Great Smoky Mountains from Washington, DC, Oct 16–18: $2,401 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- Peak fall foliage weekend, with Sunday clear at 65°F
- Econo Lodge Convention Center scores 8.2 from 1,914 reviews, breakfast included
- Gatlinburg is a walkable resort town at the park entrance
The catch: Two stops and 50h 7m out on F9 + G4, landing Saturday at 9:43 AM, with the return leaving Sunday at 6:40 AM.
Worth it if peak foliage is all you're after and long transit doesn't bother you; skip it if you want a full weekend in the park.
Not worth it this week: $2,401 for two covers the flights at $1,463 plus 2 nights at Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Gatlinburg at the Convention Center at $843 and its $95 resort fee, taxes and fees included. Checked bags and spending money are extra. The trip runs Oct 16–18, 2026, on F9 + G4 with two stops, not nonstop, and the fare is $40 per person above the median of our earlier checks.
The total, before you go
$2,401 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $1,463 |
| Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Gatlinburg at the Convention Center, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $843 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $95 |
| The total, before you go | $2,401 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
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
$732 per person, round trip
$1,463 for two, taxes and fees included · F9 + G4 · 2 stops · 50h 7m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 1:00 PM – Sat, Oct 17, 9:43 AM · back Sun, Oct 18, 6:40 AM – Mon, Oct 19, 12:04 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| F9 + G4 | $732 | 2 stops | 50h 7m |
| B6 + G4 | $885 | 2 stops | 41h 10m |
| F9 + G4 | $815 | 2 stops | 40h |
Prices checked Oct 14, 2026, 11:53 PM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
The fare is the problem this week. At $732 per person, it runs $40 above the $692 median of our 20 earlier checks on this route, and the lowest we saw was $389 on Oct 13. The routing has two stops on F9 + G4 and takes 50h 7m, leaving Friday at 1:00 PM and landing Saturday at 9:43 AM. The return leaves Sunday at 6:40 AM, so Saturday is your only real day in the park. October brings peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year, and Friday and Saturday show 81% and 80% chances of drizzle, with Saturday's high at 58°F. If the fare drops back toward the median, the Smokies in October are well worth it for the two of you.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature getaway: misty ridges, black bears, waterfall hikes and fall color, with Dollywood and the Gatlinburg strip nearby when you want a break from the trails. It suits a couple or friends who like early starts and easy hikes, and families who want a theme park day too. The pace is slow in the park and busy in town, especially on an October weekend.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, Oct 16–18
Highs 58–83°F, some rain likely
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 83 °F | 46 °F | 81% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 58 °F | 41 °F | 80% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 65 °F | 40 °F | 8% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance, so you can walk into town and drive straight to the trails. Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Gatlinburg at the Convention Center is the best value: $843 for the stay ($422 a night), 8.2 from 1,914 reviews, breakfast included, plus a $95 fee paid at the property. Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is the top rated at 9.5 from 1,796 reviews, $1,001 for the stay ($501 a night), room only, with $113 in property fees. Econo Lodge Inn & Suites on the River is the budget pick at $861 ($431 a night), 8.2 from 1,055 reviews, breakfast included, with $97 in property fees. None of the three offers free cancellation. Want cheaper rooms a short drive out? Look in Sevierville.
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Gatlinburg at the Convention Center
$843 for 2 nights, two guests · $422 a night
See roomsMargaritaville Resort Gatlinburg
$1,001 for 2 nights, two guests · $501 a night
See roomsEcono Lodge Inn & Suites on the River
$861 for 2 nights, two guests · $431 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 spot bears and deer
- Hike to the Clingmans Dome observation tower for the ridge views
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge right from town
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs on Sunday's clear morning
- 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 Washington, DC | Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Washington Dulles International (IAD), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 50h 7m (2 stops) |
| Distance | 418 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,464 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Gatlinburg at the Convention Center) | $843 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $2,667 |
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: Washington, DC to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $732 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $389 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $692 |
| Price checks | 20 |
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, you pay in US dollars and there's no time difference from Washington, DC.
- Flights go from DCA to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS); Asheville Regional (AVL) is the other nearby airport.
- Checked bags aren't in the total and run about $240 for two.
- None of the three hotels offers free cancellation for these dates.
- October is peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year in the park.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Not this week. The fare is $40 per person above the $692 median we've tracked, the outbound has two stops over 50h 7m, and Friday and Saturday show 80% or higher chances of drizzle.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$2,401 for two, all in: flights at $1,463 and 2 nights at Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Gatlinburg at the Convention Center at $843, plus its $95 resort fee. Checked bags, about $240 for two, and spending money are extra.
Is there a nonstop?
Not on these dates. Every option we found had two stops. The F9 + G4 fare at $732 per person leaves DCA Friday at 1:00 PM and reaches Knoxville Saturday at 9:43 AM.
What's the weather like?
The forecast shows drizzle on Friday (high 83°F, 81% chance) and Saturday (high 58°F, 80% chance). Sunday looks clear at 65°F with an 8% chance of rain. Lows drop to 40°F, so pack layers.
Is 2 nights enough?
Not with this routing. You land Saturday morning and the return leaves Sunday at 6:40 AM, so you get Saturday in the park and not much more.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars and the time is the same as in Washington, DC.
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All trips from Washington, DC · Great Smoky Mountains from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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