8 Tennessee Hobby Shops Where Model Trains, RC Cars, Or Classic Kits Still Rule

Somewhere in Tennessee, a hobby shop opens on Wednesday afternoons so folks can race RC cars on indoor carpet. Yes, carpet, with slot car tracks and plenty of pit space sitting right beside it.

That alone made me curious, and then the list kept getting better. One small-town shop stocks HO rolling stock and track right next door to a chocolate shop, which feels like a sneaky trap for model railroaders.

These stores still sell plastic kits, model paints, and bins of replacement parts for trucks that jump things they probably shouldn’t. A few carry trains in N, HO, O, and G scale, while others live for the hum of electric motors.

I love that this stuff still has a home on real shelves, run by people who know a pinion gear from a pickle.

1. Mid-South Hobbies

Spaceships and tanks share shelf space here, which sounds like the plot of a very strange movie. On Summer Avenue in Memphis, the kit aisle covers cars, motorcycles, planes, helicopters, boats, ships, and even rare vintage models.

Train fans get plenty of room to roam, too. The shop carries N, HO, O, and G scale, along with the track and accessories to make a layout feel finished.

RC drivers aren’t left out of the fun. Cars, trucks, boats, planes, and drones fill out the radio-controlled side of the store.

Then there’s the indoor slot car track, a sweet surprise in a retail shop. If you’ve never steered a tiny car around a lane, this is a fine place to learn how tricky it is.

Builders should save time for the supply section. Paints, glues, building materials, and rockets sit alongside crafts and collectibles, so one trip can cover a whole weekend project.

Gift shoppers can breathe easy here. With toys, models, and trading cards in the mix, there’s something for the kid who wants a drone and the grandparent who wants a battleship.

Planning helps if you like elbow room. Saturday afternoons tend to be the busiest stretch, while weekday mornings usually run quieter.

The shop opens daily, with shorter hours on Sunday afternoons. Free parking sits right on site, which makes hauling home a big box much easier.

Address: 4862 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122

2. HobbyTown

Basswood blocks and plushies under one roof? That odd little combo tells you how wide this Knoxville store casts its net, and it’s a very wide net.

HobbyTown is a national name, but this location is locally owned. The shelves stretch across RC cars, drones, toys, games, model kits, and a smaller train section.

Painters get serious options here. Citadel, Tamiya, and Vallejo paints are stocked, along with cutting tools and sanding supplies for cleaning up stubborn seams.

Diorama builders, take note. Wood cuts and building supplies can help you create the scenery around a model, not just the model itself.

RC fans get more than a checkout counter. The store offers repair services, so a busted truck doesn’t have to become a garage decoration.

An indoor track and event space round out the setup. That means you can test a new ride without hunting for an empty parking lot.

Weekends draw the biggest crowds, especially Saturday afternoon. If you want time to browse paint racks slowly, a weekday visit is usually calmer.

Hours run late most days, closing at 7 PM Monday through Saturday. Sunday brings an afternoon window, perfect for a post-lunch browse in East Tennessee.

Address: 11145 Turkey Dr, Knoxville, TN 37934

3. Cookeville Raceway & Hobbies

Tuesday is the one day this Cookeville shop takes a breather. Saturday, on the other hand, runs from 9 AM to 8 PM, which is a lot of hours for parts hunting.

Parts are the big story here. Shelves hold a deep supply for Traxxas, Arrma, Axial, and Redcat vehicles, brands that show up at plenty of backyard bash sessions.

Snap an axle on Sunday, and you won’t have to wait long. The shop opens at noon that day, giving you a fighting chance at a Monday comeback.

Vehicle choices go beyond trucks. You’ll find RC planes, helicopters, boats, and cars, so a land, sea, and air family can shop together.

Scale modelers can find help too, though the kit selection is smaller. The store carries small odd bits that come in handy when an old model kit shows up missing pieces.

That kind of rescue feels great. Few things sting like a finished build with one empty spot where a part should be.

The shop is openly LGBTQ+ friendly and has a gender-neutral restroom. Free Wi-Fi and a free parking lot make longer visits easier.

Weekends get busy, so expect company on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Weekday visits tend to be quieter if you want to ask lots of questions.

Cookeville sits along I-40 between Nashville and Knoxville. That makes this an easy stop on an Upper Cumberland drive.

Address: 1210 N Willow Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501

4. Hobo’s Hobbies Trains & Planes

A shop named after a train-hopping wanderer had better know its rails, and Hobo’s Hobbies does. HO rolling stock, track, and layout accessories anchor the shelves in Crossville.

Model railroaders come here for supplies, plain and simple. If your layout needs more track or a few more freight cars, this is the kind of stop that fixes that.

Planes share the spotlight, as the name promises. The shop carries plane and train supplies in a quantity you might not expect from a town this size.

Kit builders aren’t forgotten either. Plastic models, paints, and tools give you what you need for a rainy afternoon at the workbench.

