9 of the Best, Fastest Go Karts in Pigeon Forge From a Local

My youngest son fancies himself as an exceptionally talented driver. Anytime we go to Pigeon Forge, he wants to race. And not only does he want to race, he wants to prove himself in the fastest go-karts around. There are at least three major challenges that will prevent him from proving himself in the fastest go-karts. First of all, he's no good. He's not good at using the brake. Second of all, he's little and doesn't always meet the height requirements for the fast karts. Lastly, no one seems to know for sure which karts are the fastest in Pigeon Forge.

Does Pigeon Forge have go-karts?

They sure do. Racing karts is a big business in the Smoky Mountains. For example, every year when I was little, my uncles would come down from Indiana and we’d hit the tracks together. Back then, we didn’t care about the fastest kart. As long as they were suitably quick and competitive, we could get in there and race a little. The trick was watching the races before yours and scouting out the karts that were running a little hot that day. The tracks would always seem to have a few hot karts and a few duds, and often the best race would be to see who got to the good karts first. Still, the fascination for thrill-seekers with which track has the fastest karts remains.

Who has the fastest go-karts in Pigeon Forge?

There seem to be two clear leaders, each claiming to have the fastest karts in town. And yet, neither location would provide an actual mph and seemed a little cagey about the whole thing when I inquired. Regardless, I think most of these attractions will get the job done when you're looking for fun go-karts in the Smokies:

1. Xtreme Racing Center

Speed: "Fastest in town"

If I was betting on it, I’d say these are the fastest karts in town. In the past, Xtreme has promoted its karts as running up to 40 mph, but when I tried to confirm speeds, a spokesperson for the facility would only say that speeds depend on the talent level and the size of the driver. Xtreme offers an elevated course, which is a 1,500-foot high track. You must be at least 56 inches tall to ride solo or 16 years old to drive a partner in one of the double karts.

Pros of the attraction: Xtreme Racing Center offers double karts, which passengers can ride at three years old. At the time of this writing, the price is $29.99, which essentially covers two races. Combo packages are also available and discounts are sometimes offered online. Xtreme Racing Center is located at 3144 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

2. Blake Jones Racing Center

Speed: "Fastest in town"

The Blake Jones Racing Center is also advertised as having the fastest go-karts in town. This attraction features an open-air, figure 8 slick track and an indoor, eco-friendly electric kart track with various speed settings for different skilled drivers. The karts are advertised as having no fumes, no odors and low noise. To me, the electric karts are not a serious contender for the fastest karts in town. However, they do offer a good option for racers of all ages to test things out. A the time of this writing, tickets were $12 - $33 depending on the number of rides and riders.

Pros of the attraction: It's an affordable way to try the go-kart experience. Plus, it's covered, so it's a good option for rainy weather. Blake Jones Racing is located at 2891 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

3. The Track

Speed: Not the fastest in town

Yet another attraction that declined to comment on actual speed is The Track. But its my family’s favorite destination for racing. The facility includes several track options including a family track and kiddie karts that allow even our smallest to try a hand at racing. The Wild Woody has three and a half stories with an exciting drop at the bottom for guests 56 inches tall. However, passengers can ride in a double kart at 36 inches tall. There's also a Family Track as well as a Rookie Track, specifically designed for older children. The Kiddie Karts are designed for riders between 42-48 inches tall.

In addition to multiple tracks, there’s a mini golf course, blaster boats, an arcade, and a decent number of small carnival-type rides for the kids. The only downside is, that The Track uses a confusing points system instead of simply setting an amount for the ride. You buy points and then use the points to “pay” for go-karts or other activities. It reminds me of the time I went to the Netherlands in the pre-European Union days. The exchange rate between the Dutch Guilder and the American Dollar was so confusing, that I’m pretty sure I paid $75 for an open-faced ham sandwich and a warm Fanta. Can we just pay with money, please?

Pros of the attraction: There are a lot of activities and various levels of go-karting, making it a great option for families. The Track is located at 2575 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

4. SpeedZone Fun Park & LazerPort

Speed: Not the fastest in town

Note: At the time of this writing, this attraction is closed for maintenance

Both owned by the same folks who run Xtreme and LazerPort, this location lays no claims to the fastest karts. However, it offers interesting racing experiences. SpeedZone has four tracks including the Tennessee Twister, a wild wooden coaster track that offers twists and tight turns and tons of fun. LazerPort offers a 50-foot spiral track that drops, twists and turns riders as they race to the bottom. The course includes a breathtaking 40-foot hill. Kids must be at least 3 years old to ride double. SpeedZone is located at 3315 S River Road in Pigeon Forge.

5. Adventure Raceway

Speed: Not the fastest in town

While Adventure Raceway doesn't claim to have the fastest karts in town, they do have a fun, wooded elevated track that takes riders up three stories all the way to "The Hump" and then back down. It's a fun outdoor track and takes about five minutes for a session.

Pros of this attraction: They also offer bumper boats. Adventure Raceway is located at 2945 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

6. Ripley's Super Fun Park

Speed: Not the fastest in town

Ripley's Fun Park offers go-karts, Blaster Boats and a classic arcade. Here, you can do unlimited rides for an hour. Unlimited rides for adults start at $29.99 or $19.99 for kids. Adult tickets are for guests 54 inches or taller, and child tickets are for guests 36-53 inches tall.

Pros of this attraction: It's easy to bundle your mini golf or laser tag tickets to save up to $26 per person when you see other Ripley's attractions, including Ripley's Aquarium or the Odditorium. Ripley's Super Fun Park is located at 4061 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

7. Rockin' Raceway

Speed: Not the fastest in town

The Rockin' Raceway is part of the FACE Entertainment group and also offers an arcade at the location. Some of the reviews claim these are the fastest karts in town, but I'm still dubious. For the track, riders must be 56 inches tall to drive and 36 inches tall to ride. Prices start at $12. Rockin' Raceway is located at 2839 Parkway.

8. Fast Tracks

Speed: Not the fastest in town

Fast Tracks offers three different courses, including an elevated track that uses a little help from gravity to get you up to “lightning” speeds. There is also a pro and a junior track. Fast Tracks is located at 2879 Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

9. NASCAR SpeedPark

Speed: Not the fastest in town

Another entrant in serious consideration for best racing in the area, the NASCAR SpeedPark offers a wide array of karts and tracks to fit all levels of drivers and skills. The park also features an arcade, a mini golf course and other rides. At the time of this writing, a pro wristband is $34.99 while a rookie wristband is $26.99. NASCAR is located at Nascar Dr. in Sevierville.

Who do YOU think has the fastest go-karts in Pigeon Forge? Let us know in the comments below.