World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027
Memphis in May's world championship of pork — the Super Bowl week of barbecue towns.
blues and soul drifting from beale street bars into the mississippi night
Expected dates
May 12–15
Memphis, TN · Tennessee
Not yet official — confirm on the event's site before booking.
See RVs for these datesWhen is World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027 — and where do RVers stay?
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027 is expected to run May 12–15, 2027 in Memphis, TN, Tennessee. Official dates are not confirmed yet — verify on the event's official site before booking. Book an RV from a local Tennessee host about 10 weeks out and set up camp within an easy drive of Memphis, TN — arrive a day early, leave a day late.
Plan your trip · May 12–15, 2027 · Memphis, TN
Rent an RV near World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027
Search opens on your May 12–15, 2027 window with a one-day buffer on each side — arrive early, leave late. Book from local Tennessee hosts before the event weekend fills.
- Expected dates
- May 12–15, 2027
- Days away
- 291
- Location
- Memphis, TN
- Book ahead
- 10+ wk
- Demand window
- Plan ahead
Hosting near Memphis, TN? Event weekends book first — list your rig and fill the calendar.
List your rig →Know before you go
What you need to know
Memphis's World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the anchor of the city's barbecue calendar — hundreds of teams, elaborate multi-story team booths, and a week when the whole city smells like hickory. The 2027 dates are not yet officially announced: the contest has run mid-May for decades (the 2026 edition was May 13-16 at Liberty Park), and the organizers of SmokeSlam have announced they are pausing to prepare a unified Memphis barbecue festival with the contest for 2027, so expect the format details to firm up once that plan is published — treat the mid-May window here as the planning target and confirm against the official Memphis in May calendar before booking flights. For an RV trip, Memphis is well set up: T.O. Fuller State Park has a campground inside the city limits, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park sits on the bluffs north of town, and Tom Sawyer's RV Park across the river in West Memphis, Arkansas parks you on the Mississippi's bank watching towboats push past your windshield. May in Memphis pairs the contest with peak patio-and-blues season on Beale Street.
Official source: memphisinmay.org
Safety + legal
Mid-May in Memphis brings real heat and fast-moving thunderstorms — check the radar before an evening on the river bluffs and never ride out a warned storm under festival canopies.
Insider tip — what you won't find elsewhere
Tom Sawyer's RV Park in West Memphis is the connoisseur's base: riverfront sites where barge traffic glides past at eye level, ten minutes from downtown. Riverside rows go first — take an inside row over skipping it.
Plan-ahead runway
Book early, arrive easy — the whole runway
Event weekends book first. Here is the honest runway from lock-your-rig to head-home, with a one-day buffer on each end.
Book by
~10 weeks out
Event weekends fill first — lock your rig early.
Arrive
May 11
Roll in a day early and set up camp.
Event
Expected window
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027
Head home
May 16
Leave a day late and skip the exodus.
What to bring
Best rigs for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027
RV
Available for these dates
See rigs
Towable
Available for these dates
See rigs
Trucks & vans
Available for these dates
See rigsPlan it by rig
Each recommended class has its own World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027 planning page — class fit and booking guidance in one place.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked about World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027
When is World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027?
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027 is expected to run May 12–15, 2027 in Memphis, TN, Tennessee. Official dates are not confirmed yet — verify on the event's official site before booking.
Where is World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027 held?
Memphis, TN, Tennessee.
What are the 2027 dates for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027?
May 12–15, 2027. These dates are provisional until officially announced.
What RV should I rent for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027?
Best categories: rv, towable, trucks-vans. Memphis's World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the anchor of the city's barbecue calendar — hundreds of teams, elaborate multi-story team booths, and a week when the whole city smells like hickory. The 2027 dates are not yet officially announced: the contest has run mid-May for decades (the 2026 edition was May 13-16 at Liberty Park), and the organizers of SmokeSlam have announced they are pausing to prepare a unified Memphis barbecue festival with the contest for 2027, so expect the format details to firm up once that plan is published — treat the mid-May window here as the planning target and confirm against the official Memphis in May calendar before booking flights. For an RV trip, Memphis is well set up: T.O. Fuller State Park has a campground inside the city limits, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park sits on the bluffs north of town, and Tom Sawyer's RV Park across the river in West Memphis, Arkansas parks you on the Mississippi's bank watching towboats push past your windshield. May in Memphis pairs the contest with peak patio-and-blues season on Beale Street.
How early should I book an RV for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027?
Recommended lead time: 10 weeks. Event windows book up early, so search and lock your dates as soon as your plans firm up.
Are the 2027 Memphis barbecue contest dates confirmed?
Not yet. The contest has held a mid-May slot for decades (May 13-16 in 2026), and a unified 2027 Memphis barbecue festival is being prepared per the SmokeSlam organizers' announcement. Treat mid-May 2027 as the planning window and confirm on the official Memphis in May calendar before locking travel.
