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$75+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco (DSM - SFO)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 3/19. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SFO
Feb 25 — Mar 41
Tue 2/25
Tue 3/4
1 adult, Economy
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The best prices from Des Moines to San Francisco are usually found in September or August, booked 16 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Friday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco (SFO). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$110
(Frontier)

One-way from

$75
(Frontier)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$462
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-San Francisco flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-San Francisco flights.
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From Des Moines to San Francisco
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One-way flight from Des Moines to San Francisco
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 10% potential increase in price ($52 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($8 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in February 2025
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Find flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on February 20, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/108:17 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 26mFrontier
Mon 3/176:00 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 17mFrontier
Deal found 2/18$110
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/36:33 amDSM - SFO
1 stop12h 44mMultiple Airlines
Thu 4/107:00 amSFO - DSM
1 stop13h 41mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 2/18$340
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/35:00 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop7h 41mDelta
Wed 4/912:20 pmSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 00mDelta
Deal found 2/20$351
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/51:59 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop9h 06mAmerican Airlines
Fri 4/1112:21 amSFO - DSM
1 stop10h 52mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/18$356
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 4/113:40 pmDSM - SFO
2 stops8h 40mSouthwest
Mon 4/145:10 amSFO - DSM
1 stop7h 40mSouthwest
Deal found 2/20$381
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/125:45 amDSM - SFO
1 stop5h 51mUnited Airlines
Tue 4/1512:08 amSFO - DSM
1 stop8h 32mUnited Airlines
Deal found 2/20$445

Find flights from Des Moines to San Francisco within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to San Francisco that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Mon 3/10

8:17 pm-12:43 am

1 stop6h 26m

San Francisco

Mon 3/17

6:00 am-7:17 pm

1 stop11h 17m

$110

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 4/3

6:33 am-5:17 pm

1 stop12h 44m

San Francisco

Thu 4/10

7:00 am-10:41 pm

1 stop13h 41m

$340

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 4/3

10:22 am-6:53 pm

1 stop10h 31m

San Francisco

Thu 4/10

5:55 am-5:19 pm

1 stop9h 24m

$351

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sat 4/5

1:59 pm-9:05 pm

1 stop9h 06m

San Francisco

Fri 4/11

12:21 am-1:13 pm

1 stop10h 52m

$356

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Fri 4/11

3:40 pm-10:20 pm

2 stops8h 40m

San Francisco

Mon 4/14

5:10 am-2:50 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$381

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sat 4/12

5:45 am-9:36 am

1 stop5h 51m

San Francisco

Tue 4/15

12:08 am-10:40 am

1 stop8h 32m

$445

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 3/19

8:17 pm-12:43 am

1 stop6h 26m

$75

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 5/20

5:27 pm-10:29 pm

1 stop7h 02m

$176

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 5/20

3:40 pm-10:40 pm

2 stops9h 00m

$181

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Wed 3/19

11:55 am-7:49 pm

2 stops9h 54m

$187

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/19

Showing 1-10 of 11 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco in February.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapfaremartPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-San Francisco flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Des Moines-San Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-San Francisco flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Des Moines-San Francisco flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Francisco from Des Moines with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Travel insights for flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Des Moines to San Francisco including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

How far ahead should I book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on February 14, 2025.

Booking 16 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $403). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from DSM to SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated February 20, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco in the evening. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 26% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Des Moines to San Francisco. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Des Moines to San Francisco flight should consider departing on Wednesday afternoons when fares are most often at their lowest. Friday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Rainfall in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in San Francisco ranges from 0.0 - 4.4 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.4 in. July is typically the driest time to visit San Francisco when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in San Francisco by month

Plan your trip to San Francisco by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to San Francisco, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, September is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to San Francisco. Reviews last updated February 20, 2025.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0
Excellent

Christine,Aug 2024

DEN - LGB

No issues. I needed pre boarding and I was able to get it without issue

Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0
Excellent

Christine,Aug 2024

DEN - LGB

No issues. I needed pre boarding and I was able to get it without issue

Delta
8.0
Very good
8,220 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0
Excellent

Christine,Aug 2024

DEN - LGB

No issues. I needed pre boarding and I was able to get it without issue

United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,766 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0
Excellent

Christine,Aug 2024

DEN - LGB

No issues. I needed pre boarding and I was able to get it without issue

American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0
Excellent

Christine,Aug 2024

DEN - LGB

No issues. I needed pre boarding and I was able to get it without issue

Frontier
6.0
Okay
3,355 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Entertainment

7.6

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20

8.0
Excellent

Christine,Aug 2024

DEN - LGB

No issues. I needed pre boarding and I was able to get it without issue

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Des Moines to San Francisco. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Des Moines to San Francisco round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from Des Moines to San Francisco is Frontier. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $110 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Delta and American Airlines, starting at $351 and $356 round-trip. Frontier is currently priced 75% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco one-way?

    The cheapest airline one-way is Frontier, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $75. However, be on the lookout for offers from American Airlines and Southwest, as they are both options that can get you from Des Moines to San Francisco for a low price.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Des Moines to San Francisco that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Des Moines to San Francisco flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Des Moines to San Francisco?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Des Moines to San Francisco.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco (average of $276). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco in June is currently the most expensive (average of $403). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
Mountain View
Turlock
Santa Cruz
Fairfield
Manteca
Sausalito
Watsonville
Hayward
Richmond
Hollister
South San Francisco
Antioch
Milpitas
Vallejo
Newark
Alameda
Campbell
Pacific Grove
Sunnyvale

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Top 5 airlines flying from Des Moines to San Francisco

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated February 20, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$112Average$211FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$285Average$478FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$290Average$452FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$316Average$503FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$375Average$440FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
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