The Ultimate Guide To The Circuit of The Americas in Austin Texas [COTA] | F1
Home to the only Formula One and MotoGP track in the country, The Circuit of The Americas is home to many events throughout the year. It’s our local Formula One track, an incredible concert venue, the monthly Cars and Coffee Austin Venue, MotoGP, Blancpain GT World Challenge, Indycar Challenge, 24 Hour Series, Super Lap Battle Time Attack, Rallycross track and more.
This attraction is in our backyard, with events being held almost every week, and is a spectacle that can’t be missed.
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Want info and tips for the upcoming USGP Formula 1 Race?
I have more details below — or click HERE
History of COTA
The track was designed* in 2010 by Tavo Hellmund, a former American driver and promoter, Kevin Schwantz, a former professional motorcycle racer, with the assistance from Hermann Tilke who is a German engineer who has designed and renovated a great number of Formula One tracks worldwide. COTA is a 3.426 mile, counter-clockwise race track that welcomed its first Formula One race in 2012. (*)
The beautiful COTA observation tower design came from the inspiration* of the streaks of lights from race cars at night by Miró Rivera Architects. (*)
Schedule of Events:
FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE
MAY 19 - 21 2023
CARS & COFFEE
MAY 28 2023
CARS & COFFEE
JUNE 18 2023
CARS & COFFEE
JULY 16 2023
MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKES AT TEXAS
SEPT 8 - 10 2023
Bike Nights:
MAY 30, JUNE 6, JUNE 13, JUNE 20, JUNE 27
FORMULA 1 LENOVO USGP
OCTOBER 20 - 22 2023
NASCAR AT COTA
SPRING 2024
Concerts:
Year-round!
See A Concert At The Germania Insurance Amphitheater
This venue inside of Circuit of the Americas at the infield, their 14,000+ seat amphitheater has housed huge names like Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters, ODESZA, Kanye West, Janet Jackson, TLC, Rob Zombie, Beck, Taking Back Sunday, Nelly, and many more.
There are some food trucks that park on the outskirts of the venue, very close along with bars where you can still see the show. I personally only purchase GA Lawn tickets because the seats are hard and small. Being an amphitheater venue, you’re able to still hear the music from every angle and even out to the parking lot. Speaking of the music, the sound is incredible and the light effects are always impressive. Lastly, it’s nice to use a real bathroom and not a port-o-potty!
Upcoming Concert Dates HERE.
*TIP: Chairs with legs higher than six inches aren’t allowed in the venue so don’t bring them to avoid the hassle! Additionally, be careful to make sure the bags you are bringing in are allowed, no backpacks or camera bags.
Formula 1
The largest event all year round for Circuit of the Americas (COTA) happens to be the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. With the exposure Netflix has brought to F1, has EXPLODED the sport. Last year, we saw over 400,000 spectators at COTA!
This race happens late October, early November surrounded by two nights full of exciting musical performance such as Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, and P!NK! Formula One is sanctioned by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and the highest class of single-seat auto racing, founded back in 1950.
This is a three day event that runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets are sold as 3 Day General Admission, specific seats, box seats, suites, and other options.
Next Race: October 20-22 2023
US GRAND PRIX - FORMULA ONE 2022
🏎️
US GRAND PRIX - FORMULA ONE 2022 🏎️
W H A T T O B R I N G
Comfortable clothes & shoes, sunscreen (plastic bottle, no aerosol cans), potentially small personal fan, empty camelback, one 20oz factory sealed water bottle (one per guest), portable & collapsible chair, and a small, hand-held umbrella!
COTA allows personal camera equipment meaning digital cameras, detachable lenses, point-and-shoot digital or film cameras but no tripods, bipods, monopods, or telephoto lenses. Plus, no cameras allowed at the amphitheater.
H O W T O G E T T H E R E
Shuttles
I encourage you to use a shuttle! Shuttles pick up and drop off from Barton Creek Mall, Waterloo Park, and Expo Center.
Parking is mostly sold-out or very far from the track at this point. In comparison, shuttles get dedicated lanes so you won’t have to wait in that CRAZY traffic, which get you to your gate incredibly quicker.
F O O D
There are a LOT of options at COTA now, especially local vendors with local austin restaurants bringing their treats to the racing community!
Here is a MAP of where the vendors are located with a list below.
PDF of COTA Vendor Map
main grandstand plaza
- full bar - southside pizza - my healthy stand - lono’s - asian streetness - Mr. softee - pineapple ninjas - milagro
Turn 1 GRANDSTAND
- FULL BAR - SOUTHSIDE PIZZA - KETTLE CORN - TURN 1 FOOD HALL
Turn 2 SALOON
- CHIVATA - NERVOUS CHARLIE’S - J’S HIBACHI - I JUAN TACOS - CASEY’S NEW ORLEAN’S SNOWBALLS - IRON BURGER
LONESTAR LAND
- full bar - lonestar land concessions
turn 3
- santa lucia - daughters coffee - Mr softee - full bar - turn 3 food hall
turn 4 grandstand
- full bar - kettle corn
la cantina
- full bar - atx fire burgers - asian express - turn 6 concessions
infield grandstand
- full bar - atx asian - cold cocked - smokey joe’s - dirty dough cookies
onederland
- full bar - amy’s ice creams - el guajillo - sophie’s kitchen
turn 9 bleachers
- full bar - Fredericksburg mini donuts - king donkey - wings n more - que rikoo - island noodles
turn 11
- full bar - santa lucia - tecatacos - atx provisions - food hall turn 11
turn 12 bleachers
- full bar - pizza dady - nacho dady
concert lawn
- full bar - shawarma point - espadas de brazil - sa Mexican food - atx fire burger
Grand Plaza
- Southside Flying Pizza - Blue’s Bistro - donut nv - austin scoops
turn 15 grandstand
- full bar - maui wowi - dipn’dots - kettle corn
C O N C E R T S
Your USGP tickets include concert tickets on the lawn; you can upgrade through checkout.
