For people coming in extra car you are probably better off buying the extra vehicle pass. If they just pay daily fan admission (which yes is by carload) then they are supposed to park in certain areas and would not be permitted to drive to your camping spot. (supposedly)
Keep in mind that "when they say they open" doesn't mean they aren't open. You just have to pay the extra LL camping fee for the days prior.
Every time I've gone I've left Friday about 4pm, driven about 8 hours, camped at a Walmart around Bowling Green, KY, and gotten to the ranch around 7am Saturday morning. The place is pretty much full at that point.
If you want to park on Stagecoach Hill, you either have to have someone saving you a spot, or get there Thursday or Friday. If you want any reasonable spot for that matter, you have to get there Thursday or Friday. Two years ago when we went, we couldn't find anywhere to park early Saturday morning, ended up driving all the way around to the back back the bend in the creek and had to park in a corner spot. It seemed like we were miles away from the track, but in the end it worked out nicely because that corner was slightly raised up and we stayed high and dry while everyone else not on the hill was flooded.
The amount of people bringing giant rigs has gotten so out of hand that they now have extra overflow parking down the road near to LL house. I would not want to be parked all the way out there, that's like being in another county.
Look at map below. The RED O in the map lower left corner is the corner I parked in two years ago trying to find a spot on Saturday morning at like 8am.
The RED ARROW points in the general direction where the new overflow lots are at.
As for other things not related to parking:
Pay attention to all the activities. I know several people that pretty much go on the track and then sit at their campsite the whole week and miss out on a ton.
Go through the vendor area EVERY DAY. There are a ton of contests, giveways, games, etc and I've won a ton of swag there including 2 Go Pros, Fox backpacks, graphics kits, hats, Suzuki lake tube, Xbox games, a ton of stuff from Rocky Mountain, etc, etc, etc.
Make sure and run down and check out LL house, and the little gift shops there.
As for outside of LL, If you are of the right age the Dukes of Hazzard museum in Nashville is really cool and only like 20 minutes out of the way on drive back North.
https://cootersplace.com/cooters-nashville/
Also, stop at Gaylord Opryland hotel, which is right next to the Grand Ole Opry. This place is like its own city. I am actually staying there this year Mon-Fri and just driving over to the ranch a few days during the week.
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/
Another really cool thing on the drive home is Mammoth Cave in KY.
https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm
What to bring to LL:
Mud boots, umbrellas, sunscreen, river floats if desired, shoes like Crocs to walk in the river.
Bring a bottle of Home Defense spray and spray it all around the camper when you get there, set up your own little anti-bug zone.
You must have pit vehicles. I like having something street legal like Zuma scooter because you can zip down to LL house, etc on it and just have a lot more freedom having a street legal bike.
You must wear helmets when riding pit bikes, so bring a couple bicycle/skateboard type helmets. Those are much easier and not as hot to wear as opposed to having to put on a MX helmet every time.
Hope this helps!
