des Moines International Airport to Des Moines city center?

    There are various ways to get from Des Moines International Airport to the city center after your flight to Des Moines: buses run daily from one place to the other, connecting the airport to the city for the convenience of all travelers, and a number of hotels in the area offer free shuttle services. Moreover, car rental desks and taxi ranks are conveniently located at the Arrivals Terminal for those who prefer to travel independently.

  • What kind of services does Des Moines International Airport offer?

    In order to stay at the top of its game and satisfy all travelers, Des Moines International Airport offers a range of services such as free Wi-Fi, ATM machines, mobile charging stations, massage chairs, a notary service, and cots to sleep on in the event of flight cancellations due to strikes or bad weather.

  • What attractions is Des Moines International Airport close to?

    Des Moines International Airport is indeed very close to Des Moines city center, but that is not all: the airport is also ideally located to visit attractions such as the Blank Park Zoo (2.3 miles to the east), the Willow Creek Golf Course (4.1 miles to the west), and the breathtaking Walnut Woods State Park (7.2 miles to the west), on the beautiful Raccoon River.

  • Are there malls near Des Moines International Airport?

    Yes, there are. If you are stuck on a long stopover and have exhausted all shopping options inside the airport, head out to one of the malls located not far from the Des Moines International Airport: the Southridge Mall and the Southgate Shopping Centre are the closest (3.2 and 4.1 miles to the east respectively), but there is also Shops at Roosevelt (6.3 miles to the north) and the Valley West Mall (8.8 miles to the northwest).

  • What domestic destinations can I connect to from Des Moines International Airport?

    There are ten popular domestic destinations from DSM that you can connect to from the airport. DSM to Denver is the busiest route served by Frontier, Southwest, and United Airlines. Delta Airlines offers flights to Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Detroit, while Southwest Airlines serves routes from DSM to Las Vegas and St. Louis. American Airlines offers flights to Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, and Charlotte.

  • Does Des Moines International Airport offer accessibility services?

    DSM is fully accessible to passengers with special needs. The airport has ramps, lifts, accessible washrooms, and TDD phones in the main terminal area and the concourses. If you have reduced mobility, you can request a wheelchair with your airline. The airlines and airport offer special assistance services to passengers needing assistance around the airport. DSM also provides accessible transport services to and from the airport by prior arrangements.

  • Are there on-site car rental agencies at Des Moines International Airport?

    DSM's on-site car rental agencies include Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, National, Hertz, and American Rent-A-Car, with counters in the baggage claim area. The pick-up and drop-off location is adjacent to the South Garage car park. The minimum age for renting a car at DSM is 21 years. You must present a driver's license valid for the whole rental period. The airport does not allow digital licenses.

  • Is there a hotel in Des Moines International Airport?

    Although DSM doesn't have a hotel within the airport, there are three hotels across the street from the airport that you can visit upon landing. All these hotels are about a 2-minute drive. The hotels have free 24-hour shuttle services for transit from the airport's parking lot.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Des Moines?

    American Airlines operates the most flights from the United States to Des Moines at 126 per week, and for this route American Airlines is also the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from the United States to Des Moines. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveler choice.

  • How long are nonstop flights to Des Moines from different departure cities?

    Nonstop flight time to Des Moines varies depending on your departure city:
    • from Chicago: 1h 20m
    • from Nashville: 1h 38m
    • from Las Vegas: 2h 50m
    • from New York: 3h 00m
    • from Salt Lake City: 2h 33m

  • How many flights serve Des Moines?

    Des Moines receives 52 flights per day and 363 per week from across the world. Chicago has the most flights to Des Moines, with 84 weekly flights.

  • How do I know if a flight to Des Moines is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Des Moines is around $297 round-trip. This fare is in the lowest 25% of round-trip prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Des Moines?

    Last-minute fares to Des Moines – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 19% above the average round-trip fare of $410.

  • Which airlines should I consider for flights to Des Moines?

