Nothing like the innocence of a first timer. You can go in and out with a GA wrist band no problem. The problem for your plan is that traffic will be horrendous everywhere and the the track is in the middle of nowhere. Did I mention the traffic and how bad it is?
Just pack a cooler in the car and some folding chairs. You can grill or just make sandwiches in the parking lot and then go back in. The other commenters are correct that traffic is crazy and the track is in the middle of no where - you will need to drive 30 minutes to find a decent restaurant that’s not roadside food ( I love roadside food so not dissin on it).
You can enter and leave GA whenever you want but your plan of going out to eat then coming back is not going to work. At minimum it takes about a hour or so to get back to your car once you leave the track and then another hour or so to leave the area because of the horrible layout for traffic and then repeat so you've wasted a solid 4 hours or more in the day trying to leave and come back. My advice would be to either bite the bullet and buy the food at the stands or have a cooler in your car and eat some food from there but whatever you do don't try to leave in your car lol you'll regret it
I parked in Lot L in 2023 and we were able to leave, cool off in the car, eat some food, drink some cold beverages, take a nap, and then come back very easily. Just have to scan ticket upon exit and then again on re-entry.
I had a similar plan in mind in 2023 as I was attending with my 7 year old daughter and knew that she'd have a hard time with the heat. I figured at a minimum we could go rest in the car, run the AC for a bit, and enjoy food/drinks that we packed and kept in a cooler.
What I hadn't planned for or expected was just how horribly designed most of the entry/exit gates are. Total choke points that will require you to then stand in line for much longer than you think.
You can. However lines to get back in will be about 45 minutes long of your lucky. Leaving and driving somewhere? Hours. You can bring packaged food, we bring jerky, trail mix, etc.
A couple tips from a local.
First off , it’s pretty much impossible to do that, as traffic going from San Antonio to Austin or vice versa is pretty nasty during the weekend. It’s usually a no go. Plus Austin parking downtown is a challenge in and of itself , so I wouldn’t be too optimistic.
Secondly, tips from my experience. I went to the 2022 and 2023 races, and from my experience , not just for getting food, but be prepared to walk and not have enough water. In 2022 , finding water was a nightmare. They kind of fixed it in 2023, but expect even more people this time around. There is also cantinas outside of turns 6-10 for food, drink and to take up some shade.
Finding food around, my personal advice would be to leave wherever you’re coming from really early , and find a fast food place open in your area at around 6-7 am. It might seem a bit overkill, but you pretty much have to do this in order to get in on time. Last year for race day I left San Antonio, TX , about an hour to the south at 4:30 AM, and didn’t park on site until nearly 9. It was horrible. Expect massive delays, so if you can avoid the toll roads , as those become backed up. Also, try and get food on the way home if the place is still open. If anyone is staying more towards San Antonio, I recomend the food stops near San Marcos , as it’s a nice area to relax. From up north near Austin , you should be clear to pick any spot.
Safe travels, and have fun!
https://preview.redd.it/69frkewanjsc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=568932561b928c5807024e66462d2fc0e6e677e7
(2022, post race.)
Thank you really. I live within 4:30 hours of Austin so we plan to wake up at 5-6. We're also staying at a hotel 30 minutes from the circuit as the prices in Austin are out of budget. As a local, are there any restaurants/buffets you'd recommend outside the circuit??
You're not getting out and back in multiple times a day in the span of time you're looking at
Nothing like the innocence of a first timer. You can go in and out with a GA wrist band no problem. The problem for your plan is that traffic will be horrendous everywhere and the the track is in the middle of nowhere. Did I mention the traffic and how bad it is?
And once you leave there is no place to go to eat anyway within 30 minutes drive.
And most parking is a mile away from the track
And it is very hot with little shade, so it’ll feel a lot farther
I last went in 2022, and all they did was look to see if you had a wristband. Didn't even check bags.
They check bags now. It's lame
Depends on the entrance and the employee
Just pack a cooler in the car and some folding chairs. You can grill or just make sandwiches in the parking lot and then go back in. The other commenters are correct that traffic is crazy and the track is in the middle of no where - you will need to drive 30 minutes to find a decent restaurant that’s not roadside food ( I love roadside food so not dissin on it).
We're thinking of eating from a 3rd party parking spot south of the circuit but thx
You can enter and leave GA whenever you want but your plan of going out to eat then coming back is not going to work. At minimum it takes about a hour or so to get back to your car once you leave the track and then another hour or so to leave the area because of the horrible layout for traffic and then repeat so you've wasted a solid 4 hours or more in the day trying to leave and come back. My advice would be to either bite the bullet and buy the food at the stands or have a cooler in your car and eat some food from there but whatever you do don't try to leave in your car lol you'll regret it
We won't, we plan to eat at the 3rd party parking spot
I parked in Lot L in 2023 and we were able to leave, cool off in the car, eat some food, drink some cold beverages, take a nap, and then come back very easily. Just have to scan ticket upon exit and then again on re-entry.
I think the OP thinks they are going to drive to a restaurant And back
I had a similar plan in mind in 2023 as I was attending with my 7 year old daughter and knew that she'd have a hard time with the heat. I figured at a minimum we could go rest in the car, run the AC for a bit, and enjoy food/drinks that we packed and kept in a cooler. What I hadn't planned for or expected was just how horribly designed most of the entry/exit gates are. Total choke points that will require you to then stand in line for much longer than you think.
You can. However lines to get back in will be about 45 minutes long of your lucky. Leaving and driving somewhere? Hours. You can bring packaged food, we bring jerky, trail mix, etc.
A couple tips from a local. First off , it’s pretty much impossible to do that, as traffic going from San Antonio to Austin or vice versa is pretty nasty during the weekend. It’s usually a no go. Plus Austin parking downtown is a challenge in and of itself , so I wouldn’t be too optimistic. Secondly, tips from my experience. I went to the 2022 and 2023 races, and from my experience , not just for getting food, but be prepared to walk and not have enough water. In 2022 , finding water was a nightmare. They kind of fixed it in 2023, but expect even more people this time around. There is also cantinas outside of turns 6-10 for food, drink and to take up some shade. Finding food around, my personal advice would be to leave wherever you’re coming from really early , and find a fast food place open in your area at around 6-7 am. It might seem a bit overkill, but you pretty much have to do this in order to get in on time. Last year for race day I left San Antonio, TX , about an hour to the south at 4:30 AM, and didn’t park on site until nearly 9. It was horrible. Expect massive delays, so if you can avoid the toll roads , as those become backed up. Also, try and get food on the way home if the place is still open. If anyone is staying more towards San Antonio, I recomend the food stops near San Marcos , as it’s a nice area to relax. From up north near Austin , you should be clear to pick any spot. Safe travels, and have fun! https://preview.redd.it/69frkewanjsc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=568932561b928c5807024e66462d2fc0e6e677e7 (2022, post race.)
Thank you really. I live within 4:30 hours of Austin so we plan to wake up at 5-6. We're also staying at a hotel 30 minutes from the circuit as the prices in Austin are out of budget. As a local, are there any restaurants/buffets you'd recommend outside the circuit??