How to Get to COTA – 2025 United States Grand Prix

Advice for F1 fans on traveling to Austin, Texas, and how to get to Circuit of The Americas (COTA) for the 2025 United States Grand Prix

2025 COTA F1 tickets / F1 Experiences Packages / Austin Hotels / COTA Facebook group

The 2025 United States Grand Prix runs from October 17-19

Dates are also confirmed for the 2026 United States Grand Prix on October 23-25

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Austin has one international airport, Bergstrom (airport code AUS). It’s a relatively small airport though, and many flights go through the two larger hubs in Texas, Houston (IAH) and Dallas Fort Worth (DFW). Texas is home to Southwest Airlines, the world’s largest low-cost carrier, so there are plenty of domestic flights to the city on Grand Prix weekend.

Downtown Austin and the University of Texas campus area are very walkable and well serviced by the Capital Metro Austin public transit system. Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is located 15 miles (24 km) from downtown Austin. The best way to get to the track is by car (your own, a hire car or taxi) or the COTA shuttle. When making plans, be aware that Austin traffic is notorious most times of the year, but especially during major events such as F1. Getting to the track from downtown can take up to two hours! Plan accordingly and don’t forget to purchase parking passes for the track if you do take your own vehicle.

Flights to Austin

The cheapest long haul flights land in Houston (IAH) or Dallas (DFW), depending on the airline. Check connections to these cities if you are looking for good deals on flying to Austin

The only current direct European connections to Austin Bergstrom are with British Airways from London and Lufthansa from Frankfurt

There are no direct flights to Austin from Asia, South America or Africa. Most flights route via major hubs such as LA, Atlanta, New York, Chicago or Houston.

Domestic Flights & Driving to Austin

All of the major US airlines service Austin, though many connect first in a bigger Texas city. Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, United and Alaska Airlines will all get you to Austin. Example fares: New York–Austin (non-stop with Southwest in 4 hours from $300 USD), LA–Austin (1 stop with Delta in about 5 hours from $250-300 USD), Toronto – Austin (non-stop with Air Canada in 3 hours 20 min for about $600 USD.

Another option for getting to Austin is by car. The U.S. has a large interstate highway system, and you can drive to the city from Houston in 2.5 hours, Dallas in 3 hours, or San Antonio in 1 hour. Why not hire a car and explore the region? Buses and trains are also available for budget-conscious fans. Click here for a detail interstate highway map.

F1 Experiences Hotel Bookings & Circuit Transfers

Did you know that you can book your hotel and circuit transfers for the United States Grand Prix with F1 Experiences? Circuit transfers are available for F1 Experiences guests who have booked their hotel together with an Official Ticket Package. F1 Experiences secures room allocations at some of the most sought-after hotels in Austin on race weekend. Return coach transfers from your hotel to COTA can be added to your booking. View 2025 United States Grand Prix ticket packages & hotels

How to Get to Circuit of The Americas (COTA)

COTA’s location on the sourtheastern outskirts of Austin, close to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, has never been particularly easy to access, though the organizers have improved transportation for recent editions of the race.

COTA Shuttles

The COTA shuttle service has been significantly improved in recent years with additional buses available. COTA Shuttles are the best way to get to the track from downtown and northeast Austin, though it is worth noting that there can be significant queues to get on buses at peak times, and buses can get stuck in traffic whilst arriving and departing the circuit. In 2025, shuttles are available from downtown and from northeast Austin, see details and pricing below (Please note that shuttles from the Barton Creek Square Mall in south east Austin have not been offered since 2023)

COTA Shuttle tickets are now on sale for the 2025 United States Grand Prix

Downtown COTA Shuttle (Waterloo Park/Moody Amphitheater): 3-day weekend passes cost $160.50, whilst one-day passes (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) cost $56.78. The pick up/drop off location for Downtown shuttles is on Red River Street, adjacent to Waterloo Park/Moody Amphitheater. Parking is available (from around $20 per day) at garages between Trinity and San Jacinto. At the circuit, downtown shuttles drop off just outside the Grand Plaza gates on COTA Boulevard.

