Closest Airport To Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Dollywood

To help you plan your next trip to the Smoky Mountains, we have a guide to the best airports near Gatlinburg , Pigeon Forge and Dollywood.

Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)

entrance to gate at TYS airport — Photo from media @FlyKnoxville

The closest major airport to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Dollywood is the McGhee-Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville. The Knoxville Airport is located in south Knoxville and is about 40 miles from Gatlinburg.

The TYS airport provides one-way flights from over 30 destinations and airport connections provide access to just about every city in the country and several internationally. TYS is served by a number of major airlines, including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines.

If you are in need of car transportation to the Smoky Mountains, the Knoxville airport has eight car rental companies, a ride sharing pick-up location, and taxi companies that are licensed to do business at the airport.

The airport’s rental car counters are located on the lower level of the airport terminal building near the baggage claim. The ride sharing pick-up location is located outside on the lower level of the terminal building directly on the right as you exit. The airport recommends making reservations for all ground transportation.

TYS
2055 Alcoa Hwy, Alcoa, TN 37701 (865)-342-3000

Tri-Cities Airport (TRI)

The Tri-Cities Airport is located in northeastern Tennessee in Blountville. The airport is about 100 miles or about a two hour drive from Gatlinburg. It offers non-stop flights to three of the largest hubs in the United States. The airlines serving AVL are Allegiant Air, American, and Delta.

If you are in need of car transportation to the Smoky Mountains, the Tri-Cities has eight car rental companies. The airport’s rental car counters are located near the baggage claim. They also list taxi companies, Uber, and Lyft that are licensed to offer transportation services at the airport.

TRI
2525 TN-75 Suite 301, Blountville, TN 37617 (423)-684-2226

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

The Ashville Regional Airport is a good choice if you are planning on visiting the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The airport is about 90 miles and roughly two hours away from Gatlinburg by crossing over the Smoky Mountain divide to Gatlinburg.

AVL has 60+ daily flights with 22 nonstop destinations. The airlines serving the AVL airport are Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Sun Country Airlines, and United.

If you are in need of car transportation to the Smoky Mountains, the Ashville Regional Airport has six car rental companies. The airport’s rental car counters are located near the baggage claim. They also have a list of companies that are licensed to offer transportation services at the airport.

The ride sharing pick-up location is located outside on the lower level of the terminal building directly on the right as you exit. The airport recommends making reservations for all ground transportation.

AVL
61 Terminal Drive Fletcher, NC 28732 (828)-684-2226

Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (KGKT)

If you are wanting to fly directly to the Smoky Mountains, you can charter a plane to fly into the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport (KGKT). The airport offers ground transportation by Enterprise Rental Car, taxi or limo companies.

KGKT
134 Air Museum Way Sevierville, TN 37862 (865) 453-8393

More Airports To Consider

If you are willing to drive a little longer than two hours, there are several other airports to consider when traveling to the Smoky Mountain region.

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) – 2 hours, 30 minutes from Gatlinburg
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) – 3 hours from Gatlinburg
Nashville International Airport (BNA)– 3 hours, 30 minutes from Gatlinburg
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)– 3 hours, 30 minutes from Gatlinburg
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – 4 hours from Gatlinburg