United States Grand Prix 2027: things to do between sessions in Austin

22 to 24 October 2027 · ConfirmedAustin, United States

United States Grand Prix fills Austin with fans for three days, but the track only runs for a few hours a day. Practice starts around lunchtime, qualifying leaves the morning free and the day after the race is open. This guide fills those gaps.

Tours in Austin Hotels for these dates Official site

Know before you go

Big concerts run at the circuit on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Austin hotels triple their rates. Look at San Marcos (40 minutes) or a rental further from downtown.

Airport to Circuit of the Americas

Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) is 15 minutes from downtown and 15 minutes from COTA.

COTA is 25 km southeast of downtown Austin. Official shuttles run from downtown (Republic Square) and are the fastest option; rideshare queues after the race last hours.

Public transport directions to Circuit of the Americas

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	East Austin and the airport	Rentals and chains.
Mid-range	South Congress	Shops, music and food trucks.
Splurge	Downtown and Lady Bird Lake	High-rise hotels.

Three hotels we would book

Links search the nights from 21 October to 25 October. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual Grand Prix weekend schedule for 22 to 24 October 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Thursday 21 October

Nothing on track that matters yet. Check in, then use the afternoon.

Half-dayBarbecue tour Half day · Food
Brisket at the legends.
EatTorchy's Tacos Local chain

Practice day

Friday 22 October

First practice rarely starts before lunchtime, so the morning is free.

Half-dayKayak on Lady Bird Lake Half day · Family
Paddle under the skyline.
EatFranklin Barbecue Queue from 8 am

Qualifying day

Saturday 23 October

Support races fill the morning. Skip them for a slow start in town and reach the track after lunch.

Easy outingBat watching cruise Evening · Family · Low walking
Congress Avenue Bridge bats (March to October).
FreeBarton Springs (small fee).

Race day

Sunday 24 October

Go to the track early and stay after the flag: leaving straight away means the worst of the traffic.

EveningLive music crawl Evening · Nightlife
Sixth Street and Rainey Street.

The day after

Monday 25 October

A full free day before the flight home. This is the best day for a longer trip out of town.

Full dayHill Country wine tour Full day · Food
Fredericksburg wineries.
EatTerry Black's BBQ without the wait

Family-friendly picks

Half day · Family

Kayak on Lady Bird Lake

Paddle under the skyline.

See times and prices

Evening · Family · Low walking

Bat watching cruise

Congress Avenue Bridge bats (March to October).

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Hamilton Pool and swimming holes

Book Hamilton Pool ahead.

See times and prices

Thinkery children's museum.
Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Evening and day-trip tours

Evening · Family · Low walking

Bat watching cruise

Congress Avenue Bridge bats (March to October).

See times and prices

Evening · Nightlife

Live music crawl

Sixth Street and Rainey Street.

See times and prices

Full day · Food

Hill Country wine tour

Fredericksburg wineries.

See times and prices

After dark

Sixth Street, Rainey Street and East Austin.

6 tours worth booking for United States Grand Prix

Tour	Length	Good for
Barbecue tour	Half day	Food lovers
Kayak on Lady Bird Lake	Half day	Families
Hamilton Pool and swimming holes	Half day	Families
Hill Country wine tour	Full day	Food lovers
Bat watching cruise	Evening	Families, Tired legs
Live music crawl	Evening	Night owls

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Franklin Barbecue Queue from 8 am
Terry Black's BBQ without the wait
Veracruz All Natural Migas tacos
Torchy's Tacos Local chain

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Blanton Museum of Art.
LBJ Library.

Getting around on event days

CapMetro buses and rideshare; event weeks have heavy traffic.

Day trips from Austin

Fredericksburg: 1.5 hours
San Antonio: 1.5 hours

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for United States Grand Prix.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is United States Grand Prix 2027?

The next edition is 22 to 24 October 2027.

How do I get from the airport to Circuit of the Americas?

Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) is 15 minutes from downtown and 15 minutes from COTA. COTA is 25 km southeast of downtown Austin. Official shuttles run from downtown (Republic Square) and are the fastest option; rideshare queues after the race last hours.

Where should I stay for United States Grand Prix?

For most visitors the best base is South Congress: Shops, music and food trucks.

What can we do between sessions at United States Grand Prix?

Good short outings in Austin include Barbecue tour, Kayak on Lady Bird Lake, Hamilton Pool and swimming holes. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near United States Grand Prix?

Family-friendly picks: Kayak on Lady Bird Lake, Bat watching cruise, Hamilton Pool and swimming holes. Thinkery children's museum.

How far is Circuit of the Americas from Austin centre?

About 18 km in a straight line. COTA is 25 km southeast of downtown Austin. Official shuttles run from downtown (Republic Square) and are the fastest option; rideshare queues after the race last hours.

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