Race Day
Pre-race flyover and 'Gentlemen, start your engines!'
Daytona 500
'The Great American Race', NASCAR's biggest event, opens the season each February at Daytona International Speedway.
Over 100,000 fans watch 40 cars race 500 miles at nearly 200 mph. Speedweeks bring several races before it.
Daytona Beach's famous hard sand, where racing began, is just a few miles away.
- Best Time
- February
- Time Needed
- 2–3 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Mid-February
- Getting There
- Daytona Beach's airport is next to the track; Orlando is an hour away.
What to See
0 of 3 are freeSpeedway Tours
Year-round tours of the banked track.
Daytona Beach
You can still drive on some sections of sand.
Know Before You Go
- Buy a fan pass for pit access.
- Hotels fill early.
- Bring a jacket: February can be cool.
Where to Stay
Stay in Daytona Beach.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Florida list.