Phoenix Raceway parking and bag policy, in one paragraph
Phoenix Raceway is at 7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr, Avondale, AZ 85323, south of I-10. The General lots (Blue 2 to 6 and Yellow 6, through Entries J, K, L and M) include free parking options. Preferred, premium, suite and motorcycle lots need a pass. Each fan can bring two bags up to 18″ x 18″ x 14″, plus one soft-sided cooler up to 14″ x 14″ x 14″ in the grandstands. No glass, and no outside alcohol in the grandstands or on the Hillside. Rideshare pickup is Entry E, the Purple Lot. The track is cashless. The next NASCAR weekend is March 12 to 14, 2027.
Plan to arrive four to five hours before the green flag, and expect to sit 30 to 60 minutes after the race before you’re moving.
The fall weekend just wrapped up on October 18, so this guide is written for March 2027 and every NASCAR weekend after it. Phoenix is one of the few tracks on the Cup schedule you can do as a day trip from a city of five million people, so traffic and parking matter more than at a lot of tracks. Here’s how the lots, gates, bag rules, coolers and camping work, straight from the track’s own fan guide.
Phoenix Raceway parking lots and entries
The lots are color-coded, and each one is reached through a lettered entry. Paid lots need a pass bought ahead of time. Pass prices and lot availability change by event, so check the track’s parking page or Ticketmaster when you buy your race tickets.
| Lot | Entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General (Blue 2–6, Yellow 6) | J, K, L, M | General admission parking, including free options. The parking tram stops in each GA lot. |
| Preferred (Red) | G | Pass required. It’s the first lot on the left past Entry G. |
| El Mirage / ADA (Blue) | F | Pass required for El Mirage parking. Also holds the ADA spaces and the accessible vans. |
| Premium / Ally Curve (Purple) | E | Pass required. This is also the official rideshare, taxi, limo and bus zone, off Jimmie Johnson Drive. |
| Suite (Gray) | C | Suite holders only. |
| Motorcycle (Yellow) | I | Pass required. Motorcycle parking with access to the Busch Light Lounge. |
Which freeway exit to take
Your exit depends on whether you hold a parking pass.
Two shuttle routes run on race weekends. The parking tram stops in each GA lot and drops off at Cotton Lane and Harvick Lane, outside Gate 3. The camping shuttle runs from Sun Lane to Speed Lane, outside Gate 2. Both routes have accessible vans. The track notes that ADA carts may wait 30 to 45 minutes after the race for pedestrian traffic to clear.
Everyone from Phoenix, Scottsdale and the East Valley takes I-10 west and tries Avondale Boulevard, and that’s exactly where it backs up. Use Litchfield Road or Estrella Parkway if you’re in general parking, run Waze the whole way (the track has worked with Waze on race-weekend routing), and keep it running on the way out because some routes close after the race. If you’re coming from the south or east side of the Valley, the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway to Buckeye Road skips the I-10 mess.
Phoenix Raceway bag policy
Phoenix Raceway is not a clear-bag venue. The rules are looser than at the NFL stadium in Glendale:
- Two bags per person, each no larger than 18″ x 18″ x 14″. Backpacks, diaper bags, clutches and fanny packs all count.
- Plus one cooler in the grandstands, on top of the two bags (see the cooler rules below).
- Allowed in the grandstands: cameras, binoculars, scanners and headsets, and seat cushions with no metal parts.
- Not allowed at the grandstand gates: collapsible chairs, wagons, glass, outside alcohol and drones. Pets are allowed only if they’re service animals.
Cooler rules: grandstands vs. the Hillside
| Rule | Grandstands | Hillside |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler | One soft-sided cooler per person, up to 14″ each side. No hard or foam coolers. | One hard or soft cooler per person |
| Ice | Allowed | Allowed |
| Glass or outside alcohol | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Chairs, wagons, grills | No chairs or wagons. Seat cushions OK. | Folding chairs, wagons and grills allowed |
The most common gate problem is a hard-sided or foam cooler at a grandstand gate. Those are only allowed on the Hillside. If you’re sitting in the grandstands, pack a soft cooler no bigger than 14″ on any side, and leave the glass bottles in the car.
Camping at Phoenix Raceway
The track runs four dry-camping areas on race weekends, and none of them have hookups. Every site includes showers, restrooms, the camping shuttle and daily trash pickup.
- Dunes South, Dunes North and Trails: 25′ x 50′ dirt sites. Trails availability is limited.
- Flats: 20′ x 40′ sites, part dirt and part paved, also limited.
- Per site: one camping unit and one tow vehicle, plus up to two pop-up tents of up to 10′ x 20′. Extra vehicles park in Blue 2 or Blue 6.
- Rules: quiet hours are midnight to 6 a.m. with generators off. Fires only in approved above-ground containers, and they can be banned in dry conditions. Pets must be leashed. No golf carts, ATVs, e-bikes or scooters. No dumping wastewater.
- Booking: through Ticketmaster or the ticket office at (866) 408-7223. RVs must be out by noon the day after the last race.
Youth 17 and under get in free on Friday and Saturday in select sections with an adult ticket, and Hillside youth tickets are $10. Every child still needs a ticket, so call (866) 408-7223 to confirm which sections qualify. Bring real ear protection: the track strongly recommends earplugs or noise-canceling headphones, especially for kids.
