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Watkins Glen International

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Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen / Burdett

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2790 County Road 16
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
607-535-2338

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Racetrack

Watkins Glen International Description

If they loved the movie "Cars," kids will get a real kick out of the Thunder Road Tour, which lets them watch from the backseat as mom or dad maneuver around a genuine race track in the family minivan (all cars OK, no motorcycles permitted). Older kids who are car-racing fans will also enjoy the bragging rights that come with having done three laps (following a pace car) on the same circuit driven by NASCAR. When not open to regular Joes, the track still runs NASCAR and Indy races and is one of the few sites that allow you to camp in the oval with tickets to the race.

Kid Tips

Babies: A full-blown race might be tough on little ears, but they'll be fine in a car seat for the track tour. Schedule the tour wisely or you could end up with an unscheduled nap and a wide-eyed baby when you least desire it.

Pre-Teens & Teens: Given that you'll never go faster than about 55 mph, driving on the track might not blow away teens that aren't big race buffs away. Solve that dilemma by timing your visit to coincide with a race and thrilling them with a ticket.

Planning Notes

Call ahead. Thunder Road tours run daily at noon, but if there's a race or practice scheduled they may be cancelled.
Family-friendly options. Consider getting a seat in the McDonald's Family Grandstand where there's a play area for kids and the stands are completely smoke- and alcohol-free.
Food is off-track. On non-race days food can't be found on the grounds. Pop into Watkins Glen (about 5 minutes away) for plenty of kid-friendly options.