Where to stay during the United States Grand Prix™
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In this guide we’ll help you choose the best place to stay during your trip to the United States Grand Prix.
What to Expect in This Guide• Where F1 fans should stay in Austin • Why downtown Austin is the easiest base • How close hotels are to the COTA shuttle buses • Hotel options by budget (budget to premium) • When to book and how availability works • Where to stay if downtown is too expensive • Frequently asked questions • Money-saving tips Estimated reading time: 4–5 minutes If you are coming to the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas, start by looking at downtown Austin, as most first-time visitors stay there.
Downtown Austin is easy to get around on foot, with restaurants and bars close by. Shuttle services to and from the circuit also operate from this area, which helps keep your weekend simple. 
Downtown Austin
Austin has added many new hotels in recent years, which helps. But race weekend is still busy. Rooms can sell out months in advance and prices rise as availability drops. It is also worth noting that the Texas Longhorns college football team sometimes plays at home in Austin on the same weekend as the Grand Prix. When that happens, the extra demand puts even more pressure on hotel availability. If you know you are going, book early. Before you confirm a hotel, check the exact address. Some hotels use “downtown” in their name even if they are not central. Simply check the walking distance between the hotel and any of the hotels listed below to gauge how central it is. If you are on a tighter budget, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown South Congress » and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin Downtown - University » are worth considering. Hyatt House Austin/Downtown » and Hotel Indigo Downtown - University » are also good options. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin Downtown - University », Hyatt House Austin/Downtown », and Hotel Indigo Downtown - University » have the added benefit of being very convenient for the downtown shuttle service to Circuit of the Americas. The pick-up point is only a short walk away. That small detail can make your weekend a lot easier. Mid-range to higher-end hotels in downtown include Hyatt Place Austin Downtown », Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt », Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue », Tommie Austin », Hilton Austin », and Downright Austin ». At the top end, options in downtown include The LINE Austin », JW Marriott Austin », Fairmont Austin », W Austin », Austin Proper Hotel », and Thompson Austin ». All of these hotels are in walkable parts of downtown Austin, which makes it easy to get to bars and restaurants in the evening. From most downtown hotels, you will also be within about a 30-minute walk of the shuttle bus pick-up point. Just a word of warning. Sixth Street and Rainey Street can get very noisy late into the night. If your hotel is very close to those areas and you are not a night owl, you may want to reconsider. During Grand Prix weekend, some hotels require a two- or three-night minimum stay. If you're thinking of only coming into Austin for race day on Sunday, you may struggle to find a room for one night. If downtown prices feel high, look just outside the centre. Areas such as The Domain, East Austin, and the Arboretum Area offer more choice and often better value. If you are travelling by motorhome, COTA operates a fully serviced RV park just metres from the track. That is the closest you can stay. The Best Booking Resources for F1 TripsThis is the fun part for some and the stressful part for others.
If you’d rather skip the hassle, we’ve got you covered. We love putting together Grand Prix trips so you don’t have to. From travel logistics to hotel bookings and everything in between, think of us as your F1 travel support crew. Prefer to do it all yourself? You’re welcome to take what you’ve learned here and build your own trip from scratch. I keep going back to these travel companies because they’re reliable, easy to use, and usually have the best value. They’re where I start every time I plan a trip. Tickets Motorsport Tickets and Grand Prix Tickets are the two agencies I’ve trusted for years. They’ve always been reliable, easy to deal with, and quick to help if something comes up. Hotels ZenHotels is one of my go-to sites for hotel bookings. It pulls prices from loads of smaller sites you might not know about, so it’s great for finding deals. I also check Expedia and Booking.com when I want more options. Excursions Viator is packed with walking tours, attraction tickets, and local experiences. It's especially handy if you're heading to a new Grand Prix city. It’s a great place to find extras to add to your trip. Frequently asked questionsWhere should F1 fans stay for the United States Grand Prix?
Downtown Austin is where most first-time F1 fans stay, which means it is the easiest place to base yourself for the weekend. Downtown is compact and walkable, which means restaurants, bars, and evening plans are close by. Shuttle services to and from Circuit of the Americas operate from downtown, which means getting to the track is straightforward. Why is it important to book your hotel early? Race weekend in Austin is busy, which means rooms can sell out months in advance. Prices rise as availability drops, which means leaving it late often costs more. The Texas Longhorns college football team sometimes plays at home in Austin on the same weekend, which means extra demand and even fewer rooms. That means booking early gives you more choice and better prices. How do you check if a hotel is central? Some hotels use “downtown” in their name even if they are not central, which means location names can be misleading. Checking the exact address and walking distance on a map shows how close you really are to the centre, which means you avoid longer daily journeys. Which downtown hotels are good for tighter budgets? Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown South Congress » and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin Downtown - University » are worth considering, which means you have lower-cost options in central Austin. Hyatt House Austin/Downtown » and Hotel Indigo Downtown - University » are also good choices, which means you still have convenient locations at a more moderate price. Which hotels are closest to the shuttle bus pick-up point? Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin Downtown - University », Hyatt House Austin/Downtown », and Hotel Indigo Downtown - University » are close to the downtown shuttle pick-up point, which means a shorter walk each morning and evening. That short walk can make your weekend easier, which means less time travelling and more time at the track. What are the mid-range to higher-end hotel options? Mid-range to higher-end hotels in downtown include Hyatt Place Austin Downtown », Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt », Canopy by Hilton Austin », Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue », Tommie Austin », Hilton Austin », and Downright Austin », which means you have a wide range of central choices. What are the top-end hotel options in downtown Austin? Top-end options include The LINE Austin », JW Marriott Austin », Fairmont Austin », W Austin », Austin Proper Hotel », and Thompson Austin », which means you can stay in premium properties within easy reach of the circuit transport links. How far are downtown hotels from the shuttle buses? Most downtown hotels are within about a 30-minute walk of the shuttle bus pick-up point, which means you do not need additional transport to reach the bus each day. Is downtown Austin noisy at night? Areas around Sixth Street and Rainey Street can be noisy late into the night, which means light sleepers may want to avoid hotels close to those streets. Choosing a hotel a few blocks away can make evenings quieter, which means better rest before race days. Can you stay for just one night during race weekend? Some hotels require a two- or three-night minimum stay during the Grand Prix weekend, which means single-night bookings can be difficult to find. If you are only planning to attend race day on Sunday, you may struggle to find a room for one night, which means planning ahead is important. What if downtown hotels are too expensive? Areas just outside the centre, such as The Domain, East Austin, and the Arboretum Area, offer more accommodation options, which means you may find better value. Staying slightly outside downtown can reduce costs, which means more flexibility in your budget. Can you stay at the circuit itself? There are no hotels within walking distance of the track. Most visitors stay in Austin and travel to the circuit on race days.Circuit of the Americas operates a fully serviced RV park just metres from the track, which means it is the closest possible place to stay. Money-saving tips Book early
Race weekend in Austin is busy, which means rooms can sell out months in advance. Prices rise as availability drops, and if the Texas Longhorns play at home the same weekend, demand increases even further. Booking early gives you more choice and better pricing. Stay just outside downtown Areas such as The Domain, East Austin, and the Arboretum Area often have lower rates, which means you can save on accommodation while still reaching the circuit and the city without difficulty. Choose a hotel near the shuttle bus Staying close to the downtown shuttle departure point means you can walk to the bus each day, which means you avoid spending money on Uber, Lyft, or taxis to reach the circuit. Share a room Many US hotels offer rooms with two queen beds, and sometimes a sofa bed, which means several people can share one room. Splitting the cost across multiple people can reduce your overall accommodation spend. |
