Asheville from Des Moines, 16 – 18 Oct: £1,097 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Fare $479 per person, $140 below the typical fare on this route
- Breakfast and free cancellation at the $498 Brookstone Lodge
- Sunday forecast clear, 60°F, 0% rain, for Parkway foliage
The catch: The outbound has one stop and takes 4h 48m, it's peak-foliage weekend, and a checked bag, about $160 for two, isn't in the total.
Worth it if you want fall color, Biltmore and breweries in two nights; skip it if you need a nonstop or quiet trails.
Worth it if a one-stop flight works for you. The trip is $1,456 for two, all in: $958 for the flights plus $498 for 2 nights at Brookstone Lodge near Biltmore Village, an Ascend Collection Hotel, with taxes and fees included but no checked bag or spending money. You fly out Friday, Oct 16, and come home Sunday, Oct 18, 2026, on United (operated by SkyWest DBA United Express) with one stop.
The total, before you go
£1,097 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £722 |
| Brookstone Lodge near Biltmore Village, an Ascend Collection Hotel, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £375 |
| The total, before you go | £1,097 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£106 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £30 each way per bag on United, £121 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£361 per person, return
£722 for two, taxes and fees included · United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express · 1 stop · 4h 48m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 3:11 PM – Fri, Oct 16, 8:59 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express | £361 | 1 stop | 4h 48m |
| United. Operated by Gojet Airlines DBA United Express | £395 | 1 stop | 4h 38m |
| United | £425 | 1 stop | 7h 49m |
Prices checked 14 Oct 2026, 04:08 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
At $479 per person, the fare is $140 below the typical fare on this route, or 23% less, and it's the lowest we've seen in 30 days. The 12 fares we found for these dates ranged from $479 to $899. October is peak fall foliage on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is the reason to go now. It's also why these are the busiest weekends in town. The forecast looks workable: drizzle Friday with a high of 82°F, overcast and 57°F on Saturday, then clear and 60°F on Sunday. The rain chance tops out at 15%. Bring layers, because lows drop to 37°F. Two nights gives you time for one Parkway drive, one Biltmore day and an evening of bluegrass, and you're home by Sunday.
The kind of trip this is
This is a fall weekend in the mountains for two: nature in the morning, food and music at night. Expect a scenic drive on the Parkway, a long walk around an estate and its gardens, and a brewery or two after that. It suits couples or two friends who like a steady pace and don't mind cool evenings. Don't come for a beach or nightlife. Come for the color, the trails and good meals.
Weather in Asheville, 16 – 18 Oct
Highs 57–82°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | 82 °F | 45 °F | 15% |
| Sat 17 Oct | 57 °F | 39 °F | 15% |
| Sun 18 Oct | 60 °F | 37 °F | 0% |
Where to stay in Asheville
Brookstone Lodge near Biltmore Village, an Ascend Collection Hotel is the best value and the hotel in our total. It costs $498 for 2 nights ($249 a night) with breakfast and free cancellation, and it's rated 7.7 from 915 reviews. Biltmore Village has inns and shops at the gates of the Biltmore Estate. Best Western Asheville-Blue Ridge Parkway is $608 for the stay ($304 a night), also with breakfast and free cancellation, and it scores higher at 8.3 from 1,418 reviews. The Windsor - Asheville is the top rated at 9.5 from 150 reviews. It's in Downtown Asheville, where breweries, music venues and galleries line Art Deco streets you can walk. It costs $1,907 for the stay, room only, with no free cancellation.
Brookstone Lodge near Biltmore Village, an Ascend Collection Hotel
£375 for 2 nights, two guests · £188 a night
See roomsThe Windsor - Asheville
£1,437 for 2 nights, two guests · £719 a night
See roomsBest Western Asheville-Blue Ridge Parkway
£458 for 2 nights, two guests · £229 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Asheville for these dates
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Where in Asheville
- Downtown Asheville: Art Deco streets with breweries, music venues and galleries on foot.
- Biltmore Village: Inns and shops at the gates of the Biltmore Estate.
- River Arts District: Converted mills with studios and riverside restaurants.
- West Asheville: Local bars and cafes along Haywood Road.
- Black Mountain: Small mountain town 15 miles east with craft shops and trailheads.
What to do in Asheville
- Tour the Biltmore Estate and its gardens, a short hop from Biltmore Village
- Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to Craggy Gardens on clear Sunday morning
- Tour the breweries from Wicked Weed to Sierra Nevada
- Hear bluegrass at the Grey Eagle or the Orange Peel
- Hike to Catawba Falls or Mount Mitchell, with trailheads near Black Mountain
- Eat your way through the River Arts District's converted mills and riverside restaurants
Tours and tickets in Asheville
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Asheville | Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 4h 48m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 726 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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What 2 nights in Asheville costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £722 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Brookstone Lodge near Biltmore Village, an Ascend Collection Hotel) | £375 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £392 |
| Total for two | £1,489 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Des Moines to Asheville
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £361 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £361 (14 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £467 |
| Price checks | 8 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Asheville.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Peak fall foliage on the Parkway and the busiest weekends
- No passport needed, and you'll pay in US dollars.
- Asheville is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines. The outbound leaves DSM at 3:11 PM and lands at AVL at 8:59 PM.
- The fare doesn't include a checked bag, which runs about $160 for two.
- Our budget has $520 in spending money for two over the 2 days, on top of the $1,456.
- Mid-October is peak fall foliage on the Parkway, so expect the busiest weekends.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, if one stop doesn't bother you. The fare is $479 per person, $140 below the typical fare on this route, and the hotel includes breakfast and free cancellation. Just know this is a peak-foliage weekend, so it will be busy.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,456, all in, taxes and fees included: $958 for the flights and $498 for 2 nights at Brookstone Lodge. A checked bag, about $160 for two, isn't included, and neither is spending money.
How long is the flight?
The outbound on United, operated by SkyWest DBA United Express, has one stop and takes 4h 48m. It leaves Des Moines at 3:11 PM on Friday, Oct 16, and lands in Asheville at 8:59 PM.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows drizzle and 82°F on Friday, overcast and 57°F on Saturday, and clear skies at 60°F on Sunday. Rain chances stay at 15% or lower, and nights get down to 37°F.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a long weekend: a day at the Biltmore Estate, a drive on the Parkway to Craggy Gardens, and a night of bluegrass or a brewery tour.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Des Moines International (DSM) to Asheville Regional (AVL), and you'll pay in US dollars.
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All trips from Des Moines · Asheville from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Asheville in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Mark Stebnicki / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Ken Jacobsen / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Ken Jacobsen / Pexels, Pexels License