Phoenix Raceway Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Rules and What to Bring (2026)

The Happy Hour Racing IndyCar Fan Guide series continues, track by track, everything you need to know before you walk through the gate. Next stop: the one-mile oval at Phoenix Raceway, host of the Good Ranchers 250 on a shared weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series.

Cooler Policy

Phoenix Raceway's official fan guide keeps this one simple for the main grandstand gates: one soft-sided cooler per person, no bigger than 14 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches, and it can hold ice. Foam or hard-sided coolers are turned away at the gate no matter the size. Whatever is inside has to follow the same rules as everything else. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited, cooler or not. The Hillside general admission area on Sunday runs a different, looser rule. Full-size coolers, hard or soft-sided, are allowed on the hill, as long as they do not contain glass containers or alcohol.

Bag Policy

A maximum of two bags per person are allowed through the admission gates. Backpacks, diaper bags, clutch bags, and fanny packs are all fine as long as none exceed 18 inches by 18 inches by 14 inches. Any bag, backpack, or container bigger than that gets left behind. Combining a bag with a cooler is allowed, but the one-cooler-per-guest limit still applies on top of the two-bag limit.

Prohibited Items

Straight from the official Phoenix Raceway gate policy, these are not permitted through the grandstand gates:

• Foam or hard-sided coolers, regardless of size
• Weapons, including firearms and pocket knives
• Fireworks
• Glass or ceramic of any kind
• Alcoholic beverages brought from outside
• Dry ice
• Bags, backpacks, or containers larger than the allowed size
• Laser pointers
• Noise makers and air horns
• Aerosol cans, except sunscreen, sunblock, hand sanitizer, and bug spray
• Selfie sticks
• Tripods and monopods, solid or collapsible
• Illegal substances of any kind
• Seat cushions with metal components
• Collapsible or folding chairs (at the main grandstand gates)
• Wagons (at the main grandstand gates)
• Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles)
• Frisbees, balloons, beach balls, or other projectiles
• Skateboards, hoverboards, roller skates, scooters, and bicycles
• Obscene or indecent clothing

Security and event management have final say on anything else deemed inappropriate or unsafe, and there is no bag check or holding area for items turned away at the gate.

What You Can Bring

The permitted list at the grandstand gates covers most of what a fan actually needs. Sunscreen, sunblock, hand sanitizer, and bug spray are fine in aerosol, gel, or liquid form. Pre-packaged, sealed food and drink can go in a clear bag or the one soft-sided cooler, minus alcohol and glass. Ice is allowed on its own, and insulated cups up to 64 ounces are permitted as long as they are empty going through the gate. Cameras, binoculars, scanners, and headsets are all fine, along with iPads, tablets, and laptops. Seat cushions are permitted as long as they do not have metal components. Cigarettes, lighters, and service animals are all allowed, and there are free water refill stations at the gates.

The Hillside: A Different Set of Rules

The Hillside is Phoenix Raceway's general admission area, open on Sunday only, with entrances at Gate 9 and Gate 11. It runs a noticeably more relaxed policy than the grandstand gates. Pop-up tents, folding chairs, blankets, and even grills are permitted on the hill. So are wagons. The cooler rule flips too: full-size coolers, hard or soft-sided, are allowed, just not with glass containers or alcohol inside. There are no actual seats on the Hillside, so bring a chair or a blanket. Hillside tickets can include admission through the reserved grandstand gates for access to the Midway, and food and portable restrooms are nearby.

Grandstands, Layout and the Track Map

Phoenix Raceway is a one-mile, low-banked oval in Avondale, Arizona, with the Bobby Allison Grandstand running along the front stretch. The grandstand offers upper and lower wheelchair-accessible spaces with companion seats, and elevators come out near sections 118, 128, 134, and 153. Wheelchair and power scooter rentals are available through Copper Star on the Midway, and it is worth reserving one ahead of race day. Smoking is not permitted in the grandstands, on elevators or escalators, in the concourse, or within 20 feet of any doorway. Phoenix Raceway's fan guide does not publish a blanket re-entry policy for grandstand ticket holders, so if you plan to leave and come back, check with Guest Services at the gate first.

Getting There and Race-Day Tips

Phoenix Raceway sits at 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive in Avondale, about six miles south of Interstate 10. Exit I-10 at Avondale Boulevard (Exit 131) and head south, following the blue route signs to the facility. If you do not have a parking pass, free general parking is available on site, just follow the directional signage from I-10. Premium Parking sits closest to Gates 4 and 5, and El Mirage Parking is closest to the ticket gates. Guests with a state-issued accessibility plate or placard should use the far left, south lanes when traveling east on Avondale Boulevard for easier access to El Mirage and ADA parking. Parking trams and camping shuttles run throughout the weekend for anyone who wants to skip the walk. The track's public address system is simulcast on 88.5 MHz FM if you want the call on a radio or headset.

Fan Tips

Avondale in early March runs warm and dry, so aerosol sunscreen and a refillable water bottle (the gates have free refill stations) go a long way. Pack light. With a strict two-bag, one-cooler limit at the grandstand gates, there is no reason to bring more than you can carry through a quick search. If you are set on tailgate-style extras like a grill or a full-size cooler, the Hillside is the spot for that, not the reserved grandstand side. First aid locations are on level 3 of the grandstand near Sections 117 and 148 and inside the Infield Experience, and the Fan Care Center sits just outside Gate 5. For any weekend questions, Guest Services can be reached at 623-772-2007 while gates are open.

Common Questions About Phoenix Raceway

What size cooler can you bring to Phoenix Raceway?

At the main grandstand gates, one soft-sided cooler per person, no bigger than 14 by 14 by 14 inches, may contain ice. Foam and hard-sided coolers are not allowed there. On the Hillside, full-size hard or soft coolers are permitted, just not with glass or alcohol.

What is the bag policy at Phoenix Raceway?

A maximum of two bags per person, with backpacks, diaper bags, clutch bags, and fanny packs capped at 18 by 18 by 14 inches. Anything larger is not permitted through the gates.

Can you bring food and drinks into Phoenix Raceway?

Yes. Pre-packaged, sealed food and beverage is allowed in a clear bag or the permitted soft-sided cooler. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited either way.

Are chairs allowed at Phoenix Raceway?

Not at the main grandstand gates, where collapsible and folding chairs are on the prohibited list. On the Hillside, folding chairs and pop-up tents are explicitly permitted.

What items are prohibited at Phoenix Raceway?

Hard or foam coolers, weapons, fireworks, glass, outside alcohol, drones, laser pointers, tripods and monopods, selfie sticks, noise makers, and several other items are banned at the grandstand gates. See the full list above from the official fan guide.

Are pets allowed at Phoenix Raceway?

Not through the grandstand gates, other than trained service animals. Pets are allowed in the camping areas, kept on a leash and within your assigned site.

How do you get to Phoenix Raceway?

Exit Interstate 10 at Avondale Boulevard, Exit 131, and head south following the blue route signs. Free general parking is available on site if you do not have a parking pass.

The Bottom Line

Phoenix Raceway keeps a stricter cooler rule at the grandstand gates than a lot of ovals on the schedule, one soft-sided cooler at 14 inches max, no hard sides allowed, but the Hillside on Sunday runs a much looser policy built for tailgating. Know which gate you are walking through before you pack. Policies change season to season, so confirm the current rules against the official Phoenix Raceway Fan Guide before you travel.

Shop the Story

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Nothing here catch your eye? Browse the full IndyCar collection, and check back every Wednesday and Sunday as this fan guide series works through the rest of the 2026 calendar.