The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is held each October at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in south-east Austin, about 17 miles (28 km) by road from downtown and about 8 miles (13 km) from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The 2026 race weekend runs October 23 to 25, with COTA's event programme starting on Thursday, October 22, and the 2027 race is already on the Formula 1 calendar for October 22 to 24, 2027. Elly8.net books race weekend at a fixed, all-in price: AUS to downtown from US$120 in a business sedan, and a chauffeur by the hour from US$95.
Rides in Austin are operated by licensed, commercially insured local chauffeur partners vetted through the Limousine Worldwide network; Elly8.net takes the booking, fixes the price and runs the 24/7 desk. This page covers COTA's published rules for cars and rideshare, the airport, the honest alternatives, and how to plan race days so the drive home is not the longest part of the weekend.
How do you get to COTA for the Grand Prix?
On race weekends COTA allows only vehicles with a pre-purchased parking pass onto COTA Boulevard. Rideshare vehicles are not permitted there and operate from COTA's McAngus Lot, with a complimentary tram to the Ticketmaster Box Office near the Grand Plaza. Your Elly8.net chauffeur uses your lot if you hold a pass, or the McAngus Lot if you do not.
Those rules come from the circuit's own getting to COTA page. The practical consequence is the same as at most modern Grand Prix venues: a car does not take you to the grandstand. If your ticket or hospitality package includes a parking pass for a specific lot, tell us when you book, and the chauffeur drives to that lot by the circuit's recommended route. Without a pass, the drop is at the McAngus Lot and the tram does the last stretch. The desk confirms which applies before the weekend.
Race days at COTA are among the heaviest traffic days in the Austin region. The circuit sits in open country off the south-east edge of the city, so cars, shuttles and app rides converge on a small number of approach roads at the same hours. The circuit's own helicopter partner advertises its five-minute flight against "up to three hours on the road" on race weekend, which tells you how bad the worst of it can be. A fixed-price car does not shorten the queue, but it does mean someone else is driving it, the price will not move, and the car is waiting at the end of the day.
The race weekend: dates and who comes
COTA lists the 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix for October 22 to 25, 2026, with track action across the Friday to Sunday race weekend of October 23 to 25. The Formula 1 2027 calendar lists the Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix 2027 for October 22 to 24, 2027, and COTA has put 2027 three-day grounds passes on sale. If you are reading this after the 2026 race, the plan below applies to 2027 unchanged unless the circuit publishes new rules.
The weekend draws race fans from across North America and abroad, team and sponsor guests and corporate hospitality groups. Most visitors stay downtown, on Rainey Street, on South Congress, in the Domain area to the north, or in Hill Country resorts west of the city. Every one of those is a long way from COTA in race traffic.
The plan for race weekend
Arrival at AUS. All airline service at Austin-Bergstrom now runs through the Barbara Jordan Terminal; the separate South Terminal closed on April 1, 2026. Your chauffeur tracks the flight and waits inside at baggage claim with a name board, so you skip the shared rideshare and taxi zone under the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, behind the Red Garage, which the airport describes on its ground transportation page. The fixed fare from AUS to downtown is US$120 in a business sedan, US$160 in a business SUV, US$195 in a First Class SUV, US$210 in a First Class Sedan and US$315 in an Executive Sprinter. See airport transfers.
AUS is also the closest airport to the circuit, so some guests go straight from the plane to the track on Friday; that run prices in the web booker. Private aircraft use the business aviation facilities at AUS; send the tail number and FBO, and see private jet and FBO transfers.
Race days: hotel to COTA and back. Book car service by the hour or a full day. The chauffeur collects you downtown in time to beat the worst of the inbound traffic, drops you at your lot or the McAngus Lot, and waits. When you leave, you take the tram back if you used McAngus, and the car is there. Because the hours are already booked, you can stay for the podium without hunting for a ride.
Evenings. Race weekend nights downtown are crowded, and event closures can block the busiest streets. The 5-hour evening out and event night package, from US$475 in a business sedan to US$950 in an Executive Sprinter, keeps one car with you for dinner and the night. The chauffeur follows Texas rules on passengers and alcohol.
Groups and hospitality. An Executive Sprinter with driver brings a hospitality group from one hotel to the circuit together, with business SUVs for guests on other schedules. Sponsor and corporate groups often book the 10-hour corporate roadshow day for Saturday and Sunday. See sports event transportation and group transportation.
Distances to Circuit of The Americas
| Route | Distance | Clear-road drive | Elly8.net booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS to downtown Austin | 8 mi / 13 km | about 14 min | Fixed, US$120 to US$315 |
| AUS round trip to downtown | 2 x 8 mi | about 14 min each way | Fixed, US$230 to US$600 |
| Downtown Austin to COTA | about 17 mi / 28 km | about 31 min | Hourly from US$95, or full day from US$700 |
| AUS to COTA | about 8 mi / 13 km | about 25 min | Web booker |
Those are clear-road times. On race days, the final miles into the circuit can take far longer, and the desk sets pickup times accordingly.
Prices for race weekend
Prices on the Austin price list do not change for the Grand Prix. They are per vehicle, fixed and all-in, including the chauffeur, the vehicle, taxes, standard gratuity and airport meet and greet; tolls, parking and waiting beyond the included time are billed at cost.
