A historic road course in the Finger Lakes wine region. The 3.4-mile Grand Prix circuit is known for its high-speed esses and the legendary Boot section.
Set in Watkins Glen, New York, Watkins Glen International is a permanent racing circuit. A lap covers 5.552 km (3.45 miles) and 11 corners, run clockwise. Among its named corners are The Esses, The Bus Stop and Toe of the Boot.
The circuit opened in 1956 and holds FIA Grade 2 licensing. NASCAR, GT and Road Course all race here. It holds roughly 38,900 spectators.
The first race was a law student's idea. Cameron Argetsinger, studying at Cornell and taken with European road racing, mapped a 6.6-mile course over the streets and country roads around Watkins Glen, mostly paved with a stretch of dirt and gravel. The first Grand Prix ran on 2 October 1948, and within a few years crowds reached 200,000.
It ended badly. In 1952 a car left the road into spectators, killing a seven-year-old boy and injuring others, and racing through the village stopped. The organisers bought 550 acres on a wooded hilltop south-west of town and built a permanent 2.3-mile circuit, opened in 1956 and deliberately laid out to imitate the country roads the race had grown up on. It went on to hold the United States Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980.
6 curated properties, sorted by distance from the circuit
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Hotel · 10.8 km from circuit · 13 min drive · 4.7 (1,958) on Google · $$$
16 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Lakefront hotel at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, 13 minutes from the racing circuit. Facilities include restaurant, bar, and pool.
Check pricesHotel websiteResort · 15.0 km from circuit · 17 min drive · 4.7 (947) on Google
3812 NY-14, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, USA
Modest quarters in a lakefront resort offering a basketball court & a gazebo, plus breakfast. — via Google
Check pricesHotel websiteAparthotel · 26.6 km from circuit · 24 min drive · 4.4 (700) on Google
201 Townley Ave, Corning, NY 14830, USA
Straightforward hotel with relaxed suites, plus an indoor pool & a free breakfast buffet. — via Google
Check pricesHotel websiteHotel · 26.7 km from circuit · 24 min drive · 4.6 (723) on Google
23 Riverside Dr, Corning, NY 14830, USA
Unfussy rooms & suites in a casual hotel offering a restaurant, a bar & a gym, plus free parking. — via Google
Check pricesHotel websiteHotel · 27.2 km from circuit · 24 min drive · 4 (1,583) on Google
125 Denison Pkwy E, Corning, NY 14830, USA
Contemporary property offering sleek quarters & free Wi-Fi, plus an indoor pool & a bar/grill. — via Google
Check pricesHotel websiteBoutique Hotel · 64.5 km from circuit · 50 min drive · 4 (1,537) on Google · $$$$
4069 NY-14, Geneva, NY 14456
Fairytale castle on Seneca Lake with its own winery, a unique splurge near Watkins Glen. The drive to Watkins Glen International takes about 50 minutes (40.1 miles). Facilities include restaurant.
Check pricesHotel websiteNearest Airport: Elmira Corning Regional Airport (ELM) — approximately 25 km from the circuit
A car is the practical way in, with the circuit in the Finger Lakes about 20 miles north of Elmira via routes 14 and 414. Rideshare exists but is limited given the rural setting.
Visiting Watkins Glen International for a race weekend? Here are essential tips to make the most of your trip to Watkins Glen, New York. The circuit holds up to 38,900 spectators, so plan for large crowds on race day.
Watkins Glen International is in Watkins Glen, New York. The nearest airport, Elmira Corning Regional Airport (ELM), is about 25 km from the circuit.
6 properties are listed near Watkins Glen International, the closest 10.8 km from the circuit. Each one is listed with its measured distance from the circuit, and every entry links to the property's own site.