Daytona International Speedway weather
Daytona's big weekends fall in two very different seasons. The Rolex 24 in January and the Daytona 500 in February bring mild days and cool evenings. The August Cup race runs under the lights in the wettest stretch of the Florida summer, when afternoon thunderstorms are the norm rather than the exception.
7-day forecast
| Day | High / low | Rain chance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonight | — / 75°F | 7% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Wednesday | 87° / 75°F | 50% | Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Thursday | 86° / 73°F | 70% | Showers And Thunderstorms Likely |
| Friday | 82° / 70°F | 33% | Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms |
| Saturday | 82° / 67°F | 6% | Mostly Sunny |
| Sunday | 83° / 67°F | 7% | Mostly Sunny |
| Monday | 85° / 70°F | 11% | Mostly Sunny |
National Weather Service forecast for the area around Daytona Beach, FL, refreshed hourly. Hourly detail and radar at weather.gov.
Typical race-weekend weather
| Month | Race | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Rolex 24 at Daytona | 69°F | 49°F | 2.7 in | 5 |
| February | Daytona 500 | 72°F | 51°F | 2.3 in | 4 |
| August | Summer Cup race | 90°F | 74°F | 6.6 in | 10 |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Daytona Beach International Airport (USW00012834). Rainy days are days with at least 0.1 in of precipitation.
Sun and shade
The frontstretch grandstand faces roughly southeast, so for the afternoon Daytona 500 the sun sits off to your right rather than straight in your eyes — but the seats are exposed and you will be in direct sun for most of the race. Even in February a clear afternoon can burn.
If it rains
NASCAR Weather Protection Program
If a NASCAR race is postponed to another date by weather, unused regular grandstand tickets can be exchanged for a grandstand ticket to a future NASCAR race at a participating track within a year, or for the same race the following year. Daytona 500 tickets can move to next year's Daytona 500. Request the exchange within 60 days of the postponed race being completed. There are no cash refunds.
Delays don't count, however long, even if the race finishes after 11:59 p.m. Nor do races shortened by weather that are declared official. Only regular grandstand tickets bought directly from the track qualify — not StubHub or other resale, complimentary tickets, parking, camping or suites.
Coolers, bags and umbrellas
Coolers
One soft-sided cooler per guest, no larger than 14 × 14 × 14 inches. Hard-sided coolers of any size (styrofoam, plastic or metal) are prohibited. Sealed food and drinks, including alcohol, are fine; no glass or ceramic. Ice is allowed but dry ice is not, and insulated cups are capped at 64 oz.
Bags
Up to two bags per person — backpacks, purses, camera bags and fanny packs are allowed up to 18 × 18 × 14 inches. Clear bags aren't required, but they speed up the security check.
Umbrellas
Prohibited. Ponchos are fine, and so is sunscreen in any form, aerosol included.
Gate rules checked against the track's official pages on 2026-09-23. Tracks change them between seasons, so confirm before race day.
What to bring
- Layers for January and February: highs are around 70°F but lows drop to about 50°F, and the Rolex 24 runs through the night
- A poncho for August — measurable rain falls on roughly one day in three
- Sunscreen (aerosol is allowed) and a hat
- One soft cooler, 14 × 14 × 14 in max; no glass and no dry ice
- A seat cushion without metal parts — collapsible chairs are banned
Daytona International Speedway weather questions
Can you bring a cooler into Daytona International Speedway?
Yes, one soft-sided cooler per guest up to 14 × 14 × 14 inches, stocked with your own sealed food and drinks, alcohol included. Hard coolers of any size, glass and dry ice are not allowed.
Does Daytona have a clear bag policy?
No. You can bring up to two bags per person, each up to 18 × 18 × 14 inches — backpacks included. A clear bag is only suggested to get you through security faster.
What happens if the Daytona 500 is rained out?
A delay, however long, earns nothing if the race finishes on the scheduled date. If it's postponed to another day, the NASCAR Weather Protection Program lets you exchange unused grandstand tickets bought directly from the track for next year's Daytona 500 or another NASCAR race within a year. There are no cash refunds.
Is there shade at Daytona International Speedway?
Not much in the grandstands. The frontstretch faces southeast, so the afternoon sun is off to your side rather than in your eyes, but you'll be in direct sun. Plan on sunscreen even in February.
How cold does it get at the Rolex 24?
NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for Daytona Beach give January lows of about 48°F, and the race runs overnight. Bring a warm layer and something for damp grass if you're watching from the infield.