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DSM - SFO

$95 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco - Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$159
Typical prices: $396-$565
Multiple Airlines
Fri 11/16Sun 12/2
DSM - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$95
Typical prices: $223-$469
Multiple Airlines
Tue 11/13
DSM - SFO • 1 stop
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and San Francisco. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to book
14 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 14 weeks in advance save around 29% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
February
Cheapest • 19% price drop
June
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Denver Intl (DEN)
Cheapest • Avg $466 (round-trip)
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Shortest trip • 6h 34m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco (DSM-SFO)

 

Cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco with top airlines, updated regularly. Compare round-trip, one-way, direct and last-minute deals.

Mon, Nov 16 - Wed, Dec 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:04 pm - 8:19 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
14h 15m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:30 pm - 10:26 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
25h 56m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$159Multiple Airlines
Mon, Nov 16 - Wed, Dec 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:04 pm - 6:19 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
24h 15m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:30 pm - 10:26 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
25h 56m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$161Multiple Airlines
Sun, Dec 20 - Thu, Dec 31
Frontier Logo
8:35 pm - 12:41 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
6h 06m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
11:25 am - 7:39 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
6h 14m1 stop Denver Intl
$266Frontier
Mon, Nov 16 - Wed, Nov 25
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 4:02 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
21h 32m2 stops Denver Intl Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
Frontier Logo
9:23 pm - 7:33 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
20h 10m1 stop Denver Intl
$269Frontier
Thu, Dec 3 - Mon, Dec 7
American Airlines Logo
3:31 pm - 11:29 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
9h 58m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
9:13 am - 7:10 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
7h 57m1 stop Los Angeles
$305American Airlines
Thu, Nov 12 - Mon, Nov 16
Delta Logo
2:48 pm - 8:32 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
7h 44m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 2:08 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
6h 08m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$305Delta
Tue, Nov 3 - Tue, Nov 17
Delta Logo
10:57 am - 5:15 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
8h 18m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
10:40 pm - 9:44 amSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
9h 04m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$305Delta
Tue, Nov 3 - Tue, Nov 17
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 11:10 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
6h 10m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
8:20 am - 5:50 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
7h 30m2 stops Los Angeles Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$310Southwest
Thu, Jan 14 - Mon, Jan 18
Southwest Logo
5:55 am - 12:45 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
8h 50m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
11:50 pm - 11:30 amSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
9h 40m1 stop Chicago Midway
$333Southwest
Wed, Dec 2 - Fri, Dec 4
American Airlines Logo
7:32 pm - 12:45 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
7h 13m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
12:07 pm - 8:59 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
6h 52m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$348American Airlines

Price, demand and travel trends for Des Moines to San Francisco 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 Des Moines to San Francisco?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Friday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco. It’s 7% cheaper than the average day, while Sunday is the most expensive, with prices 20% higher.

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

•February is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco at $377 round-trip.
•November ($693) and June ($562) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 83% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Des Moines to San Francisco the cheapest?

Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco are cheapest 14 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 29% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

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Key details for Des Moines to San Francisco flights

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$95
Beat the crowds with an average 50% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 33% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Des Moines to San Francisco

When to book flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Des Moines to San Francisco based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Des Moines to San Francisco 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 Des Moines to San Francisco?

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

    • Economy Class
    • First Class

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

    A nonstop flight from Des Moines to San Francisco takes 00m, covering 1,545 miles.

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

    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 Des Moines to San Francisco flight?

    Round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Francisco range from $396 to $565, with an average of $467 over the past 12 months. Anything below $396 counts as a good deal.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 21% above the $467 route average. Book 14 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    One-way fares from Des Moines to San Francisco are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $154, which is 47% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

    San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Europcar
    • Thrifty
    • Dollar
    • Hertz
    • Fox

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco usually depart from Des Moines (DSM) and arrive at San Francisco (SFO).

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

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

    • Denver Intl (DEN) - 70% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 10% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 10% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 4% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 23% on flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. Friday is the cheapest departure day at $438 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $562, a difference of $124.

    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 Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Flying via Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 6h 34m, compared with 6h 40m via Los Angeles (LAX) and 6h 47m via Denver Intl (DEN).

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

    San Francisco is 2 hours behind Des Moines (Pacific Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in San Francisco?

    Some of the most popular sights in San Francisco are Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square and Moscone Center. These are among the most viewed places in San Francisco on KAYAK.

Your guide to booking Des Moines to San Francisco 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 Friday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Friday flights average $438, about $124 less than Sunday fares (22% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 14 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 29% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Des Moines to San Francisco trip for February. Fares historically average $377 round-trip in that month - typically $316 less than the most expensive month, which is November (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to San Francisco Airport.

    • Grand Hyatt At Sfo

More options for your flight from Des Moines to San Francisco

Complete your trip to San Francisco with a hotel stay or car rental

Car rentals in San Francisco
Hotels in San Francisco
Vacations in San Francisco