If your idea of heaven is finding treasure among jumbles of pre-loved housewares, dog-eared books, and yesteryear’s collectibles…then the 127 Yard Sale is your Shangri-La.
It’s the world’s LONGEST yard sale, an annual bargain bacchanal covering 690 miles from Michigan to Alabama. Join thousands of other pickers to hunt for vintage Pyrex and Amish-made furniture, Elvis memorabilia and cast iron skillets, Christmas decor and collectibles of all kinds.
Start planning your trip with this four-day itinerary, from first stop to last. But there’s no one way to participate…you could spend all four days in just one county!
Day 1: Michigan ► Northwest Ohio
Michigan’s one-and-only stop is Siggy Parker’s General Store in Addison. This three-acre lot outside a 1920s gas station opens to 25+ vendors, plus food trucks and eclectic fiberglass creatures for photo ops.
Before leaving Michigan, take a short drive up to Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm & Cidery for a quick second breakfast of cinnamon sugar cake donuts and fresh-baked cinnamon rolls.
Just across the Ohio border, New Hope Community Church welcomes 40 vendors, plus eats like pulled pork and hot dogs. For more substantial fare, head to Frankie’s down the road for heaping plates of lasagna, burgers, or quesadillas. Before moving on, pop into Spangler Candy World, an interactive candy museum by the makers of Dum-Dums with fun STEM activities, a video tour of the factory, and plenty of candy!
Your next stop is the Van Wert County Fairgrounds—maybe the biggest picking site on the route, with over 350 vendors and a food court. Too much walking for you? You can rent a golf car onsite, making this a great stop for anyone with mobility challenges.
Spend your first night at Hillside Bed & Breakfast in Willshire. This relaxed 1870s farmhouse is a throwback to classic Americana, from the James Dean Bedroom decorated with film paraphernalia to the Oliver Bedroom with vintage tractor decor.
Day 2: Southwest Ohio ► Northern & Central Kentucky
Start your day at Greenville’s Rustic Hill Brew Thru. You can eat and shop here, with hearty breakfast pizza and hot coffee, plus over 25 vendors. Pop into the store for local novelty gifts, lottery tickets, and car snacks!
About 40 miles south, browse 25 stalls of tools, clothes, and collectibles at Cross’s Campground. Then head to G & J Kartway, a ½ mile go-kart track where Tom Cruise trained for his role in the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Just don’t race too long, or you’ll miss all the best deals.
Things really heat up in Kentucky! In Covington, haggle with 80+ vendors at 19th-century German MainStrasse Village. Beautiful brick buildings line the streets, home to restaurants and bourbon bars. Try Mama’s on Main for an Italian lunch of hearty chicken parm or buttery lobster ravioli.
Take a break from the sun at the Newport Aquarium. Cross the rope bridge over a shark tank, watch luminescent jellyfish drift and dance, and explore a colorful coral reef tunnel. Before you leave Newport, refuel with iced coffee and a gooey chocolate chip cookie from The Little Spoon Bakery & Cafe.
Sticking to picking? Head straight for Lawrenceburg for three stops within just a few miles. At Eagle Lake, hundreds of booths mix vintage finds and kitschy goods, plus an onsite flea market and donut shop. Just down the road, American Legion Post 34 welcomes 60+ vendors in their air-conditioned clubhouse, covered grandstands, horse barns, and grassy fields. Look for toys and collectibles, furniture and housewares, and much more. Both sites stay open for 10 full days!
About 10 minutes further south, head to Brown’s Bluegrass Antiques, where over 50 vendors from across the country congregate. There’s a little bit of everything here…one year a small carousel, another year an 18’ metal dinosaur!
If you don’t mind a short backtrack, head back into Frankfort for a stay at BnB’s BnB at the Meeting House. This 1830s home is a historic treasure, with 11’ ceilings and original windows. Breakfast here is a multi-course affair, so you’ll start day three well-fed.
If you’re RV-ing, Cummins Ferry RV Resort and Marina in Salvisa is a must. With kayak rentals, hiking trails, and a 9-hole disc golf course, you can enjoy Kentucky’s beauty during your stay.
Day 3: Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region ► Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau
Sunrise bargain hunt at Smock Farm in Harrodsburg, where over 80 vendors set up in barns and tents. You could find handmade wares, vintage treasures, and plenty of unusual collectibles.
Next, detour about fifteen minutes to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill to tour century-old Shaker architecture and get up close with horses, steers, and more. The onsite farm-to-table café serves local, seasonal fare like fried apples and fresh biscuits.
