One of my earliest memories I have as a child is jumping up and down on my Mom and Dad’s bed shouting at the top of my lungs because my favorite NASCAR driver at the time, Sterling Marlin, just won the biggest race of them all, the Daytona 500.
I remember watching the nailbiter of a race on those high-banked turns and thinking to my young self, I’m going to go there someday.
As I grew older, that dream evolved into I’m going to take my parents there someday.
Spoiler alert: I did it.
Growing up, Sundays in my house meant church with Mama, then football and NASCAR with Dad. Yep, even though we lived in California.
Still to this day, no matter how far apart we are from each other, whether it’s 3 feet away on the sofa of Mom and Dad’s living room or 3,000 miles away while we’re at a campground, Dad and I watch NASCAR on Sundays together, even when we’re not physically together.
We’ll text each other “Can you believe that?!” or “Anyone but Hamlin.” (If ya know, ya know).
Needless to say, NASCAR is a big part of my life, so when we found ourselves in Florida for a winter after spending an entire year away from our families while on the East Coast, I knew we had to make the big dream happen.
Camping in the Daytona International Speedway for Speedweek and tickets for the big show, the Daytona 500.
It took a lot of planning, wishing, praying, and saving, but it was worth every penny and every second.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to camp in the infield of a NASCAR racetrack at the year’s biggest race? Well, then you’re in the right place.
I will share with you the good and the not-so-good you can expect when your home is parked at a race track.
I’m going to share with you how to get campsites and tickets to the Daytona 500, you know all the details that you can’t really know unless you’ve been there.
So Boogity Boogity Boogity, Let’s go racing boys!
What to Expect:
Have you ever seen the Disney movie Cars, where the motorhomes in the Infield of the Piston Cup Race are jam-packed in tightly and they’re wearing helmet drink dispensers while getting a little rowdy?
Well, the Mouse did his homework, because that about sums it up.
The infield of Daytona International Speedway is crowded and gets a little wild, but you just have to embrace it as all part of the experience!
Here are some of my best tips to help get you ready for race week.
Book Early
I know you’re supposed to save the most important tip for last, but there’s no point in reading from here on out if you don’t BOOK EARLY!
Families have been coming to Speedweek for generations. Infield camping sites book up before they even go on sale. How? Because when you book an infield site, you have the option to hold it for the next year for an incredibly small deposit amount, and Daytona fans are loyal, they come back every single year.
Imagine Greenbay Packers season ticket holder loyalty. T-Swift breaking the internet keyboard hovering. This is the NASCAR version.
So how do you get in? Get yourself a Sales Rep. I emailed and called until I was blue in the face and until I finally got a hold of a sales rep who helped make my family’s dreams come true. If you’re looking for a rep, reach out to me, because I will gladly send you his way.
Another option is to join the Daytona Camping and Tailgating Group on Facebook and try to buy a campsite from a friendly person there. Just be weary as scammers do find their way into the group, but overall I found this group to be extremely helpful (and hilarious), as most NASCAR fans are some of the wildest and sweetest people you’ll ever meet, as they love helping carry their love of the sport to a new fan and the next generation.
If you are planning on camping in an RV, but the only availability for a site you can find at first is an Orange (tent section), take it. Because at least you’re in. The hardest part is getting your foot in the door. What tends to happen is folks hold their site until about two months out from the race, and when the first full payment comes around in November, they cancel their site, and this opens up availability to those on a waiting list. This is when a good sales rep comes in handy! But more on the whole Orange/Tent Section thing later.
It’s Going to be Rowdy
Speed Week is a week-long party with races throughout.
NASCAR fans tend to get a bit rowdy. While it is technically a family sport, my brother and I have been going to races longer than we can remember, and the environment at a track may be far from PG13.
There will be alcohol, there will be cussing, and you may see the bird given to any number of drivers. So prepare yourself and your little ones to see and hear things they may not usually see on a Sunday morning.
