Everything You Need to Know About the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster

The Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster opened in June 2025 as the first true racing mountain coaster in the United States — two side-by-side tracks where you and a partner race head-to-head down 3 full spirals and an 80-foot double helix, speeds up to 30 mph, and a real-time leaderboard to settle the argument about who won. Here's what to know before you go.

What Is a Mountain Coaster?

Mountain coasters — also called alpine coasters or gravity coasters — use gravity and a steel rail track to propel a small coaster car down a mountain course rather than using a powered launch or lift like a theme park roller coaster. The cars are permanently attached to the rail (unlike a toboggan on a track), making the ride both faster and safer than a sled. You control your own speed using a hand brake, which means you can take it slow on your first run and go full throttle once you know the track. Mountain coasters sit much closer to the ground than traditional roller coasters — which makes speeds of 25–30 mph feel significantly more intense than the same speed would feel at height.

How the Racing Coaster Is Different

The Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster is the only mountain coaster in the United States built specifically for head-to-head racing. Two complete tracks run side by side the entire length of the course — same layout, same elements, same distance. You and your partner launch together, navigate the track simultaneously, and cross a checkered-flag finish line at the same moment. The winner is determined in real time on a leaderboard that tracks times and ranks every pair against each other throughout the day.

Finish-line photos capture the moment you cross, providing automatic proof of either your victory or a disputed outcome requiring an immediate rematch. The track is illuminated at night, which changes the experience significantly — the spiral tower and double helix are best seen in the dark, when the glowing track makes the descent visually dramatic in a way that the daytime version doesn't replicate.

What the Ride Is Like

The coaster car pulls out of the station side by side with your competitor's car. The course runs:

Three full 360-degree spirals — the original post listed two, but the confirmed track includes three. The spirals are the most distinctive element of the course and where the side-by-side racing format becomes most visually engaging: both cars visible to each other through the loops.

Two lift hills — where the track mechanism pulls your car uphill to position you for the next downhill section. These give the ride its rhythm between fast descents.

An 80-foot double helix finale — you enter the spiral tower at the top and loop around and around as you descend — roughly equivalent to dropping from the top of an eight-story building in a continuous spiral. The helix is the fastest section of the ride and the section that generates the most wind.

Throughout the run, Smoky Mountain and Pigeon Forge views are visible — though most riders are more focused on the car next to them. Top speed: 30 mph.

Ride Requirements

Minimum height/age: 38" tall and age 3+ to ride as passenger (driver must be 16+) | To drive solo: 56" tall | Weight limit: 375 lbs (dry conditions), 330 lbs (wet conditions) | Children ages 3–6 ride FREE with adult ticket purchase | Military discount available for in-person ticket purchase only | Re-ride discount available same day on-site | Pregnant women are not permitted to ride

Each cart accommodates up to 2 riders. The passenger seat allows a smaller rider alongside a driver who meets the age and height requirements. Tickets are not date or time-specific and are valid for one year from the purchase date — which means you can buy in advance and come back on the best weather day of your trip.

Location and Hours

115 Conner Heights Rd, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 | pigeonforgeracingcoaster.com | Mon–Thu 11 AM–8 PM | Fri–Sun 10 AM–10 PM | Located at The Spur — the 4.2-mile stretch of US-441 connecting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg

The coaster sits at The Spur, the connector road between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg — centrally located for cabin guests across the full area, and easy to reach without navigating the main Parkway. The Friday through Sunday hours running until 10 PM make the night ride accessible on the most popular visit days. For guests in a Pigeon Forge cabin, the coaster is 10–20 minutes from most cabin locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster the only one of its kind?

Yes — it's the first and currently the only true side-by-side racing mountain coaster in the United States. Other mountain coasters exist across the Smoky Mountains and nationally, but none are built specifically for head-to-head racing with synchronized dual tracks the full length of the course.

How old and tall do you have to be to ride?

To ride as a passenger: at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall (driver must be at least 16 years old). To drive the cart alone or with a passenger: 56 inches tall (no age minimum to drive). Weight limit is 375 lbs in dry conditions, 330 lbs in wet conditions. Children ages 3–6 ride free with an adult ticket purchase.

Is the night ride worth it?

Yes — the illuminated track at night makes the spiral tower and double helix visually dramatic in a way the daytime ride doesn't replicate. The coaster is open until 10 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. If you can plan your visit to include an evening ride, it's worth doing both a day run and a night run.

How does the racing coaster compare to the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster?

The Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster is the longest alpine coaster in the U.S. — over a mile of track with mountain scenery as the focus. The Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster is purpose-built for head-to-head competition with a more technical course including 3 spirals and the 80-foot double helix finale. They're different experiences: one is about the solo journey and the scenery; the other is about the race.