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 most budget-friendly choice. Flights with one or more layovers can often be cheaper, though they will extend your travel duration. Your preference for convenience versus cost will usually determine the best option.

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 depending on the day of the week or specific times of the year. Adjusting your departure or return by a few days may result in noticeable savings.

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 expenses 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 today

456 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Aug 31, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Des Moines to Indianapolis

2026-10-04 – 2026-10-21
DSM - Indianapolis
76% AI deal score
$347
$207
Round trip
2026-10-04 – 2026-10-14
DSM - Indianapolis
76% AI deal score
$369
$213
Round trip
2026-10-04 – 2026-10-28
DSM - Indianapolis
75% AI deal score
$343
$213
Round trip
2026-09-13 – 2026-09-16
DSM - Indianapolis
73% AI deal score
$451
$218
Round trip
2026-10-04 – 2026-10-07
DSM - Indianapolis
77% AI deal score
$421
$223
Round trip
2026-09-27 – 2026-10-21
DSM - Indianapolis
73% AI deal score
$326
$227
Round trip
2026-09-24 – 2026-09-26
DSM - Indianapolis
75% AI deal score
$401
$233
Round trip
2026-09-27 – 2026-10-14
DSM - Indianapolis
72% AI deal score
$329
$234
Round trip
2026-10-25 – 2026-10-28
DSM - Indianapolis
76% AI deal score
$422
$235
Round trip
2026-09-20 – 2026-10-14
DSM - Indianapolis
71% AI deal score
$326
$237
Round trip

Des Moines to Indianapolis: Overview

Insights for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

For cheap flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis, right now 46% of recent fares are classified as a good price. Fares for this route typically range from $335–$456, with a median of $343. Current prices are near the typical level, indicating a stable market for this short-haul route.

When considering the cheapest time to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis, March stands out as the most affordable month, with a median fare of just $174. Other cost-effective options include May, where the median fare is $336, and September, with a median fare of $341. New deals appear almost daily for this route, so setting up a price alert can help you secure a favorable fare.

A typical journey from Des Moines to Indianapolis takes about 3h 47m, including connections. Most itineraries for this route involve at least one stopover, as 0% of recent fares were for direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis. When connecting, you can expect a median of 2 stopovers to reach your destination.

The distance between Des Moines and Indianapolis is 653 km, classifying this as a short-haul route. This means you can expect a relatively quick travel time, even with connections, making it a convenient option for regional travel.

How much is a round trip from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Regular price: $340 - $576

Prices for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for this route is $340 to $576. The current lowest deal is $159 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Sep 14-Sep 16.

now $159

Low $340

High $576

The cheapest time to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis

The cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis is March, with a median price of $174. The most expensive month is July, with a median price of $697. Prices are generally lower from January to September.

March

Cheapest

Flights from $174

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $697

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

United Airlines

Allegiant Air

Frontier Airlines

Southwest Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Tue, Sep 1

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$665

$777

One-way

Thu, Sep 3

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$639

$782

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$639

$552

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$631

$647

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

Frontier Airlines

$627

$672

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

Deutsche Luft Hansa

$466

$361

One-way

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

4 nights

Sep 6 - Sep 10

$450 → $257

43%

3 nights

Oct 23 - Oct 26

$422 → $298

29%

7 nights

Oct 8 - Oct 15

$401 → $279

30%

4 nights

Sep 21 - Sep 25

$399 → $278

30%

Popular Airports to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Des Moines - Indianapolis route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are near the typical level

Recent fares for Des Moines to Indianapolis are near the typical level at $159.

📅 Best time to fly

March is historically cheapest

Historically, March is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis, with a median price of $174.

⏱️ Flight duration

Connecting flights average 3h 47m

Connecting flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis typically average 3 hours and 47 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

No direct flights available

There are no direct flights available from Des Moines to Indianapolis; all routes include at least one stop.

🏆 Airline highlight

Frontier Airlines offers a recent deal

Frontier Airlines recently offered a flight for $159 from Des Moines to Indianapolis.

🎯 Booking tip

Deals appear frequently

Deals for flights between Des Moines and Indianapolis appear frequently.

Des Moines main airports to depart from

Des Moines International (DSM)

Cheapest

Des Moines International Airport is a convenient departure point for flights to Indianapolis.

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

💸 Flights from ~$207

Indianapolis main airports to arrive at

Indianapolis International (IND)

Cheapest

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

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

💸 Flights from ~$207

Airports nearby Indianapolis used as alternative

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)

Cheapest

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International is a major international hub with significantly more direct flight options.

📍 ~170 km from Indianapolis (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$244

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Indianapolis

Discover luxury on the budget with premium cabin class on flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis.

Elite

Best Elite deals to Indianapolis

Exclusive daily First Class, Business Class, and Premium Economy flight deals, refreshed every 24 hours.

From DSM

Elite

Oct 08

Indianapolis, United States

78% AI deal score

$1,086

$569

Save $517

United Airlines

Business Class

From DSM

Elite

Sep 27

Indianapolis, United States

77% AI deal score

$1,359

$683

Save $676

United Airlines

Business Class

From DSM

Elite

Sep 18

Indianapolis, United States

74% AI deal score

$1,203

$739

Save $464

United Airlines

Business Class

From DSM

Elite

Sep 08

Indianapolis, United States

43% AI deal score

$1,306

$1,182

Save $124

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Indianapolis

To find more affordable flights, consider being flexible with your travel dates and times. Comparing prices from various airlines and online travel agencies can often reveal better deals. Looking into flights with layovers instead of direct routes may also present lower fares.

Booking flights 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. Weekday bookings might also offer different pricing compared to weekends.

Comparing nearby airports at both your origin and destination can sometimes uncover 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

Flights from Hong Kong to Indianapolis Flights from Houston to Indianapolis Flights from Kansas City to Indianapolis Flights from Las Vegas to Indianapolis Flights from Los Angeles to Indianapolis Flights from Memphis to Indianapolis Flights from Minneapolis to Indianapolis Flights from New York to Indianapolis Flights from Orlando to Indianapolis Flights from Philadelphia to Indianapolis Flights from Phoenix to Indianapolis Flights from Raleigh to Indianapolis

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: $340 - $576

Prices for flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for this route is $340 to $576. The current lowest deal is $159 with Frontier Airlines for travel from Sep 14-Sep 16.

now $159

Low $340

High $576

The cheapest time to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis

March

Cheapest

Flights from $174

July

Most Expensive

Flights from $697

Jan

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Des Moines to Indianapolis

United Airlines

Allegiant Air

Frontier Airlines

Southwest Airlines

Last-minute flights going from Des Moines to Indianapolis

Tue, Sep 1

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$665

$777

One-way

Thu, Sep 3

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$639

$782

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$639

$552

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

$631

$647

One-way

Fri, Sep 4

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

Frontier Airlines

$627

$672

One-way

Wed, Sep 9

⌛ Last-Minute

DSM - Indianapolis

Des Moines (DSM) - Indianapolis (IND)

Deutsche Luft Hansa

$466

$361

One-way

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

4 nights

Sep 6 - Sep 10

$450 → $257

43%

3 nights

Oct 23 - Oct 26

$422 → $298

29%

7 nights

Oct 8 - Oct 15

$401 → $279

30%

4 nights

Sep 21 - Sep 25

$399 → $278

30%

Popular Airports to fly from Des Moines to Indianapolis