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SFO to DSM: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
1,545 mi
2,487 km · 1,343 nm
3h 30m
estimated nonstop flight time
+2h
time difference · heading east
See live SFO→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,545 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 30m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, 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 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
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
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from DSM?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Des Moines (DSM) 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 SFO to DSM?
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 San Francisco and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 2 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.