Great Smoky Mountains from Madison, Oct 23–25: $1,182 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $449 per person on Delta, $769 below the typical fare
- Highs of 59–66°F with little rain in the forecast
- Zoders Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg, rated 8.2 from 1,812 reviews
The catch: Late October is peak foliage and the busiest weekends of the year, the flight has one stop, and a checked bag is about $140 for two.
Worth it if you want fall color and trail time for two; skip it if crowds or a 5:51 AM departure put you off.
Worth it if you're fine with peak-foliage crowds. The trip is $1,182 for two: Delta flights at $898 plus 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites at $284, taxes and fees included, but not a checked bag or spending money. You leave Friday, Oct 23 and come back Sunday, Oct 25, and the outbound has one stop, 4h 3m door to gate.
The total, before you go
$1,182 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $898 |
| Zoders Inn and Suites, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $284 |
| The total, before you go | $1,182 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $140 |
$769 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $35 each way per bag on Delta, $140 for two round trip); 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
$449 per person, round trip
$898 for two, taxes and fees included · Delta · 1 stop · 4h 3m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 5:51 AM – Fri, Oct 23, 10:54 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | $449 | 1 stop | 4h 3m |
| American. Operated by PSA Airlines as American Eagle | $556 | 1 stop | 5h 8m |
| Delta | $449 | 1 stop | 5h 14m |
Prices checked Oct 14, 2026, 4:43 AM 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
The fare is $449 per person on Delta, $769 below the typical fare on this route, a 63% gap, and it carries a Lowest in 30 days badge across the 7 checks we ran. For two, that's $898 in flights, and with 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites the trip comes to $1,182, taxes and fees included. A checked bag and spending money are extra. The dates land in late October, when the Smokies hit peak fall foliage. The forecast shows highs of 59°F to 66°F, lows down to 37°F and rain chances from 6% to 25%, with some drizzle possible on Sunday. That's jacket weather for a dawn drive through Cades Cove or a ridge hike. These prices were all-in when we checked, and they can move.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature weekend: mountain drives, waterfall hikes and wildlife at dawn, with a walkable town to come back to at night. It suits a couple or two friends who like an early start and a slow evening. With 2 nights, pick one big hike and one easy day, and save Dollywood for a longer trip or a family visit.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, Oct 23–25
Highs 59–66°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 23 | 59 °F | 41 °F | 6% |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 62 °F | 37 °F | 11% |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 66 °F | 44 °F | 25% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so the trails are close. Zoders Inn and Suites is the best value at $284 for the stay ($142 a night) for a King Room, rated 8.2 from 1,812 reviews, with no free cancellation. Sidney James Mountain Lodge is $452 for the stay ($226 a night) for a double room with a balcony, rated 8.1 from 3,296 reviews, also with no free cancellation. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top-rated pick at 9.4 from 301 reviews. It's $909 for the stay ($455 a night) and is the only one of the three with free cancellation. If you'd rather have lower-cost cabins a short drive out, look at Sevierville. For the quiet side near Cades Cove, try Townsend.
Zoders Inn and Suites
$284 for 2 nights, two guests · $142 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
$909 for 2 nights, two guests · $455 a night
See roomsSidney James Mountain Lodge
$452 for 2 nights, two guests · $226 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 on your clearest morning
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs while the leaves turn
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge in the afternoon
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge if you'd rather skip the trails
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 Madison | Dane County Regional (MSN) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 4h 3m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 598 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $898 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Zoders Inn and Suites) | $284 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,542 |
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: Madison to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $449 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $449 (Oct 14, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $1,218 |
| Price checks | 7 |
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, and prices are in US dollars.
- The Smokies are 1 hour ahead of Madison; the airports are Dane County Regional (MSN) and Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), 598 miles apart.
- The $1,182 total leaves out a checked bag, about $140 for two, and spending money.
- Zoders Inn and Suites and Sidney James Mountain Lodge don't offer free cancellation, but Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG does.
- October brings peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year, so expect busy trailheads.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Yes, if you're fine with crowds. The fare is $769 per person below the typical fare on this route and the forecast looks dry, but late October brings the busiest weekends of the year and the flight has one stop.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,182 for two, all in: $898 for the Delta flights plus $284 for 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites, taxes and fees included. A checked bag, about $140 for two, and spending money are not in that total.
What is the weather like?
Highs of 59°F Friday, 62°F Saturday and 66°F Sunday, with lows down to 37°F. Rain chances run from 6% to 25%, and Sunday shows some drizzle. Bring layers.
What are the flight times?
The Delta flight at $449 per person leaves at 5:51 AM and lands at 10:54 AM, with one stop, 4h 3m. A later Delta flight at the same price leaves at 11:14 AM and lands at 5:28 PM, 5h 14m.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a long weekend. With the 10:54 AM arrival, you get Friday afternoon in Gatlinburg, a full Saturday for Cades Cove or a hike, and Sunday morning before you head home.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, and everything is priced in US dollars.
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All trips from Madison · Great Smoky Mountains from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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