Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA Hall of Fame beside a parking area at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina

Darlington Raceway Parking Guide: Where to Park, Parking Map and What It Costs (2026)

October 09, 2026

Oct 09, 2026 · 8 min read·

Darlington Raceway Parking Guide: Where to Park, Parking Map and What It Costs (2026)

Part of Happy Hour Racing's NASCAR Track Parking Guides - the plain-English rundown of where you actually park, what it costs and how you get back out.

The Short Version

Darlington Raceway parking, in three lines:

Cheapest lot: the free lots at Gate 34 off Indian Branch Road and Gate 40 off Harry Byrd Highway. The track says all parking is free except four upgrade lots.
Pass needed in advance: no for the free lots. Yes for Pole Position, Brasington, Turn 2 Tailgate or the Too Tough To Tame Tailgate, which are sold through the track's ticket site.
The one trap: the exits are one-way by design. Leave the Gate 40 lot and you must turn left toward Hartsville, even if you are headed for Florence or I-95. Pick your lot by where you are driving home.

Where to Park at Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway parking is good news for your wallet. The track's official parking page says all parking is free except four upgrade lots, and its FAQ confirms free daily event parking for cars and motorcycles. Here is what is on the property:

Free parking, Gate 34 - off Indian Branch Road, south of the track. This is the big field around Petty Boulevard, and it is where the motorcycle parking is.
Free parking, Gate 40 - off Harry Byrd Highway (SC 34 and 151), west of the track near Turn 3.
Pole Position - beside the Fan Zone, behind Tyler Tower, entered at Gate 32 off Racetrack Road. It is the closest parking all weekend, and the pass is only valid on Labor Day weekend.
Brasington Parking - just outside the gates off Racetrack Road, entered at Gate 31. Built for Sunday, as close to the racing action as you can get.
Turn 2 Tailgate Parking - entered at Gate 30A off Racetrack Road, sold on the track site as RaceTrack 151 parking.
Too Tough To Tame Tailgate - a 20 by 20 foot spot on Sunday outside Turn 2 along Highway 151, entered at Gate 1.

What it costs: the free lots cost nothing. The Too Tough To Tame Tailgate is the only paid lot with a price on the track's own page, $50 for the Sunday spot. Darlington does not print prices for Pole Position, Brasington or Turn 2 Tailgate on its website. We are not going to guess, so check at checkout or call the ticket office at 866-459-7223.

Do You Need a Parking Pass in Advance at Darlington?

For the free lots at Gate 34 and Gate 40, no. Show up and park.

For the four upgrade lots, yes, buy ahead through the track's Ticketmaster page. When we checked, spring parking was on sale and the fall weekend had a pre-sale sign-up list. These lots have a fixed number of spaces right outside the grandstands, so they are the ones that run out. Darlington also takes no cash during race week, so bring a card.

Darlington Raceway Parking Map

This is the track's own 2026 facility map. Blue labels are parking and camping, the blue P markers are the free parking entrances at Gate 40 (top left) and Gate 34 (bottom right), and the wheelchair symbols mark the ADA lot off Harry Byrd Highway.

Read it like this. Harry Byrd Highway runs across the top. Racetrack Road runs down the right side past Gates 30 and 31. Tunnel Road and Petty Boulevard run south from the frontstretch toward Indian Branch Road and Gate 34. Ramsey's Pond sits on the left, between the Gate 40 lots and the campgrounds.

Infield, RV and Camping Parking

Darlington does not sell day parking in the infield. The infield is for campers: Infield RV between the Cup and O'Reilly garages, East End RV between Turns 1 and 2, and the Grounds Red, Yellow and Green tent areas. Outside the track there is Pearson RV off Highway 151, Petty RV and Sunset RV off Tunnel Road, and Caveman Tent Camping behind the credential building.

All camping opens on the Tuesday of race week. Infield campers and Pearson RV check in at Gate 40, and Petty RV enters at Gate 36. Vehicles that do not fit in your reserved spot go to an adjacent lot, and golf carts, ATVs, UTVs and e-bikes are not allowed.