The owners run the place hands-on and are known for being helpful. That counts for a lot when you’re sorting out couplers or matching a paint color.

Timing matters here more than most stops. The doors open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and the shop stays closed on weekends and Mondays.

So plan a weekday trip, maybe as part of a Cumberland Plateau drive. Crossville sits up on the plateau, a pleasant spot for a slow day of browsing.

One last friendly warning: a chocolate shop sits right next door. Your hobby budget may need a small snack line item, and nobody would blame you.

Address: 128 Northside Ln, Crossville, TN 38571

5. Family Hobbies

Family is right there in the name, and the shop backs it up by being family owned. In Smyrna, that means a local crew running an RC store instead of a faraway headquarters.

Radio-controlled airplanes, helicopters, and cars cover the main menu. You can shop for a first flyer or upgrade a car you’ve been driving for years.

Parts and accessories may be the real treasure, though. The store keeps a large inventory, which is exactly what you want after a hard landing in tall grass.

Planes are a nice twist in an RC world often ruled by trucks. If you’ve ever wanted to see a model lift off from a field, this is a good place to start asking questions.

The staff are friendly and helpful, which matters with aircraft. Picking the right plane for your skill level can save you a lot of repair time later.

Hours are short, so check your calendar first. The shop opens Wednesday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, plus Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are off days. Curbside pickup is available, handy if you know exactly which part you need.

Smyrna sits just southeast of Nashville, an easy hop for Middle Tennessee hobbyists. Free Wi-Fi in the store helps when you need to look up a part number fast.

Address: 215 S Lowry St, Smyrna, TN 37167

6. R & C Hobby Shop

Split hours are the first clue this is a hands-on, small-shop operation. Tuesday through Friday, doors open from noon to 2 PM, then again from 4 to 6 PM.

Saturday offers a longer stretch, from noon to 6 PM. Sunday and Monday are closed, so plan around that before you drive over.

Big trucks get big support in Clarksville. The shop stocks parts for monsters like the Traxxas X-Maxx and the Arrma Typhon 6S.

Those are not little backyard toys. When one of them breaks, you want a counter stacked with the right parts, not a long wait for shipping.

RC cars and trucks are the main focus, with a massive parts selection behind them. Models show up on the shelves as well, for anyone who likes building between races.

The owner knows her stuff, and the staff take time to explain options. That helps a lot if you’re buying a first truck for a kid or grandkid.

Picking between motors, sizes, and scales can feel like learning a new language. A patient explanation can keep you from bringing home the wrong rig.

Free on-site parking makes the stop simple. Clarksville sits near the Kentucky line, and this shop is a handy option for RC drivers in that corner of Tennessee.

Address: 110 W Rossview Rd, Clarksville, TN 37040

7. APEX Raceway And Hobbies

Racing on carpet sounds like something your parents would ground you for. At APEX in Murfreesboro, it’s the whole point.

The building holds multiple indoor RC tracks plus slot car tracks. Weather never cancels race day when the action happens under a roof.

Indoor carpet racing is a different beast from bashing in the dirt. Tires grip hard, corners come fast, and smooth driving usually beats raw speed.

Plenty of pit space gives you room to work on your car between runs. You can spread out tools, swap parts, and tweak setups without bumping elbows.

Newcomers get a helping hand here. The crew helps beginners get rolling and can also help if you’re aiming for pro-level racing.

The hobby store side is well stocked, so parts and gear sit steps away from the track. That’s handy when a race eats a part you didn’t pack.

Hours are unusual, so check before you go. Wednesday runs from 3 to 9 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Wednesday evenings make a nice midweek escape after school or work. Weekends give you more daylight for a long session of laps.

Murfreesboro’s spot in Middle Tennessee makes this an easy run from Nashville. Slot cars and RC racing under one roof is a tough combo to beat.

Address: 1172 Park Ave, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

8. Extreme Hobby Shop

More than 100 RC vehicles in stock is a lot of temptation for one Main Street storefront. Extreme Hobby Shop in Spring Hill packs them in anyway.

The lineup covers cars, trucks, crawlers, boats, and planes. Crawlers deserve a special shout, since they turn a pile of rocks into a slow, brainy puzzle.

Family owned and open for more than a decade, the shop leans on 35 years of RC experience. That background comes in handy when you bring in a tricky question.

Repair parts are a strong suit. The inventory reaches almost any part you’d need, which can turn a broken weekend into a fixed one.

The owner clearly cares about the hobby and about your needs. Ask about gearing, tires, or which truck fits your yard best.

That kind of advice saves money in the long run. Buying the right truck once beats buying the wrong one twice.

Hours run Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM. Saturday closes a bit earlier at 5 PM, and Sunday and Monday are off.

Spring Hill sits south of Nashville, so the trip makes sense for drivers across that part of Tennessee. Bring the broken part with you, just in case.

And if you leave with a new crawler instead of a single spare gear? Well, that’s how hobbies grow.

Address: 5311 Main St Ste B, Spring Hill, TN 37174