The Spring Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, TN is one of the biggest car shows that takes place in Pigeon Forge each year…one of the others being the Fall Rod Run. This Pigeon Forge rod run is one of the largest in the nation as it draws thousands of visitors and classic hot rods for miles…literally! If you love muscle cars, you’ll need to pack a bib to catch all of your drool at the Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run. Just about every make, model, and color of every muscle car made can be found at this Pigeon Forge car show. Vendors are also set up selling hard-to-find parts and accessories for classic hot rods as well. The bottom line is, the Spring Rod Run is one of the biggest and best car shows to attend in all of the nation!
When is the 2024 Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run?
The Spring Rod Run returns to Pigeon Forge in 2024 and is scheduled to take place April 18-20. Continue to check the official website mentioned below for the latest information, and we will also work to keep this article updated if any changes are made for the Pigeon Forge Rod Run dates.
How do I enter my hot rod in the Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run?
If you plan to participate and register your vehicle in the Spring Rod Run, you can visit the links below to get to the official website and entry form for this Pigeon Forge car show. However, if you just want to cruise your car into town and get in the mix without winning prizes and such you can just ride on in. You can cruise the parkway or find parking spots along the street to park your ride so others can ooh and awe over it. You’ll find that many people do just this and even place “for sale” signs in their windshields… after all, there are thousands of potential buyers walking by each day!
Official website for the Spring Rod Run:
https://www.rodrun-pigeonforge.com/
Where should I sleep?
Sleep? What’s that? Okay, yes, sleep is good but you’ll find that many people at the Rod Run seem to stay awake all weekend long! You’ll hear burnouts and roaring engines well into the wee hours of the morning…and I guarantee it’s not the local newspaper delivery guy. So if you want to catch some sleep during your visit, there are numerous hotels and motels along the parkway near the Leconte Center to choose from.
Another option is to stay off the parkway in a private cabin and enjoy things like hot tubs, fireplace, 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 as well as a list of cabin deals to help you pick the perfect place to stay.
A word of advice about lodging:
There are a couple of things to take into consideration when choosing lodging:
- Do you want to sleep right in the middle of the action and possibly hear squealing tires, roaring engines, people partying, music blaring, etc while you try to sleep? If so, one of the many Pigeon Forge hotels and motels will probably work just fine for you. It’ll at least allow you to wake up and walk out your door and be right in the mix each day without fighting traffic to get to the action.
- Would you rather get a more peaceful sleep away from the parkway and all the noise? If so, we’d strongly consider other Pigeon Forge lodging options such as a cabin available from numerous cabin rental companies in the area. A cabin would mean you likely won’t have many people nearby, which would cut down on noisy neighbors and such. Besides, who knows…maybe you plan on being the noisy neighbor! Either way, it’s typically more “peaceful”.
There’s not really a right or wrong choice on whether to sleep in a hotel on the parkway or a cabin a couple of miles away. It just comes down to personal tastes…and actually wanting sleep!
Where is this Pigeon Forge car show located?
The Pigeon Forge Rod Run was formerly known as the Pigeon Forge Grand Rod Run because it had been held at the Grand Hotel in Pigeon Forge for numerous years. That hotel, however, no longer exists, so the Pigeon Forge Rod Run has a new location at the LeConte Center located next to The Island in Pigeon Forge. This new facility offers a lot more indoor space for vendors, vehicles, and entertainment while also providing ample, free parking for spectators.
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:
Does it cost anything to attend as a spectator
If you would like to visit the official show location at the LeConte Center to see the vehicles, vendors, etc 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.
However, if you simply want to see the vehicles cruising during the Spring Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, you can simply sit or walk along the sidewalk on the parkway to see tons of action. Many people setup lawn chairs along the parkway and just watch hot rods cruise by all day and night. If you plan on doing that, we highly suggest not leaving your lawn chairs unattended. Yes, you may lose your spot, but you may also lose your chairs if you leave them…it’s been known to happen. If you want to take that chance, then we suggest taking chairs that you don’t care to lose!
Also, if you plan to sit along the parkway then be aware that you’ll be exposed to the sun…and it burns. So take whatever is necessary to avoid that. Whether it’s sunscreen, hat, umbrella, etc just be prepared.
What about food?
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 they either take reservations or call-ahead seating. Wait times during lunch and dinner at many restaurants throughout the weekend average over an hour. Again, just be prepared.
How is the traffic?
The weekend of the 2024 Pigeon Forge Spring 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. Visitors call it a car show parade. Locals call it gridlock. A person in a motorized wheelchair with the batteries dying will probably beat a car from one end of the parkway to the other. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but just know that the traffic flow…is…well…slow. But the scenery is spectacular..so relax and enjoy it!
What kind of vehicles will I see?
You can expect to see a wide variety of muscle cars at the Spring Pigeon Forge Run. If it has an engine and growls like a ticked-off grizzly, it’s probably cruising the strip during the Pigeon Forge Rod Run. Below is a video slideshow that a visitor created so you can get an idea of what types of vehicles roll into town.
Pigeon Forge Rod Run Video
Final Thoughts
The Spring Pigeon Forge Rod Run is one of the largest events to take place in Pigeon Forge, TN all year long. It’s definitely something to witness if you have any interest in muscle cars. Just be sure to plan for travel time, lodging, eating, and weather to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Also, charge those camera batteries as there are thousands of photo opportunities!