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).

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

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) - 71% of one-stop connections • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 9% of one-stop connections • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 9% 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 24% on flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. Monday is the cheapest departure day at $430 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $562, a difference of $132. 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 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.

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

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 19% above the $466 route average. Book 20 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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 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 $164, which is 45% below the typical average for this route.

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 35m, compared with 6h 40m via Los Angeles (LAX) and 6h 45m 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 car rental options are available at San Francisco Airport (SFO)?

San Francisco Airport (SFO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates averaging $63 for economy cars. Top options include: • Europcar • Thrifty • Dollar • Hertz • Fox

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 $394 to $563, with an average of $466 over the past 12 months. Anything below $394 counts as a good deal.

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, Monday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco. It’s 8% 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 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 36% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Which airline is the cheapest to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco?

Frontier ($321) and American Airlines ($353) are the cheapest airlines to fly round-trip from Des Moines to San Francisco according to KAYAK data over the last 5 days.

What’s the most popular layover airport when flying from Des Moines to San Francisco?

Denver Intl (DEN) is the most popular layover for the Des Moines to San Francisco route. 71% of KAYAK users who booked 1-stop round-trips over the past 3 months connected via DEN.

What is the cheapest layover airport when flying from Des Moines to San Francisco?

Flights via Denver Intl (DEN) offer the most affordable fares, with an average round-trip price of $461. Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months.

When flying from Des Moines to San Francisco which airport offers the shortest layover?

Los Angeles (LAX) had the shortest average connection time for Des Moines to San Francisco layovers at 3h 52m over the past 3 months.

$120 CHEAP FLIGHTS from Des Moines to San Francisco (DSM - SFO)

Save 26% 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.

Cheapest round-trip

$180

Typical prices: $394-$563

Multiple Airlines

Fri 12/14Sat 1/6

DSM - SFO • 1 stop

Cheapest one-way

$120

Typical prices: $224-$486

Multiple Airlines

Tue 12/11

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

When to book

20 weeks

in advance

Our data shows that travelers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 36% compared to booking last minute.

Insights

When to travel

February

Cheapest • 19% price drop

April

Most popular

Good to know

Top layover airports

Denver Intl (DEN)

Cheapest • Avg $461 (round-trip)

Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)

Shortest trip • 6h 35m (one-way)

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 San Francisco!

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.

Round-trip

One-way

Last minute

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

Mon, Dec 14 - Wed, Jan 6

9:18 pm - 9:34 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

14h 16m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

4:21 pm - 9:17 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

26h 56m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

$180Multiple Airlines

Mon, Dec 14 - Wed, Jan 6

9:18 pm - 9:01 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

25h 43m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Ontario

4:21 pm - 9:17 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

26h 56m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

$194Multiple Airlines

Thu, Dec 3 - Thu, Dec 10

8:35 pm - 9:44 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

15h 09m1 stop Denver Intl

6:30 am - 7:42 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

11h 12m1 stop Denver Intl

$321Frontier

Fri, Jan 22 - Tue, Jan 26

7:49 pm - 8:56 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

15h 07m1 stop Los Angeles

8:00 am - 7:19 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

9h 19m1 stop Los Angeles

$353American Airlines

Wed, Dec 9 - Sat, Dec 12

7:40 pm - 8:40 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

15h 00m1 stop Los Angeles

7:03 am - 7:10 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

10h 07m1 stop Los Angeles

$353American Airlines

Fri, Dec 4 - Fri, Dec 11

5:29 pm - 11:20 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

7h 51m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

10:59 pm - 10:53 amSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

9h 54m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

$369Delta

Thu, Feb 11 - Thu, Feb 18

8:26 pm - 12:35 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

6h 09m1 stop Denver Intl

6:15 am - 7:31 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

11h 16m1 stop Denver Intl

$370Frontier

Wed, Dec 9 - Sat, Dec 12

7:00 am - 11:10 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

6h 10m1 stop Denver Intl

6:40 am - 5:20 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

8h 40m2 stops Los Angeles Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

$374Southwest

Tue, Feb 9 - Wed, Feb 17

6:45 am - 7:28 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

14h 43m2 stops Minneapolis St Paul Los Angeles

1:59 pm - 10:09 amSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

18h 10m2 stops Los Angeles Minneapolis St Paul

$375Delta

Tue, Dec 8 - Sat, Dec 12

7:00 am - 1:25 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

8h 25m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

6:30 am - 5:20 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

8h 50m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

$379Southwest

Recent last minute flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Sat, Nov 14 - Fri, Nov 20

