Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

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Compare Des Moines to San Francisco International flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to San Francisco International

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Flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco International

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Des Moines to San Francisco International? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco International

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Des Moines to San Francisco International flights are currently cheapest in May.

Des Moines to San Francisco International: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Des Moines to San Francisco below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than San Francisco International.

Des Moines to San Francisco: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$453
Cheapest month to flyMay

Finding cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco International: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Des Moines to San Francisco International is $453. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from Des Moines to San Francisco International. But we found flights with one or more stops from $453.
As of April 2025, there are no flights flying from Des Moines to San Francisco International.
The cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco International is usually April 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Des Moines Airport to San Francisco International Airport on Friday, 2 May 2025.
No airlines currently offer direct flights between Des Moines Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Most routes have one or more stops.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to San Francisco International but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to San Francisco is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Frontier Airlines offers the cheapest flight tickets to San Francisco International.

Travelling from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO): what you need to know

  • San Francisco is two hours behind Des Moines and follows the UTC-7 timezone.

  • To ensure you catch your DSM to SFO flight, allow plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.

  • During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for an international flight when you fly during peak periods in general.

  • We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to visit the city of your choice. Some great stopovers between DSM and SFO include:

    • Denver International Airport

    • Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)

    • Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • $187 is the best price for a one-way Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport flight. A return flight starts at $453. These prices may change based on availability.

  • Don't wait until the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap tickets from DSM to SFO if you book ahead. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird discounts.

  • Getting cheap flights from Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport is easy if you can be flexible with your dates. Use the 'Whole month' search function to see the lowest prices across the month and score a great deal.

  • You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment there's a new deal on cheap flights from DSM to SFO.

  • Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport.

Handy information about Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • DSM is located at 5800 Fleur Drive, Suite 201.

  • Des Moines International Airport has a strong on-time performance, reducing the likelihood of delays. Departures from DSM arrive at their destination as scheduled 80.45% of the time.

  • Des Moines International Airport is about 10 kilometres from central Des Moines. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.

  • The trip on public transport will take about 45 minutes.

  • Get your holiday off to a stress-free start by staying near DSM. Whether you've booked an early flight from Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are perfect:

Arriving at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Getting from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to central San Francisco

  • San Francisco International Airport to central San Francisco has a drive time of around 20 minutes. It's approximately 21 kilometres away.

  • It takes roughly 45 minutes to get there using public transport.

When to fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  • The quietest month for a flight from Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport is February, while August is the most popular. Choose the best time to go to San Francisco based on whether you prefer a faster pace or a more relaxed vibe.

  • The warmest month in San Francisco is September, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF). Book your flights from Des Moines International Airport to San Francisco International Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.

  • January sees average temperatures of between 6ºC (43ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF). Look for cheap tickets from DSM to SFO sometime around then if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.

Explore more of United States

  • San Jose is just one of the many places in United States waiting to be discovered after you've seen San Francisco. Around 64 kilometres away to the south-east, its best attractions include Winchester Mystery House, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and San Jose Museum of Art.

  • Fresno is another sought-after destination in United States and is around 257 kilometres south-east of San Francisco. No trip is complete without seeing Forestiere Underground Gardens, Fresno Chaffee Zoo and Shinzen Japanese Garden.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.