What is the 127 Yard Sale?

The 127 Yard Sale is an annual event during which residents, businesses, and other vendors line up along the U.S. Highway 127 corridor and hawk their wares to shoppers. Known as the “World’s Largest Yard Sale,” the event spans six states – from Addison, Michigan in the north through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and ending in Gadsden, Alabama in the south – for a total of 690 miles of yard sale goodness. This year’s event runs from Thursday, August 2 to Sunday, August 5 and promises to be one for the books. From kitschy memorabilia from grandma’s house to refurbished vintage furniture, the items you can find along the 127 Yard Sale are unique indeed. So why not take advantage of a late summer event, hop in the RV, and travel along this route?

Consider some of the amazing reasons to experience the 127 Yard Sale in your rig:

• Enjoy a slice of Americana – The yard sale was created in 1987 to showcase that the older U.S. Highway System offers travelers something the U.S. Interstate System cannot – and that’s travel through small, rural American towns and cities. Slow down a bit and take time to enjoy the local flair and charm that each community along the route has to offer.
• Visit quaint campgrounds – One of the draws to the 127 Yard Sale, especially for RV enthusiasts, is the ability to camp in campgrounds that are off the beaten path. There are many places to set up camp along the route, and many of them even tout the yard sale as one of their big events for the year. Check out Maple Hill RV Park & Cabins in Jamestown, TN, which is the headquarters of the 127 Yard Sale.
• Drive Lookout Mountain Parkway – The yard sale route transitions from Highway 127 to Lookout Mountain Parkway, which originates in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and continues south through Georgia and Alabama. Considered one of America’s scenic drives, the parkway offers travelers gorgeous views of fields, waterfalls, canyons, and much more.
• Find unique goods – The yard sale route is populated with homeowners and business vendors alike, selling their goods in everything from tents to pickup trucks. Be prepared to come with cash to pay for items but know that many sellers do accept debit and credit card payments. And don’t worry about running out of space in your rig as you collect your treasures; there are plenty of U.S. Post Offices and shipping centers along the route should you need to ship items to yourself or family members while you’re traveling.

It’s important to note that people from all over the country descend on Highway 127 for this event, so traffic can be challenging in certain areas. Just be prepared to take your time and drive carefully, especially in areas where there are higher concentrations of sellers and vendors. Potential traffic concerns aside, the 127 Yard Sale presents a great opportunity for RVers to explore some of the quaint, rural towns along a beautiful stretch of American highway. To learn more about RV travel, contact us today!