United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
Last updated 17 Oct 2026Photo: Charlie Schroeder/Unsplash
Pick Austin if you want a full festival: three big concerts come with your race ticket, the general admission hills give real views, and there is Texas barbecue on site. Think twice if you hate heat, long walks or traffic. The circuit is about 15 miles (24 km) from downtown, there is no public transport to the gates, and leaving after the race on Sunday takes hours.
Sources:Formula 1: United States GP 2026 · COTA: 2026 F1 schedule
Interactive map. Use the buttons to show or hide each layer, and tap a numbered square to see the toilets, water, first aid and food in that area.
Swipe sideways to see the whole map.
Map: Circuit of The Americas
Sources:COTA: 2026 fan guide map · Track outline: © OpenStreetMap contributors
All times are local (CDT).
Gates 11:30am · Parking 11am
When to arrive: Needs a Grand Prix Thursday ticket. Worth it for the pit lane walk, which is the closest most fans get to the garages.
Gates 9am · Parking 8:30am
When to arrive: The quietest day. Arrive by late morning and walk the whole site before FP1 to find your favourite viewing spots for Sunday.
Gates 8:30am · Parking 8am
When to arrive: Busier than Friday. Be inside by noon for FP3. Stay for the concert: the roads are calmer once it ends than straight after qualifying.
Gates 8:30am · Parking 8am
When to arrive: Get there early. Security queues are longest on Sunday, and fans say the best spots on the Turn 1 hill are gone by about 9:30am, so queue before the gates open at 8:30am. COTA says shuttle journeys are slowest between 9:30am and 12:15pm. After the race, stay for Alesso rather than joining the traffic.
Sources:COTA: 2026 F1 schedule · COTA: Concert lineup · Formula 1: United States GP 2026
COTA is about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of downtown Austin and about 9 miles from the airport. There is no train or city bus to the circuit, so you'll use a shuttle, rideshare, your own car or a helicopter. Tap an option for the details.
Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) is the closest airport, about 9 miles from COTA. A taxi or rideshare to the circuit or downtown takes 20 to 40 minutes outside race traffic.
If flights to Austin are expensive, fans fly into San Antonio (about 1 hour 20 minutes' drive), Houston (about 2 hours 40) or Dallas (3.5 to 4 hours) and rent a car. If you do, plan a Thursday to Monday trip.
Drop-off and pick-up are only at the McAngus lot. Rideshare cars cannot use COTA Blvd on race weekend. Free trams run from McAngus to the Grand Plaza box office. Expect surge prices: one fan was quoted about $81 back to town a couple of hours after Saturday's sessions.
You need a parking pass bought in advance. Cars without one cannot get onto COTA Blvd. Most fans come via the TX-130 toll road: exit 451 (Elroy Rd) for Lots C to L, R and S, or exit 453 (FM-812) for Lots A, N and T. Leaving, a fan tip: if there's a queue to turn left onto Elroy Rd, go straight onto Kellam Rd towards Highway 71. Allow 15 to 20 minutes to walk back to your car.
BLADE flies from Creedmoor to COTA in about five minutes (by the seat or private charter). Book early.
COTA publishes a bike route map. Check it before you ride: the roads near the circuit are busy and not built for cyclists.
| Official parking | Near | From (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Lot F | Turns 11-19 | $52 |
| Park N Ride | Drop-off near Turn 11 | $52 |
| Lot R | Turn 11 | $70.83 |
| Lot K | Turn 11 | $82.83 |
| Lot L | Turns 9-11 | $100.17 |
| Lot C (garage) | Turns 12-19 | $113 |
| Lot T | Turn 1 | $134.50 |
Leaving on Sunday is the hard part. Stay for Alesso, or relax until the crowds thin. Don't book a flight out on Sunday evening.
Sources:COTA: Getting to COTA · COTA: Shuttles · COTA: F1 parking · COTA: Know before you go · Fan guide on r/GrandPrixTravel
Hotels fill up and prices jump on race weekend, so book as soon as you have tickets. For 2027, book when the date is announced.
| Two people, 22 to 26 Oct | Total | Per night |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, race week | About $4,260 | About $1,065 |
| Airbnb, race week | About $3,100 | About $775 |
| All stays, the week before | About $1,450 | About $360 |
Most popular
Bars, live music and restaurants on your doorstep, from Congress Avenue to Rainey Street. You won't need a car.
To COTA: Official shuttle from Waterloo Park, from $49.
Local feel
Food trailers, bars and holiday rentals, a short ride east of downtown.