In the infield of Daytona, there is always a party happening somewhere. Whether that be wheel barrel races in the Horseshoe lot or a fully operational pop-up bar in the Red section, I guarantee moonshine is flowing somewhere at any given time.
It’s going to be Loud
If you’re at a NASCAR race, chances are you enjoy, or at least don’t mind loud noises. If this will be your first time to a stock car race, just wait and see. These cars are not your standard cars. They’re loud, and truth be told. They sound awesome.
But camping in the infield of a race track is a whole different kind of loud. Because the loudness never ends. Between generators running 24/7 and your hooting and hollering neighbors enjoying their libations until the wee hours of the morning, if you’re a light sleeper, you may want to bring an extra set of earplugs for bedtime.
In addition to the loud cars and loud campground, we were surprised to learn that you are also awakened by the sound of an airshow each morning by the Thunderbirds at 8AM sharp.
No need to set an alarm. Our men and women of the US Air Force will have you jumping out of bed and running outside of your camper to get a view of the show. Their practice sessions last anywhere from 10 – 20 minutes or so 3 or 4 days before the big show, and it is something else to see these amazing pilots and action and hear that sweet sound of American freedom.
Expect the Unexpected
In 2024, we witnessed the first-ever doubleheader of an Xfinity and Cup race on a Monday at Daytona. Why? Because of the weather.
It is Florida after all, and Florida gets rain. But we got record-breaking rain that week.
We were surprised to see the number of campers who left throughout the week or didn’t show at all because of the weather. But most of all, we were surprised to see the number of people who left on Sunday and missed the big show, the Daytona 500 which was now rescheduled for Monday.
We realized it was because people had only rented their RV until Monday morning or had a flight to catch back home on Monday.
They spent all that money and all that time to miss the big race. Luckily for us, Mom and Dad rented their motorhome and didn’t book a flight back home until Tuesday. So we got to enjoy the race with far fewer crowds.
So lesson learned: plan for a weather delay because they happen.
What to do:
You may be wondering why do we need a whole week of camping just for one race on Sunday?
Trust me, there’s more than just the Daytona 500 on Sunday. In fact, racing starts on Thursday, but there’s so much to do between the moment you set up camp and the first time the cars start their engines.
Hauler Parade at One Daytona
The boys are back in town!
The Tuesday of Speedweek is the Hauler Parade. What’s that you may ask? It’s when all of the car haulers roll into town. Like a Smokey & the Bandits moment on shiny steroids.
Get up and close with the Cup Series haulers at One Daytona, have the chance to say hi to some of your favorite drivers, and buy some souvenirs.
But be sure to make your way back to Turn 1 of the infield before 7PM (times subject to change, so check the yearly schedule) when all of the trucks roll into the infield.
It’s a NASCAR fan’s dream parade.
WARNING: the horns on these trucks are LOUD so be sure to put ear muffs on the fur and little kids, and give the hardworking truck drivers a wave and welcome them back to Daytona.
Take a Speedway Tour
Want to see what it’s like to sit in the good seats? Want to sign your name on the finish line? Have burning questions that Google doesn’t know the answer to?
Then you’re going to want to take a Speedway Tour. These 60-minute tours give you a guided behind-the-scenes look at one of the most famous race tracks in the world.
Your guide will take you to the VIP & Suite lounge area to see one of the best views in motorsports as well as down to the front row, right behind the flags stand. If you’re lucky a car may be on the track and you’ll get to hear and feel these cars up close!
Be sure to bring a Sharpie with you on your tour for a chance to sign your name on the checkered finish line that runs from the track, through the grandstands, and all the way out the building!
Now, one thing to note is tours are not allowed to take you onto the track when it’s considered a “hot track”, meaning if there are cars on the track at any point that day, tours won’t allow guests onto the track for safety reasons.
There are limited tours during Speedweek because they do not offer any tours once the Dual races begin on Thursday. They do sell out quickly so make sure to reserve your timeslot in advance!
Visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame
If you take the Speedway Tour, your admission includes this and your guided tour will end at the Motorsports Hall of Fame.
But even if you choose not to do the Speedway Tour, a visit to the Motorsports Hall of Fame is a must-see for any racing fan!
The amount of history in this building is almost too much to handle. And we’re not just talking about NASCAR history. You’ll see INDY cars, trophy trucks, dirt bikes, boats, and more. If it’s fast and it’s a part of motorsports history, it’s here.
The Hudson Hornet (yep, your Disney’s Cars loving kids will know that one). The 1954 Firebird (ya know, the one on top of the Daytona 500 trophy). Jeff Gordon’s car. Jimmy Johnson’s car. Mario Andretti’s car. It’s there.
You’ll even have a chance to sit in a NASCAR cup car and feel the need for speed.
Pro-tip: be sure to visit the museum no later than Wednesday morning. The winner of the previous Daytona 500’s car does not go back to their shop, instead, it’s rolled into the museum to sit on display for an entire year, covered in champagne, confetti and all.
We learned that our Wednesday mid-morning tour was the last tour group that got to see Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s 2023 winning car before it was time to roll it out of the museum waiting for the next winner.
Take a Ride Along on the Track
The ultimate bucket list for any NASCAR fan is to get behind the wheel or at least inside one of these cars and feel the 31-degree banking of Daytona International Speedway.
The NASCAR Racing Experience offers several options for ride or drive times, and spoiler alert: they all cost a pretty penny.
But I’d say it’s worth the splurge for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you never know who’s going to be behind the wheel with you. While we were taking our tour we were told NASCAR legends like Clint Boyer, Michael Waltrip, and Jimmy Johnson were some of the drivers taking a spin with some lucky passengers!
Visit the Historical North & South Turns of Daytona Beach
After learning everything you’ll ever need to know about the history of Daytona International Speedway and NASCAR, go see where it all started.
NASCAR got its start on Daytona Beach, literally on the beach.
You can still drive on portions of the beach at Daytona, but note that dogs are not allowed on the beach and we were turned away by just having Butters with us in the truck … because even though she was inside the truck the entire time, she was “on the beach”. *insert gigantic eye roll here*
If you do have your fur kids with you be sure to grab a bite at the famous North Turn Beachfront Bar & Grill because it’s dog-friendly! It even has its own dog menu. If it’s Speedweek, you’ll never know who your pooch will get belly rubs from and who you’ll end up having a beer with!
Infield Shenanigans & Events
It is said that there is always something going on in the infield of Daytona. Whether that be an open bar or wheel barrel racing, or maybe even both.
The Daytona Camping & Tailgating Facebook Group gets pretty active this week and any minute of the day you’ll find someone posting about karaoke night, bars, driver spotting, merch sales, and more.
Aside from a week-long party, there’s also the pop-up Wendy’s that shows up on Thursday of Speedweek. We first visited expecting to pay for a small Frosty only to learn low and behold it was free. Yes friends, you read that right. Free Frostys. Not just Frostys, Biggie Bags, and soda too. And just like that, a new family tradition of Biggie Bags on Daytona race days was born.
If infield unofficial parties weren’t enough, you can also purchase separate admission to the Daytona FANZONE for concerts and events throughout Speedweek.
Driver Meet & Greets
Rule of thumb for Speedweek: Always have a Sharpie pen on you, because you never know who you’ll run into.
But if you have a favorite driver be sure to follow them on social media because they’ll post where they’re hosting meet & greets throughout Speedweek.
Locations can be at or near the speedway, but are also spread throughout town and are usually associated with a sponsor. For example, Daniel Suarez at Quaker State or Ross Chastain at Winn-Dixie. Most of the time these meet & greets events are free and are a cool way to say hi and good luck to your favorite drivers.
Shop at the Midway
Do the majority of your souvenir shopping before the big race on Sunday at the Midway.