On race day
- Arrival: four to five hours early. For a noon race, that means parking between 8 and 9 a.m. Download your tickets to your phone before you leave the house.
- Sun: March in Avondale is usually pleasant, but there’s very little shade on the frontstretch. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Scanners: you can bring your own or rent one from the track. The free NASCAR Tracks app has the leaderboard and track map.
- Smoking: not allowed in the grandstands, the concourse, elevators or escalators, or within 20 feet of a doorway.
- Weather: under the track’s Weather Protection Program, regular grandstand tickets for a postponed and rescheduled NASCAR event can be exchanged for a race within a year. Delayed or shortened races don’t qualify, and there are no cash refunds.
- Lost and found: Guest Services near Gate 3 on race weekends. Items are held at least 180 days.
- Help in the stands: text PHXFAN plus your issue and location to 627227, or call guest services at (623) 463-5400.
Where to eat near Phoenix Raceway
The track sits on the open desert south of I-10, so most restaurants are a few miles north along Avondale Boulevard, McDowell Road and Dysart Road. Addresses and hours were checked against Google Business Profiles on October 21, 2026.
TJ’s Homestyle Restaurant · 310 N Dysart Rd, Avondale
A diner that opens at 5 a.m. every day, with huge portions and a full Mexican breakfast menu. It’s the move before an early gate time, and plenty of race fans make it a weekend tradition. (623) 932-0309.
Poca Madre Brunch & Dinner · 665 N Avondale Blvd, Avondale
A loud, lively Mexican spot for brunch or a post-race dinner, open late on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations recommended on race weekends. (480) 256-1315.
Cali Tacos · 10220 W McDowell Rd, #100, Avondale
Fast, cheap street tacos, tacos dorados and Cali fries, open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Easy to grab on the way back toward the 101. (623) 248-1603.
Stocking up for the Hillside or the campground? Buc-ee’s in Goodyear is a short drive west on I-10. More verified Valley restaurants are in the AZ Charged restaurants directory.
Hotels near Phoenix Raceway
| Hotel | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix/Avondale | 11460 W Hilton Wy, Avondale | (623) 882-3351 |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton Phoenix-Avondale | 11450 W Hilton Wy, Avondale | (623) 882-3315 |
| Sonesta Simply Suites Avondale | 915 N Avondale Blvd, Avondale | (623) 440-2500 |
| Rockin’ M Bar Ranch B&B | 9111 S 132nd Ave, Goodyear | (602) 515-6521 |
The Hilton Way hotels sit right off I-10 at Avondale Boulevard, the same exit pass holders use, so book early for March. Rockin’ M Bar Ranch is a small bed and breakfast south of I-10 in Goodyear, a short drive from the track. Coming to the Valley for football too? See our State Farm Stadium parking and bag policy guide, our things to do in Phoenix guide, and, for the summer, our list of Fourth of July fireworks in Arizona. For bag and cooler rules side by side at every big venue, see every Phoenix stadium and arena guide.
Phoenix Raceway FAQ
Is parking free at Phoenix Raceway?
The General lots (Blue 2 through 6 and Yellow 6, through Entries J, K, L and M) include free parking options. Preferred, premium, El Mirage, suite and motorcycle lots need a pass, and prices vary by event.
Does Phoenix Raceway have a clear bag policy?
No. Fans can bring up to two bags per person, each no larger than 18 x 18 x 14 inches, including backpacks, diaper bags, clutches and fanny packs. Grandstand fans can also bring one soft-sided cooler.
Can you bring a cooler into Phoenix Raceway?
Yes. In the grandstands it’s one soft-sided cooler per person, no larger than 14 inches on any side. On the Hillside, hard or soft coolers are allowed. Ice is fine; glass and outside alcohol are not.
Where is Uber and Lyft pickup at Phoenix Raceway?
The official rideshare, taxi, limo and bus pick-up and drop-off zone is at Entry E, the Purple Lot, off Jimmie Johnson Drive.
When is the next NASCAR race at Phoenix Raceway?
The 2027 spring weekend is March 12 to 14, 2027: the ARCA Menards Series on Friday, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NTT IndyCar Series on Saturday, and the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday.
Is Phoenix Raceway cashless?
Yes. Gates and concessions are card-only and contactless.
How long does it take to leave Phoenix Raceway after the race?
The track tells fans to expect a 30 to 45 minute wait, and getting out of the lots can take more than an hour after the checkered flag. Use Waze and follow officer directions, because some routes close after the race.
Run a business in the West Valley?
Race weekends bring tens of thousands of out-of-town fans to Avondale and Goodyear, and every one of them is looking for breakfast, a hotel or an RV tech. AZ Charged is a hand-verified Arizona directory with zero pay-to-rank. You can apply to be reviewed and listed.
Sources: Phoenix Raceway Fan Guide, Phoenix Raceway Parking, Phoenix Raceway FAQs, Phoenix Raceway Camping and the 2027 Spring Weekend page, all retrieved October 21, 2026. Restaurant and hotel details from Google Business Profiles, October 21, 2026. Policies and prices are set by the track and can change by event.
Featured photo: Marine 69-71, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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