IndyCar racing through the Streets of Long Beach street circuit

Streets of Long Beach Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Policy and What to Bring (2026)

July 22, 2026

Logo: Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Streets of Long Beach Fan Guide: Cooler Policy, Bag Policy and What to Bring (2026)

Part of the Happy Hour Racing Track Fan Guides series, built for the fans who are actually in the grandstands. Here is what you can bring to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, what you have to leave in the car, and how to make race weekend easy.

An IndyCar racing through the Streets of Long Beach temporary street circuit — Photo: Yaktatel, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Short Version

Coolers: ice chests larger than 14 inches are not allowed. A soft or hard cooler 14 inches or smaller is fine.
Bags: the track does not publish a size limit, but every bag is screened, so pack light and a clear bag speeds you through the gate.
Food and drink: outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed. No alcohol, no glass bottles or cans.
Leave home: alcohol, glass, large umbrellas, folding chairs, and anything on wheels like scooters or skateboards.

Cooler Policy at the Grand Prix of Long Beach

Long Beach keeps its cooler rule simple. The only limit listed on the official prohibited-items policy is on size: ice chests larger than 14 inches are not allowed into the racetrack. Anything at or under that 14-inch mark is welcome, soft-side or hard-side, so a personal cooler or a small ice chest gets you through the gate.

That size is plenty for a full day at the circuit. Pack water, sealed non-alcoholic drinks, and your own food. Remember the glass rule below when you load it up, and skip the alcohol since outside alcoholic beverages are on the prohibited list.

Bag Policy at the Grand Prix of Long Beach

Unlike a stick-and-ball stadium, Long Beach does not publish a hard clear-bag mandate or a stated bag size limit in its official policy. What it does do is screen everyone coming in. That means the smaller and simpler your bag, the faster you get to your seat. A clear bag or a small backpack that opens easily for a quick check is the smart play. Oversized bags slow the line and can draw extra inspection, so leave the big pack in the car.

Prohibited Items

Here is the full list of items the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach does not allow into the racetrack, straight from the official policy. There is also no smoking or vaping in any grandstand.

Alcoholic beverages
Banners and signs (pennant souvenirs are the exception)
Bikes, skateboards, and hoverboards
Drones and RC aircraft
Fireworks
Folding stadium seats
Glass bottles and cans
Guns, knives, mace, and stun guns
Hand-drawn wagons
Ice chests larger than 14 inches
Ladders and step stools
Large umbrellas
Lawn furniture
Pets, except trained service animals (emotional support animals are not permitted)
Scooters, powered scooters, eBikes, and eTrikes
Seat cushions larger than 11 by 14 inches
Skates and rollerblades
Tripods

What You Can Bring

Reading between the lines of that list, plenty is still allowed. You can bring a cooler 14 inches or smaller, your own food, and non-alcoholic drinks in cans or plastic (no glass). A seat cushion is fine as long as it is 11 by 14 inches or smaller. A standard personal umbrella is allowed since only large umbrellas are banned. Cameras are welcome for your own photos, just leave the tripod at home. Strollers are not on the prohibited list, so families with small kids are covered. When in doubt, keep it small and simple and you will breeze through security.

Grandstands, Seating, and the Layout

The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach runs on a 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit that threads through downtown Long Beach along Shoreline Drive and Seaside Way, right next to the harbor and the convention center. Grandstands line the front stretch and several of the signature corners, and general admission gives you room to move and find your own view. Knowing the corner numbers helps you pick a seat: the hairpin and the fountain turn are classic passing zones, and the long Shoreline Drive straight is where the cars really stretch their legs.

Streets of Long Beach IndyCar circuit map showing all 11 turns and the downtown street layout

Map: Will Pittenger, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

IndyCar on track during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend — Photo: Yaktatel, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Getting There and Race-Day Tips

The racetrack sits in downtown Long Beach at 300 East Ocean Boulevard. The best move is to skip the driving stress and take transit. The Metro A Line (the old Blue Line) drops you right downtown a short walk from the gates, and Long Beach Transit, the Aqualink water taxi, the Passport shuttle, and Metrolink all serve the area. If you are using a rideshare, the official drop-off point is on First Street between Elm Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard.

A few things that make the day smoother: downtown Long Beach is a walk-around city, so wear comfortable shoes and plan to cover ground between the grandstands, the paddock, and the Lifestyle Expo. April by the ocean can swing from warm sun to a cool breeze, so bring sunscreen and a light layer. The cars are loud, so pack ear protection, especially for kids.

Fan Tips

Regulars pack a 14-inch cooler with water and snacks, carry a compact seat cushion, and bring foam earplugs or over-ear protection. A small clear bag gets you through security fastest. Get in early to walk the paddock and catch support races and the concert lineup, since Long Beach is as much a weekend festival as it is a race. And download or screenshot the circuit map so you can plan your viewing spots before you arrive.

Common questions about the Grand Prix of Long Beach

What size cooler can you bring to the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

Ice chests larger than 14 inches are prohibited, so a cooler 14 inches or smaller is allowed. Soft-side or hard-side both work.

What is the bag policy at the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

The track does not publish a set bag size limit, but every bag is screened at the gate. A small or clear bag gets you in fastest, and oversized bags may draw extra inspection.

Can you bring food and drinks into the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

Yes. Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed in a cooler 14 inches or smaller. Alcohol, glass bottles, and cans are on the prohibited list.

Are umbrellas allowed at the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

A standard personal umbrella is fine. Only large umbrellas are on the prohibited-items list.

Are seat cushions or chairs allowed at the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

A seat cushion 11 by 14 inches or smaller is allowed. Folding stadium seats, lawn furniture, and other folding chairs are prohibited.

What items are prohibited at the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

Alcohol, glass bottles and cans, weapons, fireworks, drones, large umbrellas, folding chairs, tripods, and anything on wheels like bikes, skateboards, and scooters. Smoking and vaping are banned in the grandstands.

Can you bring a camera to the Grand Prix of Long Beach?

Personal cameras are welcome for your own photos. Tripods are on the prohibited-items list, so plan to shoot handheld.

The Bottom Line

Long Beach makes it easy on fans. A cooler 14 inches or smaller, your own food and non-alcoholic drinks, a small bag, and a compact seat cushion cover the day. Leave the alcohol, glass, big umbrellas, folding chairs, and anything on wheels at home, take transit if you can, and you are set for one of the best street races in the country.

Policies can change from year to year. Always confirm the current rules on the official Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach policies page before you travel.

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