Cheap flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines

Compare Philadelphia to Des Moines flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Des Moines

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Flight deals from Philadelphia to Des Moines

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Philadelphia to Des Moines flights are currently cheapest in May.

Direct flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines

Philadelphia to Des Moines: Alternative routes

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

Philadelphia to Des Moines: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$79
Cheapest month to flyMay
Average flight time2 hrs, 58 mins
Most popular airlineAmerican Airlines
Average flights per week39

Finding cheap flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines is $336. 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.
2 hours and 58 minutes is the average flight time from Philadelphia to Des Moines.
American Airlines, Republic Airways and Qatar Airways fly direct from Philadelphia to Des Moines.
As of February 2026, there are 39 flights per week flying from Philadelphia to Des Moines.
The cheapest month to fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines is usually May.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines Airport on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 2 hours and 58 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
The cheapest airline that flies to Des Moines is Delta .

Travelling from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport (DSM): What you need to know

  • Kick off your travels at one of Philadelphia's main airports, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN). Check out your options for booking a flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) leaving from either of these.

  • Expect to be in the air for 3 hours. On average, that's the time it takes for a direct Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport flight.

  • Des Moines International Airport is located in Des Moines. The city follows the UTC-5 timezone and is one hour behind Philadelphia.

  • You can choose from 6 direct flights every week between Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Des Moines International Airport (DSM). This is the busiest route, with American Airlines offering a 10:20am departure from PHL to DSM.

  • Your flight from Philadelphia to DSM won't wait if you're running late, so don't forget to check in on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead for international travel.

  • Heading away during a peak time like public or school holidays? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. For peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.

Airports in Philadelphia

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

  • Get there in one go from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Direct flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) are available from here.

  • You'll find a direct flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport with American Airlines. This well-known airline offers services from PHL.

  • The airline most travellers choose when flying between PHL and DSM is American Airlines.

  • Located around 19 kilometres from the centre of Philadelphia, PHL can be reached in about 15 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport will take roughly 45 minutes.

  • Want an easy start to your travels? Stay near Philadelphia International Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport or prefer not to feel hurried, these hotels are the ideal choice:

  • When it comes to Philadelphia International Airport's on-time performance, 78.93% of flights meet their scheduled arrival time.

  • PHL is located at 8500 Essington Ave.

Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN)

  • You can arrive at TTN from the centre of Philadelphia in about 40 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to cover the 56 kilometres or so.

  • Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your Philadelphia to DSM flight, stay in one of these hotels close to Trenton-Mercer Airport:

  • The majority of flights that depart Trenton-Mercer Airport reach their destination within the expected time frame. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 82.45%.

  • You'll find TTN at Scotch Road, Terminal Building.

About Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

Getting from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to central Des Moines

  • Des Moines International Airport is about 6 kilometres from central Des Moines. The time it takes to get to the centre in a cab or car hire will depend on the time of day. Do some research before your trip.

  • It'll take around 45 minutes if you're using public transport.

How to find the cheapest flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • Right now, $79 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $336. Remember fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.

  • To pick up cheap flights from Philadelphia to DSM, book ahead. Airlines tend to offer lower prices when flights first go on sale.

  • If you have some flexibility with your travel plans, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across every month when searching for your Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport ticket.

  • There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a new deal shows up on plane tickets from Philadelphia to DSM.

  • Tailor your travel plans using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport.

The best time to fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • July is when most people book flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport (DSM). Plan your visit to Des Moines in April if you'd rather avoid peak season.

  • The warmest month in Des Moines is July, with temperatures ranging between 15ºC (59ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Lock in your Philadelphia to DSM plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.

  • January has temperatures of between -13ºC (9ºF) and 2ºC (36ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Philadelphia to Des Moines International Airport around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.

More about Des Moines

Explore more of the United States

  • Kansas City is just one of the many cities in the United States waiting to be discovered once you've seen Des Moines. Around 290 kilometres away to the south, well-known attractions include Jazz 1, National WWI Museum and Memorial and Jazz Pantheon.

  • Around 193 kilometres west of Des Moines, Omaha is another essential stop in the United States. Experience major highlights starting with Kiewit Luminarium, Suzanne & Walter Scott Aquarium and OUR BODY: The Universe Within.

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