Your guide to booking Des Moines flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Des Moines, aim to book around 24 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 43% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
  • For flights to Des Moines, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to land around $297 round-trip. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a strong deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, time your trip to Des Moines around October. Round-trip fares historically average $358 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat-selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to noon to save up to $22 per round-trip. Noon flights to Des Moines average $408 compared to $430 for afternoon flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
  • Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class and route. On flights to Des Moines, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, Allegiant Air includes a checked bag in Economy Class, American Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class and United Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
  • Once you arrive in Des Moines, a few great places to start are Iowa Events Center, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines and Des Moines Civic Center. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.
  • Although smaller than other airports in the country, Des Moines International Airport still features a number of stores in which to do some last minute shopping while you are waiting for your flight. Head to the Capitol News & Gift shop in the lobby for souvenirs, newspapers, snacks, and University of Iowa apparel.
  • Eating at Des Moines International Airport is also not a problem as the Food Court, located on the first floors, offers a plethora of choices that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Moreover, there is also a number of restaurants if you prefer a proper, sit-down meal.
  • If you have emails to write or want to conduct some business while waiting for your flight, head to the Business Center. It is fully equipped with workstations, internet access, and fax and photocopy services.
  • Perhaps your flight to Des Moines has arrived late and you don’t want to travel into the city, or your connecting flight doesn’t leave until the morning and you don’t fancy the idea of sleeping in the airport. Whatever the reason, if you want to spend the night in a comfortable bed, book a room at one of the hotels located just minutes from the airport, many of which offer free shuttle services as well as day rooms.
  • Traveling with a pet? Des Moines International Airport features a Pet Relief Area where your furry friends can do their business and rest a moment before or after your flight. It is located outside the terminal, not far from the parking garage.
  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the main airport serving Des Moines. DSM also serves nearby cities without airports, including West Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, and Johnston.
  • Upon arrival at DSM from long flights, go to the airside, on the second floor of the main terminal, and take advantage of the on-site massage chairs available in each concourse to relieve tension in your back.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Des Moines

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with 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 4215 reviews
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Seated at front bulkhead for a smidge extra leg room away from home and on flight back home. Away crew was very proactive about assuring our carryons had space close behind us (because no seat in front of us our personal items had to be in a small bin overhead). They actively required passengers place overhead luggage on its side so more items could fit in bins. Home crew made no such efforts. I had to struggle back rows to get overhead bags upon landing, no crew help then either, and some disgruntled passengers as I and others retrieved our bags. There was a system that worked pretty well. The home bound crew just didn't feel like working.

4.0 OkayMather, Aug 2026
Read more Southwest reviews

Seated at front bulkhead for a smidge extra leg room away from home and on flight back home. Away crew was very proactive about assuring our carryons had space close behind us (because no seat in front of us our personal items had to be in a small bin overhead). They actively required passengers place overhead luggage on its side so more items could fit in bins. Home crew made no such efforts. I had to struggle back rows to get overhead bags upon landing, no crew help then either, and some disgruntled passengers as I and others retrieved our bags. There was a system that worked pretty well. The home bound crew just didn't feel like working.

Southwest has inacted unfriendly customer policies like other airlines. Watch the fine print very carefully if you are having to alter flight arrangements. Rules are now complicated and very stilted to travelers sacrificing travel funds (unlike before where the simple, straight forward flight change policy was worth the extra premium for ticket price.) On the positive side, SW Flight crews are still wonderfully helpful.

Flight left on time and was early landing. Seats not comfortable and not enough space…

Flight left on time. Seat spacing is way too small…

It would have been better if the flight was on time

Fairly good - the seats seemed more comfortable on this flight. The staff out of Detroit were quite friendly. But they directed us to the wrong carousel for luggage. :(

Just crazy with times being pushed and pushed and pushed and gate crew at Philly super rude and unprofessional with many under stress with delays.

I liked the new boarding process. I thought the buyup options (legroom, early boarding) to be easy to request and reasonably priced. All the Southwest team from gate to in-flight were so nice.

Flight time kept changing and so did the gate. It was very frustrating

Love Southwest! Always a good trip with a happy crew who goes out of their way to be kind and fun.

The flights were on time; all went as expected which is a big positive! No delays! There was no food or drink service in any legs, which I understand due to the short flight time.

They announced a mechanical issue prior to boarding Said it was fixed, we boarded Waited Then learned it was not fixed Had to deplane and go to new gate Bought wifi on plane and it never worked

The plane was a rather tired 737-800, with old style small luggage bins. Poor air flow. USB charger in the infotainment system was not functioning. The flight was 2 hours late due to crew rest requirements (not their fault). On arrival in Seattle, waited on the tarmac for 30 minutes with very few updates from the crew.

Flight was delayed and we were on the runway after landing for 30 mins

We were delayed so pilots can rest and had no WiFi the whole trip. First class seats are small compared to other planes

The experience was bad. Flight was delayed to handle maintenance (understandable) but still there was some dew forming and dropping as droplets on few seats. Internet at best was allowing some browsing but at a snail pace.

We were delayed 2 hours because of a broken seat. Other than that it was a very nice flight.

There needs to be better accommodations for waiting passengers. A a designated standing space that is separated and away from concourse traffic.

My seats are comfortable because I choose to fly in the exit rows and this time upgraded to first class with minimum sky miles. Otherwise, I would not be happy in regular seats or even middle comfort seats. Onboarding on the return flight from Nashville to Atlanta was hot and very uncomfortable for over 30 minutes due to extreme hot weather. However, Delta should provide some other air flow option as it was almost unbearable until 10 minutes after take-off. First class seats should be equipped with cup holders. Currently, the middle console is used and is flat and prone to spilling drinks.

