Great Smoky Mountains from Austin, 16 – 18 Oct: £1,667 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- Delta, one stop, 4h 34m, landing at 10:54 AM Friday
- Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa scores 8.5 from 481 reviews
- Sunday, Oct 18 looks clear at 65°F with a 2% rain chance
The catch: Rain is 78% likely on Friday and Saturday, the fare is $10 above the typical $664, and a checked bag is about $140 for two.
Worth it if a wet Saturday and peak-foliage crowds don't bother you; skip it if you want two dry days on the trails.
Not worth it this week: the Smokies from Austin come to $2,212 for two, all in. That's Delta flights at $1,348 plus 2 nights at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa at $776 with its $88 resort fee, taxes and fees included, but not checked bags or spending money. The trip runs Friday to Sunday, Oct 16–18, 2026, and the flight out of Austin has one stop and takes 4h 34m.
The total, before you go
£1,667 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £1,016 |
| Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £585 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | £66 |
| The total, before you go | £1,667 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £106 |
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £26 each way per bag on Delta, £106 for two return); 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
£508 per person, return
£1,016 for two, taxes and fees included · Delta · 1 stop · 4h 34m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 5:20 AM – Fri, Oct 16, 10:54 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | £508 | 1 stop | 4h 34m |
| Southwest | £508 | 1 stop | 6h |
| United. Operated by Mesa Airlines DBA United Express | £508 | 1 stop | 4h 38m |
Prices checked 14 Oct 2026, 16:46 GMT-5. 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
Here's why we'd hold off. The fare is $674 per person, $10 above the $664 median of our 8 earlier checks on this route, and on Oct 13 we saw it as low as $584. The forecast is the bigger problem: showers Friday at a 78% chance, drizzle Saturday at 78% with a high of 60°F, then a clear Sunday at 65°F, the day you fly home. October is peak fall foliage in the Smokies and brings the busiest weekends of the year, so expect company at Cades Cove and the trailheads. If this is your only free weekend and a rainy Saturday doesn't bother you, the trip still holds up: 2 nights in Gatlinburg, color on the ridges and a dry morning to finish. Prices were all-in when we checked and can change before you book.
The kind of trip this is
A mountain and national park weekend: loop drives past bears and deer, waterfall hikes, a walkable resort town at the park entrance and Dollywood down the road in Pigeon Forge. It suits couples or friends who like getting outside early and don't mind layering up for 42°F mornings. The pace is easy, with 2 nights and a first day that starts with a 5:20 AM flight out of Austin.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, 16 – 18 Oct
Highs 60–82°F, some rain likely
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | 82 °F | 46 °F | 78% |
| Sat 17 Oct | 60 °F | 42 °F | 78% |
| Sun 18 Oct | 65 °F | 42 °F | 2% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so the trailheads are close. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa is the best value and the one in our total: a Studio Villa at $776 for 2 nights ($388 a night), plus an $88 resort fee our total already counts. It scores 8.5 from 481 reviews, is room only and has no free cancellation. Embassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort is the top rated at 9.3 from 381 reviews, with a two-room suite, breakfast and free cancellation for $1,125, and it lists $127 in fees at the property. Baymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg On The River, our budget pick, scores 8.3 from 2,840 reviews and comes with breakfast and free cancellation for $832, listing $94 in fees at the property.
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa
£585 for 2 nights, two guests · £292 a night
See roomsEmbassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort
£848 for 2 nights, two guests · £424 a night
See roomsBaymont by Wyndham Gatlinburg On The River
£627 for 2 nights, two guests · £314 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Great Smoky Mountains 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 Great Smoky Mountains
- Gatlinburg: Walkable resort town at the park entrance with cabins in the hills.
- Pigeon Forge: Family attractions, dinner shows and Dollywood.
- Sevierville: Lower-cost hotels and cabin rentals a short drive out.
- Townsend: The quiet side of the Smokies, near Cades Cove.
- Bryson City, NC: Small-town base on the North Carolina side with the scenic railroad.
What to do in Great Smoky Mountains
- Drive the Cades Cove loop at dawn on Sunday, the clear day, for bears and deer
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower for views over the ridges
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs once the rain clears
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge in the same town as all three hotels
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge
Also worth it
- See the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont in June
Tours and tickets in Great Smoky Mountains
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Austin | Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 4h 34m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 905 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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 Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £1,016 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa) | £585 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £271 |
| Total for two | £1,872 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for a mid-range destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Austin to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £508 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £440 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £501 |
| Price checks | 8 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Great Smoky Mountains.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year
- No passport needed, you pay in US dollars, and Knoxville is 1 hour ahead of Austin.
- Flights land at Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS); Asheville Regional (AVL) is the other airport the park uses.
- The $674 per person fare is round trip; a checked bag is about $140 for two and isn't in the total.
- October is peak fall foliage and brings the busiest weekends of the year.
- Westgate has no free cancellation; Embassy Suites and Baymont both offer it.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it this week?
Not this week for most readers. Rain is 78% likely on Friday and Saturday, and the $674 fare is $10 above the $664 median of our earlier checks. If this is your only free weekend, Sunday looks clear at 65°F.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$2,212, all in: $1,348 for two round-trip Delta fares plus $776 for 2 nights at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa and its $88 resort fee, taxes and fees included. Checked bags, about $140 for two, and spending money are extra.
What are the flights like?
The Delta flight leaves Austin at 5:20 AM on Friday, Oct 16 and lands in Knoxville at 10:54 AM, with one stop and 4h 34m in total. We don't have the return times yet.
What's the weather for the dates?
Friday has showers with a high of 82°F, Saturday has drizzle at 60°F, both at a 78% rain chance, and Sunday is clear at 65°F with a 2% chance. Lows dip to 42°F, so pack layers.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for one park day and a town day: Cades Cove or a hike to Laurel Falls, plus the Gatlinburg SkyBridge. A full day at Dollywood would take most of your time.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars, and the only change is the clock: Knoxville is 1 hour ahead of Austin.
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All trips from Austin · Great Smoky Mountains from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License