By Travel Consultant Dawn Webb

Are you wondering if the visit Daytona 500 is worth the ticket cost?

Daytona Beach, located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, is known for its fun and outdoor activities as well as the motorsports capital, including the prestigious Daytona 500 race, held at the Daytona International Speedway, which takes place every February.

Attending the Daytona 500 can be exhilarating as race car drivers take the track, revving their engines and strategically making their way around their opponents’ cars to take the trophy. But there are a few essential tips to keep in mind before booking your ticket to ensure that you have a memorable experience.

1. Daytona 500 Club

The most exclusive way to watch the race is to purchase a hospitality package. Located behind Pit Row, the premier hospitality experience offers a first-class lounge with an open bar and world-class cuisine. The package includes infield parking, pre-race access, and an event souvenir package. To inquire about booking, call 800-748-7467.

2. Consider A Fan Pass Ad-On

This one-of-a-kind experience provides fans with pre-race access for driver introductions, & appearances, pre-race shows featuring a celebrity, signing the iconic start and finish line, and much more. The Fanzone experience is well worth the cost of the ad on. To learn more about the opportunity, click HERE.

3. Parking

Parking at the Daytona 500 can be pricey, but there are alternatives; however, it requires strategic time management and arriving early. Lot 7 offers a free park-and-ride service before and after the race. However, the park & ride buses can take 30-45 minutes to board and return to the parking lot. For directions on how to access Lot 7, click HERE.

4. Pack Earplugs or Earmuffs.

With the loud roar of race car engines, it’s a good idea to pack earplugs to protect hearing, especially if you have seats at the front of the track. Research shows you can safely listen to a constant sound at 115dB for only 15 minutes. Once the race hits full throttle, the sound that echoes off the aluminum grandstands exceeds that safe level.

5. Bring a Backpack with a Small Cooler

Food and drinks can add up, so planning and packing food and drinks, including alcohol, can save money. All items brought through the admission gates are subject to inspection. Backpacks not exceeding 18×18 x 14 in dimension are allowed, including soft-side coolers with maximum dimensions of 14 x 14 x 14. For further details on allowable items, click HERE.

6. Prepare for Inclement Weather Delays

The 2024 Race Season weather created the first double race delay. Due to rain, the Nascar Xfinity race was scheduled for Saturday and was rescheduled until Monday evening, and the Daytona 500, due to inclement weather, was delayed until Monday at 4:30 pm. Attendees traveling from various locations did not expect a weekend full of non-stop rain.

Preparing for delays can prevent disappointment. However, if you can’t reschedule for the new date, your ticket is covered due to the inclement weather policy. Submit your request HERE. Their race team will reach out to you within 30 to 60 days.

Note: if you change your mind and go to the newly scheduled race date and you have submitted a form, your ticket, once scanned at the gate, will cancel your rescheduled request, providing you full choice flexibility.

The Wrap-Up

And there you have it, a complete list of the best tips for the Daytona 500.

While the iconic race is an incredible event to attend, it can be overwhelming with the vast number of attendees if you don’t have the best plan in place.

Whether you plan to stay in Daytona or drive back after the race, you will surely have a fantastic experience following the 6 valuable visit Daytona 500 Tips.