Sedona from Des Moines, Oct 23–25: $1,597 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $482 per person, $82 below the typical fare on this route
- Clear forecast, highs of 61–70°F, rain chances of 9–17%
- Hotel scores 8.4 from 648 reviews, with breakfast and free cancellation
The catch: The flight has one stop and takes 5h 23m, landing at 11:48 PM, and checked bags run about $240 for two on top of the total.
Worth it if you want red-rock hikes in mild weather for a weekend; skip it if a late Friday flight with a stop wears you out.
Worth it if you don't mind a late flight with one stop: the trip is $1,597 for two. That's the Frontier flights at $964 plus 2 nights at Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek by IHG at $596 and its $37 property fee, with taxes and fees included. It covers Oct 23–25, 2026, a 2-night weekend, on Frontier with one stop (not nonstop), and checked bags and spending money are extra.
The total, before you go
$1,597 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $964 |
| Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek by IHG, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $596 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $37 |
| The total, before you go | $1,597 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$82 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 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
$482 per person, round trip
$964 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 5h 23m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 8:25 PM – Fri, Oct 23, 11:48 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $482 | 1 stop | 5h 23m |
| American | $570 | nonstop | 3h 6m |
| American. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as American Eagle | $570 | nonstop | 3h 26m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 1:39 AM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
At $482 per person, the Frontier fare is $82 below the typical fare on this route, or 15% under the $564 median from our 14 checks. Across 12 offers for these dates, fares ran from $482 to $761. The whole trip comes to $1,597 for two, all in, with the hotel and its $37 property fee counted. Checked bags and spending money are extra. October is Sedona's peak season, with the mildest hiking weather and the highest rates, and the forecast agrees: clear days, highs of 61–70°F, lows of 43–45°F and rain chances between 9% and 17%. It works well for a short getaway of trail mornings, a jeep ride over the slickrock and a night of stargazing, and you won't need a passport or a currency change.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature weekend: red-rock buttes, trailheads, spa time and quiet nights under dark skies. It suits a couple or a pair of friends who like an early start on the trail and an easy evening after. The pace is active but short, so plan one big hike and one slower outing instead of packing every hour.
Weather in Sedona, Oct 23–25
Highs 61–70°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 23 | 66 °F | 44 °F | 17% |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 61 °F | 45 °F | 9% |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 70 °F | 43 °F | 11% |
Where to stay in Sedona
Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek by IHG is the best-value pick and the one in our total. It's $596 for 2 nights ($298 a night) plus a $37 fee paid at the property, with breakfast, free cancellation and a score of 8.4 from 648 reviews. Kokopelli Inn Sedona, Trademark Collection by Wyndham is the top-rated pick, at 9 from 1,170 reviews. It's $690 for the stay ($345 a night), room only, with free cancellation and $43 due at the property. Dreamcatcher Inn of Sedona, in West Sedona, is $607 ($304 a night) for a Panoramic Queen View room. It scores 7.8 from 955 reviews, is room only, has no free cancellation and charges $72 at the property. West Sedona has most of the hotels and restaurants and is close to the trailheads. Uptown Sedona is the walkable stretch of shops and galleries with red-rock views.
Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek by IHG
$596 for 2 nights, two guests · $298 a night
See roomsKokopelli Inn Sedona, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
$690 for 2 nights, two guests · $345 a night
See roomsDreamcatcher Inn of Sedona
$607 for 2 nights, two guests · $304 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Sedona for these dates
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Where in Sedona
- Uptown Sedona: Walkable shops and galleries with red-rock views from the main street.
- West Sedona: Most hotels and restaurants, close to the trailheads.
- Oak Creek Canyon: Creekside cabins and lodges in the shade north of town.
- Village of Oak Creek: Resorts and golf beneath Bell Rock, a few miles south.
- Boynton Canyon: Secluded luxury spa resorts like Enchantment.
What to do in Sedona
- Hike Cathedral Rock or Devil's Bridge in the cool morning hours
- Take a Pink Jeep tour over the slickrock
- Slide down the natural chute at Slide Rock State Park
- Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Drive Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff
- Stargaze in a certified dark-sky community; nights drop to 43–45°F
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Sedona | Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), Flagstaff Pulliam (FLG) |
| Flight time | 5h 23m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,085 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
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What 2 nights in Sedona costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $964 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek by IHG) | $596 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $760 |
| Total for two | $2,320 |
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 Sedona
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $482 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $356 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $564 |
| Price checks | 14 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Sedona.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Peak season with the mildest hiking weather and the highest rates
- No passport needed, and you'll pay in US dollars.
- Sedona is 2 hours behind Des Moines, and the flight lands at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), two hours south of Sedona.
- October is peak season, with the mildest hiking weather and the highest rates.
- The $1,597 total doesn't include checked bags (about $240 for two) or spending money. Our budget with $760 of spending is $2,320.
- Dreamcatcher Inn of Sedona has no free cancellation; the other two hotels do.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if a late flight with one stop is fine for you. The fare is $82 below the typical fare on this route, the forecast is clear with highs of 61–70°F, and the hotel in the total scores 8.4 with free cancellation.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,597 for two, all in: Frontier flights at $964, plus Holiday Inn Express Sedona - Oak Creek by IHG at $596 and its $37 property fee. Checked bags are about $240 for two on top of that, and our budget with spending money comes to $2,320.
Is there a nonstop?
Yes. American flies nonstop at $570 per person, $1,140 for two. One flight leaves at 5:06 AM and lands at 6:12 AM; another leaves at 6:29 PM and lands at 7:55 PM. The Frontier option has one stop and takes 5h 23m.
What is the weather like?
The forecast is clear all three days, with highs of 61–70°F, lows of 43–45°F and rain chances between 9% and 17%. Bring a layer for mornings and stargazing.
Is 2 nights enough?
For one big hike, a jeep tour and a night under the stars, yes. The Frontier flight lands at 11:48 PM on Friday, Oct 23, so your first full day is Saturday.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Des Moines International (DSM) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), and you'll pay in US dollars.
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