Great Smoky Mountains from Des Moines, 23 – 25 Oct: £1,331 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $657 per person, $176 below the typical fare on this route
- Peak fall foliage, highs 61–69°F, rain chance 18% or less
- Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg, 8.1 from 3,298 reviews
The catch: The flight out has one stop, takes 6h 7m and lands at 9:33 PM Friday, and October brings the busiest weekends of the year.
Worth it if you want fall color and trail time and don't mind crowds; skip it if a connecting flight eats too much of a 2-night weekend.
Worth it if you can handle a connection: $1,766 for two covers round-trip flights at $1,314 plus 2 nights at Sidney James Mountain Lodge at $452, with taxes and fees included. You leave Friday, Oct 23 and fly home Sunday, Oct 25, 2026, on American with one stop, and the flight out to Knoxville takes 6h 7m. Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money aren't in the total.
The total, before you go
£1,331 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £990 |
| Sidney James Mountain Lodge, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £341 |
| The total, before you go | £1,331 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£133 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £30 each way per bag on American, £121 for two return); 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
£495 per person, return
£990 for two, taxes and fees included · American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle + PSA Airlines as American Eagle · 1 stop · 6h 7m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 2:26 PM – Fri, Oct 23, 9:33 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle + PSA Airlines as American Eagle | £495 | 1 stop | 6h 7m |
| American | £495 | 1 stop | 6h 6m |
| Delta | £510 | 1 stop | 4h 5m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 19:43 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
At $657 per person, the fare is $176 below the typical fare on this route. That's 21% less and the lowest fare in 30 days of our checks. For two, the flights come to $1,314, and adding 2 nights at Sidney James Mountain Lodge brings the trip to $1,766 all in, taxes and fees included. Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money are extra. October is peak fall foliage in the Smokies. The forecast for Oct 23–25 shows highs of 61–69°F, lows down to 35°F and rain chances of 5% to 18%. Saturday looks overcast at 61°F, good hiking weather if you pack a warm layer. One heads-up: these are the busiest weekends of the year, so get to Cades Cove early.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature weekend built around the national park: scenic drives, waterfall hikes and fall color, with Gatlinburg's walkable resort town for dinner. It suits a couple or two friends who like early mornings on the trail. If you want a lighter day, Dollywood is next door. Friday's arrival is late, so plan on a full Saturday and a slower Sunday.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, 23 – 25 Oct
Highs 61–69°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | 62 °F | 41 °F | 5% |
| Sat 24 Oct | 61 °F | 35 °F | 9% |
| Sun 25 Oct | 69 °F | 42 °F | 18% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance. Sidney James Mountain Lodge is the best value at $452 for the stay ($226 a night). It scores 8.1 from 3,298 reviews and has a double room with a balcony. Heads-up: it doesn't offer free cancellation. Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center is the budget pick at $471 for the stay ($236 a night), with 8.1 from 3,049 reviews, and it includes breakfast and free cancellation. Historic Rocky Waters Inn, A Small Luxury Hotel is the top rated at 9 from 447 reviews. It costs $1,226 for the stay ($613 a night) and comes with free cancellation. If you'd rather have quiet mornings near Cades Cove, Townsend is the calm side of the Smokies.
Sidney James Mountain Lodge
£341 for 2 nights, two guests · £170 a night
See roomsHistoric Rocky Waters Inn, A Small Luxury Hotel
£924 for 2 nights, two guests · £462 a night
See roomsEdgewater Hotel and Conference Center
£355 for 2 nights, two guests · £178 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Great Smoky Mountains for these dates
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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 for a chance to see bears and deer
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower for the ridge views
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs on Saturday
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge right from town
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge if you want a break from the trails
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 Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 6h 7m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 679 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £990 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Sidney James Mountain Lodge) | £341 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £271 |
| Total for two | £1,603 |
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: Des Moines to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £495 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £495 (14 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £628 |
| Price checks | 10 |
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
- You won't need a passport, you'll pay in US dollars, and the Smokies are 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
- You fly into Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), and Asheville Regional (AVL) is the other nearby airport.
- The American flight leaves Des Moines at 2:26 PM, and a Delta option with one stop takes 4h 5m for $677 per person.
- October is peak fall foliage and brings the busiest weekends of the year.
- Prices were all-in when we checked and can change before you book.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you don't mind a connection and some crowds. The fare is 21% under the typical $833, the forecast looks dry, and the hotel scores 8.1. If a one-stop flight on a 2-night trip sounds like too much travel, wait for a longer weekend.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,766 all in: $1,314 for two round-trip fares plus $452 for 2 nights at Sidney James Mountain Lodge. Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money aren't included.
What is the weather like?
Expect highs of 62°F Friday, 61°F Saturday and 69°F Sunday, with lows down to 35°F. Rain chances run from 5% to 18%, with drizzle possible Friday and overcast skies after that.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for one full park day on Saturday, like Cades Cove at dawn and a hike to Laurel Falls. The flight lands at 9:33 PM Friday, so the first evening goes to travel.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you'll pay in US dollars, and the only change is the clock, which runs 1 hour ahead.
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Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License