Great Smoky Mountains from San Antonio, Oct 30–Nov 1: $1,260 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- $472 per person, $202 below the typical fare on this route
- Zoders Inn and Suites in Gatlinburg, 8.2 from 1,814 reviews
- Peak fall foliage, with typical highs of 60–65°F for these dates
The catch: The 2-stop fare takes 42h 15m, landing Saturday at 5:28 PM, and the flight home leaves Sunday at 6:00 AM.
Worth it if you can switch to the Southwest 1-stop at $527 per person; skip this fare if you want more than one evening there.
Not worth it this week: the fare is low, but the schedule leaves you one evening in the Smokies. The total is $1,260 for two: flights at $944 plus Zoders Inn and Suites at $284 and its $32 property fee, taxes and fees included, for Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026, 2 nights. The flights are on MX + G4 with 2 stops, not nonstop, and a checked bag ($160 for two) and spending money aren't included.
The total, before you go
$1,260 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $944 |
| Zoders Inn and Suites, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $284 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $32 |
| The total, before you go | $1,260 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$202 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $40 each way per bag on Breeze, $160 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
$472 per person, round trip
$944 for two, taxes and fees included · MX + G4 · 2 stops · 42h 15m
Out Fri, Oct 30, 12:38 PM – Sat, Oct 31, 5:28 PM · back Sun, Nov 1, 6:00 AM – Sun, Nov 1, 7:25 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| MX + G4 | $472 | 2 stops | 42h 15m |
| Southwest | $527 | 1 stop | 4h 10m |
| MX + G4 | $486 | 2 stops | 39h 49m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 11:31 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
Tweak this trip
Why now
$472 per person is $202 below the typical fare on this route, 30% under, and it's the lowest we've seen in 30 days. That part checks out. The schedule is the problem. The MX + G4 fare leaves San Antonio Friday, Oct 30 at 12:38 PM and lands in Knoxville Saturday, Oct 31 at 5:28 PM: 42h 15m with 2 stops. The flight home leaves Sunday, Nov 1 at 6:00 AM, so you'd pay for 2 hotel nights and get one evening. Late October is peak fall foliage and some of the busiest weekends of the year, with typical highs of 60–65°F and lows near 49°F. If you're set on this weekend, we also found Southwest with 1 stop in 4h 10m at $527 per person, or $1,054 for two. Those are the prices we saw when we checked, and they can change.
The kind of trip this is
A nature weekend in the mountains: foliage drives, short hikes, a walkable resort town and some theme-park fun next door in Pigeon Forge. It suits a couple or two friends who like early starts and don't mind cool, damp weather. The pace is easy to moderate. With this fare, though, it shrinks to a single Saturday night in Gatlinburg.
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, which is the right base for a short stay. Zoders Inn and Suites is the best value: $284 for the 2 nights ($142 a night) in a King Room, rated 8.2 from 1,814 reviews, plus a $32 fee at the property and no free cancellation. Comfort Suites Gatlinburg Downtown-Convention Center is the top rated at 8.7 from 968 reviews: $449 for the stay ($225 a night) for a Double Queen Suite with breakfast, $50 in property fees, no free cancellation. Clarion Pointe Downtown Gatlinburg is the budget pick at $266 ($133 a night), with breakfast and free cancellation, but it scores 6.7 from 1,364 reviews and adds $30 at the property. Pigeon Forge is the base for Dollywood and dinner shows.
Zoders Inn and Suites
$284 for 2 nights, two guests · $142 a night
See roomsComfort Suites Gatlinburg Downtown-Convention Center
$449 for 2 nights, two guests · $225 a night
See roomsClarion Pointe Downtown Gatlinburg
$266 for 2 nights, two guests · $133 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
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge, right in town
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge
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 San Antonio | San Antonio International (SAT) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 42h 15m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 973 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 | $944 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Zoders Inn and Suites) | $284 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,588 |
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: San Antonio to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $472 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $472 (Oct 16, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $674 |
| Price checks | 12 |
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
- You don't need a passport, you'll pay in US dollars, and the park is 1 hour ahead of San Antonio.
- Fares include taxes and fees as we found them; a checked bag adds about $160 for two.
- Late October is peak fall foliage and some of the busiest weekends of the year.
- You fly into Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS); Asheville Regional (AVL) is the other nearby airport.
- Of the three hotels, only Clarion Pointe Downtown Gatlinburg offers free cancellation.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Not with this fare. It's $202 below the typical fare on this route, but it takes 42h 15m with 2 stops, lands Saturday at 5:28 PM, and the flight home leaves Sunday at 6:00 AM. You'd pay for 2 nights and get one evening.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,260 for two, all in: $944 for the flights and $284 at Zoders Inn and Suites, plus its $32 property fee. A checked bag, about $160 for two, isn't included. Our spending estimate is $90 per person a day.
Is there a faster flight?
Yes. We found Southwest with 1 stop, leaving Friday at 7:05 AM and arriving at 12:15 PM, 4h 10m in all, at $527 per person, or $1,054 for two. That gets you there Friday afternoon.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs are 60–65°F, with lows near 49°F. The normals for these dates show rain on Friday, drizzle on Saturday and overcast skies on Sunday, so pack a rain layer.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you'll pay in US dollars, and Gatlinburg is 1 hour ahead of San Antonio.
Is 2 nights enough?
If you land on Friday, 2 nights is enough for Cades Cove at dawn, a hike and the SkyBridge. With this fare's 5:28 PM Saturday arrival and 6:00 AM Sunday departure, it isn't.
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Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License
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