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ZoominC6 · 06-04-2011, 07:14 AM

Trip planning is underway for the June, 2012 F-1 race in Austin, Texas. Can anyone in the Austin area chime in on the location of the track now under construction? On which side of town is it located as I'd like to find a good spot to camp near the track and make reservations now. Thanks in advance.

Chasmorgan · 06-04-2011, 08:00 AM

Track is southeast of town. Only a few miles from the airport. Not many rv parks in that area. There is a very nice state park that would be close. It's called McKinney Falls I think. Lone Star RV on south interstate 35 would be a good choice too. It has full hook ups and puts you on the right side of town. Crest view RV has a park in Buda that would put you at the toll way and Ih 35 and this too would be a good spot. Hope this helps.

ZoominC6 · 06-04-2011, 09:12 AM

Thanks Charlie. That's just the kind of help I was looking for. We appreciate it very much. Hope you get some rain down that way. Dick

Frank&Mike · 06-05-2011, 09:50 PM

The following is the closest commercial RV Park. I have driven by this park before and it looks very well maintained. In fact, it seems to get many positive reviews on RV Park reviews.

Austin Oak Forest RV Park | Main

Interesting that you ask about the nearest RV Park. We have been considering the purchase of some property very near the Formula-1 Track and developing it into an RV Park. If we were to pursue this venture we want to develop it with lots of palm trees (it already has lots of mesquite trees on the property), pool, cabana, tiki bar ... and give it more of a tropical feel. I'm thinking it could turn into a good investment. But I keep getting cold feet.

utee94 · 06-12-2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank&Mike

The following is the closest commercial RV Park. I have driven by this park before and it looks very well maintained. In fact, it seems to get many positive reviews on RV Park reviews.

Austin Oak Forest RV Park | Main

Interesting that you ask about the nearest RV Park. We have been considering the purchase of some property very near the Formula-1 Track and developing it into an RV Park. If we were to pursue this venture we want to develop it with lots of palm trees (it already has lots of mesquite trees on the property), pool, cabana, tiki bar ... and give it more of a tropical feel. I'm thinking it could turn into a good investment. But I keep getting cold feet.

I think it would be fantastic! Of course, any property down there is likely much more expensive now than it would have been a year ago, but such is the way of things.

I'd even consider renting out my house to some out-of-town F1 fans, and staying in your RV park during race week.

Jim J · 08-31-2012, 06:51 PM

Bastrop State park is about 30 miles away and would be very low cost to stay. You cannot drive to the track unless you have a parking pass. You will need to park at the Expo center and take a shuttle.

kingfisher24 · 09-01-2012, 07:31 AM

Race is in November 2012...Track will barely be ready by then...you can park rv on the grounds for $15,000....

RamblinManGa · 09-01-2012, 08:27 AM

Hi from GA/AZ. . . I hope some forum members go to the race and give us all a big report on it. I'm definitely thinking about year 2 (if there IS a year 2) and have it on our tentative travel calendar for 2013. F1 in Indy was fun. Thanks and regards, Craig

PeterH-350LE · 09-01-2012, 10:55 AM

Big F-1 weekend planned at this house in Austin, my wifes brother is flying in from PA for the event and we are even considering renting the 345 Airstream Motorhome to some out of town/out of country F-1 fans looking for a cool place to stay. As someone mentioned above, it doesn't really matter where you stay, unless you have a parking permit, you have to take the shuttle and just surrender to the whole experience. Hotel rooms have been booked for some time and are very expensive.

elfirebob · 09-01-2012, 11:56 AM

Hmm, Retire at the end of September, nothing in the works for November...love F1, seems like we gotta go...Hope the track is done-

kos221 · 09-01-2012, 12:03 PM

I am thinking about going. It looks like turn 15 is still available. I think I will get tickets next week. So I guess the consensus is to stay with in an hour of the track and then drive to the expo center where a shuttle will take you to the track? I still haven't reserved a place to stay are there any suggestions for an RV park in the area? Has anyone committed to a place to camp?

PeterH-350LE · 09-01-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kos221

I am thinking about going. It looks like turn 15 is still available. I think I will get tickets next week. So I guess the consensus is to stay with in an hour of the track and then drive to the expo center where a shuttle will take you to the track? I still haven't reserved a place to stay are there any suggestions for an RV park in the area? Has anyone committed to a place to camp?

I would check this site asap:
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | State Parks
I did a quick check and most state parks east and south of Austin are already booked for that weekend. Padernales State Park west of Austin still had sites available. Its about an hours drive depending on traffic and time of travel.

