Great Smoky Mountains from Richmond, Oct 16–18: $2,252 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- One stop and 32h 27m out, landing Saturday at 4:53 PM
- 78% rain chance Friday and Saturday, clear Sunday as you fly
- Fare is $694 per person, $6 above the $688 median
The catch: The outbound takes 32h 27m with a stop, so you land Saturday at 4:53 PM and fly home Sunday at 6:40 AM.
Worth it if you can switch to the Delta flight that lands Friday at 10:54 AM; skip this fare if you want a real weekend.
Not worth it this week: the trip costs $2,252 for two. That covers the flights at $1,388, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa at $776 and its $88 resort fee, with taxes and fees included, but not a checked bag or spending money. It's 2 nights, Oct 16–18, 2026, on B6 + G4 with one stop, and the outbound takes 32h 27m, so you land Saturday afternoon.
The total, before you go
$2,252 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $1,388 |
| Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $776 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $88 |
| The total, before you go | $2,252 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $180 |
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $45 each way per bag on JetBlue, $180 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
$694 per person, round trip
$1,388 for two, taxes and fees included · B6 + G4 · 1 stop · 32h 27m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 4:51 PM – Sat, Oct 17, 4:53 PM · back Sun, Oct 18, 6:40 AM – Sun, Oct 18, 3:05 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| B6 + G4 | $694 | 1 stop | 32h 27m |
| Delta | $842 | 1 stop | 5h 24m |
| B6 + G4 | $744 | 2 stops | 25h 15m |
Prices checked Oct 14, 2026, 8:36 PM EDT. 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 numbers don't add up this weekend. The fare is $694 per person, or $1,388 for two. That's $6 above the $688 median of our earlier checks on this route, and the lowest fare we found in the last 30 days was $560. The outbound leaves Friday, Oct 16 at 4:51 PM and lands Saturday at 4:53 PM after 32h 27m. The return leaves Sunday at 6:40 AM, so most of the 2 nights go to airports. The forecast shows a 78% chance of rain Friday and Saturday, with a high of 58°F on Saturday, and Sunday's clear sky shows up just as you fly out. October is also peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year in the park. The foliage is a good reason to go, but a longer stay or a better flight makes more sense.
The kind of trip this is
This is a mountain nature getaway: misty ridges, black bears, waterfall hikes and fall color, with Dollywood and Gatlinburg for the evenings. It suits a couple or friends who like to hit a trail early and be back in town by dark. On a longer stay the pace is unhurried. On this schedule you'd get one evening and almost no daylight in the park.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, Oct 16–18
Highs 58–82°F, some rain likely
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 82 °F | 46 °F | 78% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 58 °F | 41 °F | 78% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 65 °F | 40 °F | 2% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa is the best value: a Studio Villa at $776 for the 2 nights ($388 a night), rated 8.5 from 481 reviews. It's room only with no free cancellation, plus an $88 resort fee. Embassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort is the top rated at 9.3 from 381 reviews. It's $1,125 for the stay with breakfast and free cancellation, plus $127 in fees at the property. Gatlinburg River Inn is the budget pick at $808 ($404 a night), rated 7.9 from 1,703 reviews, with breakfast and a river balcony room. There's no free cancellation, plus $91 in fees. For lower-cost hotels and cabins, Sevierville is a short drive out.
Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa
$776 for 2 nights, two guests · $388 a night
See roomsEmbassy Suites By Hilton Gatlinburg Resort
$1,125 for 2 nights, two guests · $563 a night
See roomsGatlinburg River Inn
$808 for 2 nights, two guests · $404 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 for bears and deer
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower
- Hike to Laurel Falls, or Alum Cave Bluffs if you have more time
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge from a hotel in town
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge on a longer trip
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 Richmond | Richmond International (RIC) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 32h 27m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 360 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,388 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa) | $776 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $2,524 |
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: Richmond to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $694 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $560 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $688 |
| Price checks | 8 |
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, it's US dollars, and there's no time difference from Richmond.
- Flights land at Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS); Asheville Regional (AVL) also serves the park.
- October is peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year.
- The total doesn't include a checked bag, about $180 for two, or spending money.
- Prices are all-in as found when we checked and can change before you book.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Not this week. The one-stop outbound takes 32h 27m and lands Saturday at 4:53 PM. The return leaves Sunday at 6:40 AM, and rain is 78% likely Friday and Saturday.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$2,252 all in: the flights at $1,388, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa at $776 and its $88 resort fee, with taxes and fees included. A checked bag, about $180 for two, and spending money are extra.
Is there a faster flight?
Yes. We found a Delta flight with one stop that leaves Friday at 5:30 AM and lands at 10:54 AM, a 5h 24m trip. It's $842 per person, or $1,684 for two.
What is the weather like?
Friday has showers and a high of 82°F. Saturday has drizzle and a high of 58°F, with a 78% rain chance both days. Sunday is clear with a high of 65°F, and lows run 40°F to 46°F.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip from Richmond, you pay in US dollars, and there's no time difference.
Is 2 nights enough?
With a good flight, 2 nights covers Cades Cove and a hike. With this fare you land Saturday at 4:53 PM and leave Sunday at 6:40 AM, so it isn't enough.
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All trips from Richmond · 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