Pigeon Forge · Wears Valley Road · Mountain coaster
Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
The Smokies’ first mountain coaster, opened in 2013. You control your own sled down a track that runs more than a mile, day or night, about 1.4 miles off the Parkway.
Official site opens the coaster’s own website. Tickets are priced per rider by age, with tax included; evenings bring the longest lines.
Details checked October 2026
Type
Mountain coaster
Rider-controlled sleds for one or two people
Admission
Pay per ride
Per rider by age group; prices include tax
Hours
10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Until 11 p.m. Fri–Sat; subject to change
Time needed
7–8 min ride
Per the coaster’s FAQ; lines add time
Parking
Free on-site lot
Per U.S. News; RV spaces not posted
Track
Over a mile
Sleds top out at about 27 mph
What you’ll see
What the ride is like
A cable pulls your sled up the mountain, then gravity takes over. You work the hand brake on the way down through curves, helixes and switchbacks, and the track is lit up for night rides.
The ride
You set the speed
Each sled seats one or two riders and has its own hand brake: push forward to go, let go to slow down. Built by German maker Wiegand, the coaster tops out at about 27 mph, and the full trip up and down takes about 7 to 8 minutes. The first half runs low along the mountaintop. The second half drops into swooping curves and helixes, some well above the ground.
RV tip: It’s on Wears Valley Road (US-321), not the Parkway, so it’s an easy add-on before or after a Cades Cove day.
Good to know before you ride
- Ride alone at 56 inchesSolo riders must be at least 56 inches tall. Passengers must be at least 38 inches and ride with a driver who is 16 or older and 56 inches or taller.
- Weight limit per sled375 pounds combined in dry conditions and 330 pounds when the track is wet.
- Night ridesThe track is lit after dark. Evening rides are popular, so expect a line, especially in summer and on weekends.
- Rain or shineThe coaster runs in most weather but closes for thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Why go
Why the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster made our list
The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster opened in August 2013 as the first mountain coaster in the Smokies. Pigeon Forge’s visitor bureau calls it the longest alpine coaster in the United States, with track more than a mile long. A cable lift hauls your sled up the hill, and you ride the brake all the way back down.
It’s off the Parkway, about 1.4 miles up Wears Valley Road, so you skip the worst of the strip traffic getting in. The coaster posts hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, which makes it an easy after-dinner outing from the campground.
Kids can ride as passengers once they’re 38 inches tall, with a driver 16 or older. Riders 56 inches and up can take their own sled. A ride lasts about 7 to 8 minutes. At peak times in summer, expect about a 30-minute wait from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo: Roller Coaster Philosophy on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Why it made our list
- First mountain coaster in the Smokies (2013)
- Track more than a mile long, per the visitor bureau
- Open until 10 or 11 p.m. most nights
- Off the Parkway on Wears Valley Road
- Kids 38 inches and up can ride along
For RVers
Bringing the rig to the Alpine Coaster
The coaster sits on Wears Valley Road, away from the Parkway crush. Here’s how to make the trip easy.
Parking
U.S. News lists free on-site parking. We couldn’t confirm any RV or oversize spaces, so the tow car or pickup is the safer choice, especially on summer evenings when the lot is busiest. Call (865) 365-5000 before bringing a motorhome.
Skip the Parkway traffic
The coaster is about 1.4 miles west of the Parkway on Wears Valley Road (US-321). Use Teaster Lane, Jake Thomas Road and Veterans Boulevard to get around the busiest stretches. Pigeon Forge traffic peaks from about 4:30 to 7 p.m., when dinner shows and restaurants fill up.
Trolley option
Pigeon Forge’s Wears Valley trolley route runs along Wears Valley Road from Patriot Park, about once an hour. The city doesn’t list the coaster as a named stop, so ask the driver. Trolleys run 8 a.m. to midnight from March to early January and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the rest of the winter. Fares are exact change only.
Pets
We couldn’t find a posted pet policy or an on-site kennel. Plan to leave pets at the campground, or have someone stay with them. Don’t leave them in a hot car or RV while you wait in line.
What visitors say about Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
The visitor report card
We don’t copy other sites’ reviews, but the published scores are worth reading together. Scores checked October 29, 2026.
Rider height rules (inches)
From the coaster’s FAQ, checked October 29, 2026. A driver carrying a passenger must also be at least 16.
Good to know
Solo riderAt least 56 inches tall
PassengerAt least 38 inches, with a driver 16 or older
Weight per sled375 lb dry, 330 lb wet
Ride lengthAbout 7–8 minutes up and down
Hours and rider rules from smokymountainalpinecoaster.com, checked October 29, 2026. Its price page wasn’t public, so prices aren’t listed here. Hours can change; the coaster posts updates on Facebook.
Know before you go
Plan your visit
Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
- Address867 Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
- HoursThe coaster posts 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and notes that hours are subject to change, with updates on its Facebook page. It runs in rain and even snow but closes for thunderstorms and heavy rain.
- Phone(865) 365-5000
- TicketsTickets are sold per rider, not per sled, with prices by age group, and the coaster says its prices include tax. There’s no passenger discount, but children 3 to 6 ride along at a special rate. The online price page wasn’t public when we checked, so see the board at the ticket window or call (865) 365-5000.
- Getting thereFrom the Pigeon Forge Parkway, turn west onto Wears Valley Road (US-321) and drive about 1.4 miles to 867 Wears Valley Road. From RV parks on the north end, Veterans Boulevard and Teaster Lane help you avoid the Parkway.
- ParkingFree on-site parking (U.S. News). We found no posted RV or oversize spaces, so come in the tow car if you can. Expect a busier lot after dark and on summer weekends.
Peak waits run about 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in high season. Morning and late-evening rides are usually quicker.
Where to stay nearby
RV parks near Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
These are the Pigeon Forge-area parks we’ve written up, closest first. Drive times are estimates for a normal day; Parkway traffic can stretch them on busy evenings.
Creekside RV Park
Full-hookup park off Henderson Springs Road with a seasonal pool. Closed January and February.
Up the Creek RV Camp
Wooded full-hookup sites beside a creek off Little Valley Road. No restrooms, so bring a self-contained rig.
Camp Riverslanding
Private park with full-hookup sites along the Little Pigeon River, a short drive from the Old Mill end of town.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
The questions RVers ask most before pulling in.
Daily · 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri–Sat to 11
Ride the Smokies’ first mountain coaster
Head 1.4 miles up Wears Valley Road from the Parkway, buy your ride and take the brake into your own hands. Go after dark to see the lit-up track.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Photos: Roller Coaster Philosophy (heading down the track; the sign on Wears Valley Road; lit track after dark; track at the base; the loading station; the parking lot at dusk; CC BY 2.0, via Flickr); the images were resized. Video: Melissa and Wes on YouTube (Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster POV & Review). Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the places we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including published materials from Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster and publicly available sources. Hours, pricing, rules and other details are set by the attraction and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel, please confirm all details directly with Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster at smokymountainalpinecoaster.com or (865) 365-5000. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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