8:05 pm - 8:40 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

14h 35m1 stop Los Angeles

7:00 am - 7:10 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

10h 10m1 stop Los Angeles

$911American Airlines

Sat, Nov 14 - Fri, Nov 20

8:30 am - 3:28 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

32h 58m2 stops Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Provo

11:46 am - 10:39 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

8h 53m1 stop Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

$928Multiple Airlines

Sat, Nov 14 - Mon, Nov 16

8:00 am - 1:30 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

7h 30m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

9:05 am - 4:07 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

5h 02m1 stop Denver Intl

$1,037United Airlines

Sat, Nov 14 - Mon, Nov 16

9:37 am - 8:16 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

12h 39m2 stops Dallas/Fort Worth San Diego

7:04 am - 6:54 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

9h 50m2 stops San Diego Dallas/Fort Worth

$1,101Alaska Airlines

Sat, Nov 14 - Mon, Nov 16

8:00 am - 1:30 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

7h 30m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl

9:05 am - 4:07 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

5h 02m1 stop Denver Intl

$1,112United Airlines

Sat, Nov 14 - Fri, Nov 20

7:00 am - 12:10 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

7h 10m2 stops Denver Intl Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl

11:10 am - 10:05 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

8h 55m2 stops Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Denver Intl

$1,122Southwest

Wed, Nov 11 - Tue, Nov 17

9:37 am - 8:16 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

12h 39m2 stops Dallas/Fort Worth San Diego

10:29 am - 12:18 amSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

11h 49m2 stops San Diego Chicago O'Hare Intl

$1,122Alaska Airlines

Sat, Nov 14 - Sat, Nov 21

8:05 pm - 8:40 amDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

14h 35m1 stop Los Angeles

7:00 am - 7:10 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

10h 10m1 stop Los Angeles

$1,451American Airlines

Wed, Nov 11 - Mon, Nov 23

2:59 pm - 9:49 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

8h 50m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson

6:00 am - 2:08 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

6h 08m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$1,597Delta

Sat, Nov 14 - Mon, Nov 23

6:13 am - 2:26 pmDSM Des Moines-SFO San Francisco

10h 13m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

6:00 am - 2:08 pmSFO San Francisco-DSM Des Moines

6h 08m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul

$1,597Delta

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.

Prices

Airlines

Layovers

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, Monday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco. It’s 8% 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? KAYAK internal proprietary data takes all prices for each month over the last 12 months for round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers and then takes the median of all values for each month.: •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 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 36% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Low season	December
High season	April
Cheapest flight	$120

Beat the crowds with an average 25% drop in travelers.

The most popular month to fly with an average 31% 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

KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

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 $394 to $563, with an average of $466 over the past 12 months. Anything below $394 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 19% above the $466 route average. Book 20 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 $164, which is 45% 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 averaging $63 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) - 71% of one-stop connections
• Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 9% of one-stop connections
• Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 9% 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 24% on flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. Monday is the cheapest departure day at $430 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $562, a difference of $132.

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 35m, compared with 6h 40m via Los Angeles (LAX) and 6h 45m 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.

If your dates are flexible, aim for a Monday departure and avoid flying on Sunday. On this route, Monday flights average $430, about $132 less than Sunday fares (23% savings) based on the last 12 months.
For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 36% 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

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DSM - SFO

$120 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco - Compare and Save

Everything you should know

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

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

Recent one-way flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Recent last minute flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

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

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

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

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

Which airline is the cheapest to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco?

What’s the most popular layover airport when flying from Des Moines to San Francisco?

What is the cheapest layover airport when flying from Des Moines to San Francisco?

When flying from Des Moines to San Francisco which airport offers the shortest layover?

Key details for Des Moines to San Francisco flights

Low season

High season

Cheapest flight

When to book flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

Your Des Moines to San Francisco flight questions, answered

Your guide to booking Des Moines to San Francisco flights

More options for your flight from Des Moines to San Francisco

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Cabin class types available on flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

Find direct flights to and from Des Moines and San Francisco

Flights from domestic origins to San Francisco

Flights to other popular destinations

Find deals for your return flight