DSM - SFO

$125 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco - Compare and Save

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1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$180
Typical prices: $378-$541
Multiple Airlines
Fri 11/16Sun 12/2
DSM - SFO • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$125
Typical prices: $221-$446
Frontier
Mon 12/17
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
12 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 12 weeks in advance save around 29% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 19% price drop
June
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl (LAS)
Cheapest • Avg $423 (round-trip)
Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
Shortest trip • 6h 32m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to San Francisco!
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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

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
$180Multiple Airlines
Mon, Nov 9 - Tue, Nov 10
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
7:14 pm - 1:55 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
16h 41m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$226Multiple Airlines
Mon, Nov 9 - Fri, Nov 13
Frontier Logo
8:30 pm - 11:17 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
16h 47m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
12:20 pm - 7:35 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
5h 15m1 stop Denver Intl
$250Frontier
Mon, Oct 19 - Mon, Oct 26
Frontier Logo
8:25 pm - 12:15 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
5h 50m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 7:30 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
11h 30m1 stop Denver Intl
$250Frontier
Tue, Oct 13 - Wed, Oct 21
American Airlines Logo
7:42 pm - 12:44 amDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
7h 02m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
5:45 am - 1:34 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
5h 49m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$305American Airlines
Sat, Oct 10 - Tue, Oct 13
American Airlines Logo
2:01 pm - 9:56 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
9h 55m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
12:11 am - 9:15 amSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
7h 04m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$305American Airlines
Tue, Oct 20 - Wed, Oct 28
Delta Logo
10:57 am - 5:15 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
8h 18m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
12:08 pm - 9:00 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
6h 52m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$305Delta
Wed, Oct 14 - Sat, Oct 17
Delta Logo
7:51 pm - 11:58 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
6h 07m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 4:55 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
8h 55m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$305Delta
Wed, Oct 21 - Tue, Oct 27
Southwest Logo
6:35 pm - 10:20 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
5h 45m1 stop Denver Intl
Southwest Logo
8:10 am - 5:50 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
7h 40m2 stops San Diego Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$310Southwest
Tue, Nov 10 - Sat, Nov 14
Southwest Logo
12:05 pm - 6:15 pmDSM  Des Moines-SFO San Francisco
8h 10m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl San Diego
Southwest Logo
10:40 am - 8:40 pmSFO  San Francisco-DSM Des Moines
8h 00m1 stop Denver Intl
$310Southwest
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 from Des Moines to San Francisco with more confidence.

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

Friday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco, it is 4% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 8% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

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

•September is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco at $366 round-trip.
•June ($562) and March ($496) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 53% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

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

Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco are cheapest 12 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.

Find deals

Key details for Des Moines to San Francisco flights

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$125
Most popular time to fly with an average 24% increase in price.
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 route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • 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?

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

    • Economy Class
    • Premium 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) - 67% of one-stop connections
    • Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX) - 12% of one-stop connections
    • Minneapolis St Paul (MSP) - 7% of one-stop connections
    • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 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 Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 12% on the Des Moines to San Francisco route. Friday is the cheapest departure day at $436 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $492, a difference of $56. 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 2 weeks of departure - run 24% above the route average of $453. Book 12 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 0h 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.

  • 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 $180 to $1,327. 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 $154, 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 32m, compared with 6h 37m via Los Angeles (LAX) and 6h 46m via Minneapolis St Paul (MSP).

  • 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 starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Thrifty
    • Europcar
    • 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 $378 to $541, with an average of $453 over the past 12 months. Anything below $378 counts as a good deal.

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 can be flexible, aim for a Friday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Friday flights average $436 - about $56 less than Sunday (11% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 12 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 September. Fares historically average $366 round-trip in that month - typically $196 less than the most expensive month, which is June (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