Have a chance to get some free swag, hear interviews and panels from the drivers, and more.
The Midway is dog-friendly, so this is also a great opportunity to burn off some of your pup’s energy before an afternoon or night race.
Watch from the RV Rooftop
The best part about camping in the infield of Daytona International Speedway is getting to be fully immersed in the environment for an entire week.
And one of the coolest ways to watch a race is (safely) from the roof or your RV. Now I say safely because if your RV does not have a ladder, it most likely does not have a walkable roof, meaning it was not designed to carry the weight of human beings, so let’s not create a skylight in your RV, ok?
If your RV does have a walkable roof, pour yourself a drink, bring a radio or phone to listen to the announcers and watch your drivers go around and around.
For years, we have said someday we’re going to watch a NASCAR race from the roof of our RV, so this was a really cool and surreal moment for me getting to watch my dad smile from ear to ear watching those cars fly by from the roof of a motorhome with a cold beer in his hand.
Watch from in the Infield Grandstands
Did you know there are small grandstands in the infield of Daytona? We really didn’t either but sure enough there are 3 or 4 small grandstands (think just bigger than your local baseball diamond size) at various spots in the infield.
Our favorite was Turn 2 where you have an AMAZING view of Turn 2 and can watch some carnage that tends to happen along the backstretch.
The best part about these grandstands, is they’re pet friendly, so Butters got to watch the Duels and some truck racing with her Gampa, Gamma, Mom & Dad. It was amazing.
Explore Daytona
While you’re here, check out the town of Daytona! Daytona International Speedway is in the heart of Daytona. I mean right in the middle of town. It’s across the street from a Cabelas, restaurants, shops, and more.
Be sure to research some local Florida delicacies to try.
If you haven’t spent much time in the area of New Jersey south to Florida, you’ve probably never had a hoagie from a Wawa gas station and convenience store, so try it.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience a Buc-ees in its massive God-Bless-Texas glory, you’ll have the chance to try one here. Spoiler alert: the brisket tastes just as good at a Florida location as it does at a Texas location, I don’t know how it does, but it does.
Look at Google Maps and see what there is to see near the Speedway!
Drink …
You’re on vacation. Live a little.
Buy a bottle of Sugarland Shine moonshine. Sip a little something and warm up around your fire pit.
Wake up with a breakfast Busch beer.
Wine down with a bottle of Childress Cabernet.
It’s a well-known fact, that NASCAR fans appreciate their adult bevies.
So be sure to pack enough to quench the thirst of a frat house, because there’s always a good time for drinking at the track.
*Bonus Side Trip to Gainsville
If you’re a fan of NHRA drag racing, you’ll notice that Gainsville, FL is just a day trip away.
If you’re like my dad, whose mindset is “Well, we’ve made it this far, so what’s another 80 miles one-way?”, then you’ll notice that Don Garlit’s Museum of Drag Racing is located just that far away in Ocala, FL.
You can walk into this building knowing just a little bit about drag racing and leave as a walking encyclopedia of drag racing knowledge. In fact, there is so much history here, that it can be overwhelming!
And that’s just the drag racing museum, that doesn’t include the automotive museum next door.
This side trip is a great way to kill a day waiting for the real action to start on Tuesday night, so we did this on Tuesday morning and arrived back at the speedway just in time for the Hauler Parade.
The Garlits were HUGE dog people, so this museum is dog-friendly, in fact, they even sell doggy bandanas in the gift shop.
Other Questions You May Have
There are some questions you may not easily find on Daytona’s website or across multiple Facebook groups.
So here’s a list of the ones I found myself asking and researching before my first Speedweek experience.
Can I have a fire at my campsite?
Surprisingly yes. In spite of the ridiculously close proximity of RVs and tents, campfires are allowed in the infield of the speedway.
And not just propane fire pits, wood burning campfires too. In fact, we were very nervous to see our neighbor having pallets upon pallets of firewood being delivered and stacked just feet away from our tiny home on wheels as it was parked in the orange section of the infield. We sighed the biggest sigh of relief every morning we returned back to camp to see our home wasn’t a pile of ashes and beer cans.
