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DSM - SFO

$86 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
$240
Typical prices: $396-$565
Multiple Airlines
Sun 11/4Sun 11/11
DSM - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$86
Typical prices: $223-$469
Multiple Airlines
Fri 11/9
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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Flight Deals

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

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

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

Wed, Nov 4 - Wed, Nov 11
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:45 pm - 12:52 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
24h 07m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:14 pm - 8:04 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
22h 50m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$240Multiple Airlines
Fri, Nov 6 - Mon, Nov 9
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 11:17 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
16h 47m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
6:02 am - 7:35 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
11h 33m1 stop Denver Intl
$252Frontier
Sun, Jan 10 - Wed, Jan 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:07 pm - 11:59 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
15h 52m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:30 pm - 5:04 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
20h 34m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$258Multiple Airlines
Mon, Oct 26 - Fri, Oct 30
Frontier Logo
8:25 pm - 12:15 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
5h 50m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
12:20 pm - 7:35 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
5h 15m1 stop Denver Intl
$266Frontier
Tue, Nov 3 - Sat, Nov 7
American Airlines Logo
6:27 pm - 11:31 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
7h 04m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
1:57 pm - 11:30 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
7h 33m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$305American Airlines
Thu, Feb 25 - Mon, Mar 1
American Airlines Logo
7:14 am - 1:28 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
8h 14m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
4:05 pm - 11:48 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
5h 43m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$305American Airlines
Thu, Dec 3 - Mon, Dec 7
Delta Logo
4:53 pm - 12:10 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
9h 17m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
10:40 pm - 9:50 amSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
9h 10m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$305Delta
Sat, Nov 7 - Wed, Nov 11
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 10:40 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
5h 40m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
6:10 am - 2:15 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
6h 05m1 stop Denver Intl
$306Southwest
Tue, Nov 3 - Sat, Nov 7
Southwest Logo
7:00 am - 12:50 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
7h 50m2 stops Denver Intl San Diego
Southwest Logo
10:40 am - 8:40 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
8h 00m1 stop Denver Intl
$310Southwest
Thu, Dec 3 - Mon, Dec 7
Delta Logo
4:53 pm - 11:43 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
8h 50m2 stops Minneapolis St Paul Seattle/Tacoma Intl
Delta Logo
11:59 pm - 10:49 amSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
8h 50m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$335Delta
Booking Insights

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

$86
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.

  • Have flight prices from Des Moines to San Francisco 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 $240 to $1,573. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

  • 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 $175, which is 39% 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:

    • Thrifty
    • Europcar
    • 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