Cheap Flights from Des Moines to St Louis

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Flight deals from Des Moines to St Louis

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

Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to St Louis

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

Direct flights from Des Moines to St Louis

Des Moines to St Louis: Alternative routes

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

Des Moines to St Louis: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$273
Cheapest month to flyJanuary
Average flight time1 hr, 13 mins
Most popular airlineSouthwest Airlines
Average flights per week6

Finding cheap flights from Des Moines to St Louis: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Des Moines to St Louis is $273. 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.
1 hour and 13 minutes is the average flight time from Des Moines to St Louis.
Southwest Airlines flies direct from Des Moines to St Louis.
As of December 2025, there are 6 flights per week flying from Des Moines to St Louis.
The cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to St Louis is usually January.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Des Moines Airport to St Louis Airport on Saturday, 31 January 2026.
Yes – the average flight time is 1 hour and 13 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 St Louis 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 St Louis is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to St Louis.

Flying from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL): what you need to know

  • The average duration of a direct flight from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is 1 hour 10 minutes.

  • Des Moines and St Louis follow the same timezone, UTC-5.

  • Flights from DSM to STL start from 05:10 — the first with Southwest Airlines. The last departure is at 18:45 with Southwest Airlines. Overall, you can choose from ten weekly Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport flights.

  • For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably catch your DSM to STL flight.

  • During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport well in advance. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight when you travel during a peak period in general.

  • Getting to St Louis (and then exploring more of United States!) is a snap with Southwest Airlines. This popular airline has direct flights from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

  • The airline most travellers prefer to fly with on this route is Southwest Airlines.

  • With a reliable 82.91% of services arriving as scheduled, Southwest Airlines has the best on-time record for DSM to STL flights.

  • We make it easy to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight offering a stop long enough to visit your chosen city. Top stopovers between DSM and STL include:

    • O'Hare International Airport

    • Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)

  • The lowest price we've seen for a one-way Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport flight is $155. A return plane ticket is currently $273. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares could change.

  • To secure cheap tickets from DSM to STL, book your trip ten months before your departure date.

  • The cheapest month for flights from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices if you have flexible dates.

  • Snapping up cheap flights from DSM to STL couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as a lower fare pops up.

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

Handy information about Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

  • DSM is located at 5800 Fleur Drive, Suite 201.

  • Des Moines International Airport has a strong on-time performance, so you're less likely to experience disruptions. Departures from DSM land on schedule 80.45% of the time.

  • To reach Des Moines International Airport from central Des Moines, it takes about 15 minutes if you're planning to drive. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 10 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.

  • The trip when using public transport usually takes 45 minutes.

  • Booked an early flight from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by picking one of these hotels close to DSM:

Arriving at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)

Getting from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) to central St Louis

  • STL is located at 10701 Lambert International Blvd..

  • From Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, St Louis is approximately 26 kilometres away. It takes around 20 minutes to get to the centre driving.

  • If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey of roughly 35 minutes.

When to fly to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)

  • It's time to pick your trip dates for your flight from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. July is the busiest month to visit St Louis. If you'd like a more laid-back vibe, go in April.

  • Lock in your flight from Des Moines International Airport to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport for July if you'd like to explore St Louis during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 17ºC and 33ºC.

  • If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from DSM to STL in January. Average temperatures are between -8ºC and 7ºC then.

Explore more of United States

  • St Louis has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of United States just waiting to be explored. About 418 kilometres north-east of St Louis, a trip to Chicago will keep you on the move. Start with leading attractions like Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago and LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier.

  • If you're eager to discover another major destination in United States, head for Indianapolis, about 370 kilometres east of St Louis. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indianapolis Zoo are key highlights.

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