The Grand Prix of Long Beach has nearly arrived.
Long Beach will be off to the races from Friday to Sunday, April 11-13, with hundreds of thousands of race fans from across the world ready to descend upon the town’s waterfront.
And this year — at the event’s 50th anniversary — there’s more than ever to see and do, for first-timers and Grand Prix veterans alike.
So if you want to get the most out of Southern California’s 200-mph beach party this weekend, be sure to plan ahead — with a few helpful tips from this handy go-to guide.
Let’s get started.
Don’t start your engines
Though the emphasis during race weekend will obviously be on cars, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach attendees are encouraged to use alternative transportation to get to the venue.
Downtown traffic is already bad — but with the additional influx of visitors and road closures, driving yourself to the Grand Prix — not to mention the parking situation — is a surefire route to a headache.
Long Beach Transit, for example, is imploring attendees to take one of their routes instead of a car, with their Grand Prix slogan: “Don’t start your engines.”
The agency has plenty of ways to get to the Grand Prix, with more than 30 bus routes and plenty of stops throughout Long Beach, including right by the event’s entrances on Ocean Boulevard.
Check lbtransit.com to plan your specific route, or use the Moovit app, which is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Bus fare is just $1.25.
If you want to avoid roads all together, Long Beach Transit also offers water taxi routes to the Grand Prix via its AquaLink and AquaBus services.
The AquaLink will ferry you from Alamitos Bay Landing to Rainbow Harbor at Dock 4, near the Aquarium of the Pacific, for just $5.
The earliest boat departs Alamitos Bay at 8:30 a.m. and the last trip departs the Aquarium Dock at 7:30 p.m. It’s about a 45-minute ride either way.
The AquaBus, a shorter and even more affordable ride at just $1 for a one-way ticket, will get you to the Grand Prix from the Queen Mary.
Those trips will kick off at 9 a.m., with the last AquaBus scheduled to depart the Queen Mary at 7:20 p.m.
More information about the AquaLink and AquaBus schedules and parking near the Alamitos Bay Landing is available on LB Transit’s website.
Metro’s A Line is also a good transit option, as it can get you from Union Station in Los Angeles all the way to downtown Long Beach — just about a half-block walk from the Grand Prix’s entrances.
For ridesharers: The Grand Prix has an official Uber, Lyft and taxi drop-off point on First Street, between Elm Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard.
And don’t forget about the Long Beach Bike Share, which has several pick-up points throughout the city and near the Grand Prix.
Find a bike near you at longbeachbikeshare.com.
So you really want to drive?
If you simply must drive yourself to the Grand Prix, be prepared for a little frustration with the traffic — and definitely don’t do it unless you’ve purchased reserved parking in advance.
The Grand Prix Association of Long Beach offers several pre-paid parking options, including a three-day parking pass for The Pike parking lot at Chestnut Avenue and Seaside Way for $60.
There are also single and three-day passes for parking on the west end of Shoreline Drive available on the Grand Prix’s website.
One-day parking passes are $20; three-day passes total $50.
You could also try your luck with city-owned parking lots in the downtown area, though many will be inaccessible because of road closures. For a map of those, go to parklb.com/parking-lotsgarages.
Where to watch the races
The Grand Prix’s spectator gates will open at 7:30 a.m. each day, and the type of ticket you have will determine which parts of the event you’ll have access to.
General admission attendees, for example, won’t have reserved seats in the event’s various grandstands — but there is a GA viewing location sandwiched between the Pike Outlets and the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
General ticket holders also get free access to non-racing entertainment, including the Grand Prix’s Friday Fiesta concert and Saturday evening concert.
They’ll also have access to the Grand Prix’s usual attractions, including the lifestyle expo and a family fun zone at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.
Those who purchased tickets with reserved seating will receive further information about which grandstand to head to on race days.
A map of the concourse, various Grand Prix and downtown Long Beach attractions, is available on the Grand Prix’s website, gplb.com, to help attendees plan their visits.
But if it still feels like a lot to keep track of — there’s also an app for that.
Grand Prix organizers unveiled an event-specific app for the first time, aimed at helping attendees keep track of and plan out their weekends, in 2023.
It’s available on the App Store and Google Play. With it, you can create a personalized race weekend schedule, easily find food and beverage options near by, and quickly access a map of the area.
What to bring and what to leave at home
If you’re going to the Grand Prix, it’s likely you’ll be there for an entire day instead of a few hours — so it’s worth bringing some helpful items along with you.
Most of the event is outside, so remember to wear — and bring — sunscreen with you. Since you’ll be walking plenty, it’s also a good idea to bring a reusable water bottle, and wear layers of comfortable clothes so you’re prepared for hot and cold weather.
Oh, and don’t forget about the comfortable shoes for walking.
It wouldn’t hurt to bring a battery bank to keep your devices charged — and if you’re sensitive to loud noises, you should also keep some ear plugs handy. Noise cancelling headphones or ear buds will also do the trick in a pinch.
The next list of items, though, are prohibited by the Grand Prix, so don’t bring them unless you want your fun to end early:
- Alcoholic beverages, glass bottles and cans.
- Weapons (knives, guns, mace, stun guns).
- Folding stadium seats, large umbrellas, lawn furniture, ladders and step stools.
- Bikes, skateboards, hoverboards, skates and rollerblades.
- Powered scooters and bikes.
- Hand-drawn wagons.
- Fireworks.
- Pets (except service animals, not including emotional support animals).
- Banners and signs.
- Ice chests larger than 14 inches.
- Drones, RC aircraft and tripods.
Need a break?
Marina Park is a great place to relax, recharge and enjoy a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the event, or kill some time until the next race starts.
Grand Prix goers can also check out the event’s Lifestyle Expo at the Convention Center.
That event will feature displays from more than 100 retailers featuring automotive, home, recreation, travel and entertainment products — and it’s a wonderful break from the heat of the day.
And the Family Fun Zone is there as well, with kids able to enjoy inflatables, a bungee jump, a rock-climbing wall and electric-powered cars.
Attendees can also take a tour of Rainbow Lagoon, near Turn 6 and the Hyatt Long Beach Hotel, in swan boats — which are available to rent on site.
As for food and drink, there are plenty of options all around the Grand Prix to try.
The Food Truck Village, behind grandstand 31 near Shoreline Village, will include dozens of vendors offering up Southern California’s finest food.
There’s also Bistro Row, to the east of Vendor Row and across from the NTT IndyCar Series Paddock, which offers a variety of other food choices and places to sit nearby.
Modelo will also have two sports bar popups at the Grand Prix, one in Marina Park behind Grandstand 31 and the other on the Promenade near the Long Beach Convention Center.
The Pike Outlets, Shoreline Village and downtown Long Beach itself also have myriad food options available, including Gladstone’s, Hooters, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., California Pizza Kitchen and Island’s.
Be prepared
All in all, there’s a lot to account for when attending the Grand Prix — so planning ahead is a big plus.
And since you just finished this guide, you’re ahead of the curve. Now get out there and enjoy Southern California’s 200-mph beach party!