Northeast Austin COTA Shuttle (Travis County Expo Center): 3-day weekend passes are priced at $91.35, whilst one-day passes (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) cost $34.88. Located near the intersections of HWY 290/US 183 and the 130 Tollway, the Travis County Expo Center shuttle hub is a free parking lot with service in primarily air-conditioned school buses. Please enter and exit this facility at “Gate 1” located off Decker Lane. Note that Travis County Expo Center shuttles drop-off and pick-up at the McAngus Road Depot which is a 10-15-minute walk to the Grand Plaza gates or a short tram ride away. Check the drop off map here

Drive to COTA

Despite the prevalence of public transportation Austin offers compared to other Texas cities, it is still very much a town built for cars, and the best way to get around is to drive. The Circuit of the Americas is located off the SH130 toll road, which you can access from downtown by taking I-35 south to highway 71 east. There’s around eight main parking areas next to the track and a ‘park and ride’ service is available for distant lots. Please note that traffic can get very congested around the circuit, particularly on race day. Any vehicle without a valid parking pass will be unable to access COTA Blvd during the course of the United States Grand Prix weekend. Parking passes are not yet on sale for the 2025 United States Grand Prix. In 2024, 3-Day Passes were priced from $275-375 USD. Park & Ride parking passes were also available, priced at $40 USD on Friday and $160 for a 2-day weekend pass (Saturday & Sunday). Circuit maps are available on the COTA website.

Ridesharing (Uber, Lyft) to COTA

Taxis and ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are worth considering, though it’s a good idea to arrange your return trip from the circuit in advance to avoid delays. Last year, rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) operated from the McAngus lot. Free shuttle trams were available to/from the McAngus lot to the Grand Plaza entrance of the circuit. Please note that on race weekend, rideshare vehicles are not permitted on COTA Blvd. Check the circuit map.

Austin Airport to City

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is located 12 miles (19 km) east of downtown Austin, in the approximate direction of the Circuit of the Americas. You actually pass the airport on your way from downtown Austin to COTA. In addition, many of the larger hotels in Austin offer their own shuttle service between the airport and the hotel. Here’s some more information:

Airport Bus: Capital Metro, the city’s public transportation authority, offers a MetroAirport bus that runs regularly from the city to the airport. To check its route and schedule, visit the Capital Metro Airportpage. A ticket costs $1.75 USD and can be bought with exact change on board or using the Capital Metro app.

Airport Shuttles: The highly-rated SuperShuttle service offers shared vans, non-stop vans and even private sedan and SUV services, depending on your budget. Reserve your trip on their website and a shuttle will be waiting to take you to your hotel or apartment when you land. Prices from $12 each way.

Airport Taxis/Ride Sharing: A taxi, Uber or Lyft from the airport to downtown should cost around $30-50, depending on the time of day and your exact destination. Useful numbers: Yellow cab +1 512-452-9999 / Austin Cab Company +1 512-478-2222

Austin Public Transport

In addition to the dozens of bus lines servicing most of the city, Capital Metro also operates one city train line called MetroRail. MetroRail runs Monday through Friday between Leander and downtown Austin, and from Lakeline to downtown on Saturday. See the Capital Metro website for routes and schedules.

Taxis & Ride Sharing in Austin

There are plenty of taxis in Austin. Downtown, your best bet is to get one from a hotel taxi stand (or call, for example Yellow Cab, tel: 512-452-999, who also have a handy fare calculator.) Getting to COTA from downtown in a taxi should set you back around $50. Ride sharing sites Uber and Lyft also operate in Austin, and are a good option for both getting around town and for getting to and from COTA (more info above).

Bicycle Sharing in Austin

If you’re staying downtown, most attractions the city has to offer are within walking distance, but you can save time and see more by renting a B-cycle bike. Austin B-cycle has dozens of stations all around the city where you can pick up or drop off a bike, and rides under 30 minutes are free after you pay the initial service fee of $8 per day or $11 per month.