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DSM to SFO: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport)
1,545 mi
2,487 km · 1,343 nm
3h 30m
estimated nonstop flight time
-2h
time difference · heading west
See live DSM→SFO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,545 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 30m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near DSM
- OTM · Ottumwa Regional Airport70 mi away
- FOD · Fort Dodge Regional Airport75 mi away
- ALO · Waterloo Regional Airport96 mi away
- CID · The Eastern Iowa Airport104 mi away
Near SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from SFO?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco (SFO) is 1,545 miles (2,487 km, 1,343 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to SFO?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 30m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to SFO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–SFO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.