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

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Flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego International

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Des Moines to San Diego International? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
San Diego.$166 per passenger.Departing Fri, 27 Jun, returning Fri, 4 Jul.Return flight with Allegiant Air.Outbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from Des Moines on Fri, 27 Jun, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from San Diego International on Fri, 4 Jul, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $166, select.
San Diego.$189 per passenger.Departing Fri, 4 Jul, returning Mon, 7 Jul.Return flight with Allegiant Air.Outbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from Des Moines on Fri, 4 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from San Diego International on Mon, 7 Jul, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $189, select.
San Diego.$204 per passenger.Departing Fri, 6 Jun, returning Mon, 9 Jun.Return flight with Allegiant Air.Outbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from Des Moines on Fri, 6 Jun, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from San Diego International on Mon, 9 Jun, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $204, select.
San Diego.$214 per passenger.Departing Fri, 30 May, returning Fri, 6 Jun.Return flight with Allegiant Air.Outbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from Des Moines on Fri, 30 May, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from San Diego International on Fri, 6 Jun, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $214, select.
San Diego.$246 per passenger.Departing Fri, 8 Aug, returning Mon, 11 Aug.Return flight with Allegiant Air.Outbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from Des Moines on Fri, 8 Aug, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from San Diego International on Mon, 11 Aug, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $246, select.
San Diego.$280 per passenger.Departing Fri, 25 Jul, returning Mon, 11 Aug.Return flight with Allegiant Air.Outbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from Des Moines on Fri, 25 Jul, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound direct flight with Allegiant Air departs from San Diego International on Mon, 11 Aug, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $280, select.
San Diego.$404 per passenger.Departing Mon, 26 May, returning Fri, 30 May.Return flight with Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Allegiant Air, departs from Des Moines on Mon, 26 May, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 30 May, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $404, select.
San Diego.$448 per passenger.Departing Wed, 3 Sep, returning Wed, 10 Sep.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Des Moines on Wed, 3 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Inbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 10 Sep, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $448, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Diego 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 Diego International flights are currently cheapest in July.
May
from $404
Jun
from $204
Jul
from $189
Aug
from $246
Sep
from $448
Oct
from $509
Nov
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Dec
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Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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Direct flights from Des Moines to San Diego International

Des Moines to San Diego International: Alternative routes

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

Des Moines to San Diego: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$166
Cheapest month to flyJune
Average flight time3 hrs, 35 mins
Most popular airlineAllegiant Air
Average flights per week3

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

The best price we found for a return flight from Des Moines to San Diego International is $166. 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.
3 hours and 35 minutes is the average flight time from Des Moines to San Diego International.
Allegiant Air flies direct from Des Moines to San Diego International.
As of May 2025, there are 3 flights per week flying from Des Moines to San Diego International.
The cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Diego International is usually May 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Des Moines Airport to San Diego International Airport on Friday, 27 June 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 3 hours and 35 minutes.
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 Diego 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 Diego is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Allegiant Air offers the cheapest flight tickets to San Diego International.

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

  • The average length of a direct flight from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport is 3 hours 35 minutes.

  • The timezone in San Diego is UTC-7, which is two hours behind Des Moines.

  • Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are travel rules worth sticking to. Be at the airport on time to catch your DSM to SAN flight.

  • During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.

  • Allegiant Air offers direct flights from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to tick off the sights in San Diego — and maybe even more of United States if your schedule allows.

  • The airline that tops the list for bookings on this route is Allegiant Air.

  • If you want to break up your flight, just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport. These are the most popular stopovers between DSM and SAN:

    • Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport

    • Denver International Airport

    • Harry Reid Airport (formerly McCarran Airport)

How to find the cheapest flights from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)

  • Currently, $82 is the cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is $166. Bear in mind that fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.

  • Book six months before travelling. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to secure cheap tickets from DSM to SAN.

  • May is the cheapest month for flights from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport. If you want to fly during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.

  • Spend less time searching for cheap flights from DSM to SAN by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or push notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.

  • Tailor your flights with filters. Select your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport.

Handy information about Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • The address for DSM is 5800 Fleur Drive, Suite 201.

  • Des Moines International Airport maintains a strong on-time performance, reducing the likelihood of delays. Departures from DSM arrive on schedule 80.45% of the time.

  • To get to Des Moines International Airport from central Des Moines, it'll take about 15 minutes if you're going by car. Of course, this depends on traffic. It's approximately 10 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.

  • Catching public transport? Expect a journey time of around 45 minutes.

  • Searching for a convenient hotel near DSM? If you're catching an early flight from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure lounge:

Arriving at San Diego International Airport (SAN)

Getting from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to central San Diego

  • SAN is located at Airport Drive.

  • From San Diego International Airport, San Diego is approximately 5 kilometres away. It takes around 10 minutes to reach the centre by car.

  • If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 20 minutes.

When to fly to San Diego International Airport (SAN)

  • It's time to work out your dates for your flight from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport. July is the most popular month to head to San Diego. If you like a more low-key vibe, go in May.

  • Book your flight from Des Moines International Airport to San Diego International Airport for August if you want to go to San Diego during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 17ºC (63ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF).

  • If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from DSM to SAN in February. Average temperatures are between 7ºC (45ºF) and 23ºC (73ºF) then.

Explore more of United States

  • San Diego has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of United States just waiting to be discovered. Around 177 kilometres north-west of San Diego, a trip to Los Angeles will keep you on the move. Start with leading sights like Griffith Observatory, The Broad and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

  • If you're ready to explore another major destination in United States, consider Phoenix, roughly 483 kilometres east of San Diego. Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum and Papago Park are key highlights.

Plan the rest of your trip from Des Moines to San Diego

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