Parking tips for NASCAR Cup Series - Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol 04/12)

going to the food city 500 on 04/12 is going to be wild but honestly the parking situation at bristol motor speedway is a total nightmare if you dont have a plan. the place is massive and everyone arrives at the same time so you really gotta be smart about where you leave your car to avoid sitting in your seat for three hours after the race ends.

first thing i always suggest is checking out Prked. it is an app where you can rent driveways or garage spots from people living right near the track. it is way cheaper than the official lots and you usually skip the massive gridlock when trying to leave because you are tucked away in a residential area instead of the main bottleneck. the walk is usually way shorter than if you ended up in the far back of the dragway lots too.

if you want to stick with official bristol motor speedway parking there are free lots like whitetop creek park but you have to get there insanely early on 04/12 or they will be full by mid-morning. the dragway parking area is huge but be ready for a long hike uphill to get to the actual stadium entrance. they do have shuttles running from the farther lots but the lines for those after the race are brutal so honestly just wear comfortable shoes and prepare to walk it. avoid highway 11e if you can because it turns into a literal parking lot for hours before and after the green flag. highway 394 is sometimes a better bet depending on which way you are coming from but it still gets backed up for miles. lots of local homeowners along speedway blvd and nearby side roads like volunteer pkwy will have signs out for paid parking in their yards. these usually cost anywhere from twenty to fifty bucks but they can be a lifesaver for a faster exit. some of the better private spots are over near the earhart campground area. also be super careful about parking on the grass if it has been raining because that bristol mud is no joke and you will see plenty of people getting stuck and needing a tow. if you are looking for a quicker getaway try to park as close to the main road exits as possible even if it means a longer walk to the gate. most of the official lots wont even let cars move for a while after the race to let the foot traffic clear out safely. you might also see some satellite park and ride options from places like the bristol mall area but the wait for the bus back can be just as long as sitting in your own car. hope this helps you guys have a better time at the race.