Charlotte Motor Speedway
4.7(10K)google
3.3(156)yelp
MotorsportYouth-FriendlyOutdoorThrillingCity LandmarkMust-See
Overview
Charlotte Motor Speedway (known as Lowe's Motor Speedway from 1999 to 2009 because of sponsorship reasons) is a 1.500 mi (2.414 km) quad-oval intermediate speedway in Concord, North Carolina. It has hosted various major races since its inaugural season of racing in 1960, including NASCAR, IndyCar, and IMSA SportsCar Championship races. The facility is owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI), with Greg Walter serving as its general manager.
Practical Info
Mon–Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat–SunClosed
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThe definitive experience happens during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race weekend in late May. Secure speedway stadium tickets months in advance and arrive by 2:00 PM on race day to fully immerse yourself in the massive infield tailgating and military flyover celebrations.
Getting ThereSituated northeast of Charlotte at 5555 Concord Pkwy S in Concord. During major Cup events, highway exits deadlock; take I-85 N to Exit 49 (Speedway Blvd) and utilize the speedway's expansive grass surrounding outfields. Ridesharing early is highly recommended.
Travel Tips
- Non-race days limit access to the gift shop and outer areas; track access requires booking an official 'Speedway Tour'. On major race days, US-29 undergoes aggressive police routing and one-way directional flipping.
- Race-day decibels routinely break 100 dB; carrying professional-grade passive noise-canceling earmuffs for both adults and children is critical. On-site vendor pricing for ear protection scales at a massive premium.
- Security bans all hard-sided coolers, glass jars, and backpacks larger than 14 inches; visitors are limited to one soft-sided, clear plastic bag for dry self-packed snacks and factory-sealed water bottles.
Reviews
Positive
- As a holy grail for NASCAR, the massive oval track and spectacular giant screen (MGM JumboTron) provide intense visual impact, with roaring engines maximizing core value and excitement.
- The speedway handles crowd control for tens of thousands of spectators skillfully, offering numerous efficient security lanes, a high volume of public restrooms, and exceptionally clear grandstand signage.
- The staff and traffic flaggers are enthusiastic and professional; the behind-the-scenes Track Tour offered on non-race days provides deep insights and lets tourists walk right onto the steep banked turns.
- If participating in a track tour during non-race periods, the ticket is highly affordable; while race days bundle hours of world-class elite duels, making it absolutely worth the money for racing fans.
Heads up
- On major race days, the surrounding traffic congestion is catastrophic; evacuating from the massive parking lots after the event frequently takes over 2 hours, severely harming transit convenience.
- The grandstand areas and open-air parking lots lack sun shelters, becoming intensely hot under direct mid-summer or midday sun, and grandstand seats feel slightly cramped and narrow in older sections.
- Secondary spending on food, drinks, and souvenirs inside the speedway carries heavy markups, with ordinary bottled water or a hot dog being overly pricey, giving an overpriced impression.
- The on-site racing noise is deafening; without self-prepared or freshly purchased professional noise-canceling earmuffs, watching for long durations causes severe discomfort for some tourists, especially kids.