Great Smoky Mountains from Dallas-Fort Worth, Oct 30–Nov 1: $1,265 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $475 per person, $114 below the typical fare on this route
- Zoders Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg, rated 8.2 from 1,814 reviews
- Peak fall foliage weekend, with typical highs of 60–65°F
The catch: The $475 fare has one stop and takes 27h 43m, landing Saturday at 10:05 AM; a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if one big Saturday in the park is enough or you'll pay $491 per person for the nonstop; skip it if you want two full days.
Worth it if a long connection doesn't bother you: the whole trip is $1,265 for two, all in. That's $949 for the flights, $284 for 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites and its $32 resort fee, with taxes and fees included. You'd go Friday, Oct 30 to Sunday, Nov 1, 2026, on F9 + G4 with one stop into Knoxville and 27h 43m of travel on the way out; American flies nonstop in 2h 14m for $491 per person, and a checked bag and spending money aren't in the total.
The total, before you go
$1,265 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $949 |
| Zoders Inn and Suites, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $284 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $32 |
| The total, before you go | $1,265 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$114 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 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
$475 per person, round trip
$949 for two, taxes and fees included · F9 + G4 · 1 stop · 27h 43m
Out Fri, Oct 30, 1:43 PM – Sat, Oct 31, 10:05 AM · back Sun, Nov 1, 6:30 AM – Sun, Nov 1, 1:51 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| F9 + G4 | $475 | 1 stop | 27h 43m |
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | $491 | nonstop | 2h 14m |
| American | $491 | nonstop | 2h 10m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT. 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
At $475 per person, this fare is $114 below the typical fare on this route, or 19% under it. The 12 fares we saw ran from $475 to $534 per person. That makes the trip $1,265 for two, all in, before a checked bag (about $240 for two) and spending money. Timing is the other reason to go: late October is peak fall foliage in the Smokies. Crowds peak at the same time, so expect company at the overlooks and on the loop roads. Typical highs run 60–65°F with lows near 49°F. The seasonal normals point to rain on Friday and drizzle on Saturday, so pack a shell. Prices were all-in when we checked and can change before you book.
The kind of trip this is
A nature weekend: mountain drives, waterfall hikes and a walkable resort town at the park entrance, with Dollywood next door if you'd rather ride than hike. It suits a couple or two friends who like an early start and don't mind a cool, damp day in the woods. On this schedule the pace is quick, built around one long Saturday in the park and an early flight home on Sunday.
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 hotels are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so the drive to the trailheads is short. Zoders Inn and Suites is the best value and the hotel in our total: $284 for the stay, or $142 a night, for a King Room. It's rated 8.2 from 1,814 reviews, and its $32 resort fee is already counted, but it has no free cancellation. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top rated at 9.4 from 302 reviews. It costs $738 for the stay ($369 a night), lists $83 in fees at the property and offers free cancellation. River Terrace Resort & Convention Center is the pick with breakfast: $384 for the stay ($192 a night), rated 7.3 from 911 reviews, with free cancellation. If you want quieter nights near Cades Cove, Townsend is on the other side of the park.
Zoders Inn and Suites
$284 for 2 nights, two guests · $142 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
$738 for 2 nights, two guests · $369 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 on Saturday to look for bears and deer
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs during peak foliage
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge in town
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower if the clouds lift
- Spend the day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge if you'd rather do rides than trails
Also worth it
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge
- 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 Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 27h 43m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 785 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $950 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Zoders Inn and Suites) | $284 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,594 |
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: Dallas-Fort Worth to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $475 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $447 (Oct 16, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $589 |
| Price checks | 20 |
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 Smokies are 1 hour ahead of Dallas-Fort Worth.
- The $475 fare has one stop and takes 27h 43m, landing at Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS) Saturday at 10:05 AM.
- The return leaves Sunday, Nov 1, at 6:30 AM and lands at 1:51 PM.
- Zoders Inn and Suites is room only with no free cancellation; the other two hotels both offer free cancellation.
- A checked bag (about $240 for two) isn't in the total; we'd plan on $90 per person a day for spending.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if the schedule works for you. The fare is $114 below the typical fare on this route, and it's peak foliage. But the one-stop takes 27h 43m and lands Saturday at 10:05 AM. That leaves about one day in the park before a 6:30 AM Sunday flight.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,265, all in. That's $949 for flights for two, plus $284 for 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites and its $32 resort fee, with taxes and fees included. A checked bag (about $240 for two) and spending money are extra; we'd plan on $360 for spending over the weekend.
Is there a nonstop?
Yes. On Friday, American has nonstops from DFW to Knoxville at 7:51 AM (2h 14m) and 10:57 AM (2h 10m) for $491 per person, or $982 for two. That fare isn't in our $1,265 total, but it gives you Friday afternoon in the mountains too.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip of 785 miles from Dallas-Fort Worth to Knoxville McGhee Tyson, and you pay in US dollars.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs run 60–65°F with lows near 49°F. The seasonal normals show rain Friday, drizzle Saturday and overcast skies Sunday, so bring a rain shell and layers for the higher trails like Clingmans Dome.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for one day in the park. On this fare you land Saturday at 10:05 AM and fly out Sunday at 6:30 AM, so pick Cades Cove plus one hike. If you want a Dollywood day too, the nonstop or a longer stay works better.
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All trips from Dallas-Fort Worth · Great Smoky Mountains from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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