Formula 1 2021 and camping at COTA

[Dennis C]

I'll be making my annual trip to Austin in October of 2021 for the Formula 1 race. I've been to many F1 races, but I've never camped at one. Those of you who have been to Austin for the US GP know that traffic in and out of COTA is horrendous. I'm really looking forward to staying at the track for the entire weekend. Camping packages allow arrival and setup 1 - 2 days before the events start, and departure on Monday, the day following the race.

COTA has two camping options - VIP RV Parking trackside, and dry camping in a designated parking area. I'm on the waiting list for VIP RV parking, but spots are limited and they prioritize past VIP customers before opening up spaces. I probably won't get one. No worries, we'll dry camp in Lot N if we don't get VIP.

We're really looking forward to it! Travel around Austin to and from the track takes up hours of time over an F1 weekend. Staying at the track will be much lower stress, and will allow us to take advantage of some of the other fun events at the track in the evenings like concerts, etc.

Any other F1 fans planning to go to COTA this year?

Here's the track layout:

[SYC2Vette]

We go every year and will be camping for MotoGP but not F1 as of now.

[Dennis C]

Which camping site do you use, VIP or dry camping? Can you give me a few more details on your overall experience camping at COTA?

[Goin camping]

You folks are living my dream. I wish I could be there with you.

[Dennis C]

I finally confirmed my seats and my campsite reservation in the dry camping area, Lot N. Seats in turn 1.

[DCPAS]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

I finally confirmed my seats and my campsite reservation in the dry camping area, Lot N. Seats in turn 1.

That's very cool. I have been to a number of races at COTA, but not F1. Too much of a zoo to get in and out. Your plan is a good way to do it. My brother used to park his motorhome in the middle of a NASCAR circuit. It was nice just to sit there in comfort while the rest of humanity goes in and out.

Odd Duck on S. Lamar is a fun and slightly wacky restaurant I like when I go to Austin.

[RivetED]

F1 fan but not going. Sounds like a great weekend, enjoy!

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by Dennis C

I finally confirmed my seats and my campsite reservation in the dry camping area, Lot N. Seats in turn 1.

I'm envious! Would love to do this someday. When the time comes please post some photos of the camping location and provide some feedback on your experience. All the best!

[JohnnyAustin]

We’ll be there. We’ve been to every F1 at COTA. We took our trailer in 2019 and were lucky enough to get a lot N site with electric hookups. We were able to get the same spot this year.

I’m looking forward to the race as well as the whole season. I like Hamilton but it’s nice to see a fight for the constructors and drivers championship.

[Dennis C]

How did you get that? My sales agent said they were all dry sites. I’d love to get hookups, even just electric. I’ve been to several races at COTA but this will be the first with the Airstream. Our seats are in Turn 1 this year, which should be nice. I was in the main grandstand for the 2019 race. I decided to bring the Airstream after a 2-1/2 hour Uber ride back to downtown in 2019. I told myself “never again”.

[JohnnyAustin]

Actually, I’m not sure. They had added electric to some sites in 2019 and I was in the presale group and I honestly just got lucky. They sent an email saying they had some electric sites that I just happened to see and called immediately.

We’re seated in turn one as well. Section one. We’re also tired of the drive. We’ll usually hang around the track to let the crowd thin out but even that doesn’t always get you out of a major traffic jam.

[JohnnyAustin]

BTW. We made Netflix’s Drive To Survive footage for the 2019 Austin race. You dress yourself up silly enough and they’ll put you on TV.

[Dennis C]

That’s awesome. We’re in section 1, row 23. My adult son and his girlfriend are joining us.

I’ll bring my generator if we can’t get hookups, but they would be nice. I wasn’t willing to pay the ~$12,000 price for the premium sites over the weekend. We’ll arrive Thursday afternoon and leave Monday morning.

I’m not especially a Haas fan, but I feel like I should support the US team. I may fly a Haas flag over the Airstream.

[JohnnyAustin]

Well, we’re just a couple of rows below you on row 19. I really want Haas to do well, but they were bad last year and will be worse this year.

F1 is expensive. Frankly, I can’t believe I’m paying what I am, but the premium slots are just ridiculous. I’m going to the NASCAR race in a few weeks and the cost is just a fraction of what it is for F1.

[DaveP]

Originally Posted by JohnnyAustin

Well, we’re just a couple of rows below you on row 19. I really want Haas to do well, but they were bad last year and will be worse this year.

F1 is expensive. Frankly, I can’t believe I’m paying what I am, but the premium slots are just ridiculous. I’m going to the NASCAR race in a few weeks and the cost is just a fraction of what it is for F1.

Welcome to Bernie land. I race cars in the SCCA for 20 years. Just retired in 2016. I love F1, but the prices are insane!

Cheers!

[Dennis C]

Originally Posted by JohnnyAustin

Well, we’re just a couple of rows below you on row 19. I really want Haas to do well, but they were bad last year and will be worse this year.

F1 is expensive. Frankly, I can’t believe I’m paying what I am, but the premium slots are just ridiculous. I’m going to the NASCAR race in a few weeks and the cost is just a fraction of what it is for F1.

My wife got me one of the F1 Experiences packages for my birthday in 2019, including Champion’s Club Access, etc. It was a very cool experience, but painfully expensive.

[rob76turbo]

We are taking our NEST down to COTA for the F1 event. Camping in LOT N will be a first for us too. I've been to 5 GP's including the infamous Hurricane Irma race in 2017. We are huge F1 fan's, looking forward to the race and meeting some fellow Airstreamers. If you see a NEST (can't imagine there will be too many there), it's probably us. Stop by and say hi.

[Dennis C]

We will look for you! We will have three flags flying off the front of our Airstream. One US flag, one Colorado flag, and one Haas F1 flag. I talked to my ticket agent and he told me that the Lot N gates open for RVs at noon on Thursday, and the sites are first come, first serve. We’ll try to get there as close to noon as we can on Thursday.

I’m also a huge F1 fan, and I’m really looking forward to the race. I’ve only been to two races at COTA, but I went to Indianapolis three times and to the Dallas race back in the 1980s.

[SYC2Vette]

This might be another option, I have no personal experience with it. http://www.rvparkindelvalletx.com/

We are only about 30 minutes from COTA, and have not found the traffic all that bad. The worst of course was the F1 year of the heavy rain and the folks who took buses had an especially awful experience.

Will be camping along the straight for MotoGP, but not F1. Since RV camping Lot N is first come first serve as far as location, I think I would come a day earlier (Wednesday) just to have a better selection perhaps. You can camp as many days as you want at the permanent sites, but guess you would have to check regarding the other RV/dry camping lots.

P.S. to Dennis Have friends in Evergreen and Conifer. Usually stay at Cherry Creek State Park with the great 100+ acre DOLA. Our get out of Texas summer plan entails traveling around Colorado and adjacent states for end of June through end of August. Will look for your flags at F1 !

[Dennis C]

Traffic in 2019 was hideous, as I mentioned above. If you relied on Uber or a Taxi, it was even worse. It may not be a bad idea to get to Austin on Wednesday to ensure a good spot on Thursday.