Accessible Parking and Shuttles at Darlington

The ADA lot is at Gate 39B off Harry Byrd Highway, outside Turn 3. It is free and first come, first served, and the track warns it fills quickly. You need a state-issued ADA license plate or windshield tag, and the person it was issued to must be in the vehicle. An ADA overflow lot sits right beside it.

Darlington does not list a parking shuttle bus. Instead, Guest Services volunteers run free ADA golf carts from set pick-up points, including both ADA lots, the Petty Boulevard walkway, Gate 16 at the Fan Zone and behind Brasington Tower. After the race, NASCAR holds all golf carts for up to one hour so walkers can clear out. Elevators serve Pearson Tower at Gate 11 and the Wallace Grandstand at Gate 13.

Getting In and Getting Out

The track's fan guide says to arrive two to three hours early. For a 5 p.m. race, that means parked by 2 or 3 p.m. The inbound traffic map routes Pearson Tower traffic along Harry Byrd Highway to Gate 40, and Brasington, Tyler and Wallace traffic toward Indian Branch Road and Gate 34. Park on the side of the track where you sit.

Going home, the 2026 outbound map sets forced turns:

Gates 1, 3, 6, 39A and 39B: turn right toward Darlington.
Gate 40: turn left toward Hartsville.
Racetrack Road at Indian Branch Road: turn left toward Lamar Highway and US 401.
Petty Boulevard: turn left on Indian Branch Road toward US 401.
Tunnel Road: turn right on Indian Branch Road, then left on Rogers Road for US 401, I-20 and Florence, or stay on Indian Branch for Hartsville.

The track does not publish a clear-out time for the free lots, so plan on a wait.

Common questions about parking at Darlington Raceway

Where do you park at Darlington Raceway?

Most fans use the free lots at Gate 34 off Indian Branch Road or Gate 40 off Harry Byrd Highway. Paid upgrade lots sit closer: Pole Position at Gate 32, Brasington at Gate 31, Turn 2 Tailgate at Gate 30A and the Too Tough To Tame Tailgate at Gate 1.

How much is parking at Darlington Raceway?

Daily parking for cars and motorcycles is free. The Too Tough To Tame Tailgate spot is $50 on Sunday. The track does not publish prices for Pole Position, Brasington or Turn 2 Tailgate, so check at checkout or call 866-459-7223.

Do you need a parking pass for Darlington Raceway?

Not for the free lots. You only need a pass for the four upgrade lots, which are sold in advance through the track's ticket site, or for a camping spot.

Is there free parking at Darlington Raceway?

Yes. The track says all parking is free except Pole Position, Too Tough To Tame Tailgate, Brasington and Turn 2 Tailgate. The free lots are at Gate 34 and Gate 40, and the ADA lot is free too.

Where is accessible parking at Darlington Raceway?

The ADA lot is at Gate 39B off Harry Byrd Highway, with an overflow lot beside it. It is free and first come, first served. Bring a state-issued ADA plate or tag, and the permit holder must be in the vehicle.

Is there a shuttle at Darlington Raceway?

The track does not list a parking shuttle bus. Free ADA golf carts run by Guest Services volunteers pick up at set points, including both ADA lots and the Petty Boulevard walkway. They are held for up to an hour after the race.

How long does it take to get out of Darlington Raceway after the race?

The track does not publish a clear-out time. Forced turns at every exit keep traffic moving, but expect a wait. Gate 40 traffic must go left toward Hartsville, so plan your lot around your route home.

The Bottom Line

Darlington is one of the easy ones. Parking is free, the lots are close, and the only real decision is which side of the track to park on. Sit in Pearson, use Gate 40. Sit in Tyler, Wallace or Brasington, use Gate 34. Pay for an upgrade lot only if a short walk or a tailgate spot is worth it to you, and get to the ADA lot early.

Parking is half of race day. Our Darlington Raceway Fan Guide covers the 14 by 14 by 14 inch soft cooler limit, the bag policy and the prohibited items list, and the Darlington Raceway Seating Guide covers the best seats. Headed to another short track? See the Martinsville Speedway Parking Guide.

Lot names, prices and pass rules change season to season and by event. Everything above comes from Darlington Raceway's own parking and maps page, FAQ, ADA information, camping page and official traffic maps, checked in October 2026. Confirm before you travel on the official maps and parking page and the ADA information page, or call 866-459-7223.