Great Smoky Mountains from Chicago, Oct 23–25: round trip from $419
A round trip from Chicago to the Great Smoky Mountains costs $419 per person ($838 for two) for Oct 23–25, 2026. That's 2 nights on a United nonstop from O'Hare to Knoxville, and the forecast shows highs of 74–75°F with a small chance of rain. The best-value hotel, Sidney James Mountain Lodge in Gatlinburg, is $452 for the stay.
The flight
$547 $419 per person, round trip
the typical fare on this route
$838 for two, taxes and fees included · United · nonstop · 1h 46m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 6:59 AM – Fri, Oct 23, 9:45 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| United | $419 | nonstop | 1h 46m |
| Delta | $454 | 1 stop | 4h 27m |
| United | $419 | nonstop | 1h 46m |
Prices checked Oct 12, 2026, 3:15 AM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Your trip for two
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $838 |
| Sidney James Mountain Lodge, 2 nights | $452 |
| Trip total for two | $1,290 |
Regular: $1,546 You pay: $1,290 Saved: $256
the typical fare on this route.
Tweak this trip
Why go now
At $419 per person, $838 for two, this fare is $128 below the typical fare on this route. That's 23% under $547, and it's the lowest fare we've seen in 30 days. We checked 12 offers, and they ran from $419 to $692. The flight is a 1h 46m nonstop on United that leaves O'Hare at 6:59 AM and lands in Knoxville at 9:45 AM, so you get most of Friday in the mountains. Late October is peak fall foliage season in the Smokies, and the forecast shows highs of 74–75°F, lows of 52–57°F and a 23–26% chance of rain. Heads-up: these are also the busiest weekends of the year in the park. It's a good fit for a leaf-peeping long weekend with a couple of hikes and a dawn drive. All prices include taxes and fees as of when we checked, and they can change.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature getaway: a national park weekend built around fall color, mountain trails and wildlife at dawn, with Dollywood close by if you want a change of pace. It suits couples and friends who like to be outside early and settled in a cabin-style room by evening. Families can make it work too. The pace is active in the morning and easy after that. Two nights is enough for one big hike and one scenic drive.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, Oct 23–25
Highs 74–75°F, a small chance of rain
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 23 | 74 °F | 52 °F | 26% |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 75 °F | 57 °F | 24% |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 75 °F | 54 °F | 23% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, a walkable resort town at the park entrance with cabins in the hills. Sidney James Mountain Lodge is the best value at $452 for the stay ($226 a night) and scores 8.1 from 3,294 reviews. You get a double room with a balcony, but heads-up: there's no free cancellation. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top rated at 9.4 from 299 reviews, with free cancellation, for $899 ($450 a night) in a room with two queen beds. Bear Creek Inn Gatlinburg, TN is the budget pick at $471 ($236 a night) and scores 7.5 from 2,304 reviews. It also offers free cancellation. If you'd rather be near Cades Cove, Townsend is the quiet side of the Smokies, and Sevierville has lower-cost hotels a short drive out.
Sidney James Mountain Lodge
$452 for 2 nights, two guests · $226 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
$899 for 2 nights, two guests · $450 a night
See roomsBear Creek Inn Gatlinburg, TN
$471 for 2 nights, two guests · $236 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 for views over the ridges
- Hike to Laurel Falls, or take on the longer trail to Alum Cave Bluffs
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge right in town
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, home to family attractions and dinner shows
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 Chicago | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), Chicago Midway International (MDW) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 1h 46m nonstop |
| Distance | 480 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $838 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Sidney James Mountain Lodge) | $452 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,650 |
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: Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $419 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $419 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $547 |
| Price checks | 7 |
Good to know
- Passport: not needed for US citizens; a government ID is enough.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year
- You don't need a passport, and you'll pay in US dollars.
- Knoxville is 1 hour ahead of Chicago, and the nonstop covers 480 miles in 1h 46m.
- Late October brings peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year.
- All three hotels are room only. Hotel Indigo and Bear Creek Inn offer free cancellation, but Sidney James Mountain Lodge doesn't.
- We estimate $1,650 for two in total: $838 for flights, $452 for the hotel and $360 in spending money.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
We found $419 per person round trip, or $838 for two, on a United nonstop from O'Hare to Knoxville. The fare includes taxes and fees. There's an evening nonstop at the same price that leaves at 6:03 PM and lands at 8:49 PM.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, so you'll pay in US dollars. Just remember that Knoxville is 1 hour ahead of Chicago.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows highs of 74–75°F and lows of 52–57°F, with skies from overcast to partly cloudy and a 23–26% chance of rain each day.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a focused weekend. The 6:59 AM flight lands at 9:45 AM, so you get most of Friday there. You'll have time for a dawn drive around Cades Cove, a hike like Laurel Falls and an evening in Gatlinburg.
What does the whole trip cost for two?
We estimate $1,650 for two: $838 for flights, $452 for 2 nights at Sidney James Mountain Lodge and $360 for spending, which works out to $90 per person a day.
Can I cancel the hotel if plans change?
Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG ($899) and Bear Creek Inn Gatlinburg, TN ($471) both offer free cancellation. Sidney James Mountain Lodge ($452) doesn't.
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Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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Image credits
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License