Great Smoky Mountains from Minneapolis, Oct 30–Nov 1: $1,214 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- $449 per person, $197 below the typical fare on this route
- Zoders Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg, rated 8.2 from 1,812 reviews
- Peak fall foliage, with typical highs of 60–65°F
The catch: With 2 stops and 31h 53m of travel round trip, you land Saturday at 5:28 PM and fly home Sunday at 6:30 AM.
Worth it if you can add days or switch to the 1-stop flight; skip it if you want a full weekend in the park.
Not worth it this week: the whole trip is $1,214 for two. That's the flights at $898 plus 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites at $284 and its $32 property fee, with taxes and fees included. It runs Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026, 2 nights, on F9 + G4 with 2 stops on the way out, so you land Saturday at 5:28 PM and leave Sunday at 6:30 AM.
The total, before you go
$1,214 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $898 |
| Zoders Inn and Suites, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $284 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $32 |
| The total, before you go | $1,214 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$197 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
$449 per person, round trip
$898 for two, taxes and fees included · F9 + G4 · 2 stops · 31h 53m
Out Fri, Oct 30, 3:01 PM – Sat, Oct 31, 5:28 PM · back Sun, Nov 1, 6:30 AM – Sun, Nov 1, 11:56 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| F9 + G4 | $449 | 2 stops | 31h 53m |
| SY + G4 | $474 | 1 stop | 20h 40m |
| F9 + G4 | $459 | 2 stops | 30h 12m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 12:24 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
Tweak this trip
Why now
At $449 per person, the fare is $197 below the typical fare on this route. That's 30% under, and it carries a Lowest in 30 days badge. That's the good news. The rest of the math doesn't work for a 2-night weekend. The outbound has 2 stops: it leaves Minneapolis at 3:01 PM Friday and lands in Knoxville at 5:28 PM Saturday. The return leaves at 6:30 AM Sunday. So $1,214 for two buys you one evening in Gatlinburg. Late October is peak fall foliage and brings the busiest weekends of the year. Typical highs are 60–65°F with lows near 49°F, and the weather normals for these days read rain, then drizzle. If you can stretch this into a longer trip, the low fare is a real reason to go. For this weekend, we'd wait.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature getaway with misty ridges, black bears, fall color and trail hikes, plus Dollywood and the SkyBridge for a lighter day. It suits a couple or friends who like to get outside early and don't mind cool, damp weather. The usual pace is dawn on the Cades Cove loop, then easy evenings in a walkable resort town. This flight plan leaves very little time for any of it.
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, and none offers free cancellation. Zoders Inn and Suites is the best value: $284 for the 2 nights ($142 a night) for a King Room, room only, rated 8.2 from 1,812 reviews. Its $32 property fee is already in the $1,214. Comfort Suites Gatlinburg Downtown-Convention Center is the top rated at 8.8 from 964 reviews. It costs $439 for the stay ($220 a night) with breakfast and lists $49 in fees at the property. Sleep Inn & Suites near Sports World Blvd is the budget pick at $319 ($160 a night) with breakfast, rated 7.5 from 1,083 reviews, and it lists $36 in fees at the property. For a quieter base, Townsend is near Cades Cove.
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 roomsSleep Inn & Suites near Sports World Blvd
$319 for 2 nights, two guests · $160 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Great Smoky Mountains for these dates
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
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 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 if you can add a day
Also worth it
- See the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont in June
Tours and tickets in Great Smoky Mountains
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
Getting there and around
| Airports in Minneapolis | Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 31h 53m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 819 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
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
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: Minneapolis to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $449 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $449 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $646 |
| Price checks | 10 |
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.
- Knoxville is on Eastern time, 1 hour ahead of Minneapolis.
- Flights land at Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), 819 miles from Minneapolis.
- None of the three hotels offers free cancellation.
- A checked bag is about $240 for two and isn't in the total, and neither is spending money (we'd plan on $360 for two).
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Not this week. The fare is 30% under the typical fare on this route, but the 2-stop flight lands Saturday at 5:28 PM and the return leaves Sunday at 6:30 AM. You'd pay for 2 hotel nights and get one evening.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,214 for two, all in: $898 in flights plus $284 at Zoders Inn and Suites and its $32 property fee, with taxes and fees included when we checked. A checked bag (about $240 for two) and spending money aren't in that total. Prices can change.
Is there a better flight?
There's a 1-stop option on SY + G4 at $474 per person, or $947 for two. It leaves at 6:35 AM Friday and lands at 9:49 PM the same day, so you'd get a full Saturday in the park.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 60–65°F with lows near 49°F this time of year. The weather normals for these dates read rain on Friday, drizzle on Saturday and overcast on Sunday, so pack a rain layer.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, prices are in US dollars, and Knoxville is 1 hour ahead of Minneapolis.
Is 2 nights enough?
With this flight, it isn't. You'd have one evening and an early start for a 6:30 AM flight. Late October is peak foliage and brings the busiest weekends of the year, so a longer stay makes more sense.
