Palmer Motorsport Park
Palmer Motorsport Park at a glance
- Location
- Palmer, Massachusetts
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.3 mi (3.7 km)
- Turns
- 14
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 190 ft
- Opened
- 2015
- Owner
- Palmer Motorsports Park, LLC
- Address
- 58 W Ware Road
- Phone
- +1 413-967-3560
- Website
- palmermotorsportspark.com
Track map and layout
Palmer's circuit, known to regulars as Whiskey Hill Raceway, is carved through 658 acres of former logging land in central Massachusetts, and it uses that terrain aggressively: 14 corners are packed into a 2.3-mile lap with about 190 feet of elevation change, giving the track a rollercoaster feel more common to European hill circuits than to purpose-built American ones. It was originally built to run counter-clockwise as the flagship facility of the SCCA's New England Region, the first true dedicated road course in Massachusetts. Since 2017 the layout has also been configured to run clockwise, a direction that proved immediately popular with drivers even though the original counter-clockwise route remains the primary configuration used for most events. The circuit's blind crests and off-camber sections have earned it recognition from enthusiast media as one of North America's best driving roads packed into a closed course.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-clockwise (primary) | 2.3 mi | Original 2015 configuration; the mainstay direction for most events |
| Clockwise | 2.3 mi | Added 2017; run in the reverse direction on select event days |
Events and race weekends
Palmer does not host a national professional series calendar; it operates primarily as a club-racing, track-day and driving-experience venue built around its SCCA New England Region roots. Recurring activity includes SCCA Track Night in America and regional race weekends, club racing and HPDE from several outside organizers, and vendor-run driving experiences, with the facility marketing itself as the region's premier dedicated road course rather than a spectator-stadium venue.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Night in America | SCCA | summer | Recurring open track-night format |
Getting there and parking
Palmer sits in central Massachusetts about seven miles off the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90), making it reachable within roughly 90 minutes from both Boston and Hartford. Bradley International Airport near Hartford/Springfield is the closest major airport for fly-in visitors.
- Bradley International Airport (BDL) · about 45 min drive
Parking
General spectator and participant parking is included with event entry; no separate paid parking scheme is publicly listed.
The facility has no on-site food or beverage concessions, so visitors are advised to bring their own supplies.
Hotels and camping near Palmer Motorsport Park
Palmer allows free on-site camping and RV overnight stays for event participants, an unusual amenity for a club circuit of its size, though the property gates close at 8pm and anyone inside cannot exit until they reopen. Visitors who prefer a hotel typically base in Palmer itself or nearby towns such as Warren, West Brookfield, Brookfield or Sturbridge, generally within about 5 to 26 miles of the track.
Where to look
Palmer, Warren, West Brookfield, Brookfield and Sturbridge, Massachusetts, roughly 5-26 miles from the track.
Camping
Free on-site camping is permitted for event participants.
RV
RV/coach overnight stays are permitted on-site; gates close at 8pm and re-entry/exit is not possible until they reopen the next day.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Built as the SCCA New England Region's flagship road course, Palmer hosts regular SCCA club racing, Track Night in America sessions and regional HPDE, alongside third-party track-day operators including Chin Track Days and SCDA. Garage and carport rentals are available for event days at an additional cost, and both the counter-clockwise and clockwise configurations see use across the season depending on the event.
Who runs days here
Typical cost: Carport/garage rental around $75 per event day; per-session HPDE/track-day pricing varies by organizer and is not published by the track itself.
Spectator guide
Palmer functions primarily as a participant venue for club racers and track-day drivers rather than a large spectator draw, and it does not publish fixed grandstand or bag-policy information. The circuit's elevation change means many vantage points around the property offer sightlines across multiple corners.
Best places to watch
Hillside areas overlooking the circuit's elevation changes give views across several corners at once, a byproduct of the property's rolling former-logging terrain.
Weather
- Jun: mild New England early-summer weather, highs typically in the 70s°F
- Oct: cool fall conditions, popular for the final club-racing weekends of the season
History of Palmer Motorsport Park
Origins
Palmer Motorsports Park traces back to an early-2000s search by the SCCA's New England Region for a permanent home track, an effort that culminated in local approval for the project in December 2007 and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection review starting in 2009. After years of permitting and financing work, partners Fred Ferguson and Jonathan Fryer pushed the project to completion in 2014-2015, and the circuit opened in May 2015 on 658 acres of former logging land in the town of Palmer, becoming what is generally described as the first true dedicated road course in Massachusetts.
Design and identity
The track, nicknamed Whiskey Hill Raceway after the road it sits on, was routed to follow the natural contours of the hilly, wooded property rather than being graded flat, producing 14 corners and about 190 feet of elevation change over a 2.3-mile lap. That terrain-hugging design drew comparisons to classic European road circuits and earned the track a spot on Road & Track magazine's list of North America's top driving circuits. Although Palmer was created as the SCCA New England Region's flagship facility, the region divested legal and financial responsibility for the operating company by early 2015, and the track has since been run as an independent LLC. Noise complaints from neighboring residents led to litigation and the adoption of a strict on-track noise limit in the years after opening.
Present day
Since 2017 Palmer has offered a clockwise configuration alongside its original counter-clockwise layout, giving regular drivers a genuinely different lap in each direction. The circuit today hosts SCCA regional racing and Track Night in America sessions, plus HPDE and club-racing days from outside organizers such as Chin Track Days and SCDA, and it permits free on-site camping and RV stays for event participants, making it a popular weekend destination for the wider New England and tri-state track-day community despite having no on-site food service.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Palmer Motorsport Park?+
The circuit, known as Whiskey Hill Raceway, is 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long with 14 turns and about 190 feet of elevation change.
Does Palmer run in both directions?+
Yes. The original configuration is counter-clockwise and remains the primary direction used for most events; a clockwise configuration was added in 2017.
Where is Palmer Motorsport Park located?+
At 58 W Ware Road in Palmer, Massachusetts, about seven miles off the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90).
Can the public drive at Palmer on a track day?+
Yes. SCCA New England Region runs regular club racing and Track Night in America sessions, and third-party operators like Chin Track Days and SCDA hold HPDE days there as well.
Is there camping at Palmer Motorsport Park?+
Yes, free on-site camping and RV overnight stays are available for event participants, though the property's gates close at 8pm and cannot be exited until they reopen.
Why is Palmer called Whiskey Hill Raceway?+
The circuit sits on and takes its nickname from Whiskey Hill Road in Palmer, Massachusetts, and the name is commonly used interchangeably with Palmer Motorsports Park.
Other tracks nearby
- Lime Rock Park · 62 mi · road course
- New Hampshire Motor Speedway · 87 mi · oval
- Pocono Raceway · 187 mi · oval
- Sanair Super Speedway · 230 mi · dormant
- Circuit Gilles Villeneuve · 234 mi · street circuit
- Montreal Street Circuit (Montreal ePrix) · 236 mi · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 5 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.