Travel LogisticsFebruary 8, 2026 · 1 min read
The Closest Airport to Smoky Mountains: A Local's Guide to Flying In
Which airport gets you to your Smoky Mountain cabin fastest, and which one saves you money.
Which airport gets you to your Smoky Mountain cabin fastest, and which one saves you money.
Planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains? The good news is you have several airports to choose from, depending on whether you want the shortest drive or the cheapest flight. Here is how the closest options compare for reaching Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg.
McGhee Tyson in Knoxville is the closest major airport to the Smokies. It is roughly a 45-minute drive to Sevierville and Pigeon Forge and about an hour to Gatlinburg. For most travelers heading to a Smoky Mountain cabin, TYS offers the best balance of convenience and flight options.
Coming in from the North Carolina side, Asheville Regional sits about 1.5 to 2 hours from Gatlinburg. It is a smaller, easy-to-navigate airport, and the drive in over the mountains is one of the most scenic approaches to the park.
If you are chasing the widest flight selection or the lowest fares, the big hubs at Atlanta and Charlotte are worth a look. Both are roughly a 3 to 4 hour drive to the Smokies, so you trade a longer road trip for more schedule flexibility and often cheaper tickets.
Choose McGhee Tyson if you want to be at your cabin as quickly as possible. Consider Atlanta or Charlotte if flight price and availability matter more than drive time, and look at Asheville for a scenic arrival from the east.
Whichever airport you fly into, book your Smoky Mountain stay direct with Ascent Cohosting for the best rates on cabins across Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg.