Austin from San Diego, Oct 16–18: $1,068 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $430 per person, $21 below the typical fare on this route
- Breakfast included at Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown, 8/10 from 611 reviews
- 0% and 1% rain chance Saturday and Sunday, highs 70°F to 75°F
The catch: The Frontier fare has one stop and 5h 26m of travel out, and a checked bag is about $240 for two that isn't in the total.
Worth it if you pack light and want barbecue, bats and live music; skip it if you need a nonstop, which we found at $889 per person.
Worth it if one stop is fine with you: the trip is $1,068 for two, which covers the Frontier round trip at $860 and 2 nights at Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown at $208, taxes and fees included. You fly out Friday, Oct 16 and come back Sunday, Oct 18, 2026. The flight isn't nonstop: there's one stop and 5h 26m of travel on the way out.
The total, before you go
$1,068 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $860 |
| Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $208 |
| The total, before you go | $1,068 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$21 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); 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
$430 per person, round trip
$860 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 5h 26m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 2:01 PM – Fri, Oct 16, 9:27 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $430 | 1 stop | 5h 26m |
| Alaska. Operated by SkyWest Airlines as Alaska SkyWest | $889 | nonstop | 3h 14m |
| Alaska | $693 | 1 stop | 9h 37m |
Prices checked Oct 14, 2026, 6:20 AM PDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Tweak this trip
Why now
At $430 per person, the Frontier fare is $21 below the typical fare on this route, or 5%, and it's the lowest fare in 30 days. Add two nights at Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown and the trip comes to $1,068 for two, all in. Bags, resort fees and spending money aren't included. Mid-October weather looks good for the weekend. Friday has a high of 78°F and a 50% chance of drizzle. Saturday and Sunday are forecast overcast and dry, with highs of 70°F and 75°F and lows down to 55°F. That's comfortable weather for a walk around Lady Bird Lake or waiting in a brisket line. Heads-up: Austin City Limits Music Festival runs over two weekends in October, so expect a busy city. These prices are what we found when we checked, and they can change.
The kind of trip this is
This is a food-and-music city weekend for a couple or two friends. Friday is mostly a travel day because you land at 9:27 PM, so Saturday and Sunday are the real trip. Think brisket for lunch, a swim or a paddle in the afternoon, the bats at dusk and live music at night. Days are easy and nights run late.
Weather in Austin, Oct 16–18
Highs 70–78°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 78 °F | 62 °F | 50% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 70 °F | 55 °F | 0% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 75 °F | 57 °F | 1% |
Where to stay in Austin
We picked Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown: $208 for the 2 nights ($104 a night), with breakfast and an 8/10 from 611 reviews. It's the best value and the hotel counted in the $1,068 total, but it doesn't offer free cancellation. Hampton Inn Austin Oak Hill is the top rated at 8.7 from 131 reviews and costs $468 for the stay ($234 a night), breakfast included. Ramada by Wyndham Austin South is $316 ($158 a night) and scores 7.1 from 882 reviews. It's the only one of the three with free cancellation, and the room we found has a private balcony. Wherever you stay, Downtown / Sixth Street has live music bars and the Capitol within walking distance. South Congress (SoCo) is the place for food trucks and vintage shops.
Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown
$208 for 2 nights, two guests · $104 a night
See roomsHampton Inn Austin Oak Hill
$468 for 2 nights, two guests · $234 a night
See roomsRamada by Wyndham Austin South
$316 for 2 nights, two guests · $158 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Austin for these dates
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Where in Austin
- Downtown / Sixth Street: Live music bars and the Capitol within walking distance.
- South Congress (SoCo): Boutique hotels, food trucks and vintage shops.
- East Austin: Breweries, barbecue and the newest cocktail bars.
- Rainey Street: Bungalow bars and high-rise hotels near Lady Bird Lake.
- The Domain: Northern shopping district with newer hotels and lower rates.
What to do in Austin
- Queue for brisket at Franklin Barbecue or Terry Black's on Saturday
- Watch the bats fly out from the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk
- Swim in Barton Springs Pool on the dry weekend days
- Hear live music on Sixth Street or at the Continental Club
- Kayak or paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake
- Tour the Texas State Capitol, a walk from Downtown / Sixth Street
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Getting there and around
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Austin | Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) |
| Flight time | 5h 26m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,155 miles each way |
| Time difference | +2 hours |
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What 2 nights in Austin costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $860 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown) | $208 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $1,588 |
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: San Diego to Austin
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $430 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $430 (Oct 14, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $451 |
| Price checks | 5 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Austin.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Austin City Limits Music Festival over two weekends
- No passport needed, and you pay in US dollars.
- Austin is 2 hours ahead of San Diego.
- The outbound leaves San Diego International (SAN) at 2:01 PM and lands at Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) at 9:27 PM, with one stop.
- The $1,068 total leaves out a checked bag (about $240 for two), resort fees and spending money. With $520 for spending, the budget is $1,588.
- Austin City Limits Music Festival runs over two weekends in October.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if a stop doesn't bother you. The fare is $430 per person, $21 below the typical fare on this route. The weekend forecast is dry, and the hotel includes breakfast. If you need a nonstop, the Alaska flight we found is $889 per person.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,068: $860 for two Frontier round trips plus $208 for 2 nights at Orangewood Inn and Suites Midtown, taxes and fees included when we checked. A checked bag (about $240 for two), resort fees and spending money are extra.
What is the weather like?
Friday has a high of 78°F and a 50% chance of drizzle. Saturday is forecast overcast with a high of 70°F, a low of 55°F and a 0% chance of rain. Sunday is overcast with a high of 75°F and a 1% chance of rain.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a food-and-music weekend, yes. Friday is a travel day, since you land at 9:27 PM. Saturday and Sunday still leave time for brisket, Barton Springs Pool, the bats and a night of live music.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic flight from San Diego International (SAN) to Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS), and you pay in US dollars. Just set your watch 2 hours ahead.
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