- By the hour, as directed (3-hour minimum): US$95 in a business sedan, US$120 in a business SUV, US$145 in a First Class SUV, US$155 in a First Class Sedan and US$190 in an Executive Sprinter.
- Evening out and event night (5 hours): US$475 in a business sedan, US$600 in a business SUV, US$775 in a First Class Sedan and US$950 in a Sprinter.
- Full-day chauffeur (8 hours): from US$700 in a business sedan to US$1,400 in a Sprinter, the usual race-day booking.
- Corporate roadshow day (10 hours): from US$855 in a business sedan to US$1,710 in a Sprinter, for the longest days.
- AUS to downtown: from US$120; round trip from US$230.
Every price is on the Austin fares panel, and the fleet page shows each class. Race weekend is the busiest weekend of the Austin autumn for chauffeured cars; SUVs and Sprinters go first, so reserve as soon as your tickets are confirmed.
Honest alternatives: rideshare, the bus and the helicopter
Rideshare. App rides work from the McAngus Lot, the same drop-off a car without a parking pass uses, with the same complimentary tram. The difference is the evening: after the race, every app car near the circuit is in demand at once, and prices move with demand, while a pre-booked chauffeur at a fixed hourly rate is already waiting.
CapMetro. For getting around the city, CapMetro is cheap and frequent. Route 20 serves the airport, and a local single ride costs US$1.25, according to CapMetro fares, which notes that fares change on January 10, 2027. A solo traveller with a backpack heading downtown in daylight will find it hard to beat.
Helicopter. The circuit has an official helicopter partner offering by-the-seat flights and charters on race weekend, landing on site. It is the fastest option and priced accordingly. If you combine a flight with ground transport for the rest of the weekend, tell the desk and we schedule cars around it.
Driving yourself. Possible only with a pre-purchased parking pass, which also decides your lot and route. A chauffeur removes the parking decision and the drive home after a long day in the sun.
The car wins for groups, families, hospitality guests, anyone flying out on Sunday night and anyone who wants a fixed cost. See chauffeur vs Uber and Lyft and chauffeur vs car rental.
More racing at COTA, and the rest of Texas
COTA's calendar does not stop with Formula 1. NASCAR returns on March 5 to 7, 2027, and MotoGP on April 23 to 25, 2027, both planned the same way. Austin itself fills for SXSW in March. The signature Austin day trip is a 10-hour Texas Hill Country winery day to Fredericksburg, from US$875 in a business sedan to US$1,750 in a Sprinter.
The same fixed-price service runs as a San Antonio car service, Houston car service, Dallas car service and Fort Worth car service, with longer runs through city to city car service.
How to book your COTA car
- Enter pickup and drop-off. Your hotel and Circuit of The Americas, with your lot or "no parking pass" in the notes, and your flight number for the AUS arrival.
- Choose the vehicle and hours. A business SUV for small parties, a First Class car for clients, an Executive Sprinter for a group.
- Reserve now, or use the web booker. Fixed fares and packages check out on the Austin prices panel; race-day round trips and AUS-to-COTA runs price in the web booker. Confirmation arrives by email.
Companies hosting clients can open a corporate account with monthly invoicing and NDAs on request, and travel agents use the travel agent account. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, 10% at 72 hours or less, 50% at 48 hours or less, and 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show, refunded to the original card; see the cancellation policy.
Elly8.net books the car only; for flights and hotels our travel partner is BookingWorldwide.net. Elly8.net is a member of LimousineWorldwide.Directory, LimousineAssociation.International, HotelsWorldwide.Directory and VacationsWorldwide.Directory.
Frequently asked questions
When is the United States Grand Prix?
The 2026 race weekend at Circuit of The Americas runs October 23 to 25, 2026, with COTA's programme starting October 22. The 2027 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix is on the official calendar for October 22 to 24, 2027. Book race weekend cars as soon as your tickets are confirmed.
Can a car drop me at the COTA gates?
Only vehicles with a pre-purchased parking pass are admitted onto COTA Boulevard on race weekends, and they go to their assigned lot. Without a pass, the drop is at the McAngus Lot, where a complimentary tram runs to the Ticketmaster Box Office near the Grand Plaza. Tell us what your ticket includes.
How much is a car service to COTA?
Most guests book by the hour from downtown: US$95 an hour in a business sedan, US$120 in a business SUV and US$190 in an Executive Sprinter, with a 3-hour minimum, or the 8-hour full day from US$700. Prices are per vehicle, fixed and all-in.
How far is COTA from the airport?
About 8 miles (13 km), around 25 minutes on a clear road, which makes AUS the closest airport to the circuit. Downtown Austin is about 17 miles (28 km) by road. On race days, allow much longer for the approach roads.
Will the chauffeur wait until after the race?
Yes, on an hourly or full-day booking. The chauffeur waits at your lot or near the McAngus Lot and you message when you are ready. If you stay late, extra time beyond the booking is billed at the same hourly rate.
Is rideshare cheaper?
For a one-way drop in the morning, often. Rideshare uses the McAngus Lot and the same tram. The return is the problem: demand peaks after the race and prices move with it. A pre-booked chauffeur is waiting at a fixed hourly rate.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation more than 72 hours before pickup. At 72 hours or less a 10% fee applies, at 48 hours or less 50%, and at 24 hours or less or for a no-show 100%. Refunds go to the original card.
