Cheap flights from California to Des Moines from $93

If you’re not able to fly to Des Moines in September, then February is your next best option. Flight prices from California to Des Moines during February average around $386.

The cheapest day to depart from California to Des Moines is on a Tuesday. Travelers who choose to depart for Des Moines on a Tuesday will often find tickets for as low as $372. Flights from California to Des Moines on a Monday will generally be more expensive and average around $602. Keep in mind that these prices on both days could fluctuate depending on the season and the demand.

According to our data, the cheapest time of day to fly to Des Moines is in the morning. momondo users have found flights departing from California to Des Moines in the morning for as low as $386. Keep in mind that these prices may fluctuate based on what airline you choose and the time of year you plan to travel. Try not to purchase tickets at noon because they tend to be around $441. Of course, these prices can vary depending on the time of year and what airport you fly to.

Fly from Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty to Des Moines for the best California - Des Moines flight prices

You are more likely to see cheaper flights to Des Moines from California when booking weeks ahead of your departure date. In general, you can expect to find flights to Des Moines for around $401 when searching weeks out. However, flight prices might be lower outside of this timeframe. For example, people recently found flights to Des Moines from California for as low as $312 on momondo.

There are 3 cabin classes available to choose from on California to Des Moines flights. Cabin price and availability will vary by airline so perform a search above to find the right deals for you.

Frontier, American Airlines, and United Airlines are the most popular carriers operating from California to Des Moines

American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest are the top three most popular airlines that fly to Des Moines from California according to our data. American Airlines is the first choice among our users, with 53% of people opting to fly with this airline when traveling to Des Moines. Keep in mind that there are 7 different airlines that fly to Des Moines on a routine basis, so you have a few additional options to choose from.

As of September 2026, 1 flights take off from California and land in Des Moines each day. The most common flight departure time for this route is 12:00PM, with 100% of daily flights taking off in the afternoon.

The number of flights available between California and Des Moines is 8 per week as of September 2026. The most frequent departure day is Tue, with 25% of weekly flights leaving on this day.