I’ve had weirdly good luck checking nearby airports separately instead of searching all together. Sometimes Mobile or Gulfport ends up way cheaper if you book two one ways instead of a round trip. Also worth checking Cincinnati and driving the last stretch if Columbus stays expensive. I did that once on a food trip because the savings basically paid for the rental car and a couple of really good meals along the way. October weekends can spike hard because of football, too, so prices might calm down a bit midweek before jumping again.