San Francisco from Des Moines, Nov 14–21: $2,400 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Royal Pacific Motor Inn in Chinatown: 8 from 1,943 reviews, free cancellation
- One stop, 5h 59m, landing at SFO by 9:29 AM day one
- Highs of 58–62°F for the Golden Gate walk and cable cars
The catch: One stop and 5h 59m out, leaving at 5:30 AM; a checked bag is about $160 for two, not in the total.
Worth it if you want a walkable food-and-views week for two; skip it if you need sun or a nonstop.
Worth it if you're fine with one stop and cool, gray days: $2,400 for two, all in, for Nov 14–21, 2026, 7 nights. That's the round-trip flights at $686 plus Royal Pacific Motor Inn at $1,490 and its $224 property fee, taxes and fees included; a checked bag and spending money are extra. The flight is United, operated by SkyWest as United Express, with one stop, not nonstop.
The total, before you go
$2,400 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $686 |
| Royal Pacific Motor Inn, 7 nights, two guests, taxes in | $1,490 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $224 |
| The total, before you go | $2,400 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $40 each way per bag on United, $160 for two round trip); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$343 per person, round trip
$686 for two, taxes and fees included · United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express · 1 stop · 5h 59m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 5:30 AM – Sat, Nov 14, 9:29 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express | $343 | 1 stop | 5h 59m |
| Delta. Operated by Endeavor Air DBA Delta Connection | $343 | 1 stop | 6h 15m |
| Southwest | $343 | 1 stop | 5h 40m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 7:54 PM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Tweak this trip
Why now
$2,400 for two covers the round-trip flights at $343 per person, $686 for two, and 7 nights at Royal Pacific Motor Inn, with taxes, fees and its $224 property fee included, as we found it when we checked. Prices move, so treat that as a snapshot, not a promise. Mid-November in San Francisco runs highs of 58–62°F and lows near 50°F, cool enough for long walks up the hills and across the Golden Gate Bridge. The normals show one clear day, several overcast and drizzly ones, and rain on Nov 20, so pack a layer and a rain jacket. It's a domestic trip: no passport, US dollars and a 2-hour time change. A full week leaves room for Alcatraz, Muir Woods and the Mission without rushing, and the bill stays tied to one known number.
The kind of trip this is
A city week built on walking: hills, bay views, a ferry to Alcatraz and long lunches from Chinatown to the Mission. It suits a couple or two friends who like food and culture more than beach time, and who don't mind cool, gray days. The pace is easy, with a day out to the redwoods and plenty of time to wander between neighborhoods.
Weather in San Francisco, Nov 14–21
Typical highs 58–62°F, lows near 50°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 14 | 62 °F | 51 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 61 °F | 51 °F | Clear |
| Mon, Nov 16 | 61 °F | 51 °F | Overcast |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 60 °F | 48 °F | Overcast |
| Wed, Nov 18 | 58 °F | 51 °F | Drizzle |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 59 °F | 49 °F | Overcast |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 61 °F | 49 °F | Rain |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 62 °F | 49 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in San Francisco
Our pick is Royal Pacific Motor Inn in Chinatown: $1,490 for the 7 nights in a King Room, $213 a night, plus $224 in fees at the property that are already in the $2,400 total. It scores 8 from 1,943 reviews, and dim sum is a short walk away. Hotel Kabuki, part of JdV by Hyatt, in Japantown is the top rated at 8.3 from 377 reviews, at $4,123 for the stay plus $544 in fees at the property. The Dorel SF on Nob Hill is the budget pick: a Junior Single Studio at $1,073, $153 a night, plus $160 in fees, rated 7.4 from 219 reviews. Nob Hill is known for grand historic hotels with bay views; Union Square works if you want shopping and cable cars at the door. All three list free cancellation.
Royal Pacific Motor Inn
$1,490 for 7 nights, two guests · $213 a night
See roomsHotel Kabuki, part of JdV by Hyatt
$4,123 for 7 nights, two guests · $589 a night
See roomsThe Dorel SF
$1,073 for 7 nights, two guests · $153 a night
See roomsAll hotels in San Francisco for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in San Francisco
- Union Square: Central hotels with cable cars and shopping at the door.
- Fisherman's Wharf / North Beach: Waterfront, Alcatraz ferries and Italian cafes.
- Nob Hill: Grand historic hotels with bay views.
- The Mission: Murals, taquerias and the sunniest weather in town.
- Marina / Cow Hollow: Boutique inns near the Golden Gate and Crissy Field.
What to do in San Francisco
- Walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
- Take the ferry to Alcatraz from the Fisherman's Wharf waterfront
- Ride a cable car over Nob Hill
- Eat dim sum in Chinatown, then burritos in the Mission
- See the redwoods at Muir Woods
- Watch the sea lions at Pier 39
Tours and tickets in San Francisco
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in San Francisco | San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), San José Mineta International (SJC) |
| Flight time | 5h 59m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,546 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
What 7 nights in San Francisco costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $686 |
| Hotel, 7 nights (Royal Pacific Motor Inn) | $1,490 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 7 days for two | $2,660 |
| Total for two | $4,836 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for a luxury destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Des Moines to San Francisco
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $343 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $343 (Oct 16, 2026) |
| Price checks | 2 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for San Francisco.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, and the currency is the US dollar.
- San Francisco is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
- Outbound leaves DSM at 5:30 AM and lands at SFO at 9:29 AM, one stop, 5h 59m.
- All three hotels list free cancellation; rooms are room only, with no breakfast.
- Not in the total: a checked bag, about $160 for two, and spending money.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if one stop and cool, gray weather don't bother you. You get 7 nights in Chinatown at a hotel scored 8 from 1,943 reviews, with free cancellation, for $2,400 for two, all in.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$2,400 for two: flights at $686 ($343 per person) plus Royal Pacific Motor Inn at $1,490 and its $224 property fee, taxes and fees included when we checked. A checked bag, about $160 for two, and spending money are extra.
Is there a nonstop?
Not in what we found. All three options were one stop at $343 per person: United Express at 5:30 AM (5h 59m), Delta Connection at 6:45 AM (6h 15m) and Southwest at 7:00 AM (5h 40m).
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars, and San Francisco is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
What is the weather like?
Normals for these dates show highs of 58–62°F and lows near 50°F. Expect mostly overcast days, drizzle on Nov 14 and Nov 18, rain on Nov 20 and one clear day on Nov 15.
Is 7 nights enough?
For a first visit, yes. A week covers the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, cable cars, Muir Woods and the Mission at an easy pace, with room for a rainy day.
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All trips from Des Moines · San Francisco from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in November 2026 · Home
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