Jim J · 09-03-2012, 08:42 AM

Check out this campground on west side of Austin. About a 40 min drive from the Expo center. Only a couple of years old, 250 sites, easy access and close to grocery, gas, Walmart, Target, Home depot, restaurants and good barbecue.

La Hacienda
5220 Hudson Bend Rd
Austin, TX 78734
(512) 266-8001

Also, Emma Long park is a little closer, it is run by the city of Austin. PITA to drive in and out of but nice camoing right on Lake Austin. Only 20 sites with Electircity and no reservations, 14 day max stay. Cheap!

Emma Long Park
1706 CITY PARK RD
AUSTIN, TX 78730
(512) 346-1831

AgZep · 11-08-2012, 09:40 PM

We're rolling out for Austin on the 12th, arriving at Lone Star RV Resort the next day. Got tickets for Turn 11; shelled out the big bucks for an on-site parking pass till we can actually see how the shuttle situation pans out. Looking forward to having F1 back in the US again (even if it is a Tilke track)! Bring your rain togs for what looks to be a splashy Friday practice...

shelocta · 11-09-2012, 03:10 AM

This is a new RV park, mybe two years old. I's about 20 east of Austin on US290.
Check their web site at Lucky Too Rv Park

AWCHIEF · 12-03-2012, 09:23 AM

Looking for follow up from members that took their trailers to the race. I watched it on TV. Beautiful track with an outstanding race. It looked like there was a trailer section along one of the straights. Thought I caught a glimpse of a couple of Airstreams parked in the area.

AgZep · 12-12-2012, 10:21 AM

We didn't camp at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) itself, since we didn't have an extra $15K lying around. We’ll see if prices come down in future years. The sites at the track looked like great fun; mostly party bus DPs (and a RENTED Airstream SkyDeck, if you can imagine!) but some lower-end rented Class Cs, as well. However, other than the track, there’s NOTHING entertainment-wise out there. We stayed the Tuesday before the race till the Monday after at Austin Lone Star RV Resort, just off I-35, west of the airport. Nice place—narrow roads that need some work, but no problem for our 28’ and F150. Very well-run, efficient and friendly management. Ten-minute drive to entertainment and restaurants in downtown Austin. We put our name on the reservation list for next year.

Austin Lone Star was well-placed for us to be able to drive to the track without dealing with the scrum of people in downtown Austin. We drove to the track on local roads south of the city and parked on-site near our bleacher seats at Turn 11E. Great seats for viewing/photographing a lot of the action at the hairpin, but most of the passing/sliding action seemed to be happening at Turns 12 and 19. The track itself is amazing—very well put together, lots more elevation change than it appears on TV. If I were to compare it to an existing F1 circuit, I would say it’s most like Interlagos. You can get lots of exercise walking around at the track; there’s also a tram that runs just outside the circuit.

It’s amazing that it was finished in time to hold the 2012 F1 race at all, though there are still lots of improvements to be made. Long lines at the not-so-plentiful food vendors and circuit apparel tents; no landscaping yet; traffic management was concentrated on the undeveloped local roads around the circuit and not at all in the parking lots, so exiting the circuit—particularly on race day—required a lot of patience. We (and others who drove) anticipated this and brought coolers for a 2-hour post-race tailgate while we waiting for the lots to clear. Shuttle service from downtown Austin and the Travis County Expo Center seemed to be fairly efficient, but we didn’t have any direct experience with that.

The city of Austin and COTA did a great job (I thought) trying to provide an entertainment experience at the track and in the city that would appeal to a large, diverse, international audience. We went to all events at the track and were generally too exhausted to want to go party downtown, but we did go see Junior Brown at the Continental Club in the evening after the race. Weather was great, if a bit unseasonably chilly. However, I’ll take Austin in November over Austin in June ANY day!

Jim J · 07-09-2013, 08:54 PM

CotA has just announced "dry Camping" availability for the 2013 race. Camping will be located in parking lot M near turn 11. See Link Below for more information
http://6bd32fe3d0a84caa1d3b-e077574e...se(7-2-13).pdf

Jim J · 07-10-2013, 11:56 AM

From CotA:
With more than 100 campsites available ($998 per space), you and your group can experience three days of high-speed action without ever leaving the track! Each campsite purchase includes four general admission tickets for the 2013 F1 event. To reserve a dry camping space, please call 512.301.6600 x1!