[nmehta211]

Anyone going?
I am looking for flights. What time does the race finish on Sunday?

[KingOfJericho]

After one minute on google: starts at 2PM and last year's race finished in an hour and 35 minutes.

[jtaylor3]

I am going, it is a blast but don't be in a hurry to leave. It isn't exactly easy to get out of that place when 100,000+ are trying to leave at the same time. Flights will also be pretty expensive depending on where you are coming from (they know everyone is flying in that weekend). If you have patience for traffic I would suggest a rental car, the shuttles on race day and qually took about 3 hours of waiting to get on. I won't be doing that ever again.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Originally Posted by jtaylor3

I am going, it is a blast but don't be in a hurry to leave. It isn't exactly easy to get out of that place when 100,000+ are trying to leave at the same time. Flights will also be pretty expensive depending on where you are coming from (they know everyone is flying in that weekend). If you have patience for traffic I would suggest a rental car, the shuttles on race day and qually took about 3 hours of waiting to get on. I won't be doing that ever again.

So let me ask you this: I bought parking tickets from COTA. Do I park at track and no shuttle? Or is the shuttle for everyone?

[kellyzerx]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

So let me ask you this: I bought parking tickets from COTA. Do I park at track and no shuttle? Or is the shuttle for everyone?

Last year based on your ticket mailing address you were told to use a specific shuttle bus location (Texas = fairgrounds, out of state/country = downtown). I never saw them check anything to verify you were at your assigned shuttle bus location. This is what they did last year but of course, things could be different this year.

If you're leaving by shuttle bus it will probably take about 2 hours or more to get on a bus then about 30-40 minutes travel time to downtown. Also factor in a good 15-20 minute walk from the main gates to the shuttle location plus the time to get from your seats to the main gates. Depending on your seat location and how fast you can walk (physically and flow of the departing crowd) this could add another 30-40 minutes or even more. I was lucky enough to be at turn 15 right inside the main gates.

The only way I can see to shorten up the load time for the shuttle buses would be to be exiting the main gates or be near them as the race ends.

I don't have any experience with parking at the track personally, but I know someone who did and they told me it takes hours to get out of there. So it seems like parking onsite or shuttle bus is a wash but expect to take several hours to get out either way.

[Red Bread]

I did the shuttle from downtown for Fri last year and drove Sat and Sun and parked at a private lot directly next to the track.

I stood in line for about forty five minutes for the bus, it took its sweet time getting out there and it dropped off at the furthest lot from the track, taking about twenty to twenty five minutes to walk in with all of the sheeple. Leaving took about two hours of standing in line and another half an hour or so to get back to downtown.

Sat and Sun, it took less than twenty minutes to drive and the first time in, we went through the main gates, so it took about thirty minutes to get from the car to inside and at the actual track. The next time, we came in on the backside, by Turn one and it took less than ten minutes from the car to be at the GA seats over there. We waited for some of the crowd to die down after the race and drove back to downtown in under half an hour. This year the lots and especially the General Admission areas are much more complete and should be even better.

[jtaylor3]

With parking passes you will have no trouble getting in and out. I would say much like any other large sporting event considering this year the track is actually fully complete and organized.

[David70]

Originally Posted by URBAN LEGEND

So let me ask you this: I bought parking tickets from COTA. Do I park at track and no shuttle? Or is the shuttle for everyone?

At least how it was last year, if you bought the COTA parking tickets that come with onsight parking then it should tell you what lot you bought the tickets for. I went last year with wife and another couple, we spent the $200 for parking tickets since we stayed in San Antonio and didn't want to drive into Austin just to get on a shuttle and go back to the track. Split 2 ways and for two day and selling Friday's ticket for $40 on Stubhub made it a little better.

We were impressed with how quick we could get in both Saturday and Sunday. Getting out after the race was a much longer process. We expected it, purposely left the race at a leisurely pace and then hung out by the car and had a drink and some food.

Seemed like parking at one of the private lots would have been a lot cheaper and just a little longer of a walk.

With all of the money and time we put into seeing the race I don't see trying to be at the exit gate when the race ends just to get away quicker. Would rather be there at the end, listen to the interviews and leave a little later.

[shawndoh]

I went to COTA for MotoGP and we approached it this way as well.

"With all of the money and time we put into seeing the race I don't see trying to be at the exit gate when the race ends just to get away quicker. Would rather be there at the end, listen to the interviews and leave a little later."

Was a good experience and fun to be there for the 1st year.

[VIPLINE]

so there are private parking lots by the circuit right? $100 for COTA's Sunday on site parking is pretty steep....

[URBAN LEGEND]

Originally Posted by VIPLINE

so there are private parking lots by the circuit right? $100 for COTA's Sunday on site parking is pretty steep....

I paid it since it's my first time there. I'll do better for the motogp race.

[escobar929]

im going too, cant wait!

[URBAN LEGEND]

^^
We will have a 4 time champ by then.
It's about fun now.

[ab156]

I will be back this year, it's a fair trip for me. Parking is the least of my issues!

I did notice there were plenty of friendly looking property owners near the track that were advertising parking. Don't recall price but reasonably sure it was less than $100 on the Sunday. Not sure if they can stop this, doubt it. I would suggest getting there reasonably early.

Enjoy your trip!

[BL 5]

I went last year. We used the shuttle service.. Sunday was a bitch to leave, two+ hours in line for the bus... Just paid the tariff to park on site this year.

Couple things I remember.

1. Hotels were booked, I saw Hampton Inn rates at $500-$600 / nt
2. AUS airport was booked, all flights were expensive due to demand
3. They ran out of rental cars at AUS. They even brought in thousands of extra cars
4. Even with all the overbookings, it was a blast!

With that said, last year I flew to DFW, drove a few hours down. DFW did not run out of rental cars. I already booked my 2013 trip through DFW.

I would suggest you make sure transportation, hotel, airfare is all set before you buy your tickets.

Good luck!!

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by ab156

I did notice there were plenty of friendly looking property owners near the track that were advertising parking. Don't recall price but reasonably sure it was less than $100 on the Sunday. Not sure if they can stop this, doubt it. I would suggest getting there reasonably early.

Enjoy your trip!

That's what I used last year, the one right next to the track at the SW corner. It was $20 for Fri and Sat and $50 on Sun. Great deal and was easy and quick to get into and out of, it even looked easier than the official lots.

[Defector]

I'm thinking about going next year for F1. As there will be no more MotoGP at Laguna next year for us Cali people , need to start heading east for the races. Since it will be my first time at COTA and my first F1 race thinking about going all out with one of the Play and Stay packages. Hotel, tickets etc all inclusive. Undecided about driving out or flying. It's a 20 hour drive or so, but we'd break it up road trip style and stop and look for aliens in area 51 etc.

Anyone do the package deal yet? Worth it?

[No Friends]

IM going i cant wait, i got Maingranstand Section 123.

[Handozizle]

I'll be there again. GA pass for all 3 days this time.

[thorny]

I am going! Did you guys get your tickets?? I cant figure out why they take it to last minute to ship damn tickets?

[hellrotm]

Got my tickets yesterday. I got into parking lot A, woohoo.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by VIPLINE

so there are private parking lots by the circuit right? $100 for COTA's Sunday on site parking is pretty steep....

https://austin.clickandpark.com/

Try that. Already picked up the $100 parking for Sunday in the GA-Sunday-only-package (2 GA tickets + parking for $250ish after fees), otherwise I'd be all over it.