$99 Cheap Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)

View $99 flight on Wed, Sep 17, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Chicago O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Des Moines (ORD-DSM)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $99 for one-way flights and $130 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Sat, Oct 4
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$130 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$130
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Sat, Oct 4, priced at $130 found 4 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Mon, Sep 29 - Wed, Oct 1
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$132 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$132
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Mon, Sep 29 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Wed, Oct 1, priced at $132 found 6 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Mon, Oct 27 - Fri, Oct 31
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$148 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$148
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Mon, Oct 27 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Fri, Oct 31, priced at $148 found 4 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Sat, Oct 4
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$160 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$160
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Sat, Oct 4, priced at $160 found 4 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Mon, Sep 29 - Wed, Oct 1
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$162 Roundtrip, found 6 days ago
$162
Roundtrip
found 6 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Mon, Sep 29 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Wed, Oct 1, priced at $162 found 6 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Fri, Sep 12 - Tue, Sep 16
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$165 Roundtrip, found 4 days ago
$165
Roundtrip
found 4 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Fri, Sep 12 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Tue, Sep 16, priced at $165 found 4 days ago
American Airlines
Wed, Aug 13 - Sat, Aug 16
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$177 Roundtrip, just found
$177
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Wed, Aug 13 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Sat, Aug 16, priced at $177 just found
United
Wed, Aug 13 - Sat, Aug 16
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$177 Roundtrip, just found
$177
Roundtrip
just found
Select United flight, departing Wed, Aug 13 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Sat, Aug 16, priced at $177 just found
Delta
Tue, Mar 31 - Sat, Apr 4
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$219 Roundtrip, just found
$219
Roundtrip
just found
Select Delta flight, departing Tue, Mar 31 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Sat, Apr 4, priced at $219 just found
Frontier Airlines
Sun, Sep 7 - Thu, Sep 11
ORD
Chicago
DSM
Des Moines
$265 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$265
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Frontier Airlines flight, departing Sun, Sep 7 from Chicago to Des Moines, returning Thu, Sep 11, priced at $265 found 1 day ago

Find the cheapest month to fly from Chicago (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)

September is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $137 - $328 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Alternative airports near Des Moines

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

Select flight to Des Moines Intl. DSM. Cheapest and Closest option available. Average driving time to city center is 10 minutes. Flights from $188
DSM
Des Moines Intl.
CheapestClosest
Average driving time to city center10 min
Flights from $188
Flights from Chicago (ORD) to Des Moines (DSM)
Origin airport
O'Hare Intl.
Destination airport
Des Moines Intl.
Airlines serving
American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$129
Distance
297 mi
Average flight time
1 hour 26 mins

Chicago to Des Moines Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Chicago to Des Moines

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

 

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

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

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 Chicago to Des Moines in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $99 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 Chicago to Des Moines 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 Chicago to Des Moines 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 O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) cost?
Find cheap return tickets from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) starting at $189. Book your seat and get ready for takeoff. This information is based on the cheapest price found on Expedia for this return journey departing within the next three months. This airfare is for a United flight leaving ORD on July 30 2025 and touching down at DSM. The price was last updated on July 10 2025 and has not changed since.
What is the cheapest month to fly from ORD to DSM?
To snag a cheap ticket, look for direct flights from ORD to DSM that depart in October. You can find a one-way American Airlines flight for $213 leaving on October 14 2025. This price is based on the cheapest direct flight found on Expedia for this route in the next 330 days. The price was last updated on July 10 2025 and remains unchanged.
Which airlines fly direct from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
When heading out of O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD), you can board a nonstop flight to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) with United Airlines.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from ORD to DSM?
With fares starting at $214 for a one-way flight from ORD to DSM, American Airlines is currently the cheapest carrier for this route. This fare is based on the lowest price found on Expedia departing within the next three months. The flight takes off from ORD on September 18 2025. Prices were last updated on July 10 2025 and have not changed since.
How many flights per day from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
With, on average, 7 nonstop flights departing from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) each day, you'll be cruising above the clouds before you know it.
What are the most popular departure times for flights from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
The 1 PM departures from ORD to DSM are the most sought after. They can also be more expensive. If you're hoping to save money, book during off-peak hours.
What day of the week has the most flights from ORD to DSM?
If you fly on a Friday, you'll get the widest range of choices for flights from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM).
What is the earliest flight from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD)'s first flight to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) departs at approximately 9:00AM UTC-6. With a total flight time of 1h 38m, you'll touch down at around 10:38AM UTC-6.
How long does it take to fly from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
The average flight duration from ORD to DSM is 1 hour and 32 minutes, covering a total distance of 300 mi.
What airline has the least delays from ORD to DSM?
Alaska Airlines has the best track record for on-time direct flights from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM), with an on-time score of 90%. Use the Expedia App to look up your flight schedule before you take off and get real-time alerts about any changes.
What is the best time to fly from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
To avoid potential delays on the O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) route, travel before 3 PM. Later flights 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.
What airports do you fly into for Des Moines from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD)?
Compare your flight options from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM). This is the only airport in Des Moines you can fly into if you're taking a direct flight.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) last-minute?
Last-minute bookings from ORD to DSM are usually more expensive. To secure the cheapest rates, start looking for flights as early as possible. That being said, if you can play around with your travel dates, you may find a cheap fare just before your departure.
Is it cheaper to book an ORD to DSM flight and hotel package?
Compared with arranging flights and hotels separately, booking an ORD to DSM flight and hotel package with Expedia could lead to significant savings. Better yet, having everything in one easy place takes the hassle out of travel planning. Just secure your flights and choose from our wide range of stays, then personalize your trip with other add-ons like car rentals and activities.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from O'Hare Intl. Airport (ORD) to Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM)?
If you booked your ORD to DSM flight within the last 24 hours, you may be able to modify or cancel it at no cost. Depending on the airline and the type of ticket you purchased, additional charges may apply for changes beyond this timeframe. Airline policies and contact information can be found in your itinerary or confirmation email. Or, go to our Customer Service portal if you want more information.

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