Great Smoky Mountains from New York, 23 – 25 Oct: £1,018 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $449 per person, $158 below the typical fare on this route
- Peak fall foliage with highs of 74–75°F for hiking
- Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg, 8.1 from 3,294 reviews
The catch: The $449 fare has one stop and takes 6h 25m, these are the park's busiest weekends, and checked bags run about $160 for two.
Worth it if you want fall color and trail time on a short weekend; skip it if crowds or a connecting flight wear you down.
Worth it if you're fine with a connection and peak-season crowds: $1,350 for two covers the round-trip flights at $898 plus 2 nights at Sidney James Mountain Lodge at $452, taxes and fees included. You'd leave Friday, Oct 23, and come back Sunday, Oct 25, on United Express with one stop, landing in Knoxville at 2:42 PM. Checked bags, any resort fee and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
£1,018 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £677 |
| Sidney James Mountain Lodge, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £341 |
| The total, before you go | £1,018 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£119 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 United, £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
£338 per person, return
£677 for two, taxes and fees included · United. Operated by Gojet Airlines DBA United Express + Mesa Airlines DBA United Express · 1 stop · 6h 25m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 8:17 AM – Fri, Oct 23, 2:42 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United. Operated by Gojet Airlines DBA United Express + Mesa Airlines DBA United Express | £338 | 1 stop | 6h 25m |
| United. Operated by Gojet Airlines DBA United Express | £403 | nonstop | 1h 50m |
| United. Operated by Commuteair DBA United Express | £338 | 1 stop | 4h |
Prices checked 12 Oct 2026, 04:12 GMT-4. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
At $449 per person, the fare is $158 below the typical fare on this route, a 26% gap, and it carries the Lowest in 30 days badge. Across 12 offers we checked, fares ran from $449 to $657 per person. The dates land in peak fall foliage, and the forecast for Oct 23–25 shows highs of 74–75°F, lows of 52–57°F and a rain chance of 23% to 26% each day, which is comfortable hiking weather. The flip side of peak color is people: these are the busiest weekends of the year in the park, so plan early starts. Prices are all-in as we found them and can change before you book. For two people who want a short nature getaway with no passport and no time change, the numbers line up.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature weekend with a mountain-town base: trails, scenic drives and fall color, with Dollywood and the Gatlinburg SkyBridge if you want something lighter. It suits a couple or two friends who like early mornings and easy evenings in a walkable town. The pace is full but not rushed; with 2 nights, pick one big hike and one scenic drive and leave room for dinner in town.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, 23 – 25 Oct
Highs 74–75°F, a small chance of rain
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | 74 °F | 52 °F | 26% |
| Sat 24 Oct | 75 °F | 57 °F | 24% |
| Sun 25 Oct | 75 °F | 54 °F | 23% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so trailheads and the SkyBridge stay close. Sidney James Mountain Lodge is the best value at $452 for the stay ($226 a night) for a double room with a balcony, rated 8.1 from 3,294 reviews; heads-up, this rate has no free cancellation. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top rated at 9.4 from 299 reviews, $899 for the stay ($450 a night), with free cancellation. Bear Creek Inn Gatlinburg, TN is $471 for the stay ($236 a night), rated 7.5 from 2,304 reviews, and keeps free cancellation close to the best-value price. If you'd rather be near Dollywood, Pigeon Forge is the base for family attractions and dinner shows; Townsend is the quiet side, near Cades Cove.
Sidney James Mountain Lodge
£341 for 2 nights, two guests · £170 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
£678 for 2 nights, two guests · £339 a night
See roomsBear Creek Inn Gatlinburg, TN
£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 to look for black bears and deer
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower for views over the misty ridges
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs while the leaves turn
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge above town
- 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 New York | John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Newark Liberty International (EWR), LaGuardia (LGA) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 6h 25m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 620 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £677 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Sidney James Mountain Lodge) | £341 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £271 |
| Total for two | £1,289 |
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: New York to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £338 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £338 (12 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £458 |
| Price checks | 9 |
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; it's US dollars and the same time zone as New York.
- The $449 fare has one stop and lands at Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS); a nonstop was $534 per person, 1h 50m.
- Checked bags are about $160 for two and aren't in the $1,350 total; any resort fee isn't either.
- October is peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year in the park.
- Plan about $360 in spending money for two over the weekend, on top of the total.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if you're fine with one stop and busy trails. The fare is $449 per person, $158 below the typical fare on this route, and the forecast shows highs of 74–75°F during peak fall foliage.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,350, all in: $898 for the round-trip flights and $452 for 2 nights at Sidney James Mountain Lodge. Add about $160 for checked bags and about $360 in spending money, which brings the planning budget to $1,710.
Is there a nonstop?
Yes, when we checked: a United Express nonstop leaving at 1:45 PM and landing at 3:35 PM, 1h 50m, at $534 per person, or $1,068 for two. The $449 fare connects, leaving at 8:17 AM and arriving at 2:42 PM.
What is the weather like?
Overcast to partly cloudy, with highs of 74–75°F, lows of 52–57°F and a rain chance of 23% to 26% each day of the trip.
Is 2 nights enough?
For one big hike, a dawn drive through Cades Cove and an evening in Gatlinburg, yes. Landing at 2:42 PM on Friday gives you an afternoon to settle in. Dollywood would take a full day on its own.
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All trips from New York · 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: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License