Destination Austin: An F1 fan’s guide

The United States Grand Prix is held at Circuit of The Americas, where the field climbs from the start to a wide Turn 1 with a view all the way to downtown Austin.

Beyond the track, Austin is the capital of Texas and bills itself as the Live Music Capital of the World. The Texas State Capitol stands at the top of Congress Avenue, a 16km (10-mile) trail loops around Lady Bird Lake in the heart of the city, and the food runs from Central Texas barbecue to Tex-Mex.

Whatever brings you to Texas, there is plenty to fill the days around the United States Grand Prix.

Introduction to Austin

Race Dates – 23–25 October 2026, with the Grand Prix held on Sunday
Time Zone – UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)
Language – English
Currency – US dollar (USD)

Good to Know – You can tap to pay with a contactless bank card or phone on CapMetro buses and trains, the city’s public transport network.

The legal age to buy or drink alcohol in Texas is 21, and shops, bars and restaurants may ask to see photo ID before serving you, so carry it with you when you head out.

Austin is still warm in October with daytime highs of around 29C and overnight lows of around 15C. Light clothing, sun protection and an extra layer for the evenings will cover most days.

Attractions in Austin

Look up at the Texas State Capitol

At the top of Congress Avenue, the Texas State Capitol rises 92m (302ft) from the ground to the tip of the star held by the Goddess of Liberty statue on its dome. That makes it about 4.5m taller than the US Capitol in Washington, DC.

Follow the Butler Trail

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail loops 16km (10 miles) around Lady Bird Lake, taking in the downtown skyline, parks and a boardwalk over the water. Kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards can be hired from outfitters along the lake. North America’s largest urban bat population roosts beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge from late March until early autumn, so by race week many of the bats may already have moved on.

Swim at Barton Springs Pool

Set within Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool covers three acres and is fed by underground springs that keep the water at an average of around 20C all year. The springs are home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander and are a federally protected habitat.

Catch a live set

Musicians play everywhere from the airport terminal to grocery stores, as well as in clubs, coffee houses and concert halls. Downtown, the Red River Cultural District is home to much of the city’s independent music scene, and 6th Street is another centre for live music and nightlife.

Food and drink in Austin

Join the queue for Central Texas barbecue

Brisket and ribs head the menu at Austin’s barbecue joints, alongside other smoked meats. At many of them you order at the counter, where the meat is sliced to order and sold by the pound, so tell the server how much you would like. The best-known places draw a line before they open, so arrive early, or look out for those that take orders for collection.

Start the day with a breakfast taco

The breakfast taco is one of Austin’s signature dishes: a warm flour or corn tortilla folded around eggs with bacon, chorizo, potato, beans or cheese. Migas – scrambled eggs mixed with strips of fried tortilla – is a popular filling, and many taquerias and food trucks serve breakfast tacos all day.

Share a bowl of queso

Tex-Mex, a blend of Mexican and Texas-style comfort food, is found across the city, often in family-run restaurants that have been open for decades. Order queso – melted cheese dip, from the Spanish word for cheese – and it arrives with crisp tortilla chips, made for sharing around the table.

Seek out the food trucks

Several of the city’s best-known kitchens started life as food trucks and trailers, and plenty still trade from them, often parked outside breweries and bars, serving everything from barbecue to tacos. Walk up to the window, place your order and find a seat nearby: following your appetite from one truck to the next is about as Austin as an evening gets.

Getting to Austin

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport serves the city. Entry requirements for the United States vary by nationality, so check the US Department of State’s official guidance before you travel.

CapMetro bus Route 20 starts at the airport, from a stop on the lower level just outside baggage claim, marked by a neon guitar, and runs into downtown, stopping near the Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake and the University of Texas campus. Ride-hailing services also pick up at the airport.

Getting around Austin

Walk downtown and the lakeside

Downtown is the most walkable part of Austin, and the Butler Trail winds through it, linking the centre with Zilker Park and the far side of Lady Bird Lake.

Ride CapMetro

CapMetro runs bus and rail services across Austin, and you can tap to pay with a contactless bank card or phone. The operator’s trip planner and apps give routes and live departure information.

Reach the circuit

Circuit of The Americas sits outside the city centre. Over the race weekend, the circuit runs shuttle buses to its main entrance from downtown Austin and from the north-east of the city, using a dedicated bus lane. Ride-hailing services use a separate drop-off point, with a free tram to the main entrance, and every car parking on site needs a pass bought in advance. Full travel information for the weekend is published on the official United States Grand Prix website.