Yosemite from Des Moines, Oct 23–25: $1,822 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Fare is $497 per person, $32 below the typical fare
- Studio rated 8.4 from 26 reviews, with free cancellation
- Saturday forecast: 69°F, partly cloudy, 7% chance of rain
The catch: With one stop each way you spend 35h 47m traveling in total, landing Saturday at 10:17 AM and flying home Sunday at 8:51 PM.
Worth it if you'll trade long travel days for a packed Saturday among granite and sequoias; skip it if you want a relaxed weekend.
Worth it if long travel days don't bother you. The trip is $1,822 for two, all in: $994 for flights, $740 for Inside Yosemite Park-Cozy Corner Unit-Sleeps 2 and its $88 property fee, with taxes and fees included. That's 2 nights, Oct 23–25, 2026, flying Des Moines to Fresno on carrier G4 with one stop each way (no nonstop), and the total doesn't include a checked bag (about $200 for two) or spending money.
The total, before you go
$1,822 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $994 |
| Inside Yosemite Park-Cozy Corner Unit-Sleeps 2, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $740 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $88 |
| The total, before you go | $1,822 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $200 |
$32 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $50 each way per bag on Allegiant, $200 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
$497 per person, round trip
$994 for two, taxes and fees included · Allegiant · 1 stop · 35h 47m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 10:00 PM – Sat, Oct 24, 10:17 AM · back Sun, Oct 25, 8:51 PM – Mon, Oct 26, 8:21 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegiant | $497 | 1 stop | 35h 47m |
| American. Operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle | $781 | 1 stop | 6h 12m |
| Allegiant | $687 | 3 stops | 34h 56m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 6:59 AM 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
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Why now
At $497 per person, this fare is $32 below the typical fare on this route. That's 6% under the $529 median of our 12 earlier checks. Fares across the 12 offers we saw ran from $497 to $865, so this one is at the low end. The forecast is good for late October: Friday is 68°F and clear, and Saturday is 69°F and partly cloudy with a 7% chance of rain. Sunday turns cold, with a high of 49°F, a low of 30°F and drizzle. Our season notes list Tioga and Glacier Point roads as closed by snow from November, so these dates fall just before that. It's a big-scenery weekend for two people who want trails and viewpoints, at $1,822 for two, all in, before bags and spending money.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature weekend of granite walls, giant sequoias, one long hike or a big viewpoint, and early nights. It suits a couple or two friends who like being outside all day and don't need restaurants or nightlife. Saturday is the full day, and Sunday is shorter because the return flight leaves at 8:51 PM. Bring warm layers, since Sunday drops to 30°F.
Weather in Yosemite, Oct 23–25
Highs 49–69°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 23 | 68 °F | 47 °F | 23% |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 69 °F | 46 °F | 7% |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 49 °F | 30 °F | 7% |
Where to stay in Yosemite
Our best-value pick is Inside Yosemite Park-Cozy Corner Unit-Sleeps 2. It's a studio in Yosemite West for $740 for the stay ($370 a night), rated 8.4 from 26 reviews, with free cancellation. Its $88 property fee is already in our total. Yosemite View Lodge is in El Portal, on the Merced River just outside the west gate. It's the top-rated pick with a long track record, 8.1 from 6,306 reviews, at $808 for the stay ($404 a night) for a room with two queen beds, plus a $107 property fee. For a lower price, Curry Village puts you in Yosemite Valley beneath the big walls for $504 ($252 a night), rated 7.4 from 1,246 reviews. The heads-up is that it's an unheated tent with $85 in fees, and Sunday's low is 30°F.
Inside Yosemite Park-Cozy Corner Unit-Sleeps 2
$740 for 2 nights, two guests · $370 a night
See roomsYosemite View Lodge
$808 for 2 nights, two guests · $404 a night
See roomsCurry Village
$504 for 2 nights, two guests · $252 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Yosemite for these dates
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Where in Yosemite
- Yosemite Valley: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge and Curry Village beneath the big walls.
- Oakhurst / Fish Camp: Hotels near the south entrance and the Mariposa Grove of sequoias.
- El Portal: Lodges on the Merced River just outside the west gate.
- Mariposa: Gold Rush town with motels and B&Bs an hour from the valley.
- Groveland: Historic town on the Highway 120 approach from the Bay Area.
What to do in Yosemite
- Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls on Saturday, the warmer day at 69°F
- Watch sunset on Half Dome from Glacier Point
- Walk among the giant sequoias of the Mariposa Grove
- Photograph El Capitan from Tunnel View on your way in or out
- Save Tioga Road for summer and Yosemite Falls for May, when they're at their best
Also worth it
- Stand beneath Yosemite Falls in May
- Drive Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows in summer
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Yosemite | Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), San Francisco International (SFO) |
| Flight time | 35h 47m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,401 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 2 nights in Yosemite costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $994 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Inside Yosemite Park-Cozy Corner Unit-Sleeps 2) | $740 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $2,254 |
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 Yosemite
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $497 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $464 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $529 |
| Price checks | 12 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Yosemite.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed. It's a domestic trip, and you pay in US dollars.
- Yosemite is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
- We priced flights from DSM to Fresno Yosemite International (FAT). San Francisco International (SFO) is the other airport listed.
- A checked bag is about $200 for two and isn't in the $1,822 total.
- All three hotels are room only (no meals) and list free cancellation.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
It's worth it if long travel days don't bother you. The fare is $497 per person, $32 below the typical fare on this route. The trade-off is one stop each way and 35h 47m of travel in total, and the return gets you home Monday, Oct 26 at 8:21 PM.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,822 for two, all in: $994 for flights and $740 for 2 nights at Inside Yosemite Park-Cozy Corner Unit-Sleeps 2, plus its $88 property fee, with taxes and fees included. A checked bag (about $200 for two) and spending money aren't included. Our budget adds $520 for spending, which brings it to $2,254.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows Friday at 68°F and clear, and Saturday at 69°F and partly cloudy with a 7% chance of rain. Sunday turns cold, with a high of 49°F, a low of 30°F and drizzle.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's tight. You land Saturday, Oct 24 at 10:17 AM and fly out Sunday, Oct 25 at 8:51 PM. Plan one big day, like the Mist Trail or sunset at Glacier Point, and keep Sunday shorter.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, and everything is in US dollars.
Which airport do I fly into?
This fare flies from Des Moines International (DSM) to Fresno Yosemite International (FAT). San Francisco International (SFO) is also listed for the park, but we didn't price it here.
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Yosemite in pictures
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