Get back on the road and head south to Liberty. Kentucky 501 welcomes about 25 vendors and an unusual attraction—Amish ice cream made with a horse-powered churn! Just a mile down the road, the Central KY Ag/Expo Center has three expansive covered shopping areas, with room for nearly 200 vendors. Get out of the sun and pick your way through their huge selection.
Ride on in to Tennessee! Say hello to The Volunteer State by “volunteering” for a wine tasting at Highland Manor Winery, with award-winning wines like their Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon.
Or continue your afternoon at Historic Jordan Motel, with over 25 vendors. This 1950s motel was one of the original yard sale sites way back in 1987! About 15 minutes down the road, pop into the Cumberland Mountain General Store. This old-timey shop has a cafe with coffee drinks and tasty burgers, plus an eclectic mix of local artisanal goods and antiques. Outside, 150 vendors will keep you busy.
Three popular roadside stops are clustered around Crossville. The Caboose hosts over 60 vendors—just look for the red train caboose and you’ll know you’re there. Hilltop at York Brothers Farm is an open site across from Vegas Steakhouse with dozens of booths from Monday through Sunday. (Horse tack? Vintage signs? Wood furniture? You never know!) Finally, cross the highway to Traders Park. For four days, this field becomes a 40-vendor megaplex of pottery and antiques, dishware and handmade quilts.
When you’re all shopped out for the day, head to The Pour House Bistro. Grab a seat under rustic wood rafters for southern eats like shrimp & grits with alligator and pork sausage.
Rest up for your final day at Crossville/I-40 KOA Holiday. Hook up your RV, pitch a tent at a rustic campsite, or reserve a comfortable cabin with a full kitchen and bathroom. An onsite cafe, swimming pool, and game room give you plenty to do.
Day 4: Sequatchie Valley ► Lookout Mountain or Northern Alabama Finale
Many vendors pack up midday on Sunday, so count on doing the day’s best hunting in the morning. Start with a crack-of-dawn spree at Log Cabin Lane and Old State Hwy 28, just north of Pikeville. These two sites are just a mile apart and boast 100+ vendors each.
About 20 miles down the road, visit Needful Things General Store to hunt for treasures from 25+ vendors. Inside the air-conditioned store, you can shop for goat milk lotions, Amish soaps, silver jewelry, and other country-style finds.
If you’ve still got time, there are two great stops in Signal Mountain: Lone Oak Community Center (75 vendors) and Picker’s Field (40 vendors). Old tools and cast iron, perfectly weathered signs, vintage Pyrex, and so much more!
Mosey down the highway and stop in for the blue plate lunch at Southern Star Restaurant—grilled pork chop, sweet potato souffle, and collard greens. It’s hot, fast, and delicious!
Since most of the vendors are starting to pack up, spend the afternoon sightseeing on Lookout Mountain. Explore the world below at Ruby Falls, where a glass elevator takes you 260’ underground. A paved cavern trail leads you to the main event—the tallest underground waterfall open to visitors in the US. Next, ride the historic Incline Railway, a one-mile climb up the steep mountainside with stunning views of the surrounding Tennessee Valley.
If you reach Alabama by Sunday morning, you can bargain hunt at Akins Shady Pines in Fort Payne with about 75 vendors. You’ll find smaller crowds here than in Kentucky/Tennessee, and lots of family yard sales in addition to the big vendor stops.
Then head to the Noccalula Falls area. You’ll find an open field about 2.5 miles away from the park with 25 vendors. Then press on to Noccalula Falls Park, the very last major stop on the route, with another 25 stands. After you peruse, explore the park! Visit Noccalula Falls, a 90-foot cascade into the gorge below. And take kiddos on two miniature trains through the park’s special history.
Quick Tips for Road Trip Success
Cash is king! Some vendors accept cards or PayPal/Venmo, but cash is always your best bet. Small bills are always appreciated!
Don’t rely on GPS. Cell service can be spotty on backroads, so download the printable state maps before you head out.
Spread your search area if lodgings are sold out. B&Bs and campsites on the route can fill up, so extend your search a few miles off of U.S. Route 127.
Save $$ for Sunday! Thursday morning crowds are usually the lightest, while Sunday may bring markdowns and easier negotiating.
Mix in some fun! Side trips to museums or nature trails break up your routine and can keep you sharper for treasure hunting.
Happy hunting!
