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The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas is scheduled for October 23 to 25, 2026, with the race on Sunday afternoon. Over three days, a few hundred thousand people try to reach a track that sits in open country southeast of Austin, served by only a couple of real access roads. How you get there matters as much as which grandstand you bought.
This guide covers the drive, the parking rules, the shuttles that run from town, the traffic choke points on SH 130 and FM 812, and where to sleep so race weekend does not turn into four hours a day in a car.
Where COTA is and how long the drive takes
COTA sits near Elroy, southeast of Austin-Bergstrom airport and just west of SH 130. On a normal weekday it is about 25 minutes from downtown and about 15 minutes from the airport. On race weekend, plan for an hour or more each way at peak times, and longer on Sunday.
From the highway there are really only two ways in: the Elroy Road exit and the FM 812 exit off SH 130. Both feed into the same small local network around the track, and the intersection of Elroy Road and FM 812 is where things back up. Elroy Road north of the circuit was widened to five lanes a few years ago, which helps, but the volume on race day still swamps it.
The usual approaches:
- From downtown or South Austin: SH 71 east past the airport, then SH 130 south to Elroy Road or FM 812. Some drivers use US 183 south to FM 812 instead.
- From North Austin, Round Rock or Pflugerville: SH 130 south the whole way. It is a toll road, but it skips I-35 entirely.
- From Kyle, Buda or San Marcos: SH 45 or local roads east to SH 130, then north to FM 812.
Parking at COTA: buy it before you go
COTA sells race-weekend parking passes in advance, and its directions page says cars need a pre-purchased pass to get onto COTA Boulevard. Do not plan on paying at a gate. Popular lots sell out well before October, so if you are driving, buy parking at the same time you buy tickets.
Two things to know when you choose a lot:
- Pick the lot by where you are going afterward. After the race, traffic is often pushed southeast down FM 812. If you are staying south or east, a lot on that side gets you out faster. If you are heading back to downtown or North Austin, a lot nearer the Elroy Road side is usually the better bet.
- Expect to wait after the checkered flag. Local coverage of past races reports drivers sitting in their lots for one to two hours after the race. Many people stay for the evening concert or walk the fan zones instead of racing to the car.
The shuttles: park in town, ride to the track
If you would rather not drive the last few miles, the city lists race-weekend shuttles to COTA from three pickup points:
- Downtown: Waterloo Park, 500 E. 12th Street.
- Southwest Austin: Barton Creek Square mall, on S. Capital of Texas Highway.
- Northeast Austin: Travis County Expo Center on Decker Lane.
Shuttle tickets are sold separately, so check the official COTA site for prices and times for 2026. A car still helps here: you drive from your hotel or rental house to the pickup point, park, and let the bus handle the jam on Elroy Road. Barton Creek Square works well if you are staying west or in the Hill Country. The Expo Center is handy from Pflugerville, Manor or Round Rock.
Traffic on SH 130 and FM 812
SH 130 is the backbone of race weekend. It is a toll road, and the stretch south of SH 45 toward Seguin carries an 85 mph speed limit, among the highest posted limits in the country. That does not help much when every exit near the track is backed up.
Some practical timing:
- Friday is the lightest day. Practice sessions draw smaller crowds, and it is a good day to learn your route and lot.
- Saturday is busier, with qualifying and the evening concert. In 2026 there is an extra wrinkle: Texas hosts Ole Miss at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 24, so campus and I-35 will be loaded at the same time as the roads to COTA.
- Sunday is the heaviest. Arrive in the morning, not an hour before the start, and bring patience for the trip out.
If you are not sure how tolls on SH 130 or the 71 toll lanes are handled on a rental, ask us how it works on your rental before race weekend. Navigation apps can route around tolls, though from most of Austin that adds time.
Where to stay for race weekend
Hotels downtown and near the airport fill early and charge peak rates for the Grand Prix. A car opens up more options:
- Near the airport and East Riverside: the shortest drive to the track. Good if you want to be close and do not need nightlife.
- Downtown and South Congress: the most to do in the evening, and you can use the Waterloo Park shuttle in the morning.
- Kyle, Buda and San Marcos: often cheaper, and the run up SH 130 to FM 812 avoids central Austin. See our Kyle and Buda car rental page.
- Round Rock and Pflugerville: SH 130 runs straight south to the track and the Expo Center shuttle is close by. See Round Rock and Pflugerville.
Which car makes sense for race weekend
For two people, a compact sedan like a Toyota Corolla or similar at $98 a day is plenty: easy to park on grass lots, easy on gas while you sit in traffic. If you are bringing coolers, folding chairs and four friends, a Hyundai Santa Fe or similar at $131 a day gives you room for four bags plus gear. A larger group that wants to arrive together and split a single parking pass can look at the 12-seat Ford Transit or similar at $296 a day. Check the size limits on your parking pass before you book a van.
Flying in? We deliver to the arrivals curb at AUS, which is ten minutes from the track on a quiet day. Our guide to picking up at AUS without the counter explains how the handoff works. If you are also planning around SXSW or ACL another year, read what to book for SXSW and ACL.
Book early and keep it simple
Race weekend is one of the busiest stretches of the year for cars in Austin. Every car we rent is recent and automatic with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and we deliver free anywhere in Greater Austin, including your hotel or rental house. Drivers 21 and up pay no young-driver surcharge, and there is no airport concession fee. Pick a car on our economy car rental in Austin page, or call or text 512-851-0490 with your dates and we will confirm by phone within the hour.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 F1 US Grand Prix in Austin?
The 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas is scheduled for October 23 to 25, with practice on Friday, qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday afternoon. Check the official COTA site for session times.
Can I pay for parking at COTA when I arrive?
Plan on buying parking in advance. COTA says cars need a pre-purchased parking pass to get onto COTA Boulevard on race weekend, and popular lots sell out early.
Is there a shuttle from downtown Austin to COTA?
Yes. Race-weekend shuttles have run from Waterloo Park downtown, Barton Creek Square mall and the Travis County Expo Center. Tickets are sold separately, so check COTA's site for 2026 details.
How do tolls on SH 130 work with a rental car?
SH 130 and the 71 toll lanes are cashless. Ask us how it works on your rental when you book, or call or text 512-851-0490.
