Are direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis always the best option?

Direct flights offer convenience and save time, but they are not always the cheapest option. Flights with layovers can sometimes be more affordable, depending on the route and airline. Consider your priorities for cost versus travel time when making your choice.

Can flexible travel dates help on Des Moines to Indianapolis flights?

Yes, being flexible with your travel dates can often lead to finding more affordable flights. Prices can vary significantly between different days of the week or even within the same week. Using a flexible date search tool may highlight cheaper travel periods.

What extra costs should I check before booking Des Moines to Indianapolis flights?

Before booking, always check for potential extra costs such as baggage fees, seat selection charges, and in-flight services. Some airlines may also charge for printing boarding passes at the airport. These additional fees can impact the overall cost of your trip.

Flights From Des Moines

To Indianapolis

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Browse current best options from Des Moines. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Des Moines

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Indianapolis

Prices updated 4 days ago

476 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Oct 12, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Des Moines to Indianapolis

2026-11-07 – 2026-11-09
DSM - Indianapolis
76% AI deal score
$386
$240
Round trip
2026-10-11 – 2026-11-04
DSM - Indianapolis
71% AI deal score
$428
$320
Round trip
2026-10-25 – 2026-11-04
DSM - Indianapolis
47% AI deal score
$372
$323
Round trip
2026-10-11 – 2026-10-28
DSM - Indianapolis
70% AI deal score
$432
$327
Round trip
2026-11-12 – 2026-12-03
DSM - Indianapolis
40% AI deal score
$317
$331
Round trip
2026-11-15 – 2026-12-03
DSM - Indianapolis
40% AI deal score
$319
$332
Round trip
2026-11-08 – 2026-11-11
DSM - Indianapolis
47% AI deal score
$387
$335
Round trip
2026-11-09 – 2026-12-03
DSM - Indianapolis
40% AI deal score
$317
$337
Round trip
2027-01-18 – 2027-01-26
DSM - Indianapolis
42% AI deal score
$344
$341
Round trip
2027-01-25 – 2027-02-18
DSM - Indianapolis
39% AI deal score
$311
$362
Round trip

Des Moines to Indianapolis: Overview

Insights for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Right now, 60% of recent fares from Des Moines to Indianapolis are considered a good price. Fares for this route typically range from $327–$540, with a median of $349. Currently, prices are significantly below the typical level, making it a favorable time to look for cheap flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis. Deals are infrequent for this route, so setting up a price alert can be beneficial.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis, February stands out with a median fare of $327. Following closely are September and January, both offering median fares of $343. These months present the most economical options for this route.

A typical journey from Des Moines to Indianapolis takes about 3h 44m, including connections. Most itineraries on this route connect at least once, as 0% of recent fares were for direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis. Travelers should expect to make 2 connections on average when flying between these two cities.

The distance between Des Moines and Indianapolis is 653 kilometers. This classifies the route as a short-haul flight, typically involving shorter travel times and fewer complex logistics compared to longer international or transcontinental journeys.

How much is a round trip from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Regular price: $284 - $506

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis is $284 to $506. The current lowest deal is $249 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Nov 16-Dec 1.

now $249

Low $284

High $506

The cheapest time to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis

The cheapest month to fly from DSM to IND is February, with a median price of $327. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $937. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

February

Cheapest

Flights from $327

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $937

Jan

Feb

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Allegiant Air

United Airlines

Frontier Airlines

JetBlue Airways

Last-minute flights going from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Fri, Oct 16

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$601

$953

One-way

Fri, Oct 16

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$599

$1,551

One-way

Mon, Oct 19

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$503

$726

One-way

Wed, Oct 21

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$493

$623

One-way

Thu, Oct 22

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$487

$579

One-way

Wed, Oct 28

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$345

$482

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

5 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 8

$399 → $299

25%

7 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 10

$388 → $309

20%

7 nights

Dec 8 - Dec 15

$393 → $323

18%

3 nights

Dec 7 - Dec 10

$407 → $347

15%

Popular Airports to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Des Moines - Indianapolis route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are below the typical level

Recent fares are below the typical level, with prices around $249.

📅 Best time to fly

February is historically cheapest

Historically, February is the cheapest month to fly, with median prices around $327.

⏱️ Flight duration

Connecting flights average 3h 44m

Connecting flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis typically average 3 hours and 44 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Connecting flights are dominant

This route is connecting-dominant, with no direct flights available in recent months.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers a recent deal

Frontier Airlines recently offered a deal for $249 from November 16 to December 1.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals are rare on this route

Deals on flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis are historically rare.

Des Moines main airports to depart from

Des Moines International (DSM)

Cheapest

Des Moines International Airport is a convenient option for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis.

📍 ~8 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$264

Indianapolis main airports to arrive at

Indianapolis International (IND)

Cheapest

Indianapolis International Airport is a great choice for direct access to Indianapolis from Des Moines.

📍 ~13 km from city center (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$233

Airports nearby Indianapolis used as alternative

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

Cheapest

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International is a major international hub with more direct flight options, but requires a drive of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

📍 ~170 km from Indianapolis (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$251

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Indianapolis

$801

Save $391

United Airlines

Business Class

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Indianapolis

To find more affordable flights, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Comparing prices across different airlines and booking sites can also help uncover better deals. Sometimes, flying on weekdays or during off-peak hours may offer lower fares.

Booking in advance, often several weeks or months before your intended travel date, can sometimes result in lower prices. However, prices can fluctuate, so monitoring fares over time may help you identify a good booking window. Last-minute deals are less common but can occasionally appear.

Comparing nearby airports at both your origin and destination can sometimes reveal more economical flight options. While it may add to your ground travel time, the potential savings on airfare can be significant. Always factor in the cost and convenience of transportation to and from alternative airports.

Related routes

More routes from Des Moines

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Flights to Indianapolis from other cities

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Des Moines to Indianapolis: Overview

Insights for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

How much is a round trip from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Regular price: $284 - $506

Prices are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis is $284 to $506. The current lowest deal is $249 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Nov 16-Dec 1.

now $249

Low $284

High $506

The cheapest time to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis

The cheapest month to fly from DSM to IND is February, with a median price of $327. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $937. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

February

Cheapest

Flights from $327

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $937

Jan

Feb

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Allegiant Air

United Airlines

Frontier Airlines

JetBlue Airways

Last-minute flights going from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Fri, Oct 16

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$601

$953

One-way

Fri, Oct 16

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$599

$1,551

One-way

Mon, Oct 19

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$503

$726

One-way

Wed, Oct 21

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$493

$623

One-way

Thu, Oct 22

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$487

$579

One-way

Wed, Oct 28

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

United Airlines

$345

$482

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

5 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 8

$399 → $299

25%

7 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 10

$388 → $309

20%

7 nights

Dec 8 - Dec 15

$393 → $323

18%

3 nights

Dec 7 - Dec 10

$407 → $347

15%

Popular Airports to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis