United States Grand Prix 2023

The Lenovo United States Grand Prix 2023 is the premier Formula 1 racing event in the US. Along with Miami, Las Vegas, Dallas, Long Beach, and a few other cities, the US Grand Prix is held in Austin, Texas, at the Circuit of the Americas race course just outside of downtown. 

The Grand Prix has traditionally bounced around different venues in the past, but since 2012 the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has become the primary home of the event and a fan-favorite venue for American and international Formula 1 fans. As the sport has grown more popular in the US, Austin’s appeal as a travel destination has exploded as well. 

The US Grand Prix is far from just an on-track event. The commercialization of Formula 1 races has expanded over an entire weekend, with multiple events across three days. The track grounds turn into a full-fledged festival of sorts, with onsite entertainment ranging from live music to exclusive trackside activities. 

Thousands of racing fans will descend upon Austin this October (the race is the 22nd) for the United States Grand Prix 2023. With the crowds come a layer of logistical challenges. Traveling into a city where a major event is happening can be stressful, so simplifying the experience by planning ahead, including booking Austin luggage storage with Bounce, is a huge part of it. 

Here is everything you need to know about the 2023 US Grand Prix:

About the US Grand Prix 2023 

A rarity in American race courses, The Circuit of the Americas was purpose-built for the Formula 1 style of racing. Nascar fans might be a little confused about all the twists and turns, but the COTA track is renowned for its challenging corners, elevation changes, and awesome sightlines for spectators. The 1,500-acre venue itself is state-of-the-art, with modern amenities that are excellent at handling the massive crowds that the US Grand Prix draws. The COTA also hosts MotoGP and other racing events. 

Being a robust event, the US Grand Prix also offers live concerts from premier touring bands on the Germania Insurance Super Stage, which is located right next to the track. The Saturday night main event features performances from Queen and Adam Lambert. The Friday headliner is the Killers. 

While it would be wonderful if everything was miraculously located downtown, that’s not how massive race tracks work. The Circuit of the Americas is located about 15 miles southeast of downtown Austin. It’s a short drive from all of the nightlife, shopping, restaurants, and music venues that make Austin such a famous travel destination. Despite being well outside the city center, it’s still fairly easy to reach. 

If you’re driving, you’ll need to purchase a parking pass with your tickets, but the drive shouldn't take more than an hour (including the traffic to get into the parking lots). An even better method of transport is investing in a shuttle service from downtown. This is offered through hotels, the official event, or even bars and restaurants in Austin that will drop you off and pick you up at the event. Unfortunately, there isn’t a robust public transportation network that will reach the outskirts of the city. 

Luggage storage in Austin 

For security purposes, The Circuit of the Americas bag policy prohibits all items larger than 12”x 12” x 20”, which would include the vast majority of large items and all luggage. In any case, lugging your bags around the festival grounds and grandstand (especially in the Texas heat) would be cumbersome, to say the least. 

Traveling to Austin for the race has plenty of logistical challenges, not that it’s not worth it. COTA is located outside the city center, so getting to and from the US Grand Prix involves some planning. For travel days (especially if you’re trying to hit races on Friday or Sunday), you might get caught with your bags for a period of time. The bag policy prohibits all luggage, so finding a secure place to store the bags can be really useful. Luggage storage services will be the most secure and convenient option, so it helps to know what your options are. 

With dozens of convenient and secure locations around Austin, Bounce is easily the best luggage storage option. We have the “If we can lift it, we can store it” motto that accommodates baggage of any size and consistent (and competitive) pricing. So packing for a three-day race weekend just got a little less stressful. Bounce is also easy to use, with free cancellation up to the scheduled time, along with an intuitive mobile app for booking on the go. 

Bounce also rigorously vets its storage facilities to ensure quality, and the $10,000 BounceShield™ guarantee helps give you the peace of mind needed to enjoy your time at the race without any worries. 24/7 support and an ultra-friendly staff ensure your experience is as positive as possible.  

Things to do in Austin during The US Grand Prix 2023

While you’ll be busy with the race for most of the trip, spending some of your downtime in Austin proper is highly advisable. It’s a bucket-list travel destination for a reason. Here are a few ideas:

The most popular place for locals to hang outside is Zilker Park. The home of the ACL Music Festival is a massive park filled with expansive fields, gardens, and miles of waterways. You can hike, bike, kayak, and walk your way through this gorgeous park for a whole day and still have more to see. Zilker Park is also home to Barton Springs, a natural pool popular for day parties, swimming, and tubing. If you're looking for a relaxing morning on travel day, you can stop by a nearby Bounce storage spot on your way to Zilker

History buffs can take a tour of the Texas Capitol building located right in downtown Austin. It’s been a designated National Historic Landmark since 1986, and it’s one of the largest capitol buildings in the country because “everything is bigger in Texas.”

For partiers and foodies, head to downtown’s epic Rainey Street, where all of the best nightlife and dining hotspots are located. There are plenty of Texas BBQ joints, honky tonk dive bars, and music venues on this strip.  The people-watching is superb, especially a little later in the evening. Some of Austin’s most iconic bars on Rainey include Lucille Patio Lounge, Half Step, and The Container Bar. If you're planning on hitting this part of town for a night out, Bounce has luggage storage spots near Rainey Street and other hotspots in downtown Austin.

If you’ve never been to Texas, you absolutely must try the state's distinctive take on traditional Mexican cuisine. Tex-Mex melds the barbecue and Mexican culinary traditions for smoky, savory, and spicy flavors. Being a food mecca, Austin has some of the best Tex-Mex in the world. Highlights include Matt's El Rancho, Juan in a Million, and Fonda San Miguel. 

See you at The United States Grand Prix 2023? 

While race fanatics obviously view the event as the holy grail for Formula 1 in the US, the Grand Prix will appeal to just about everyone. There’s incredible food, an amazing atmosphere, live music, and family-friendly programming that make the US Grand Prix a bucket-list destination for anyone looking for a great time. 

Even better, the Circuit of the Americas is located in Austin, which (if you’ve been living under a rock) is one of the hottest cities on the planet to visit. If you’re planning a big trip around Grand Prix weekend, you’ll have plenty of logistics to figure out. Just know you can rely on Bounce for all your luggage storage needs.