Key Takeaways
The Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run runs September 17 to 19, 2026, at the LeConte Center on Teaster Lane.
The Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run runs September 17 to 19, 2026, at the LeConte Center on Teaster Lane.
Show grounds stretch from Teaster Lane down toward Wears Valley Road, a detail worth knowing once traffic picks up.
Wears Valley Road is one of the few routes that actually gets you around Parkway gridlock during the event.
WildSide's UTV trails, mountain biking, and MegaZip are accessible from Wears Valley Road, away from the worst of the Parkway crowds.
Rod Run weekend turns the Pigeon Forge Parkway into one long car show, hot rods parked bumper to bumper and crowds on every sidewalk. If you’re headed down for it, here’s what you’re walking into, when it happens, and where to go once you’ve seen enough for one day.
What Is a Rod Run?
A Rod Run is a multi-day classic car event with a judged show, swap meet, and car corral, plus free, unofficial car-spotting along the Parkway.
Inside the LeConte Center, hundreds of show cars line the floor alongside a swap meet stocked with parts and memorabilia, plus a car corral for buying and selling. Judges hand out Top 25 and Ultimate 5 awards, and organizers run a $10,000 cash giveaway during the Saturday awards presentation. If you’re registering a car or hunting for parts, this is the show to visit.
The gathering along the Parkway isn’t officially part of Rod Run. Car enthusiasts simply bring their own vehicles to display up and down the corridor, parking in business lots for blocks at a time. It’s grown just as well-known as the show inside the LeConte Center, even without any official organization or tickets, and you can walk the whole stretch for free.
When Is the Pigeon Forge Rod Run?
The Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run runs September 17 to 19, 2026, at the LeConte Center on Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge.
Details for the most recent show and the ones still ahead are below:
| Show | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Rod Run 2026 | April 16–18, 2026 | LeConte Center |
| Fall Rod Run 2026 | September 17–19, 2026 | LeConte Center |
| Spring Rod Run 2027 | May 20–22, 2027 | LeConte Center |
| Fall Rod Run 2027 | Not yet announced | LeConte Center (expected) |
Rod Run’s roots go back further than most visitors realize. It started in the 1970s as a scrappy gathering of hot rod owners, and by 1983 it had grown into the first Grand Run, held right at the Grand Hotel. The show outgrew that home by 2014 and moved to the LeConte Center, where it’s happened twice a year since, once in spring and once in fall.
Where the Rod Run Happens
The LeConte Center sits at 2986 Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge, a road running parallel to the Pigeon Forge Parkway. Vendor lots and show grounds stretch for several blocks along Teaster Lane down toward Wears Valley Road, tracing nearly the same footprint as the informal car displays along the Parkway.
What to Expect at Rod Run Weekend
Show hours run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, when the awards presentation wraps up the weekend. Walking the Parkway costs nothing and works on any schedule. Rod Run tickets for the full LeConte Center show cost $20 per person per day, or $45 for a three-day pass sold Thursday only.
Expect thousands of vehicles and even more spectators across the weekend. Friday and Saturday draw the heaviest crowds, with Parkway traffic slowing to a crawl by evening both days. Spectator parking is free, with two large lots, a shuttle, and a crosswalk straight to the LeConte Center’s front door.
Getting Around Pigeon Forge During Rod Run
Traffic on the Parkway is lightest before 10 a.m., so plan your driving around that window. If where you’re going sits within a mile of the Parkway, skip the drive and walk or take the trolley instead.
A few routes skip the Parkway corridor almost entirely. Wears Valley Road connects Pigeon Forge to Wears Valley and Townsend without touching the main strip, one of the more reliable ways around the worst of the gridlock. Keep this route in mind once you’re ready to explore beyond the show cars.
Things to Do During Rod Run Weekend When You're Off the Parkway
There’s plenty to do once you’re off the Parkway, whichever direction you head, and a few of these fit neatly into one Pigeon Forge itinerary. Here’s what’s out that way, with outdoor things to do in Pigeon Forge beyond the show cars.
Other Pigeon Forge Car Shows Through the Year
The LeConte Center hosts several car shows beyond Rod Run, and Pigeon Forge’s calendar of events fills up fast every September. Check the schedule below if your trip lands on a different weekend.
What Is Pigeon Forge in September Like Beyond the Car Shows?
September in Pigeon Forge means more than car shows. You’re already here for Rod Run, might as well catch the Smoky Mountains in September at their best.
Color climbs down the mountain before it ever reaches town, changing first at higher elevations as early as mid-September and working its way to the mid-elevation trails by October. Down in Pigeon Forge itself, the valley floor stays warm and green for weeks after the ridgelines have already turned. So chase the color instead of waiting for it to come to you. Drive higher into the park, and you’ll catch it well before it reaches Pigeon Forge.
Trade the Parkway Crowds for Trail Time at WildSide
You’ve walked the show floor, soaked in the chrome, and watched enough hot rods roll down the Parkway for one trip. If you’re tired of wading through huge crowds, WildSide gives you a different kind of ride to round out the weekend, with guided UTV tours, mountain biking, and the MegaZip all just a few miles away. Trade the horsepower under the hood for horsepower under you, and turn your Rod Run trip into two adventures instead of one.
Grab your Rod Run discount for 20% off UTV tours this weekend. Ready to lock in a time slot? Get your tickets today!