Sandlady

I just checked the airfares. Seems that the price I get on US Airways IND/DCA/CHS/AVL/TYS/IND is just a bit more than return fares IND/WAS/IND and WAS/CHS/WAS. Is US Airways on ok airline to fly with?

Gretchen

The drive to Asheville is a straight shot interstate route.
USAirways is just fine. About to merge with American.
What is "TYS"?
That's a lot of car rentals,but the airports, other than DC are all smallish and will be easy to manage. And it would get you to DC--I am a big fan of our capital, and think it is underappreciated in relation to our other large cities.

Gretchen

You won't want/need a car in DC I'm pretty sure. Just to clarify.

Sandlady

TYS is the airport code for Knoxville, TN airport, Gretchen. Thanks for clearing up my doubts.

Gretchen

Maybe flying to Asheville for the car rental use would be good--it's an easy loop for the Park. I think better than Knoxville. But if you wanted to do the car rental in Charleston for a loop--well, dunno. it is drive time. The Charleston airport is on the northern outskirts of town so an easy return --might even be only a 3 hour drive from Asheville.
If you did, and like Andrew Wyeth, there is a wonderful art museum in Greenville, SC with his paintings that would be pretty much en route.

jent103

The drive between Asheville and Charleston isn't terribly scenic, but it's not worth it to fly to me unless it makes a lot of financial sense: Four hours driving vs. getting to CHS in time to get through security, dealing with potential delays and missed connections, then having to go rent another car when you get to Asheville. Would you need to make a connection?

I can't imagine flying from Asheville to Knoxville when it's a two-hour drive, especially when you'd need a car in both places and would probably need to make a connection to fly. How much is the dropoff fee?

Basically, I think you have to decide how much avoiding a dropoff fee is worth to you in terms of time and potential travel snags, or figure out some kind of a loop (fly from Charleston to Asheville and fly back to Indianapolis from there). I don't know how much a one-way fee is for you, so not sure what to say on that.

Gretchen

I thought she threw in Knoxville as an alternate way to GSMNP, not as a short flight--you'd have to go through Atlanta or Charlotte to do that anyway!!
Which also brings up whether they could even fly from Charleston to Asheville in 4 hours (changing flights, etc. would be a probablility!!). I think it's a car rental in Charleston with a loop back and then to Indianapolis.

jent103

I was going off this: "Seems that the price I get on US Airways IND/DCA/CHS/AVL/TYS/IND is just a bit more than return fares IND/WAS/IND and WAS/CHS/WAS." Sounded like the idea was to fly from Indianapolis to DC, from there to Charleston, from there to Asheville, from there to Knoxville and see the TN side of the Smokies, then back to Indianapolis, all in order to avoid a one-way rental fee. The only way that makes sense to me is if the dropoff fee is hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

Sandlady

Gretchen, I looked up Wyeth, his paintings are beautiful! Thanks for recommending this. I will definitely stop at the museum if we do finally decide to drive.

Gretchen

They are SO beautiful. He is the son of a world famous magazine illustrator, Nathan (?) Wyeth. If you decide to go, check the museum site to be sure the paintings aren't on loan.
And don't fly from Asheville to Knoxville--makes no sense.

1Caroline

I would rely on the NPS for Parkway closings. I grew up in that area and I know that things change quickly. Yesterday we had some extremely serious flooding in the foothills area, so the mountains and parkway are vulnerable. What's correct today may not be correct tomorrow.

Sandlady

Thanks for the tips, Gretchen and 1Caroline.

Here's where I would appreciate some advice.....

Option 1:
I was not intending to fly from Ashville to Knoxville, rather wondering if I should stay the first couple of nights in Ashville and then try to get a cabin somewhere in Wears Valley so we can avoid the crowds at Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Then fly out from Knoxville.