Also found for you
The newest finds from Minneapolis.
Just found · from MinneapolisWorth it, if
Miami
Dec 3–6, 2026 · 3 nights
- Typical highs of 79–81°F in peak season, with warm dry days
- $319 per person round trip, $4 under the $323 median
- Hotel in the total scores 8.2 from 1,938 reviews, bay-view room
$2,204 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $638 + hotel $1,404 + resort fee $162, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
Frontier · with a stop · 42h 5m
The catch: With the stop, you land at 9:54 AM on Friday, Dec 4, and fly home at 5:01 AM on Sunday, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you want December sun for two and can sit through long layovers; skip it if you want three full days on the beach.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from MinneapolisWorth it, if
Asheville
Oct 16–18, 2026 · 2 nights
- Comfort Suites Outlet Center, rated 8.1 by 554 guests
- Free cancellation at Comfort Suites Outlet Center
- Highs 57–81°F, little rain expected
$1,913 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $1,396 + hotel $517, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
United · with a stop · 7h 49m
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 7h 49m in all.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from MinneapolisWorth it, if
San Francisco
Nov 14–21, 2026 · 7 nights
- $242 per person round trip, the lowest of 12 fares we checked
- La Luna Inn in the Marina: 7.5 from 1,216 reviews, free cancellation
- Highs of 58–62°F for walking the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
$2,224 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $484 + hotel $1,740, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
$140 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
Frontier · with a stop · 6h 17m
The catch: The outbound has one stop and takes 6h 17m, the normals show drizzle or rain on three days, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you want a walking week of food, views and the bay in a jacket; skip it if you need a nonstop or sunshine.
Tweak this trip
More trips
Next weekend · from MinneapolisWorth it, if
Chicago
Oct 16–18, 2026 · 2 nights
- $378 per person, $19 below the typical fare on this route
- Hyatt Centric in The Loop: 8.5 from 1,003 reviews, free cancellation
- Sunday is clear and 65°F with a 0% chance of rain
$1,603 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $756 + hotel $847, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
Frontier · with a stop · 8h 58m
The catch: The Frontier fare has one stop and takes 8h 58m for 355 miles, landing at 6:31 PM Friday, a day with an 82% chance of drizzle.
Worth it if you'd trade Friday's travel time for the lower fare; skip it if you'd pay $557 per person for American's 1h 44m nonstop.
Just found · from MinneapolisLowest in 30 daysWorth it, if
Napa & Sonoma
Oct 23–25, 2026 · 2 nights
- Sun Country nonstop in 4h 6m, $25 below the typical fare
- Breakfast included, rated 8.2 from 568 reviews, free cancellation
- Highs 73–81°F with a 0–5% chance of rain
$1,311 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $720 + hotel $591, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
Sun Country Airlines · nonstop · 4h 6m
The catch: It's harvest crush season, when the valley gets its heaviest crowds, and a checked bag is about $160 for two on top of the total.
Worth it if you want wine, food and warm dry days on a short weekend; skip it if busy tasting rooms would spoil it for you.
Just found · from Minneapolis32% below typicalWorth it, if
Los Angeles
Nov 14–21, 2026 · 7 nights
- $122 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Free cancellation at Comfortable ENTIRE HOMES LA Haven near Great Dining & Nightlife
- Typical highs 67–76°F, lows near 50°F this time of year
$1,473 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $506 + hotel $967, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
Frontier · with a stop · 9h 29m
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 9h 29m in all.
Worth it if you want to walk, eat and see things; skip it if you want to switch off.
Just found · from MinneapolisWorth it, if
Miami
Dec 3–6, 2026 · 3 nights
- Typical highs of 79–81°F in peak season, with warm dry days
- $319 per person round trip, $4 under the $323 median
- Hotel in the total scores 8.2 from 1,938 reviews, bay-view room
$2,204 for two · 3 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $638 + hotel $1,404 + resort fee $162, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
Frontier · with a stop · 42h 5m
The catch: With the stop, you land at 9:54 AM on Friday, Dec 4, and fly home at 5:01 AM on Sunday, and a checked bag is about $240 for two.
Worth it if you want December sun for two and can sit through long layovers; skip it if you want three full days on the beach.
Just found · from MinneapolisWorth it, if
Asheville
Oct 16–18, 2026 · 2 nights
- Comfort Suites Outlet Center, rated 8.1 by 554 guests
- Free cancellation at Comfort Suites Outlet Center
- Highs 57–81°F, little rain expected
$1,913 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $1,396 + hotel $517, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
United · with a stop · 7h 49m
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 7h 49m in all.
Worth it if you want to be outside all day; skip it if you want to lie by a pool.
All trips from Minneapolis · Great Smoky Mountains from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. We use AI tools to draft the text of each page from the data on it; code checks every number in the draft against that data and rejects what does not match, and the team reviews pages and fixes or removes what readers report. How we pick · Report a mistake.
Image credits
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License