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Indy 500: How to get to the race, where to park and what roads will be closed in 2024

domenica bongiovanni, indianapolis star
·4 min read

The hardest part of attending the Indianapolis 500 is getting to the track. A close second is leaving it. Or maybe, depending on your past experiences, you might reverse those two.

Either way, this guide has creative ways to get to the race from car or bike or shuttle to seat, and then back again. The green flag doesn't wave until 12:45 p.m., but to keep the masses moving smoothly, Indianapolis Motor Speedway recommends you arrive at a gate before 10 a.m. on race day — May 26.

Here's what to know to keep your commute to the Indy 500 as painless as possible.

Where to park for the Indy 500

Parking for the Indy 500 race day is sold out, according to the speedway. If you were fortunate enough to grab a spot, you can find detailed instructions on how to find your lot at tinyurl.com/5axss6fb.

And if you didn't reserve a parking place at the track? Several surrounding homes rent out spots on their lawn, and the town of Speedway's Facebook page has been sharing nearby businesses who are offering spaces on their property on race day as well.

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Best ways to travel to the Indy 500 without driving yourself

The most convenient way to attend the race is probably to purchase a home by the track or make friends with someone who's already done so. Barring that, these methods will help you arrive as swiftly and headache-free as possible.

Ride a bike: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Bike Indianapolis and IU Health Momentum Indy have put together a race day commute. Participants will meet at The Amp at 16 Tech at either 7:15 or 9:15 a.m., roll out behind a police escort and park their bikes inside a gated and monitored corral at the track. Cyclists can return to The Amp after the race in guided ride groups. Tickets cost $25 for adults. Children ages 17 and younger ride free with an adult admission ticket. Register and find departure times at tinyurl.com/4b67kmeb.

Take a shuttle: Round-trip shuttle services are $50 and available from downtown Indianapolis or the Indianapolis International Airport. Find more information at tinyurl.com/34bxj6m9.

Ride a bus: Routes 10, 15 and 25 usually take passengers to the vicinity of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Buses have to follow the same road closures as other traffic, so passengers should plan to take an early bus and expect delays after the race, said Carrie Black, IndyGo's director of communications. Check indygo.net for the most up-to-date information and routes.

If you're looking to travel to the Indy 500 from outside the IndyGo bus route, check out Rally, a chartered bus rideshare program that will book a bus when enough riders request a certain route. Join confirmed bus bookings and request new ones at rally.co/indy-500.

Rideshare and taxi: The drop-off and pickup spot will be at the corner of 10th and Polco Streets.

Indianapolis road closures on race day

  • Starting at 5 a.m. on race day, Georgetown Road will be closed south of 25th Street to vehicular traffic, according to a news release from the town of Speedway.

  • Starting about 11 a.m., closures will occur between 16th Street and Olin Avenue. People will not be able to drive north on Polco from 10th Street at that time, according to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

  • From about noon until the end of the race, 16th Street will be closed between Olin Avenue on the east and the 16th Street roundabout on the west, according to the town of Speedway. Vehicles driving east on Crawfordsville Road from the west will be turned around at the 16th Street roundabout, and those heading west on 16th Street from downtown will be directed south on Olin Avenue.

Find Indianapolis Motor Speedway's traffic map at tinyurl.com/5axss6fb and more information on the closures from the town of Speedway at tinyurl.com/2jh3ryjf.

The best route to take when you leave the race

Officials will direct traffic after the race. Find the exit map at tinyurl.com/5axss6fb.

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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Getting to the Indy 500, parking and what roads will be closed