$66 Cheap Flights from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego (SAN)

View $66 flight on Mon, Dec 15, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Diego (DSM-SAN)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $66 for one-way flights and $147 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Frontier Airlines
Mon, Nov 17 - Fri, Dec 5
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$147 Roundtrip, found 13 hours ago
$147
Roundtrip
found 13 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Mon, Nov 17 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Fri, Dec 5, priced at $147 found 13 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Fri, Dec 5 - Mon, Dec 8
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$151 Roundtrip, found 2 hours ago
$151
Roundtrip
found 2 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Fri, Dec 5 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Mon, Dec 8, priced at $151 found 2 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Thu, Nov 13 - Thu, Dec 4
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$160 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$160
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Nov 13 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Thu, Dec 4, priced at $160 found 4 days ago
Frontier Airlines
Mon, Dec 8 - Fri, Dec 12
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$172 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$172
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Mon, Dec 8 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Fri, Dec 12, priced at $172 found 1 day ago
Frontier Airlines
Thu, Feb 19 - Sun, Feb 22
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$183 Roundtrip, found 2 hours ago
$183
Roundtrip
found 2 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Thu, Feb 19 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Sun, Feb 22, priced at $183 found 2 hours ago
Frontier Airlines
Mon, Nov 17 - Thu, Nov 20
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$206 Roundtrip, found 13 hours ago
$206
Roundtrip
found 13 hours ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Mon, Nov 17 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Thu, Nov 20, priced at $206 found 13 hours ago
American Airlines
Sat, Feb 21 - Sat, Feb 28
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$213 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$213
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Sat, Feb 21 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Sat, Feb 28, priced at $213 found 6 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Thu, Jan 8 - Tue, Jan 27
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$264 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$264
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Thu, Jan 8 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Tue, Jan 27, priced at $264 found 3 days ago
Delta
Tue, Dec 16 - Wed, Jan 21
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$297 Roundtrip, found 20 hours ago
$297
Roundtrip
found 20 hours ago
Select Delta flight, departing Tue, Dec 16 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Wed, Jan 21, priced at $297 found 20 hours ago
United
Wed, Jan 7 - Wed, Jan 14
DSM
Des Moines
SAN
San Diego
$297 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$297
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select United flight, departing Wed, Jan 7 from Des Moines to San Diego, returning Wed, Jan 14, priced at $297 found 1 day ago

Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego (SAN)

November is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $150 - $569 per traveler.

Alternative airports near San Diego

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

Select flight to General Abelardo L. Rodriguez Intl. TIJ. Average driving time to city center is 26 minutes. Flights from $524
TIJ
General Abelardo L. Rodriguez Intl.
Average driving time to city center26 min
Flights from $524
Select flight to McClellan-Palomar CLD. Average driving time to city center is 38 minutes. Flights from $504
CLD
McClellan-Palomar
Average driving time to city center38 min
Flights from $504

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) cost?
Snag a cheap one-way flight from $66 or cheap return flight from $147 from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) with Expedia. Enter your travel dates and sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to find our cheapest flight offers on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)?
Traveling in November may help you find better deals, as it's the cheapest month for flights between DSM and SAN. You'll usually find the lowest fares during off-peak months.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)?
Use the filters on Expedia to compare airlines and find the cheapest carrier that'll fly you from DSM to SAN. Then, sort your results by "Price (lowest to highest)" to pick up the best deal available.
How many flights per day from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)?
There aren't any daily direct flights available from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN). But you can book flights with layovers. Filter your search results on Expedia to include one or more stops, and you'll be cruising above the clouds in no time.
What day of the week has the most flights from DSM to SAN?
Friday is typically the busiest day for flights, while Tuesday is often the quietest.* Remember that flight schedules can change depending on a range of factors, including the time of year and carrier.*Busiest/quietest day to travel is based on Expedia flight demand through January to December 2024.
What airline has the least delays from DSM to SAN?
With 100% of flights usually landing on time, American Airlines has the best on-time performance for direct flights from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN). To monitor your flight status and get notifications if anything changes, head to the Expedia App.
What is the best time to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)?
To avoid possible delays on the Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) route, travel before 3 PM. Departures after this hour have a 22% higher chance of cancellation.**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.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) last-minute?
Last-minute bookings from DSM to SAN are generally more expensive. To lock in the cheapest rates, start searching for flights early. That being said, if you can play around with your travel dates, it's possible to land a cheap fare right before you leave.
Is it cheaper to book a DSM to SAN flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging flights and hotels separately, booking a DSM to SAN flight and hotel package with Expedia could lead to significant savings. What's more, having everything in one place will take the stress out of planning your trip. Simply pick your flights and select from our extensive range of hotels, then customize your trip with extras like activities and car rentals.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)?
In most instances, you can modify or cancel your DSM to SAN flight. However, there may be additional fees, especially if your booking was made more than 24 hours ago. Double-check your itinerary for the airline's fees and rules on flight changes, or if you need further details, visit our Customer Service portal.

Travel information

Origin airport
Des Moines Intl.
Destination airport
San Diego Intl.
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$147
Distance
1426 mi

Book with confidence

Des Moines to San Diego Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Des Moines to San Diego

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 San Diego are during the month of November. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Diego with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Des Moines to San Diego: 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 San Diego

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 San Diego in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $66 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 San Diego 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 San Diego 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.

 

Des Moines to San Diego Flights

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

*Available to One Key members.