2023 Performers: The Killers and Queen + Adam Lambert
While you’re in town, use my other guides to get you around Austin:
ultimate austin patio guide
THE ultimate austin happy hour guide
our must visits - all categories
battle of the BBQs
late night eats in austin
Super Lap Battle USA
This young, ultimate time attack race series is all about the fastest lap time in their class (Unlimited, Limited, Street, and Enthusiast Classes plus a Pro Comp) and overall. Racers and teams come from all over the globe to battle the American teams.
If you’re unfamiliar with Time Attacks, it’s unlike other timed races. The racers are required to start with a pedal to the metal rolling start after a warm-up lap, competing for the fastest timed lap, followed by a cool down lap.
Next Date: March 9 + 10 2024
More Information HERE.
MotoGP
The Horsepower Rodeo comes back another year to COTA. This motorcycle racing series is sanctioned by Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme and has races all over the planet since 1949. Here in Austin, this race happens over three days (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) and normally during early April.
Most Recent Date: April 14 - 16 2023
More Information HERE.
Fun Fact: I had the honor of driving my convertible 335is in the Parade Lap of 2019’s MotoGP on the actual entire track! That was an experience I’ll never forget!
Other Experiences COTA OfferS
Other than the big events, COTA also has fun events like Karting, COTAland, Ziplining over the track, Driving Experiences, Tours, and Private Events!
THECIRCUIT.COM
COTA Karting
Karting closed during Formula One
Circuit of the Americas offers karting 7 days a week, even during their events, and also offer kart leagues. It’s fun to race against your friends between watching all the races on the big track. The course is $28 per driver for a 10 minute session with karts that can reach speeds up to 50mph!
Hours: Open 7 Days A Week
Monday - Thursday: 12PM - 10PM
Friday: 12PM - 11PM
Saturday: 10AM - 11PM
Sunday: 10AM - 10PM
More Information HERE.
@cota
Zip Lining
Take a zipline over the karting track and main straight of COTA in order to see COTA from a totally different angle! The Zipline is open during standard COTA Karting hours and only $15 per flight!
COTALAND
Austin’s newest (and first) amusement park is coming to COTA! The proposed opening year is 2023 and we can’t wait to see what COTA brings us!
Need Tickets or More Information?
If you’re interested in any of these events,
There are a lot of other races and meets that happen at COTA, like Edge Addicts, Corvette Invasion, BMW CCA, Texas Spokes Autocross) and I make sure to keep My Events Calendar updated to show when these happen because this track is always so much fun to visit. Be sure to make it out to the paddocks and interact with the cars, drivers, and crew.
Hope to see you out there at any of the races or meets!
Cheers!
PAST EVENTS
Monthly Cars and Coffee Austin [no longer hosted]
If you’re an automotive enthusiast, then you have most likely heard of Cars and Coffee. Every single month, over 1,000 cars come to COTA to show off their cars and meet other car enthusiasts.
If you want to park your car in the car show, you’ll need to donate $5 (card only) but spectators can park near the same lot for free.
ARX Rallycross
Rallycross has made it to Austin! This year was the second year officially with the likes of Tanner Foust and Patrik Sandell on the tarmac and dirt. ARX racing is full of horsepower, jumps, short races and dirt circuits. This event happens around September, one day only.
Blancpain GT World Challenge
This racing series is a North American series where competitors that include, Acura, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche are all battling in their appropriate classes. This series started in 1990 by The Sports Car Club of America and came to Austin in 2013. This race has the SprintX-format, which includes 90-minute races with two drivers per car and mandatory Pit stops with driver changes.
Hankook | Creventic 24Hour Series
The only worldwide endurance racing championship comes back to Austin for their third year to bring us their 24 hour race of GT and Touring cars. This event is free to spectate and the paddock will be open to see some of the cars and teams in the race. Additionally, this is one of the rare races that features night racing!
AutoNation INDYCAR Challenge
Formerly the IndyCar Classic, this championship is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series and is returning to Circuit of the Americas for the second time in 2020. Last year this race was won by a rookie so everyone is excited to see if he can win again or if a seasoned driver will be winning among COTA’s Stars and Stripes.
Austin Bold FC
This USL soccer team came to Austin and announced in 2019, with an official MSL start date of 2021 locally here. They’ve moved to Fort Worth, Texas.
Audi Driving Experience
You get the opportunity to drive an Audi R8 V10 plus, TT RS, RS 3 and RS 5 Sportback and Coupe from $350 to $2150. However, in order to experience the R8 Pro program, one needs to go through the Initiation and Immersion experiences. These are led by incredible, top tier instructors who take a lot of pride in their craft.
