I live for a great secondhand sourcing trip.
If you tell me there’s a 100+ mile stretch of road where people have set out their old junk, I will be first in the car — protein bars and jerky sticks in tow, a killer playlist already blasting.
That’s why I set out to build a full calendar of the best flea markets, yard sales, and secondhand-shopping events in the US worth planning an entire trip around —more than 20 of them, and growing.
Most are under-the-radar sales you’ve probably never heard of, overflowing with affordable finds. But I also included the more polished, famous-for-a-reason events (Round Top, Brimfield) — still absolutely worth the trip, even if you’re just “window” shopping.
If you’re new here: there’s a high chance you found this newsletter because of my trips to The World’s Longest Yard Sale — I’ve been writing about it for more than three years. Turns out, it’s not the only one of its kind. In fact, there are sales on this list that stretch more than 800 miles (which, ironically, means there are sales longer than the “world’s longest”).
In other words, it’s time to take a road trip.
I’ll drive.
Everything below is the actual list — 20+ sales with dates, mileage, and the kind of insider tips you won't find on a random Google search. New events will be added as I track them down, so this calendar will only get better with time.
JANUARY
Round Top Winter Show — Round Top, Texas
When: January
Where: Round Top, Texas
More information: Round Top Antiques Fair
Round Top is Burning Man for vintage-lovers, in that this is where both true antiques aficionados and wealthy women cosplaying as such mix and mingle. It’s also a days-long stretch in which an entire town turns into an over-the-top market. There are fields, which have better deals, but the bulk of the show takes place indoors, or under covered tents.
The Original Round Top Antiques Fair dates to 1968, but Round Top today is bigger than one single show. Very high-end (read: indoor and high-priced) antique venues have spread along Highway 237 and throughout the surrounding countryside, with everything from European furniture to architectural salvage, and vintage clothing.
Most people associate Round Top with its hugely popular spring and fall shows, but there is also a much smaller winter edition in January. I’ve been to both the winter show and fall show! The winter show does not offer the full Round Top experience (far fewer vendors), but the weather (and the crowds!) are better.
Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza — Mount Dora, Florida
When: January
Where: Mount Dora, Florida
More information: Renninger’s
The show I’ve gone to most on the list. I have visited Renninger’s probably at least a dozen times for the three-times-a-year Extravaganza. I fear word has gotten out (I am probably partially to blame for that!), but I still find good stuff.
Renninger’s is a large antique center and flea market near Orlando, but three times a year it expands for the Extravaganza, bringing dozens of additional dealers into an outdoor show field.
As a bonus: Mount Dora is so cute and makes for such a great little weekend trip.
FEBRUARY
Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza — Mount Dora, Florida
When: February
Where: Mount Dora, Florida
More information: Renninger’s
Round two.
Renninger’s holds another Antique Extravaganza in February. So if you miss it in January, just go to the February event.
MARCH
Peaches to the Beaches — Georgia
When: Second Friday and Saturday in March
Where: Along Highway 341 across Georgia
How long: 200+ miles
More information: Peaches to the Beaches
This is Georgia’s longest yard sale, and it runs through a litany of small towns such as Fort Valley, Perry, Hawkinsville, Eastman, Hazlehurst, Baxley, Jesup, and Brunswick. Official vendor sites (those with large groupings of dealers) are mixed in with individual sellers along the route, and you’ll find everything from antiques to the sort of authentic garage-sale miscellany that makes these events so great.