All campfires, both propane and wood-burning, must be in fully contained fire pits, not just on the grass of the infield.
Can I bring my dog?
Believe it or not, yes! While dogs are not allowed to watch the race from the grandstands (for obvious safety reasons). Your furry friend is more than welcome to join you while you camp in the infield. Just be sure they are comfortable around very loud noises.
Butters has always been around loud noises like dirt bikes, shotguns, hot rods, etc. so she was not bothered by the noises one bit. But for safety reasons, we found dog headphones on Amazon (affiliate link) for Butters, and as a miniature dachshund, a Size XS fits her perfectly.
While your dog can’t watch the races from the main grandstands with you, there are several infield small grandstands that you’re able to enjoy with them!
The number of smiles and “awwwws” we got from hardcore gnarly-looking Southern boys when they saw a cute little wiener dog with her oversized ear muffs watching racing with her Momma and Gampa in those seats made our entire week.
And if you’re wondering, “Wait don’t you have a cat too? What did you do with Tiskies?!” Yep, she joined the fun too and thoroughly enjoyed watching the cars fly by the motorhome bedroom from the comfort of her kitty tower.
So yes, you can bring your cat too.
What are the campsites like in the infield?
Most campsites in the infield are less campsite more of parking spaces. Think pumpkin patch parking or music festival parking, with handpainted lines hastily applied to a grass field.
To find your campsite easily we suggest researching a map ahead of time, which is not easily found on Daytona International Speedway’s map page, but after a quick Google search or a search on the Speedway’s website map for “campground maps,” you can find a PDF map of each section here.
When you arrive to the Speedway on check-in day which for most of the campsites is the Monday of Speedweek, with the exception being if you purchased an extended stay option, you’ll proceed to the RV staging area at check-in time at Turn 1.
After waiting (sometimes for quite a while) in line for ticket and rig inspection, you’ll be escorted by a team member in a golf cart through Turn 1 and into the infield. And let me tell ya, the moment you enter the infield for the first time will be one you never forget.
But once you’re guided to the infield, it’s a bit of a free for all. You’re not guided directly to your site but are given a bit of direction and then it’s up to you to find your site.
My biggest suggestion: GET TO YOUR SITE EARLY!
These sites are extremely close together. Our 20-foot trailer felt massive on the narrow driving paths and sites of the infield, I can only imagine how difficult it would be to navigate a 40-foot rig with the full sites! But somehow people do it year after year.
The campsites are dry camping. There are no hookups in the majority of the campsites, so be sure to bring a generator and/or solar panels, an empty gray and black tank, and a full fresh water tank. There are water filling and pump-out services available for a fee of $50 cash only.
As I mentioned before the sites are extremely close together so be sure to park inside your site lines and leave room for slide-outs, other vehicles, golf carts, etc.
Can an RV park in the Orange (Tent) section?
Now, here’s something that’s a bit hard to find on the Daytona camping website, but yes, any trailer smaller than 20 feet, 8 feet tall.
In fact, you’ll see quite a few small trailers parked in the orange section. Just be aware that the Orange (Tent) section is the loudest and rowdiest section of all!
Most folks access the Orange section via the famous Turn 4 Tunnel, but keep in mind, that there’s a height restriction of just 11 feet, so you’ll most likely need to enter near Turn 1 with the other larger RVs.
Are there bathhouses in the infield?
Yes! There are multiple bathhouses throughout the infield with flushing toilets and free showers!
We recommend using these facilities as often as possible to help save on water usage in your RV as the majority of infield sites don’t have hookups.
How do I book infield campsites?
The reason sites are so difficult to get is that they are often kept year to year by the same camper. After all, when you purchase a campsite directly through Daytona, you have the option to renew your campsite immediately after Speedweek for the following year, holding the site for only $25 (as of 2024) and not having to pay for the site until November. So really, there’s barely any cost to “holding on to your site”.
