Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
2940 Veterans Blvd, Pigeon Forge, TN, 37863
Found in Pigeon Forge, one of the US’ most family-friendly destinations, the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster is one of the longest coasters in East Tennessee. It takes you on a 9-minute ride past stunning Smoky Mountain scenery, with 360-degree turns and tunnels along the way. It’s a thrilling experience for ages three and older.
The basics
When visiting the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, it’s best to book your admission tickets in advance to guarantee your ride on your chosen day. The wait times to ride can be long at certain times and you don’t want to have to wait in the ticket lines, too. Once on the coaster, enjoy a long, 9-minute coaster ride in a sled and go at your own pace, taking in Smoky Mountain scenery as you fly down, back up, and down the mountain again multiple times.
Things to know before you go
Rain or snow—the ride still usually goes. The Rocky Top Mountain Coaster only closes during heavy rain and snow and thunderstorms.
Keep in mind that each coaster sled can only hold up to 375 pounds (170 kilograms), so if you’re planning to go with someone else, your weights can’t exceed that limit—otherwise, you must ride separately.
There is a height requirement to ride the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster alone, which is 56 inches (140 centimeters).
Each coaster sled can go up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour; however, you can control your speed if you don’t want your coaster going that quickly.
The coaster is open every day—even holidays—but depending on how busy it is when you go, the line can take up to a couple of hours to get to your turn.
How to get there
The Rocky Top Mountain Coaster is about a 25-minute drive from the Pigeon Forge Parkway, where many popular attractions lie, such as the Hollywood Wax Museum, Titanic Museum Attraction, and The Island in Pigeon Forge, and it’s just a 7-minute drive from Dollywood. You can either drive yourself to the attraction, take a taxi or ride-share service, or use the Pigeon Forge Mass Transit Trolley, which includes more than two stops on Veterans Boulevard.
When to get there
If you’re looking to avoid the crowds at Pigeon Forge’s Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, try to visit first thing in the morning when the coaster opens—the wait lines will be at their thinnest. The coaster gets more crowded as the day goes on. If you don’t mind waiting a while, the night ride is exciting and fun with the light shining and music playing—and some riders even do karaoke while waiting in line.
Going to Dollywood is a no brainer
Make Dollywood the highlight of one of your days in Pigeon Forge. With more than 40 rides and attractions, you’ll need a full day at this fun, family-friendly theme park. Plus, once Dollywood closes, if you have a car, it’s easy to fit a nighttime visit in to ride the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster as it’s just a 7-minute drive from the theme park and the mountain coaster stays open late.
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