Parking tips for NASCAR Cup Series - Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach 02/15)

the daytona 500 on 02/15 is going to be massive and honestly parking at daytona international speedway is usually the hardest part of the whole weekend. with so many fans descending on daytona beach the traffic on international speedway blvd and i-95 gets backed up for miles so i figured id share some tips to help you avoid the worst of it.

the best way to handle this is to use Prked to find a spot in a nearby driveway or private lot. it is way cheaper than the official track parking and you can find spots within a short walk to the grandstands. plus since you are in a private spot you can usually sneak out through back roads like fentriss blvd or williamson blvd and skip the main mess on the highway. it is much easier than dealing with the massive crowds at the main gates.

if you go with official parking lot 7 is the big free option but it is located pretty far away on bill france blvd. they have free shuttles that run to the track but the wait times after the race are legendary and you might be standing in line for hours on 02/15 just to get back to your car. there are also paid lots closer to the stadium like lot 1 or lot 4 but those usually sell out months in advance and cost a fortune. the volusia mall across the street usually offers parking for a fee but they are very aggressive about towing people who try to park for free and sneak across the street. one daytona has some parking too but it is mostly reserved for people visiting the shops and restaurants so dont expect to find a spot there unless you are willing to pay a high daily rate.

traffic patterns are a nightmare because the local police usually shut down certain turns and make roads one-way to handle the flow of thousands of cars. i-95 exits toward the track will be backed up starting as early as 7 am so try to get there way before you think you need to. if you are using rideshare like uber or lyft there is a specific drop off zone usually over by the airport or near the mall but be prepared for huge surge pricing and long wait times to get a car once the race ends. do not try to park on the grass or on the side of the road anywhere near the speedway because the code enforcement is super strict and you will get towed. also keep in mind that the pedestrian bridge over international speedway blvd gets extremely crowded so give yourself extra time to walk from the mall area to the gates. honestly the best strategy is to arrive early in the morning and have a plan for where you are going so you are not circling the block while the engines are starting. hope this helps you guys have a smooth race day.