Great Smoky Mountains from West Palm Beach, Oct 23–25: $1,539 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- $612 per person, $105 below the typical fare on this route
- Clear skies, highs of 71–73°F and a 4% to 5% rain chance
- Peak fall foliage, plus Cades Cove at dawn for bears and deer
The catch: The fare has 3 stops and takes 52h 38m, so you land Saturday at 8:50 PM and fly home Sunday at 6:00 AM.
Worth it if you can add days and pick a different flight; skip this exact weekend if you want any real time in the park.
Not worth it this week: the whole trip is $1,539 for two, the flights at $1,223 plus 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites at $284, taxes and fees included, for Oct 23–25, 2026. The fare is on G4 with 3 stops, not a nonstop: it leaves Friday at 9:06 PM, lands in Knoxville Saturday at 8:50 PM, and the return leaves Sunday at 6:00 AM. A checked bag, about $200 for two, and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
$1,539 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $1,223 |
| Zoders Inn and Suites, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $284 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $32 |
| The total, before you go | $1,539 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $200 |
$105 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $50 each way per bag on Allegiant, $200 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
$612 per person, round trip
$1,223 for two, taxes and fees included · Allegiant · 3 stops · 52h 38m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 9:06 PM – Sat, Oct 24, 8:50 PM · back Sun, Oct 25, 6:00 AM – Mon, Oct 26, 10:54 AM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegiant | $612 | 3 stops | 52h 38m |
| Delta | $717 | 1 stop | 3h 34m |
| Allegiant | $631 | 2 stops | 52h 35m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 5:38 AM EDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Tweak this trip
Why now
The numbers look good at first: $612 per person is $105 below the typical fare on this route, a 15% gap, and the total for two comes to $1,539 with the hotel. The forecast helps too, with clear skies, highs of 71–73°F, lows around 49–50°F and only a 4% to 5% chance of rain. October is peak fall foliage in the Smokies. The problem is the schedule. You leave Friday at 9:06 PM, connect 3 times, and don't reach Knoxville until Saturday at 8:50 PM. The return leaves Sunday at 6:00 AM. That's one night of sleep and no daylight on the trails. October also brings the busiest weekends of the year, so roads and overlooks will be crowded. We'd hold off on these dates and look for a schedule that gives you at least one full day.
The kind of trip this is
A nature and national park getaway: misty ridges, black bears, waterfall hikes and fall color, with the family fun of Dollywood next door. It works for couples, friends and families who like an easy pace with early starts. The best version is slow mornings on scenic drives and afternoons on the trails. This weekend's flight schedule leaves no room for any of that.
Weather in Great Smoky Mountains, Oct 23–25
Highs 71–73°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 23 | 71 °F | 49 °F | 4% |
| Sat, Oct 24 | 72 °F | 50 °F | 4% |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 73 °F | 50 °F | 5% |
Where to stay in Great Smoky Mountains
All three picks are in Gatlinburg, the walkable resort town at the park entrance with cabins in the hills. Zoders Inn and Suites is the best-value pick: $284 for the 2 nights ($142 a night) for a King Room, rated 8.2 across 1,812 reviews. Its $32 resort fee is already in our total, but there's no free cancellation. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG is the top-rated pick at 9.4 across 302 reviews. It's $892 for the stay ($446 a night), plus $100 in fees paid at the property, and it does offer free cancellation. Sidney James Mountain Lodge costs $452 ($226 a night) for a double room with a balcony, rated 8.1 across 3,295 reviews, plus $51 in fees at the property. If you'd rather pay less, look at Sevierville, a short drive out.
Zoders Inn and Suites
$284 for 2 nights, two guests · $142 a night
See roomsHotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG
$892 for 2 nights, two guests · $446 a night
See roomsSidney James Mountain Lodge
$452 for 2 nights, two guests · $226 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 watch 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
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 West Palm Beach | President Donald J. Trump International (Palm Beach) (DJT) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Great Smoky Mountains | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
| Flight time | 52h 38m (3 stops) |
| Distance | 654 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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What 2 nights in Great Smoky Mountains costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $1,224 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Zoders Inn and Suites) | $284 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $360 |
| Total for two | $1,868 |
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: West Palm Beach to Great Smoky Mountains
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $612 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $482 (Oct 12, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $717 |
| Price checks | 17 |
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, the currency is the US dollar, and there's no time difference from West Palm Beach.
- The fare flies from Palm Beach (DJT) to Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS). Asheville Regional (AVL) is another airport for the park.
- A checked bag is about $200 for two and isn't in the $1,539 total.
- October is peak fall foliage and brings the busiest weekends of the year.
- Zoders Inn and Suites doesn't offer free cancellation. Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown by IHG does.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Not this week. The fare is $105 per person below the typical fare on this route, but it has 3 stops and lands Saturday at 8:50 PM. The return leaves Sunday at 6:00 AM, so you get almost no time in the park.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$1,539 for two, all in: $1,223 for the flights and $284 for 2 nights at Zoders Inn and Suites, taxes, fees and the $32 resort fee included. A checked bag, about $200 for two, and spending money are extra.
Is there a better flight?
We also saw Delta with 1 stop at $717 per person, leaving at 6:00 AM and taking 3h 34m. That's $105 more per person than the G4 fare, but it gets you there the same morning.
What's the weather like?
Clear to partly cloudy, with highs of 71–73°F, lows of 49–50°F and a 4% to 5% chance of rain for Oct 23–25.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip in US dollars, with no time difference from West Palm Beach.
Is 2 nights enough?
Two nights can work for a Smokies weekend, but not on this fare. With 52h 38m of travel on the way out, the 2 nights turn into one short evening.
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Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
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