Great Smoky Mountains, United States: trips from $389
The Smokies are the most-visited national park in the country, with misty ridges, black bears, wildflowers and the family fun of Dollywood next door.
Trips to Great Smoky Mountains from every city
Cheapest first, per person, round trip, taxes and fees included.
Great Smoky Mountains from Washington, DC
Oct 23–25, 2026 · 2 nights
$694 $389 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $305 (44%)
the typical fare on this route
$547 $419 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $128 (23%)
the typical fare on this route
$607 $449 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $158 (26%)
the typical fare on this route
$791 $658 per person, round trip, taxes and fees included You save $133 (17%)
the highest fare we saw for these dates
Lowest fares to Great Smoky Mountains by city, last 30 days
| From | Lowest, 30 days | Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $275 | 5 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $290 | 2 |
| Miami | $354 | 9 |
| San Juan | $371 | 4 |
| Orlando | $383 | 2 |
| Washington, DC | $389 | 10 |
| Pittsburgh | $393 | 2 |
| Philadelphia | $399 | 3 |
| New Orleans | $416 | 4 |
| Chicago | $419 | 7 |
| Tampa | $425 | 3 |
| Kansas City | $440 | 3 |
| Raleigh-Durham | $442 | 2 |
| New York | $449 | 9 |
| Grand Rapids | $452 | 1 |
| Detroit | $459 | 1 |
| West Palm Beach | $482 | 4 |
| Charleston | $483 | 3 |
| Omaha | $505 | 3 |
| Oklahoma City | $507 | 3 |
When to go
| Month | Season |
|---|---|
| January | avoid |
| February | avoid |
| March | fine |
| April | best |
| May | best |
| June | best |
| July | fine |
| August | fine |
| September | best |
| October | best |
| November | fine |
| December | fine |
- October: Peak fall foliage and the busiest weekends of the year
- June: Synchronous firefly lottery at Elkmont in early June
January, February: Icy roads, closed high passes and many attractions on reduced hours
Where to stay 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
- Spend a day at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge
- Walk the Gatlinburg SkyBridge
- Hike to Laurel Falls or Alum Cave Bluffs
- See the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont in June
Good to know
| Airports | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), Asheville Regional (AVL) |
|---|---|
| Passport for US citizens | no |
| Price level | mid-range |
| Time zone | America/New_York |
| Kind of trip | national-park, nature, family, theme-park, road-trip |
Great Smoky Mountains in pictures
Questions about Great Smoky Mountains
When is the best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains?
April, May, June, September and October. January, February: Icy roads, closed high passes and many attractions on reduced hours
Do US citizens need a passport for Great Smoky Mountains?
No. Great Smoky Mountains is a domestic trip; a government photo ID is enough.
What is the cheapest flight to Great Smoky Mountains right now?
Great Smoky Mountains from Washington, DC, Oct 23–25, 2026, from $389 per person round trip, is the cheapest trip we have published; the full list is on this page.
How expensive is Great Smoky Mountains on the ground?
Great Smoky Mountains is mid-range by US standards: plan about $90 per person per day for food, getting around and tickets.