$81 Cheap Flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW)

View $81 flight on Thu, Nov 13, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Detroit (DSM-DTW)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $81 for one-way flights and $202 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Frontier Airlines
Thu, Nov 6 - Sun, Nov 9
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$202 Roundtrip, found 22 hours ago
$202
Roundtrip
found 22 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Nov 6 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Sun, Nov 9, priced at $202 found 22 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Sun, Nov 16 - Sun, Dec 7
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$212 Roundtrip, found 3 hours ago
$212
Roundtrip
found 3 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sun, Nov 16 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Sun, Dec 7, priced at $212 found 3 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Thu, Nov 13 - Sun, Nov 16
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$219 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$219
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Nov 13 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Sun, Nov 16, priced at $219 found 1 day ago
Frontier Airlines
Sun, Nov 2 - Thu, Nov 6
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$228 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$228
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sun, Nov 2 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Thu, Nov 6, priced at $228 found 1 day ago
Frontier Airlines
Thu, Oct 30 - Sun, Nov 9
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$232 Roundtrip, found 7 hours ago
$232
Roundtrip
found 7 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Oct 30 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Sun, Nov 9, priced at $232 found 7 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Thu, Nov 6 - Sun, Nov 16
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$238 Roundtrip, found 7 hours ago
$238
Roundtrip
found 7 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Nov 6 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Sun, Nov 16, priced at $238 found 7 hours ago
American Airlines
Thu, Feb 5 - Mon, Feb 9
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$315 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$315
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Thu, Feb 5 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Mon, Feb 9, priced at $315 found 1 day ago
Southwest Airlines
Fri, Jan 9 - Mon, Jan 12
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$320 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$320
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Fri, Jan 9 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Mon, Jan 12, priced at $320 found 3 days ago
United
Tue, Dec 2 - Mon, Dec 8
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$389 Roundtrip, found 2 days ago
$389
Roundtrip
found 2 days ago
Select United flight, departing Tue, Dec 2 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Mon, Dec 8, priced at $389 found 2 days ago
Delta
Fri, Dec 19 - Tue, Dec 23
DSM
Des Moines
DTW
Detroit
$399 Roundtrip, just found
$399
Roundtrip
just found
Select Delta flight, departing Fri, Dec 19 from Des Moines to Detroit, returning Tue, Dec 23, priced at $399 just found

Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW)

September is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $167 - $595 per traveler.

Alternative airports near Detroit

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County DTW. Cheapest option available. Average driving time to city center is 26 minutes. Flights from $359
DTW
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Cheapest
Average driving time to city center26 min
Flights from $359
Flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Detroit (DTW)
Origin airport
Des Moines Intl.
Destination airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Airlines serving
American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$202
Distance
531 mi
Average flight time
2 hours 45 mins

Des Moines to Detroit Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Des Moines to Detroit

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from Des Moines to Detroit are during the month of November. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Des Moines to Detroit with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Detroit

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Des Moines to Detroit: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from Des Moines to Detroit

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from Des Moines to Detroit in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $81 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap Des Moines to Detroit flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your Des Moines to Detroit airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) cost?
Lock in a cheap one-way flight from $81 or cheap return flight from $202 from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) with Expedia. Enter your travel dates and sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to see our cheapest flight offers on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
The cheapest month to fly from DSM to DTW is November, when demand is low. Off-peak months are typically when better flight deals are available between these airports.
Which airlines fly direct from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
Take a nonstop flight with Delta Air Lines and go straight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
What is the cheapest airline that flies from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
To find the cheapest airline that'll fly you from DSM to DTW, use Expedia's filter tool. Customize your search based on what matters most to you, such as preferred carriers and cabin class. You can then sort your results by "Price (lowest to highest)" to see the cheapest fares upfront.
How many flights per day from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
When departing from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM), you can take your pick from an average of 2 daily nonstop flights to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
What are the most popular departure times for flights from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
Flights between DSM and DTW are their busiest at 6 AM. If you want a more relaxed trip and possibly cheaper fares, look for a departure outside the usual busy windows.
What day of the week has the most flights from DSM to DTW?
Fly on a Friday if you're after the best selection of flights from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
What is the earliest flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
The first flight of the day leaving Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) is at around 6:30AM UTC-6. Catch this flight and you'll touch down at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) at approximately 9:24AM UTC-5. The total flight duration is 1h 54m.
How long does it take to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
It takes roughly 1 hour and 53 minutes to travel the 530 mi from DSM to DTW.
What airline has the least delays from DSM to DTW?
With 100% of journeys generally landing on time, Aeromexico has the best on-time performance for direct flights from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). To keep track of your flight status and receive notifications if anything changes, head to the Expedia App.
What is the best time to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
To arrive at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) on time, opt for a flight that takes off from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) before 3 PM. The likelihood of cancellations is 22% higher, on average, for departures after this time.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Detroit from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is the only airport in Detroit with direct flights from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM). Check out the options and discover cheap fares on Expedia.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) last-minute?
Last-minute bookings from DSM to DTW are generally more expensive. For the cheapest rates, start looking for flights as soon as possible. That being said, if you're flexible with your travel plans, it's possible to find a cheap fare just before your departure.
Is it cheaper to book a DSM to DTW flight and hotel package?
You can save money by securing a DSM to DTW flight and hotel package compared to booking separately. In fact, travelers could save hundreds of dollars by bundling with Expedia. And it's simple to manage everything in one place. After choosing your preferred accommodations and flights, you can add extras like tours, activities and car rentals.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)?
Typically, you can cancel or modify your DSM to DTW flight. However, there may be additional fees, especially if your booking was made over 24 hours ago. Check your itinerary for the airline's fees and guidelines on flight changes, or if you need further information, head to our Customer Service portal.

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*Available to One Key members.