Option 2:
would it make more sense to fly in and out from Ashville instead? I gather it is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Ashville to the Tennessee side of the GSMNP. Would this work? Fly in to Ashville from Charleston on 14 Oct ( Columbus day) Aim to arrive by midday. Pick up a rental car in Asheville, and drive down to Cherokee, ( what would be the best route to take for quick access to the TN border of GSMNP) then up Newfound Gap Road to wherever our rental cabin is. Our worry is that we should find the cabin before it gets too dark. Would there be enough time to visit Oconaluftee Visitor Centre and the attraactions there or should we do that on our way back to Ashville on 17 Oct? I am thinking it would be good to base ourselves at the TN border on 15 to 16 Oct, as we would be able to do Cades Cove early the next morning, and the Sugarlands visitors centre, roaring fork road etc over the next 2 days.

On Oct 17, drive back Newfound Gap Road, see Clingman's Dome. Drive back to Asheville along the BRP, stop Waterrock Knob ( any other tips for easy hikes or walks suitable for someone with knee problems would be appreciated)

Oct 18-19, do Asheville and parts of BRP....
Fly out of Asheville Oct 20

Option 2 means I can save the extra fee for returning car to a different location, but would it mean a lot of extra drive time? Or does my itinerary for option 2 look efficient?

Thanks

Sandlady

Sorry jent103, and Gretchen. Somehow, I missed your entries about my fly vs drive itineraries before the Andrew Wyeth entries Must be getting really old, now you know why I am going on and on about whether I should drive on US roads when I am used to right hand drive back home....slow reflexes !!

My options are still whether to fly or drive Charleston to Asheville, and whether to fly back to Indianapolis from Knoxville or Asheville....

Hope this clarifies...

Extra drop off fee is USD 300. Would that cover a week's petrol in Asheville and GSMNP

I would not need a car in Charleston would I?

suewoo

You can get by in Charleston without a car unless you want to visit a plantation.

Gretchen

That is true, as Sue has mentioned. No car really needed in Charleston. That's a good catch.
I really wouldn't include Knoxville in the mix. The Park is just about equidistant between the two towns, and it really isn't difficult to navigate within it. I'd just stay in one place actually, to keep from so much in and out.
You won't have a dropoff fee if you do a RT from Asheville.
I guess you will decide on your final itinerary and then string all the flights together since you will basically have a lot of one way flights.
Your flight time from Charleston to Asheville is about the same as driving, in any case, so that works out, and you can get away from the dropoff car fee if you do Asheville. The distances are not great or difficult.

1Caroline

Gretchen. I KNOW the area, possibly better than you. You don't need to tell me the difference between a rock slide and a mud slide. Most people prefer to have a way to learn about the problem areas before arriving at the sign. Have you ever been there?

Gretchen

Hey, Caroline. ARE they going there? Is it a possibility? Is it near where they are going? Can they find out about it before going there, if they are going "there". C'mon.
These folks are travelling 3 months from now/peak foliage. Do you think the DOT will not have that repaired.

Sandlady

Ok, folks, I have been looking for accommodation options in GSMNP, and would like some advice....I have a headache and sore hands from surfing over the last 2 days

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good place to stay around Townsend, Wears Valley? We would prefer a cabin, but one that does not allow pets, as I am allergic to cat/dog fur. Priorities would be cleanliness/ good maintenance, a good bed, a good view of the mountains, but no scary road access , and easy access to Cades Cove. We also enjoy B&B's or hotels with character. Price range 100-200/night.

Sandlady

I am also starting a new post to try to get more accommodation recommendations

There are so many options..... I am getting information overload! So far shortlisted Eden Crest Vacation Rentals ( Absolutely Fabulous, Unforgettable cabins available),
Dogwood Cabins
Townsend view cabins
Maplesridge.com
All seasons cabin rentals
country manor acres
Dock's Motel

Problem is some reviews are great,others spotty ( including some remarks about the smell of cat pee ) , some without recent reviews (eden crest) so would really appreciate comments from any one who has recent trip experience.

Thanks

SAnParis2

Townsend is not a particularly great place to stay - I would use Auntie Belhams (for the TN. side) or vrbo.com for most anything else. I am in agreement w/others, avoid Gatlinburg & Cherokee as well for that matter. Around Asheville there are many great towns & festivals that time of year - Hendersonville, Black Mt., Sylva ...too many to list. This will help w/events & such - http://www.visitnc.com/ There are festivals in Todd, Boone & Cashiers, just to name a few, during that time frame.