The Fall Rod Run in Pigeon Forge is one of the biggest car shows that takes place in the Smoky Mountains each year….one of the others being the Spring Rod Run. This rod run is one of the most popular car shows in Pigeon Forge simply because of the cooler weather, lack of summertime visitors, and the slight chance of seeing some fall colors start to show! The car show features thousands of hot rods and muscle cars of various years, makes, models, colors, and sizes. It’s eye candy for car lovers!
The 2024 Fall Rod Run Pigeon Forge is scheduled to take place September 12-14. Many participants and visitors roll into town earlier in the week to claim parking spots along the strip and enjoy some of the restaurants and attractions before the majority of the crowd arrives on the weekend. If you have a vehicle you do not want to be entered into the actual car show but want to park, then we highly suggest arriving early in the week to get a spot on or near the Parkway. If any changes are made to the Pigeon Forge Rod Run dates, we will keep this article updated.
If you plan to enter your vehicle in the Fall Rod Run, click the links below to find the official website and registration form for this popular Pigeon Forge car show. Of course, you don’t have to “enter” your vehicle in the actual rod run to be a part of the fun…you can simply cruise the Parkway or find parking spots along the street to show off your ride. You’ll find that many people do just this and even place “for sale” signs in their windshields! There are always some incredible vehicles available for purchase. Here is the official website for the Fall Rod Run: https://www.rodrun-pigeonforge.com/
While staying in one of the numerous hotels and motels in Pigeon Forge is a popular choice, another option is to stay off the Parkway in a private cabin and enjoy things like hot tubs, fireplaces, multiple rooms, etc. It’s a great option especially when traveling with other people to split the cost for a great cabin rental! We have a guide on some of the best cabin rental companies in Pigeon Forge to help you pick the perfect place to stay.
There are a couple of things to take into consideration when choosing where to stay in Pigeon Forge during a car show:
There’s not really a right or wrong choice on whether to stay along the Parkway or off of it. It just comes down to personal tastes…and actually wanting sleep!
If you would like to visit the official show location at the LeConte Center to see the vehicles and vendors, the admission is $15 per day with free parking. They also offer a 3-day pass on Thursday for $35. Tickets are sold at the event and cannot be purchased in advance. This is your best opportunity to see the show cars that are typically towed and parked (not cruising the Parkway). Parking will be available at the LeConte Center for free.
If you don’t go to the actual show at the LeConte Center, it costs absolutely nothing to check out the cars throughout town! Many people setup lawn chairs along the Parkway and just watch hot rods cruise by all day and night. Most vehicles park in front of hotels and motels, so be sure to walk the parking lots to see everything.
Many visitors of the Pigeon Forge Rod Run bring their own food and snacks…especially the repeat visitors, because they know how busy the restaurants can get. If you plan to eat out, either plan to get fast food or try to call ahead to a restaurant to see if their either take reservations or call-ahead seating. Wait times during lunch and dinner at many Pigeon Forge restaurants throughout the weekend average over an hour. Again, just be prepared.
The Fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run 2024 will be located at the LeConte Center, which offers free parking and an incredible amount of indoor space for vendors, entertainment, etc. If you just want to see cars (and not participate), you can also plan on sitting along the Parkway or take a stroll down the sidewalk to see the thousands of vehicles that will be in town. If you want to head to the LeConte Center to see the best show cars, vendors, and entertainment, we’ve provided the address below if you need to put it in a GPS.
The address for the Pigeon Forge LeConte Center is:
2986 Teaster Ln
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Here is a map where you can get directions to the Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run:
The weekend of the 2024 Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run (or any Pigeon Forge car show) is not a good time to “be in a hurry.” If you visit Pigeon Forge during a car show weekend, then do not plan to be anywhere at a certain time…unless you’re walking and know how fast you can walk. Seriously. But the scenery is spectacular..so relax and enjoy it!
