It’s almost time for the best weekend of the year! No, I’m not talking about the weekend before Christmas… I’m talking about a picker’s paradise, The World’s Longest Yard Sale!!!
If you’ve never been to The World’s Longest Yard Sale, it’s something that you need to experience. Four days, six states, six hundred ninety miles of pickin’ finds equals the ultimate road trip! The World’s Longest Yard Sale is held the first Thursday- Sunday of August each year and it attracts millions of people from all over. People fly to their destination and ship back their new treasures. Others drive across the country and set up camp with an RV. Some people even sleep in their van or truck along the route. People plan for The World’s Longest Yard Sale all year long because it truly is a picker’s paradise.
It’s a route of 690 miles of yard sales on Highway 127 and expands into six states: Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. The yard sale starts in Gadsden, AL and ends in Addison, MI. It’s on my bucket list to do the entire route one year and make an entire road trip of pickin’ during the four day trip.
A few years ago, my friend Heather and I went to The World’s Longest Yard Sale. We started in Gadsden at Noccalula Falls and there were churches and houses that had set up their own yard sales before we even got to the actual starting point. We only went for the day, spent about a total of twenty bucks between the two of us, and came back with some fun pickin’ finds and a lifetime of memories together. It sure was hot but something I’ll never forget doing with Heather!
This year Mr. Sweet Southern Oaks and I are going. We’ve taken vacation days, booked our hotel, rented a truck and started planning our route. We’re only going for Friday and Saturday and our plan is to get to Signal Mountain in Tennessee and do as much picking that we can! I know what to do this time, and if you’re a newbie attending The World’s Longest Yard Sale, I’ve got a few tips on what to bring with you, to wear and watch for.
What to Wear for The World’s Longest Yard Sale:
- Sunscreen, Bug spray and Chapstick with SPF
- Hat and Sunglasses
- Wear tennis shoes or something comfortable to walk in (you’re going to be doing a lot of walking!). TIP: Bring a pair of sandals in case it rains and your tennis shoes get soaking wet.
- Wear comfortable clothes. It’s going to be hot so wear breathable shorts and light colored t-shirt or tank top.
What to Keep in Your Bag for The World’s Longest Yard Sale:
- Cash: There may be some vendors that will take a card, but when it comes to yard sales, cash is king. Bring cash in various amounts of ones, five, ten and twenty dollar bills. Definitely bring smaller bills with you because you may not be near an ATM (you’re going to be out in the country!). When a vendor sees that you’ve got the right cash, you just might be able to strike yourself a deal.
- Bottled Water: it’s going to be hot out there so bring bottles of water to carry with you.
This picture still makes me laugh because we were so excited to find a place that had AIR!!! It was hot out there! We took turns cooling off in front of the air conditioner!
- Baby Wipes & Hand Sanitizer: obviously, you may need to wash your hands after touching some questionable things… so baby wipes will save the day when you can’t find a restroom.
- Snacks: keep up your energy of a long day of pickin’ like crackers, nuts or granola bars. This is a MUST for me since Mr. Sweet Southern Oaks will be my pickin’ buddy. If you know him, then you know he’s going to get hangry (hungry + angry = hangry) if we don’t have food; and then I won’t be able to do as much pickin’, so we will have snacks in our bags! Mr. Sweet Southern Oaks suggested for me to tell you to pack a sandwich and keep it in the ice chest or cooler. Mr. Sweet Southern Oaks, I’ll get you a sandwich to keep with you! 🙂
- Large Foldable Bags: Most vendors are not going to have bags. Therefore, you’ll need to bring your own bags to carry all of your newfound treasures. You know the big foldable bags you find near the registers at the store or the blue IKEA bags, that’s what I’m talking about. I’d also recommend to bring some grocery bags, bubble wrap or old towels you can use to wrap any breakable treasures that you may find.
- Measuring Tape: I bring a measuring tape with me pickin’ because I’m always on the hunt for cool furniture for certain spaces in my house. Having a measuring tape will help me know if a piece will fit in my house.
What to Keep in Your Vehicle:
- Ice Chest or Cooler: it’s a great idea to bring an ice chest or cooler filled with ice in your truck to keep the bottles of water cold longer. TIP: Pack some wet bath cloths and put them in a ziplock bag and keep them in the ice chest. The wet bath cloths will feel cool against you when you’re hot and help you cool down.
- Boxes & Masking Tape: You can use the boxes to pack smaller and breakable items and save room in your vehicle. More room equals more treasures!
- Rain Coat
- Bungee Cords
- Truck: You never know what you’ll find or the bargains to be seen at The World’s Longest Yard Sale. The last time I went I had to leave behind some beautiful old doors and pieces of furniture (including an antique dresser that I loved!) because I didn’t have a truck. This time, we’re renting a truck so I don’t have that problem again! You can always rent a truck or borrow one from a friend. 😉
Tips for The World’s Longest Yard Sale
- Many people will have sales right off the route out in the country and it may be worth it to stop. Houses are going to have better deals anyway!
- There will be lots of stop and go traffic, so drive carefully and be prepared to quickly stop. Lots of people are going to be looking for yard sales and they’re going to break quickly to turn for a sale…. just like you!
- Say hi to the vendors. Talk to people and find out if they know the stories of cool pieces they are selling. I can’t tell you how many amazing people we met at the sale and the stories we heard from some of the sellers. I always ask if they know the story behind a piece and when they do, sometimes it’s what seals the deal (or a bargain!) if they know you love the story as much as they do on a new treasure.
- Don’t be afraid to haggle. If it’s still not the price you want to pay, then walk away. The only exception I make is if it’s a seller for a non-profit, it’s already a great price, or if you talk to them and they tell you they’re selling stuff for a cause (like a church).
I’m excited about the World’s Longest Yard Sale and I can’t wait to see what treasures I’ll find this year. If you’re going to the World’s Longest Yard Sale, let me know and tell me what you’re looking for! If you see me there, be sure to stop and say hi! I’d love to meet you. I’ll be sharing our adventure of the World’s Longest Yard Sale through out the day on my stories, so make sure you’re following me on Instagram and Facebook! 🙂 Of course I’ll write all about the trip after and show you what I find. Ready, get set, go! It’s time for the best pickin’ weekend of the year! See y’all at The World’s Longest Yard Sale!
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