Race Tracks Near San Francisco
The Bay Area's motorsport scene centers on two of the best road courses in the country: Sonoma Raceway, less than an hour north with NASCAR, NHRA and IndyCar dates on its calendar, and Thunderhill Raceway Park near Willows, home to the 25 Hours of Thunderhill and a huge club-racing and HPDE calendar on its 3- and 5-mile configurations. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on the Monterey Peninsula, with its famous Corkscrew, is a comfortable day trip south for IMSA and MotoAmerica weekends. Weekly short-track dirt action runs at Petaluma Speedway and Antioch Speedway, while Stockton 99 Speedway and Madera Speedway carry NASCAR-sanctioned short-track programs further into the Central Valley. Drag racing runs at Sonoma Raceway's own strip. Between the wine country backdrop at Sonoma and the coastal scenery at Laguna Seca, Bay Area fans and drivers have some of the most scenic tracks in America within reach.
8 venues listed across 4 categories. Venues with a full RaceTrackWorld guide are linked.
Road courses in San Francisco
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma Raceway | Sonoma | 55 min | 2.52 mi | Wine Country road course hosting NASCAR Cup and NHRA's Sonoma Nationals on the adjoining drag strip; also runs a year-round grassroots drag racing program. |
| Thunderhill Raceway Park | Willows | 2 h 10 min | 3 mi | Sacramento Valley circuit best known for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race; also runs a 5-mile combined east/west configuration. |
| WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | Monterey | 1 h 50 min | 2.238 mi | Famous for the Corkscrew; hosts IMSA WeatherTech Championship, MotoAmerica, and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion vintage weekend. |
Drag strips in San Francisco
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma Raceway Dragstrip | Sonoma | 55 min | 0.25 mi | Quarter-mile drag strip on the same Sonoma Raceway grounds as the road course; hosts an NHRA national event each July alongside weekly bracket racing. |
Ovals and speedways in San Francisco
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton 99 Speedway | Stockton | 1 h 20 min | — | Paved oval running a large weekly program of Pro Late Models, Mini Stocks, and Legends plus touring CARS Tour West events. |
| Madera Speedway | Madera | 2 h 10 min | 0.5 mi | Half-mile paved oval hosting ARCA Menards Series West and Super Late Model racing in the Central Valley. |
Dirt tracks in San Francisco
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petaluma Speedway | Petaluma | 45 min | 0.375 mi | 3/8-mile clay oval at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds running winged and wingless sprint cars, modifieds, and stock cars. |
| Antioch Speedway | Antioch | 45 min | — | Clay oval at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds running IMCA-sanctioned modifieds, sport modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks. |
Major race weekends in San Francisco
| Event | Venue | When | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series weekend | Sonoma Raceway | June | NASCAR |
| Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | August | Vintage |
| IMSA WeatherTech Championship | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | May | IMSA |
| 25 Hours of Thunderhill | Thunderhill Raceway Park | December | Endurance / club racing |
| NHRA Sonoma Nationals | Sonoma Raceway | July | NHRA |
Track days and driving experiences in San Francisco
Thunderhill and Sonoma Raceway are the two workhorse track-day venues for Bay Area drivers, both running frequent HPDE, time-attack and club-racing days through groups like NCRC, CSCC and Hooked on Driving. Thunderhill's 3-mile and 5-mile configurations plus its 2-mile West course give beginners and experienced drivers separate run groups. Laguna Seca, about 2 hours south, hosts fewer public track days but is popular for its once- or twice-yearly open lapping events. Budget roughly $250-$450 for a full-day HPDE session.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest race track to San Francisco?+
Sonoma Raceway, about 45-60 minutes north of the city in the Sonoma wine country, is the closest major circuit.
Is Laguna Seca within a day trip of San Francisco?+
Yes — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey is roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours south of San Francisco, a comfortable day trip for a race weekend.
Where can I take my car on track near San Francisco?+
Thunderhill Raceway Park (about 2 hours north near Willows) and Sonoma Raceway are the two main HPDE and club-racing venues serving the Bay Area.
Are Golden Gate Fields or Bay Meadows race tracks included here?+
No — Golden Gate Fields was a horse (thoroughbred) racing track, not a motorsport venue, and is not covered in this guide.
Does Sonoma Raceway host drag racing?+
Yes, Sonoma Raceway has its own quarter-mile drag strip alongside the road course and hosts an NHRA national event each July.
Venue list checked against 5 sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.
Track guides within 120 miles of San Francisco
Sonoma Raceway
Address: 29355 Arnold Dr Sonoma CA 95476 USA Website: https://www.sonomaraceway.com/ Email: [email protected] Phone Number: (+1) 800-870-7223 Hotel...
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Address: 1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy Salinas, CA 93908 USA Website: https://www.weathertechraceway.com/ Email: [email protected] Phone Number: (831) 2...