To COTA: Rideshare to the downtown shuttle, or straight to the McAngus lot.
Sources:COTA: RV and camping · COTA official hotel partner · COTA: Shuttles · Race-week price analysis (2026) · Fan guide on r/GrandPrixTravel
You can't bring food or drinks in, apart from one empty water bottle. Everything inside is cashless.
Bring one empty bottle (up to 32 oz, no glass) or an empty CamelBak and refill it. Water stations are at the Main Grandstand, Turn 1, Turns 3-5, Turn 6, Turn 9, Turn 12, Fan Field, Turn 16 and the amphitheater.
Every zone has food. The biggest choice is in the Grand Plaza, Fan Field and around the Main Grandstand. Barbecue spots include Smokey Joe's BBQ, Whitfield's BBQ and Winkler's BBQ.
Fans report about $8 to $10 for a beer and $15 to $25 for a meal. Prices aren't always shown at the stall, so check the total before you tap your card.
COTA is cashless. Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express are accepted. Bring a card or phone wallet.
Sources:COTA: Venue policies · COTA: 2026 fan guide map · COTA: Know before you go
Bags must be smaller than 12 x 12 x 20 inches (30 x 30 x 50 cm), so a normal backpack is fine. The Super Stage concert area is stricter: a clear bag up to 12 x 12 x 6 inches, a 1-gallon clear zip bag or a small clutch.
Sources:COTA: Venue policies · COTA: Know before you go · COTA: 2026 fan guide map
Tickets are sold by COTA through Ticketmaster. Every race-day ticket includes the concert that night. Children aged 3 and over need their own ticket.
| Ticket | What you get | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day GA Grounds Pass | Fri to Sun, walk anywhere in general admission, all three concerts | $450 incl. fees. Sold out |
| Friday only | Practice + Maroon 5 | From $109.13 |
| Saturday only | Qualifying + Post Malone | From $271.60 |
| Sunday only | The race, podium + Alesso | From $249 |
| 3-day grandstand | Your own reserved seat all weekend | About $712 to $2,030 |
| Grand Prix Thursday | F1 Academy, hot laps, pit lane walk (22 Oct) | See COTA |
| Hospitality | Food, drinks and a private space, e.g. The Guest House at Turn 20 | On request |
Best for first-timers
Best for the start. Cars climb a steep hill and brake hard into a tight left. Lots of first-lap moves.
Best for car nerds
Faces the fast Turns 3 to 6 'esses'. Great for seeing how the cars change direction.
Best for overtakes
Cars brake hard here after the long back straight. The most likely place for an overtake.
Best for wide views
A wide view over Turns 12 to 16, close to the Grand Plaza and the amphitheater.
Best for pit stops + podium
Pit stops, the start grid and the podium celebrations. The most expensive grandstand.
Best for budget + freedom
Grass areas around Turns 1, 3 to 6, 9, 11, 17 and 19, plus the big field inside Turns 7 to 10. Cheapest way in, but bring a chair and get there early on Sunday.
Sources:COTA: F1 tickets · COTA: Single-day tickets · COTA: General admission · COTA: Venue policies · GPDestinations: 2026 grandstand prices
The circuit is huge. Use the free trams around the outside, but expect queues in the heat. Wear shoes you have already broken in.
Queues for water, food and toilets are shortest while cars are on track. Fans say water lines can hit 30 minutes between sessions.
Shade is hard to find. Grandstand fans can leave and come back: re-entry is allowed if you scan your ticket on the way out.
Collapsible chairs and blankets are allowed. Fans put them down to claim a spot, then leave them while they get food. Take your valuables with you.
Fans who stayed for the Friday and Saturday concerts say leaving afterwards was easy. Leaving straight after the race on Sunday was the worst part of their weekend.
Walk the whole site on Friday and watch from different corners. You can see a lot of the track from most spots.
Fans say most grandstands apart from the Main Grandstand are bleachers with no backrests and no shade. Go for higher rows if you can.
Sources:COTA: ADA accessibility · COTA: Venue policies · COTA: Know before you go · Fan experiences on r/GrandPrixTravel · Fan guide on r/GrandPrixTravel
| Year | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2024 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2021 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2019 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes |
| 2018 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2016 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2014 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 2013 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull |
| 2012 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren |
Sources:Formula 1: United States GP 2026 · Wikipedia: United States Grand Prix · Wikipedia: Circuit of the Americas
Sources:Wikipedia: Circuit of the Americas · COTA: 2026 fan guide map
We check every rule, price and time against official sources. Spotted something out of date? Email [email protected].
