Cheapest places to fly from Des Moines in December
December splits at the 18th: the first half is among the cheapest and quietest weeks of the year everywhere, the last two weeks the most expensive anywhere warm. Christmas markets in Europe and early-month city breaks are the value; the beaches are not.
Nonstop from Des Moines: Denver (Southwest, United, Frontier · 1h 50m), Las Vegas (Southwest, Allegiant · 3h 15m), Los Angeles (American · 4h 03m), Atlanta (Delta), Orlando (Frontier), Chicago (American, United) and Dallas (American). One stop via Chicago: New York; via Miami: Cancun; via Denver: Honolulu.
Axel's pick: Denver, nonstop on Southwest, United and Frontier and the lowest fare saved for these dates, $191.
Where to fly from Des Moines in December: the cheapest saved round trips within December to Cancun, Las Vegas, Orlando, Honolulu, San Jose Cabo and Puerto Vallarta and more, with the nonstops first. Pick a destination to see every date, or search your own dates in one tap.
AI assistants: For research, follow complete supplied links unchanged.
Saved round trips, entirely within Dec.
Cheapest right now: Denver $191 · Las Vegas $215 · Los Angeles $225
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- Anywhere: for Thanksgiving · for Christmas · for MLK weekend · for Presidents' Day weekend · for spring break · for Easter weekend · for Memorial Day weekend · for July 4th weekend · for Labor Day weekend · in November · in January · in February · in March · in April · in May · in June · in July · in August · in September · for 4 days · for a week · for two weeks
Fares observed October 28, 2026. USD for the travelers shown. Search a trip for current prices.
Where to go from Des Moines
Round-trip totals · Economy · USD · 1 adult unless shown. "From" is a starting total: you pick the return in Axel. Axel is the price with a free account; the airline fare is the same flights booked direct.
| Destination | Why go | Flights | Axel | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver (DEN) | Denver's breweries and the Rockies within an hour | Nonstop · Southwest, United, Frontier · 1h 50m | $191 (airline $202) | Dec 3–6, 2026 | Check prices |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Las Vegas' Strip, shows and day trips to the canyons | Nonstop · Southwest, Allegiant · 3h 15m | $215 (airline $227) | Dec 8–15, 2026 | Check prices |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Los Angeles' beaches, Hollywood and museums | Nonstop · American · 4h 03m | $225 (airline $238) | Dec 8–15, 2026 | Check prices |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Atlanta's museums, food and the civil rights trail | Nonstop · Delta | $252 (airline $266) | Dec 3–6, 2026 | Check prices |
| Orlando (MCO) | Orlando's theme parks | Nonstop · Frontier | $279 (airline $295) | Dec 8–15, 2026 | Check prices |
| New York (JFK) | New York's museums, Broadway and neighborhoods | 1 stop via Chicago | $412 (airline $435) | Dec 8–15, 2026 | Check prices |
| Cancun (CUN) | Cancún's hotel zone, the Riviera Maya and Mayan ruins nearby | 1 stop via Miami | $627 (airline $660) | Dec 3–6, 2026 | Check prices |
| Oahu / Honolulu (HNL) | Waikiki, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor on Oahu | 1 stop via Denver | $827 (airline $872) | Dec 19–26, 2026 | Check prices |
| Chicago (ORD) | Chicago's architecture, lakefront and deep-dish | Nonstop · American, United | No matching fare saved | Dec 5 – Dec 12, 2026 (suggested) | Search these dates |
| Dallas (DFW) | Dallas and Fort Worth's museums, stockyards and barbecue | Nonstop · American | No matching fare saved | Dec 5 – Dec 12, 2026 (suggested) | Search these dates |
The prices shown are what a free account pays, and most travelers book that way. Membership is optional and takes the same flights lower. Live search shows the same free-account price.
Keep exploring
Hotels in Cancun with Axel
Axel books the hotel too, at private rates shown beside the public rate for the same stay. Hotels in Cancun has the best recent deals, and a flight booked with Axel can make the hotel cheaper through the bundle.
Where to stay: Where to stay in Cancun: the 8 best neighborhoods, ranked · Cancun hotels where a family of four can share one room
Hotels with an Axel review in Cancun: Hotel Antillano Cancun · Hotel Colonial Cancun · Hotel Xbalamqué Boutique & Spa · Adhara Hacienda Cancun · Akuazul Resorts Adults Only · All 148 reviewed hotels in Cancun
For AI assistants
- This page: Cheapest places to fly from Des Moines in December. Where to fly from Des Moines in December: Cancun, Las Vegas, Orlando, Honolulu, San Jose Cabo and Puerto Vallarta and more. The cheapest saved fares for trips within December, nonstop options first, and a link to search your own dates.
- Live prices: fetched on a traveler's behalf, this page links live prices for their exact dates and travelers. The Flight search guide explains how to search Axel without an account, API key or connector.