Great Smoky Mountains from Washington, DC, 23 – 25 Oct: £1,003 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, because
- Nonstop on American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle, 1h 51m
- £190 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Sidney James Mountain Lodge, rated 8.1 by 3,296 guests
The catch: Heads-up for these dates: Peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
A nonstop round trip from Washington, DC to the Great Smoky Mountains costs $389 per person ($778 for two) for Oct 23–25, 2026, two nights, on American, operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle. The forecast shows highs of 74–79°F and little rain. Our best-value hotel, Sleep Inn & Suites near Sports World Blvd in Gatlinburg, is $426 for the stay with breakfast included.
The total, before you go
£1,003 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £662 |
| Sidney James Mountain Lodge, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £341 |
| The total, before you go | £1,003 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £121 |
£190 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
£331 per person, return
£662 for two, taxes and fees included · American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle · nonstop · 1h 51m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 3:42 PM – Fri, Oct 23, 5:33 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | £331 | nonstop | 1h 51m |
| American. Operated by Piedmont Airlines as American Eagle | £376 | 1 stop | 3h 32m |
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | £331 | nonstop | 1h 48m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 16:07 GMT-4. 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
The fare is $389 per person round trip, or $778 for two. That's $305 below the typical fare on this route, 44% under the $694 median of our earlier checks, and it carries the Lowest in 30 days badge. Across the 12 offers we saw, fares ran from $389 to $755. The timing works too. Late October is peak fall foliage in the Smokies, and the forecast shows highs of 74–79°F, lows of 52–59°F and rain chances between 13% and 26%, with showers possible on Sunday. It's an easy long weekend: 1h 48m in the air Friday evening, then two days of ridge drives, waterfall hikes and evenings in Gatlinburg. One heads-up: foliage weekends draw big crowds, so expect company at the trailheads and on the Cades Cove loop.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature getaway in a national park: early trail starts, scenic drives and cool evenings in a mountain town. It suits couples and friends who like to hike and don't mind sharing the trails during foliage season. With Dollywood next door, it also works for families. The pace is active but short, so with two nights you'll pick a couple of highlights rather than try to cover the whole park.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, 23 – 25 Oct
Highs 75–80°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | 80 °F | 56 °F | 12% |
| Sat 24 Oct | 77 °F | 63 °F | 12% |
| Sun 25 Oct | 75 °F | 55 °F | 18% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three hotels are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so trailheads and dinner are close by. Sleep Inn & Suites near Sports World Blvd is the best value: $426 for the stay ($213 a night) with breakfast included and free cancellation, rated 7.5 from 1,083 reviews. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top rated, scoring 9.4 from 301 reviews. It's $920 for the stay ($460 a night), room only, and it also has free cancellation. Sidney James Mountain Lodge is the budget pick at $452 for the stay ($226 a night), rated 8.1 from 3,296 reviews. You get a room with a balcony, but it's room only and can't be canceled for free. If you'd rather stay near Dollywood, Pigeon Forge is the base for family attractions and dinner shows.
Sidney James Mountain Lodge
£341 for 2 nights, two guests · £170 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
£685 for 2 nights, two guests · £343 a night
See roomsThe Wander Hotel by Wyndham
£374 for 2 nights, two guests · £187 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, when bears and deer are out.
- Hike up to the Clingmans Dome observation tower above the misty ridges.
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs on Saturday, forecast 77°F with a 17% rain chance.
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge right in town.
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, next door to the park.
Also worth it
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower
- 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 Washington, DC | Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 1h 51m nonstop |
| Distance | 418 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £662 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Sidney James Mountain Lodge) | £341 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £271 |
| Total for two | £1,274 |
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: Washington, DC to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £331 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £293 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £521 |
| Price checks | 17 |
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. It's a domestic trip, you'll pay in US dollars and there's no time difference.
- The nonstop leaves DCA at 7:45 PM on Friday, Oct 23 and lands at Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS) at 9:33 PM. The flight covers 418 miles in 1h 48m.
- Prices are all-in, with taxes and fees included, as we found them when we checked, and they can change. We don't have the return flight time, so check it before you book.
- Late October is peak fall foliage, and these are some of the busiest weekends of the year in the park.
- Sleep Inn & Suites near Sports World Blvd and Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG offer free cancellation. Sidney James Mountain Lodge does not.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
It's $389 per person round trip, or $778 for two, nonstop on American, operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle, from DCA to Knoxville (TYS). That's $305 below the typical fare on this route. Prices are all-in as we found them and can change.
What would the whole weekend cost for two?
Our budget for two comes to $1,564. That's $778 for flights, $426 for two nights at Sleep Inn & Suites near Sports World Blvd and $360 for spending money, which works out to $90 per person per day.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you'll pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Washington, DC.
What is the weather like?
Friday is forecast overcast with a high of 79°F, and Saturday is overcast at 77°F. Sunday brings showers at 74°F with a 26% rain chance. Lows run 52–59°F, so pack a layer for dawn drives.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a taste. You land Friday at 9:33 PM, so Saturday is your full day and Sunday is a partial one. That's time for Cades Cove at dawn, one good hike and an evening in Gatlinburg, but not the whole park.
Which airport do I fly into?
The nonstop flies DCA to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS). Asheville Regional (AVL) is the other airport listed for the park, and on the DC side, IAD and BWI are options too.
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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: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License