Tailgating: Watkins Glen

Getting there

Watkins Glen International is located approximately three miles outside of the village of Watkins Glen, N.Y. From Franklin Street in the village, go south on Route 414 to the traffic light (.75 miles) at the top of the hill and turn right. Go approximately 2.25 miles and the track will be on the left.

From the West: Take Route 17 (I-86) East to Route 414 North in Corning. Take Exit 46 and turn left at end of exit ramp. The track is 25 minutes from Corning.

From the South: Route 15 North to Route 17(I-86) East to Route 414 North (Exit 46 turn left at end of exit ramp). The track is 25 minutes from Corning.

From the East: I-90 West to Route 81 South to Route 79 West (in Ithaca) to Route 414 South. The track is 30 minutes from Ithaca.

From the Southeast: Route 17(I-86) West to Route 14 North in Horseheads. The track is 25 minutes from Horseheads.

From Syracuse, Auburn, Oswego: I-90 West to Route 14 South (Geneva exit 42). The track is 40 minutes from Exit 42.

From Albany, Springfield, Mass., Oneonta: Route 88 West to Route 17 (I-86) West to Route 14 North in Horseheads. The track is 25 minutes from Horseheads.

What to bring

• One soft-sided bag/cooler that is no larger than 6 x 6 x 12 inches when measured with its contents.

• One clear plastic bag, no larger than 18 x 18 x 4 inches.

• Binoculars, scanners, headsets and cameras not in a bag, but worn separately over the neck or on the belt. Seat cushions carried separately are also allowed.

• Seat cushion bags with compartments will be reviewed on an individual basis.

All items brought through grandstand gates will be inspected.

Parking and camping

There is tons of camping, most within the infield. Both reserved and unreserved camping is available

Tailgate Zones: These are reserved sites on the infield inside Turns 1 and 2 with a vehicle height limit of 7 feet. This is a great alternative for families interested in planning day trips to The Glen. The Tailgate Zone gives you reserved infield parking inside Turn 1 or Turn 2. General admission tickets and paddock passes are being sold separately this year.

Speedway parking: Daytime parking is available for free along Bronson Hill Road and also between Gates 2 and 3 along County Route 16. Overnight parking is available for a fee on County Route 16, past the ticket and registration offices. No overnight parking is allowed in the daytime parking fields. The daytime parking fields close at 8 p.m. each evening, except Friday of the race weekend. Vehicles left in the fields after closing will be towed at the owners' expense.

Private camping: There are 25 or so private camp grounds with in 20 miles of the track in Watkins Glen and small towns nearby like Corning, Alpine, Odessa and Hector.