From Fontana, California's NASCAR racing experience to Myrtle Beach's speedpark and the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, these are a few of the best speedparks and speedways across America, for the die-hard NASACR fan.
After you've hit the beaches and boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, head to the NASCAR SpeedPark, just off Highway 17. Here, you can get in the driver's seat and race around one of their seven tracks. You can also hit up their arcade, which features racing games, or head to one of the onsite NASCAR-themed mini-golf courses.
Next up is Charlotte, North Carolina's NASCAR Hall of Fame, an essential stop on a NASCAR-themed road trip. . The site, which opened in 2010, features impressive interactive and informative racing exhibits that chronicle the history of the sport and its cultural heritage in America. Inside you'll find a theater, a gear shop, a memorial to NASCAR icons, and several high-tech attractions. And if you get hungry, there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant on site!
As you make your way westward through North Carolina, detour to Maggie Valley's Wheels Though Time Museum, which honors incredible American rides. This 40,000-square-foot museum features one of the world’s best collections of rare American motorcycles (including 25 different Harleys and “the world's rarest motorcycle”), lots of unique American cars, and a ton of memorabilia that’s sure to make any gearhead giddy. And it’s located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the best drives in all of America!
Once you hit Tennessee, head to Sevierville's NASCAR SpeedPark, where you can race around one of eight go-kart tracks, go rock climbing, spend an afternoon in the arcade, or if you've got kids, have fun on the bumper boats. This is a great place to stop if you're traveling with family, and they've got an onsite grill for when you're ready to fuel up.
If you’re looking for an authentic Tennessee meal, then you’ll definitely want to visit Loveless Cafe in Nashville. Enjoy the delicious Southern food (including their world-famous biscuits) at this iconic landmark. After you've finished eating, work off your meal with a game of corn hole out back.
After you reach Memphis, plan to spend an afternoon at the Autobahn Indoor Speedway. Here, you can drive up to 50 mph on "state of the art Italian-made, 3rd-generation electric karts." 50 mph might not seem that fast, especially if you've been on the highway for a while, but it's no joke on these electric karts. In fact, each kart features a four-point safety racing harness, dual disc brakes, and rear differential so you can take smooth turns at a high speed. The track itself is designed to resemble a Grand Prix track, and with near-instant acceleration, responsive steering and a high-tech timing system these karts will absolutely make you feel like you’re getting an authentic racing experience. You can play nice or vie for the winner’s circle using the track’s display of live lap times.
After hopping the border to Arkansas, head to the I-30 Speedway in Little Rock. This quarter-mile mile, high-banked, red clay speedway has been thrilling race fans for more than 50 years. The speedway has weekly races on Saturday nights from March through October, and offers a variety of special events throughout the year.
If you still haven’t gotten your fill of racing, stop off at the Crawford County Speedway in Van Buren, Arkansas, just off I-40. This venue hosts stock-car racing every Saturday night from March through September and has been thrilling visitors since 1991!
From there it's straight to the Thunder Valley Raceway Park in Lexington, Oklahama. This quarter-mile track is home to some pretty rad weekend events including hot-rod and drag-car racing. Opened in 1992 and officially-sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association, this concrete track is a must-see for racing fans driving through the heartland.
Then, it's on to Texas and the Amarillo Dragway, south of Claude Highway. This local dragway is home to races every other weekend in the summertime. . While you’re in Amarillo, check out Cadillac Ranch, and don't forget to bring a can of spray paint to leave your mark on the cars at this iconic roadside attraction.
After Amarillo, your next stop is the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This museum provides a fantastic history of racing, from the beginning days at Pikes Peak and the Indy 500 to today. The high-tech museum provides an immersive experience for racing enthusiasts and showcases an impressive collection of cars, artwork and memorabilia.
When you're hungry, take a detour off Route 66 to Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In. This historic eatery has become one of the best-loved places to visit along Route 66. Built out of scrap lumber by Juan Delgadillo in 1953, it's grown into an icon along the Mother Road... so much so that it was given tribute in the Pixar feature "Cars!"
Next up: Lake Havasu City's Havasu 95 Speedway. Here you can catch a race on an scenic quarter-mile asphalt track-- seriously, it's beautiful here. Races here take place from October through May and include “Late Models, Factory Stocks, and Street Stocks.” Plus, Lake Havasu is awesome to spend a day exploring!
After Havasu, pat yourself on the back, because you've made it across the country to Fontana, California! Reward yourself with one of the amazing racing packages at the NASCAR Racing Experience. They offer a "Ride Along" package that puts you shotgun in a NASCAR car with a professional racing instructor, for insane laps of the track. There's also a "Practice" package that allows you to drive a real NASCAR car for a 5-minute timed session and a three-hour long experience that includes back-to-back speed sessions on the speedway. There’s plenty of other options to choose from, too. After such a long road trip, you deserve to go all out!
This cross-country speedpark-fueled road trip is a bucket list-worthy adventure for the most hardcore NASCAR fans. The best time to take it would be end of May, or in August, September, or early October. You'll avoid most of the Route 66 summer road trip crowds, and you won't suffer the Southwest's summer heat.
