Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Rules and What to Bring (2026)

Part of the Happy Hour Racing Track Fan Guide series - the spectator rules and what to pack before race day.

Atlanta Motor Speedway sits in Hampton, Georgia, about 30 miles south of downtown Atlanta. It now runs under the sponsor name EchoPark Speedway, though NASCAR's schedule still lists the venue as Atlanta Motor Speedway. Either way, it is the same 1.5-mile quad-oval that reopened in 2022 with steep, superspeedway-style banking, and it hosts the Quaker State 400 on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Atlanta Motor Speedway cooler policy

One soft-sided cooler per person is allowed, as long as it does not exceed 14 x 14 x 14 inches. Hard-sided and foam coolers are not permitted anywhere on property. There is no rule against packing your own food, ice, and canned or plastic-bottled drinks inside that soft cooler, and the track's own tip is to freeze water bottles ahead of time so they double as ice packs. Glass containers of any kind are banned, so decant anything glass before you leave the house.

Atlanta Motor Speedway bag policy

You can bring up to two bags per person through the gates, and each one has to stay within 18 x 18 x 14 inches. Your one soft cooler counts separately from those two bags. Atlanta does not run a clear-bag-only rule, so a normal backpack, purse, or diaper bag is fine as long as it fits the size limit. Every bag and cooler is searched and inspected at the gate.

Prohibited items

These items will stop you at the gate, so leave them in the car or at home:

• Firearms and weapons of any kind, plus knives longer than 3 inches closed or 6 inches open
• Hard-sided or foam coolers, and any glass containers
• Fireworks, pyrotechnics, and laser pointers or other noise-making devices
• Umbrellas, selfie sticks, tripods, and monopods
• Drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles
• Hoverboards, ATVs, dirt bikes, skateboards, and unlicensed personal vehicles
• Foldable or collapsible chairs, and seat cushions with armrests

What you can bring

Inside your two bags and one soft cooler, you can bring your own food and non-glass drinks, a seat cushion under 18 inches wide with no armrests, and a scanner or headset for the radio chatter (rentals are available on site too). Strollers are welcome, though there is no designated parking for them, so a collapsible one is easier to manage. Service animals are allowed throughout the venue on a leash or harness, and leashed pets are permitted in designated areas. Tailgate grills are fine as long as they stay inside your own parking space.

Grandstands, seating, and the track layout

Atlanta is a 1.5-mile quad-oval, meaning the frontstretch bends into a shallow extra angle instead of running dead straight. The 2022 reconfiguration steepened the banking to as much as 28 degrees, which packs the field tight and produces pack-style racing closer to Daytona or Talladega than a typical mile-and-a-half. Grandstands run the length of the frontstretch and backstretch, so check your section and gate ahead of time. The map below shows the quad-oval shape and the infield.

Infield and camping

Atlanta offers infield RV camping inside turns 3 and 4, one RV per campsite, and infield access requires a wristband purchased in advance through the ticket office. Campfires are allowed in above-ground containers, but not on open ground and not during on-track activity. Driving out of the infield and back in during the weekend requires an infield tow pass bought ahead of time. The tunnel between turns 1 and 2 clears vehicles up to 14 feet 6 inches tall.

Getting there and race-day tips

Atlanta Motor Speedway is fully cashless, so bring a card or a phone wallet. To leave and come back, scan your ticket out with staff first, or re-entry will be denied. Georgia summers get hot and humid by race day in July, so sunscreen, a hat, and enough water matter as much as your cooler does. For anything else, Guest Services can be reached at 770-946-4211.

Fan tips from the grandstands

• Freeze your water bottles the night before so they cool your soft cooler and thaw into drinking water by mid-race
• Bring ear protection, foam plugs at a minimum, since 28 degrees of banking means the cars run close and loud
• Scan your ticket out every time you leave, even for a quick walk, or the gate will not let you back in
• Sunscreen and a hat are not optional in a Georgia July, the frontstretch gets full sun most of the afternoon
• Pack light on the chair front, since foldable and collapsible chairs are not allowed in the grandstands

The bottom line

Atlanta keeps the gate rules straightforward: one soft cooler up to 14 inches, two bags up to 18 inches each, your own food and drinks, and a short list of common-sense items to leave behind. Track policies change from season to season, so confirm the current rules on the official Atlanta Motor Speedway fan guide before you travel.

Common questions about Atlanta Motor Speedway

What size cooler can you bring to Atlanta Motor Speedway?

One soft-sided cooler up to 14 x 14 x 14 inches per person. Hard-sided and foam coolers are not allowed.

What is the bag policy at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Up to two bags per person, each no larger than 18 x 18 x 14 inches, in addition to your one soft cooler. Every bag is searched at the gate.

Can you bring food and drinks into Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Yes. Your own food and non-glass beverages are allowed inside your two-bag and one-cooler limit.

Are umbrellas allowed at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

No. Umbrellas are prohibited, along with selfie sticks, tripods, and monopods.

Are chairs or seat cushions allowed at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Foldable and collapsible chairs are not allowed. Seat cushions are fine as long as they are under 18 inches wide and have no armrests.

What items are prohibited at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

Firearms and weapons, oversized knives, hard or foam coolers, glass containers, fireworks, drones, umbrellas, selfie sticks, hoverboards, and foldable chairs are all prohibited.

Is Atlanta Motor Speedway cashless?

Yes. Every concession stand, merchandise stand, and store on property is cashless, so bring a card or phone wallet.

Gear up before you go

Heading to Hampton for the Quaker State 400? Grab some Atlanta win gear from Happy Hour Racing before you go.

Chase Elliott's 2025 Quaker 400 Atlanta winner tee, the Joey Logano 2024 Atlanta winner tee, and the William Byron 2023 Atlanta winner tee are all in stock, along with Chase Elliott's 2022 NAPA Children's Healthcare of Atlanta 1:24 color chrome diecast and the 1:24 elite diecast. Browse the latest in the Happy Hour Racing store.