Circuit of the Americas (COTA)

Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71

Circuit of the Americas 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd Austin, TX 78617

Year Opened: 2012

Capacity: 120,000

NASCAR’s COTA Revival

Their first few visits to Circuit of the Americas proved to be filled with struggles for NASCAR – the long circuit layout was a challenge for fans to navigate, as well as for the drivers. However, a change in the track’s layout for 2025 meant that a new shortcut right after the esses removed a large section of track on the back side, meaning fans can see most of the track from the stadium section and get more action in shorter laps.

Food & Beverage 4

In the infield fans can expect a great little hole-in-the-wall (only in size) cafe in the paddock, featuring a beautiful patio outside surrounded by trees and bushes, giving a great view of the garages and pre-staging area for most of the cars. Here you can find (when it is open) food and beverages to suit your fancy; chicken tenders and fries are $11.79, as are hamburger baskets, grilled chicken sandwiches, and chicken wrap baskets. On certain days there is also a chef’s featured item, such as homemade meatloaf, beef and broccoli, or chicken primavera for $12.

That said, if you are exploring the far reaches of the facility, you may not have as many options available as you have in the main spectator areas, meaning you will have to walk a while or wait patiently for later, should the hunger bug strike. Thankfully this year, however, the track added food trucks in the fan area in the paddock to add some variety. Concession stands in the stadium section are also open during NASCAR weekend, giving fans the same infield options in another location.

Atmosphere 5

Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the crowds. During fan walks on the grid for races at Circuit of the Americas, it is wall-to-wall fans hobnobbing with drivers, teams, and the cars they pilot on track. The track itself is a beautiful facility that lends itself to the fan experience – the main grandstand is even shaded from the harsh Texas sun, thanks to a perfectly-placed roof over part of the seating.

By far, the coolest thing here at Circuit of the Americas is the giant tower in the middle of the track. The observation platform in the tower is open to all fans for $20 a person, including an elevator you can ride to view the race from over 200 feet above the action. In addition, the floors in the tower are see-through, giving you the feeling of floating on air – no other track has anything as cool as this.

Neighborhood 3

This is a hard topic, as the city of Austin itself (a good 15 to 20-minute drive from Circuit of the Americas itself), is a bustling city of music, incredible food, and youthful energy. It is no secret why F1 picked this city, and why the annual SXSW festival is held here every year. However, as the track is on the extreme outskirts of town, the racing can easily feel a bit detached from the city’s feel. There isn’t much right next to the track, despite the slowly creeping suburban sprawl – hotels are all about 10 minutes away at least, as are any shopping and dining options fans would flock to. Thankfully, the airport is right near the track, providing easy access for your flight in and out of Austin.

For great food, one can’t skip Salt Lick or Torchy’s Tacos. Austin is also home to the University of Texas and Zilker Park on Lady Bird Lake, and of course, a stop in Austin isn’t complete without visiting the bats under Congress Bridge. Finally, for hotels look to Hilton Austin Airport or Holiday Inn Austin Airport, which are two of the better hotels that are close to Circuit of the Americas.

Fans 3

The fans are fickle for NASCAR at COTA – unlike F1 where the circuit is jammed with fans on all three days, NASCAR only features a massive turnout for the Cup Series race on Sunday. The Friday and Saturday crowds are paltry in comparison, leading to a quieter setup and mostly empty grandstands. Nonetheless, the vibes on Sunday are unmatched thanks to the hardcore NASCAR faithful who do show up for the main event.

Access 3

Getting to Circuit of the Americas isn’t hard, in that it’s not hidden away. In actuality you can see it from pretty much everywhere, thanks to its giant light-up tower at night. However, the roads in and out of the track are only one or two lanes, making a big event hard to reach, thanks to the traffic.

Thankfully, however, parking is plentiful on site and in various nearby lots, and there are also numerous fan shuttles to take you from the parking lots to the paddock, as well as to various viewing areas around the circuit.

Once at the track getting around is easy, thanks to the various tunnels, pedestrian bridges, and signage pointing you on your way around the venue.

Return on Investment 5

Tickets to NASCAR at COTA have become the most affordable on the circuit. To start, kids 12 and under are free Friday and Saturday, and start at just $10 for Sunday. Perhaps the most surprising, however, is the price for tickets in the Turn 12 grandstand – for just over $16 you can get a seat to watch NASCAR’s best battle it out right by the new shortcut section of the track. Front straight seats start at just over $70, while seats in the stadium section range around $50. Turn 1 seating costs $66 while suites are available from $500 to $1500. Parking on site is also plentiful, with some free lots around the track that offer shuttle service.

Extras 3

COTA features an upcoming theme park, complete with roller coasters being built for its opening in the next few years. Until then, you can ride the zip line by the main grandstand to get your thrills. In addition, you can also race on the go-kart track located just outside the main grandstands. The support series paddock for IMSA is also open to all fans all weekend, giving you an up-close view of the sports cars taking to the track during the weekend.

Final Thoughts

The NASCAR weekend at COTA is unique. While not managed by COTA and instead led by SMI, you’ll see some noticeable changes from the fan side. Thankfully, the new track layout has been met with rave reviews, and the offerings for fans come in very affordably, making this a great budget option when looking to catch some NASCAR racing action.

Circuit of the Americas (COTA) – NASCAR