Great Smoky Mountains from Tampa, Oct 30–Nov 1: $1,164 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $433 per person, $66 below the typical fare on this route
- Late October is peak fall foliage in the Smokies
- Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG scores 9.4 from 302 reviews
The catch: It's 2 stops and 25h 59m of round-trip travel, so you land Saturday at 10:05 AM and fly home Sunday at 7:30 AM.
Worth it if you want a quick fall foliage weekend and don't mind long connections; skip it if you need a nonstop or a slow pace.
Worth it if you can live with a long trip: $1,164 for two, with flights at $866 and 2 nights at Newly Remodeled Motel in Gatlinburg at $268, taxes and fees included. It's Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026, on MX + G4 with 2 stops each way and no nonstop, landing in Knoxville on Saturday at 10:05 AM. A checked bag and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
$1,164 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $866 |
| Newly Remodeled Motel in Gatlinburg!, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $268 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $30 |
| The total, before you go | $1,164 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $160 |
$66 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
$433 per person, round trip
$866 for two, taxes and fees included · MX + G4 · 2 stops · 25h 59m
Out Fri, Oct 30, 11:11 PM – Sat, Oct 31, 10:05 AM · back Sun, Nov 1, 7:30 AM – Sun, Nov 1, 10:35 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| MX + G4 | $433 | 2 stops | 25h 59m |
| F9 + G4 | $465 | 2 stops | 25h 26m |
| MX + G4 | $453 | 1 stop | 27h 36m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 2:54 AM 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
Tweak this trip
Why now
The fare is $433 per person, $66 below the typical fare on this route. That's 13% under the $499 median from 11 earlier checks. With flights and 2 nights in Gatlinburg, the trip comes to $1,164 for two, taxes and fees included. A checked bag runs about $160 for two and isn't in that total. Late October is peak fall foliage and some of the park's busiest weekends, so expect company on the trails and on the Cades Cove loop. Typical highs are 60–65°F with lows near 49°F, and the normals for these dates lean wet: rain Friday, drizzle Saturday, overcast Sunday. Prices were all in when we checked and they can change. It's a short trip for anyone who wants to see the ridges in color this year.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature weekend: misty ridges, fall color, black bears and short hikes, plus walkable Gatlinburg for dinner. It suits a couple or two friends who are happy to move fast, since Saturday is your main day on the ground. Pack layers and a rain jacket, choose one or two trails and keep the rest of the weekend easy.
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 saves driving on a short trip. Newly Remodeled Motel in Gatlinburg is the best value at $268 for the stay, or $134 a night, for a King Room scored 7.7 from 158 reviews. Its $30 resort fee is already in that price. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top rated pick at 9.4 from 302 reviews, at $711 for the stay or $356 a night. River Terrace Resort & Convention Center includes breakfast for $384 for the stay, or $192 a night, and scores 7.3 from 908 reviews. All three offer free cancellation. On a future trip with more time, Sevierville has lower-cost hotels and cabins a short drive out.
Newly Remodeled Motel in Gatlinburg!
$268 for 2 nights, two guests · $134 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
$711 for 2 nights, two guests · $356 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 for bears and deer, near quiet Townsend
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower if the clouds lift
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge right from town
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs for the fall color
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge if you'd rather do rides than 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 Tampa | Tampa International (TPA), St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 25h 59m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 540 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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 | $866 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Newly Remodeled Motel in Gatlinburg!) | $268 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,494 |
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: Tampa to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $433 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $358 (Oct 15, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $499 |
| Price checks | 11 |
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 is needed, you pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Tampa.
- You fly Tampa International (TPA) to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS) with 2 stops, 25h 59m round trip.
- The $1,164 total includes the motel's $30 resort fee, but a checked bag is about $160 for two extra.
- Late October is peak fall foliage and one of the park's busy stretches of weekends.
- All three hotels we picked offer free cancellation.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
It's worth it if you're fine with 2 stops and 25h 59m of round-trip travel for a fall foliage weekend. The fare is $66 per person below the typical fare on this route, and the whole trip comes to $1,164 for two.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,164 all in: $866 for flights plus $268 for 2 nights at Newly Remodeled Motel in Gatlinburg, including taxes, fees and the $30 resort fee. A checked bag, about $160 for two, isn't included. If you add $360 in spending money, the weekend comes to $1,494.
When do I land and when do I leave?
You leave Tampa on Friday, Oct 30 at 11:11 PM and land in Knoxville on Saturday, Oct 31 at 10:05 AM. The return leaves on Sunday, Nov 1 at 7:30 AM and gets you home at 10:35 PM.
What is the weather like?
Normals for these dates show highs of 60–65°F and lows near 49°F, with rain on Friday, drizzle on Saturday and overcast skies on Sunday. Bring layers and a rain jacket.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's tight. You land Saturday at 10:05 AM and fly out Sunday at 7:30 AM, so Saturday is your real day in the park. Choose Cades Cove or one hike, then add the Gatlinburg SkyBridge.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Tampa.
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Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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Image credits
- Photo: Joshua Woroniecki / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Owen.outdoors / Pexels, Pexels License