A method of producing dicyclopentadiene, the method comprising: a first stage that comprises: flowing a feed stream comprising cyclopentadiene monomer through first tubes of a first shell and tube heat exchanger, wherein temperature of the feed stream as it enters the first tubes is in a range of 40 to 60 °C, wherein the first tubes comprise fins; flowing a heat transfer medium through a first shell of the first shell and tube heat exchanger in the same direction as the flow of the feed stream, wherein temperature of the heat transfer medium as it enters the first shell is in a range of 65 to 80 °C; and subjecting the feed stream in the first tubes to reaction conditions sufficient to dimerize the cyclopentadiene monomer to form dicyclopentadiene, wherein temperature of a first stage effluent as it exits the first tubes is in a range of 80 to 90 °C; a second stage that comprises cooling the first stage effluent to produce a second stage effluent at a temperature of 90 to 110 °C; a third stage that comprises cooling the second stage effluent to produce a third stage effluent at a temperature of 110 to 120 °C; and a fourth stage that comprises cooling the third stage effluent to produce a fourth stage effluent at a temperature of 120 to 140 °C, wherein the each of the first stage, the second stage, the third stage, and the fourth stage is carried out in a different shell and tube heat exchanger. a first stage that comprises: flowing a feed stream comprising cyclopentadiene monomer through first tubes of a first shell and tube heat exchanger, wherein temperature of the feed stream as it enters the first tubes is in a range of 40 to 60 °C, wherein the first tubes comprise fins; flowing a heat transfer medium through a first shell of the first shell and tube heat exchanger in the same direction as the flow of the feed stream, wherein temperature of the heat transfer medium as it enters the first shell is in a range of 65 to 80 °C; and subjecting the feed stream in the first tubes to reaction conditions sufficient to dimerize the cyclopentadiene monomer to form dicyclopentadiene, wherein temperature of a first stage effluent as it exits the first tubes is in a range of 80 to 90 °C; flowing a feed stream comprising cyclopentadiene monomer through first tubes of a first shell and tube heat exchanger, wherein temperature of the feed stream as it enters the first tubes is in a range of 40 to 60 °C, wherein the first tubes comprise fins; flowing a heat transfer medium through a first shell of the first shell and tube heat exchanger in the same direction as the flow of the feed stream, wherein temperature of the heat transfer medium as it enters the first shell is in a range of 65 to 80 °C; and subjecting the feed stream in the first tubes to reaction conditions sufficient to dimerize the cyclopentadiene monomer to form dicyclopentadiene, wherein temperature of a first stage effluent as it exits the first tubes is in a range of 80 to 90 °C; a second stage that comprises cooling the first stage effluent to produce a second stage effluent at a temperature of 90 to 110 °C; a third stage that comprises cooling the second stage effluent to produce a third stage effluent at a temperature of 110 to 120 °C; and a fourth stage that comprises cooling the third stage effluent to produce a fourth stage effluent at a temperature of 120 to 140 °C, wherein the each of the first stage, the second stage, the third stage, and the fourth stage is carried out in a different shell and tube heat exchanger.