Where do you park an RV for Memphis barbecue week?
Three real options: T.O. Fuller State Park's campground inside Memphis city limits, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park north of the city, and Tom Sawyer's RV Park on the riverbank in West Memphis, Arkansas — the last one is a destination in itself.
Can the public eat at the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest?
The contest is team competition first — public food comes through vendors and ticketed tasting experiences rather than walking into team booths uninvited. Many teams do host guests; being invited in is part of the event's social sport.
What safety + legal guidance applies for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027?
Mid-May in Memphis brings real heat and fast-moving thunderstorms — check the radar before an evening on the river bluffs and never ride out a warned storm under festival canopies.
What's an insider tip for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027?
Tom Sawyer's RV Park in West Memphis is the connoisseur's base: riverfront sites where barge traffic glides past at eye level, ten minutes from downtown. Riverside rows go first — take an inside row over skipping it.
Ready to roll?
Tennessee is waiting.
Complete nightly price on every listing — your exact total itemized before you pay · 48h free cancel. Every rig near you, one checkout.
Stay on site
RVs near Nashville — sleep at the venue, skip the hotel.
Base your whole weekend for World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest 2027 from a rig parked where the action is: your own beds, kitchen, and gear locker, with no drive back to a room across town. Browse what local owners list around Nashville and lock your dates early — event weekends book first.
See RVs around Nashville →More Tennessee + festival events · 5 picks
Cross-discover same-state events you can stack with your trip, plus festival events in other states.
festival · Tennessee
Tennessee Music Festival
4-day Tennessee Music Festival — festival was built for RV camping.
High-demand window
festival · Tennessee
CMA Music Festival — Nashville
CMA Fest 4 days in downtown Nashville. Nashville KOA + Two Rivers Campground for base.
High-demand window
season window · Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains foliage peak
Smokies foliage peak — mid-Oct elevations 3000-5000ft.
Busy window
festival · Florida
Miami Music Week + Ultra
Park your rig in South Beach during the biggest electronic music week of the year
High-demand window
festival · Florida
Key West Fantasy Fest
10-day costume + parade festival. Drive Overseas Highway to peak Halloween energy.
Busy window
PickRV is an independent RV-rental marketplace and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NFL, FIFA, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, or any event organizer. All event names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used here only for factual, descriptive reference.
Plan around the event · 4
Hub state · nearest city · nearest park · recommended rig category — one click each.
Important: travel + safety + insurance disclaimer
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only. PickRV is not an insurer, legal advisor, or vehicle-safety authority. Trip planning, route selection, rig suitability, weather, and emergency decisions are the renter's responsibility. Always consult the rig manufacturer's owner's manual, your insurance provider, the U.S. National Park Service (nps.gov), NOAA / NWS weather alerts (weather.gov), state and local emergency-management agencies, and current local regulations before and during travel. Cost figures, season windows, road conditions, and fee references on this page are estimates as of May 2026 and vary by season, location, rig, carrier, and operator. Mentions of brand names, state-tourism marks, national-park feature names, or third-party programs are informational only and do not imply affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement.
Per-state legal callout · TN
Before you rent in Tennessee — key local rules
Standard license covers personal motorhomes under 26,001 lbs
Tennessee does not require a CDL or special endorsement for non-commercial motorhomes under 26,001 lbs GVWR. Out-of-state license honored under USDOT reciprocity. Heavier motorhomes (Class A diesel pushers > 26K) may trigger non-commercial Class B in some states — verify with the state DMV when towing combined-weight rigs.
TN Driver Services · verified 2026-05-24
Boating Safety Certificate required for operators born after 1988
Tennessee TWRA requires Boating Safety Examination Certificate for anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 operating any boat with 8.5+ hp. Lifetime certificate. Tennessee River + Norris Lake + Tims Ford TVA reservoirs add USACE federal rules.
TWRA — Boating Safety · verified 2026-05-24
Royal Blue OHV + Brimstone Recreation: per-area permits
Tennessee OHV access concentrated in Royal Blue WMA (Campbell County) + Brimstone Recreation (Scott County). Each requires its own day or annual permit; no statewide OHV registration sticker covers state lands.
TWRA — OHV/ATV Recreation · verified 2026-05-24
Tennessee BAC 0.08%; open container in passenger area prohibited
Tennessee enforces 0.08% BAC for non-commercial drivers (0.04% commercial). Open alcoholic containers prohibited in passenger areas on public highways. Living-quarters use while parked may be permitted but is officer-discretion at roadside stops.
TCA §55-10-401 · verified 2026-05-24
Tennessee rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 21+ std · 25+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — disclosure required
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-07:00