Delta was fine though my flight was delayed 4 hours into LGA and my return into ORD involved a taxi of 1+ hour to the gate

The flight was excellent. Their was no service as we boarded, the flight attendants spent about 30 minutes just taking and not really caring that the cabin was about 80 degrees and did not offered any beverage to first class passengers or any passenger. The flight from DEN to ONT is not long but not under an hour, we received one drink and bag of chips if you were lucky. I was in first class…. I did leave my hat on the plane and it only took less than five minutes for a United rep to locate and bring it to me.

Flight did not have wifi service. It was experiencing technical difficulties. Definitely and old plane that needs updating.

Very Poor. Significant delays getting to Chicago and then very poor communication on delays in Chicago to Cleveland. We could have rented a car and driven there faster than the delays ended up being.

The app logs you out right when you are boarding requiring all passwords and reservation number for the flight. Super annoying

The pre-order only approach for fresh food is really challenging

A long delay. Don't travel late in the day.

The seat was comfortable. There was a lot of turbulence. If it weren't for that,it would have been okay.

It was great, I’m very grateful for the pilots and crew flight attendants for everything.

Flight was great. Efficient boarding. Short flight. Early arrival. Friendly flight crew. The entertainment system did not work well. Could not access it until the aircraft reached 10K feet or more. Lots of glitches.

No food service almost missed because of first flight delays

My exit seat was very comfortable Coffee was to be purchased but sodas free 😏

It was poor a four hour delay and no explanation for the delay. What’s a 35 dollars going to do. It also made me miss my car rental,

It was on time. Flight was comfortable. Staff was nice. It was the way a flight should always be.

The price was the only good thing about this flight. It was scary during takeoff when the plane tilted side to side. It made me feel very nervous as I have never had a take-off that unsmooth. There was no on-flight movie or music options and the only complimentary option was water. Other airlines offer trail mix or a caramel cookie and pop options as complimentary. This flight was a 2.5 hour flight. I understand for shorter flights not having options, but a flight 2 hours or longer should offer more complimentary options and in flight entertainment. Also the seats did not recline and for a longer flight reclining seats are a must for comfort.

A very pleasant flight but it would be greatly improved with wifi to help entertain kids

This is a no frills, get it done, efficient airline. The seat is a lawn chair. You better bring your own entertainment. If you want something other than water you need to pay for it. But they will get you to your destination quickly, on time, and then they will turn the flight around and go right back where they came from. Reliably. Couple times a week tops. If it fits into your schedule, you can’t get there cheaper or faster.

A three hour delay to board and then another hour on the tarmac because they couldn't get a tractor? Ugh.

Allegiant canceled the flight. The flight the next day was full. Allegiant did not provide any compensation besides a refund. Last time on Allegiant.

Seats were very uncomfortable and being charged for snacks and water.........

Allegiant actually impressed me, original inbound flight from PBG was so late they gave us a bird inbound from Des Moines and only left 1h late and gained 40 minutes back in the air. Comfortable flight with no frills but no complaints.

More space for economy, and the bathroom size is only for people with size XS

We were delayed in CLT for 4 hours for mechanical issues resulting in us not leaving till 1:30AM and landing at 2:30 AM, so getting home at 4AM. The crew at the desk had no answers and provided very little information. I received a food voucher via email/app however there were no food places open. Even the walk up and scan your own places did not accept the QR code. I know mechanical issues occur but better communication would have made an unfortunate situation less frustrating.

The first leg of my trip from Dallas to CLT was smooth from check-in to landing. The snack, biscott cookie really needs an upgrade. Even if the upgrade is a choice of the cookie or pretzels.

If the service crew didn't make difference between people and they change my seat without asking me if is okay or not with me

Great for a small Commuter. Quiet and relaxing. Seats were better than most.

The boarding by groups is pointless. The first two groups worked fine, but almost Noone boarded in goups three thru five leaving the vast majority boarding when group six was called. It defeated the purpose of spreading out the crowd.

I blame kayak for my last trip to dca. Kayak cancelled my direct flight and put on a one stop flight and made lost whole day from my vacation and had not even refunded my ticket.

delayed multiple times. no resolution on anything from AA customer service. was put on hold in chat to talk to manager. was 6th in line to talk to manager for more than TWELVE HOURS - from sometime around 9AM until well after I had gone to bed that evening. no explanation, no attempt to make it right. just a five hour delay because of repeated maintenance claims

Was the most uncomfortable I ever had in the air. Felt like I was trapped in the seat legs cramped and was just horrible. The flight to DSM was a lot better. Even being on a smaller plane was better. Staff are outstanding. No complaints about the people.

It was exactly as I expected, on time, smooth flight, courteous staff.

Traveling to a place near Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
West Des Moines
Altoona
Urbandale
Newton
Osceola
Johnston
Grinnell
Carlisle

Everything you need to know for your flight to Des Moines

Flights with popular airlines flying to Des Moines