Great Smoky Mountains from Austin, Oct 30–Nov 1: $1,068 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Fare $277 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Zoders Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg: 8.2 from 1,812 reviews
- Peak fall foliage month, typical highs of 60–65°F
The catch: One stop and 16h 12m on the way out, a 6:30 AM flight home, and a checked bag is about $200 for two.
Worth it if you want fall color and trails for less than usual; skip it if a 16h 12m travel day would ruin the weekend.
Worth it if you can handle a long travel day: $1,068 for two covers the flights at $752 plus Zoders Inn and Suites at $284 and its $32 resort fee, with taxes and fees included. It's Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026, 2 nights, on Allegiant (G4) with one stop. A checked bag and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
$1,068 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $752 |
| Zoders Inn and Suites, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $284 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $32 |
| The total, before you go | $1,068 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $200 |
$277 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $50 each way per bag on Allegiant, $200 for two round trip); 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
$376 per person, round trip
$752 for two, taxes and fees included · Allegiant · 1 stop · 16h 12m
Out Fri, Oct 30, 10:48 AM – Fri, Oct 30, 2:04 PM · back Sun, Nov 1, 6:30 AM – Sun, Nov 1, 7:26 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegiant | $376 | 1 stop | 16h 12m |
| Allegiant | $387 | nonstop | 2h 16m |
| Allegiant | $430 | 2 stops | 24h 54m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 3:20 AM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
At $376 per person, this fare is $277 below the typical fare on this route, 42% under it, and it's the lowest we've seen in 30 days. Across 12 offers we saw fares between $376 and $527 per person. The trip falls in October, the month of peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year in the park. Typical weather for these dates means highs of 60–65°F and lows near 49°F. The records show rain on Friday, drizzle on Saturday and overcast skies Sunday, so pack a rain shell. If you'd rather skip the stop, we also found a nonstop at $387 per person, $774 for two. These prices are what we found when we checked, taxes and fees included, and they can change.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature getaway for two in the mountains: misty ridges, black bears, short hikes and evening walks through Gatlinburg. Expect early starts and early nights, and add a day at Dollywood if you want rides. It suits couples or friends who'd take a trail over nightlife and don't mind a jacket and some drizzle.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, Oct 30–Nov 1
Typical highs 60–65°F, lows near 49°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 65 °F | 51 °F | Rain |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 64 °F | 50 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 60 °F | 46 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so you can walk to dinner and drive to the trailheads. Zoders Inn and Suites is the best value: $284 for the stay ($142 a night) in a King Room, rated 8.2 from 1,812 reviews. It's room only with no free cancellation, and its $32 resort fee is already in our total. Comfort Suites Gatlinburg Downtown-Convention Center is the top rated at 8.8 from 964 reviews, with breakfast included: $439 for the stay ($220 a night), plus $49 in fees paid at the property. River Terrace Resort & Convention Center is the flexible pick, with free cancellation and breakfast: $384 for the stay ($192 a night), rated 7.3 from 908 reviews, plus $43 in fees at the property. For lower-cost cabins, look at Sevierville, a short drive out.
Zoders Inn and Suites
$284 for 2 nights, two guests · $142 a night
See roomsComfort Suites Gatlinburg Downtown-Convention Center
$439 for 2 nights, two guests · $220 a night
See roomsRiver Terrace Resort & Convention Center
$384 for 2 nights, two guests · $192 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 bears and deer
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge
- 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 | 16h 12m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 905 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $752 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Zoders Inn and Suites) | $284 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,396 |
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 | $376 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $376 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $653 |
| Price checks | 15 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers 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 the park is 1 hour ahead of Austin.
- You fly into Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS); Asheville Regional (AVL) is the other nearby airport.
- The return leaves at 6:30 AM on Sunday, Nov 1, and lands in Austin at 7:26 PM.
- The $1,068 total doesn't include a checked bag (about $200 for two) or spending money.
- Zoders Inn and Suites and Comfort Suites don't offer free cancellation; River Terrace Resort & Convention Center does.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
For most couples, yes. The fare is $277 per person below the typical fare on this route and Zoders scores 8.2. The catch is the trip there: one stop and 16h 12m. If that bothers you, we also found a nonstop at $774 for two.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,068 for two: $752 in flights plus 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites for $284, with its $32 resort fee, taxes and fees included. A checked bag (about $200 for two) and spending money are extra.
Is there a nonstop?
The flight we picked on Allegiant (G4) has one stop. We also saw a nonstop at $387 per person, $774 for two, when we checked.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs for these dates are 60–65°F, with lows near 49°F. The weather records show rain Friday, drizzle Saturday and overcast skies Sunday, so bring layers and a rain shell.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a sunrise drive around Cades Cove, one solid hike and an evening in Gatlinburg. You'll have less time on Sunday, since the flight home leaves at 6:30 AM.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Austin to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), paid in US dollars.
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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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- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License