Many campers have been in the same site for years, some even decades, making it harder for newcomers to find an open site.
So how are you supposed to get these coveted sites?
The easiest way is by contacting a Daytona International Speedway rep a year in advance and having them notify you the moment one becomes available. Most likely the sites that will become available first will be an Orange (Tent) site, but as it gets closer to November (when the first payment is due), other more desirable sites may become available, and you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade your site.
We started with securing one orange site and then were notified by our rep that a site in the Horseshoe became available, we could’ve upgraded our one site to the Horseshoe section, but since we needed two sites this year, we kept the orange AND bought the new Horseshoe site!
If you’re a bit late to the game or no sites are available directly through Daytona, you can search Facebook Groups for campers selling their sites. Most often it’s an instance where they just can’t make it to the race this year, but don’t want to give up their coveted annual spot, so they’ll sell them to you as a private party for this year. Most NASCAR fans are good-hearted people, so they’ll probably just ask for the cost of the site, and not try to scam you out of overpaying for the site, but there are scammers out there, so it’s always best to double-check that it’s legit. You can search the Facebook group for users and see what other race fans have to say about a site for sale if it seems fishy!
How much do sites cost?
We paid for two separate sites in two different sections of the infield.
As of 2024, we paid $835 for an Orange (Tent) Site for the entire week (Site + required camping tow pass).
For a Horseshoe site, we paid $1050 (Site + required camping tow pass).
If you want the Premium Llake Lloyd sites, expect to pay anywhere from $3000 – $5000!
Should I watch a race from the grandstands?
While there are small grandstands in the infield of Daytona International Speedway where you can watch every qualifying, practice, and race for no extra charge, there’s nothing that compares to the view of watching a race from the main grandstands.
If there’s one race to watch from the main grandstands, it’d be the big one, the Daytona 500.
The sound of 40+ race cars swooping down from the backstretch, to Turns 3 & 4, to the front straightaway is a sound and sensation words can’t begin to describe.
High-fiving strangers next to you as you cheer on your favorite drivers (or boo your least favorites).
The holding up of 3 fingers on Lap 3 of the Daytona 500 as a sign of respect for one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, Dale Earnhardt Sr., who was killed in a wreck here 20+ years ago.
The Thunderbird flyover at the beginning of the race.
There’s truly nothing like it.
Seat tickets sell very quickly as many race fans keep their seats from year to year, so be sure to set an alarm on opening day to try your best to get one of the best seats in the house!
Where would that be you ask? For us, it’s Turn 4. Collamity Corner as they call it. From the 300 sections, you’ll have a great view of the entire track, view of the Start/Finish line, pit road, and of course Turn 4, where most of the wrecks happen, especially “The Big One” which will most likely happen in the last 10 laps or so of the race.
As of 2024, tickets cost about $180/person for seats in the 300 Sections.
While Speedweek is loud, crowded, and expensive, it’s also a great time sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.
And that’s what this week was all about for us.
Was it worth it? Yes! Will we ever go back? Yes!
But here’s the thing, it was almost too perfect to repeat. We got really lucky with relatively quiet and fun neighbors both at camp and in the grandstands. We had a few no-shows in the sites next to us it made the crowded sites feel less crowded. Thanks to the rain delay, the sold-out crowd for the Daytona 500 wasn’t fully in attendance giving us a bit of elbow room in the grandstands.
Our fur kids, Tiskies and Butters, got to experience this with us.
It may be one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences because this one time was just too perfect to repeat again and have it fall short of the now massive expectations we have for infield camping.
There are 20+ tracks on the NASCAR Cup circuit, and we’ve got a lot of other tracks to visit!
Want to hear the sounds of the track? Check out our latest YouTube video:
Happy and safe travels and boogity boogity boogity,
The Traveling Tiongsons
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Traveling Tiongsons 