Race Tracks Near Seattle
Seattle's motorsport scene is spread around Puget Sound rather than clustered in one corner. Pacific Raceways in Kent, about half an hour southeast, is the closest road course and drag strip and the traditional home of SCCA and NASA club racing in the Northwest. The Ridge Motorsports Park, a purpose-built circuit on the Kitsap Peninsula near Shelton, is a scenic hour-plus drive and a favorite for track days and vintage racing. Evergreen Speedway in Monroe runs NASCAR-sanctioned short-track racing and the popular Elbow Lake dirt program, while Skagit Speedway north of Everett is one of the region's best-known sprint-car dirt ovals. Karters use Pacific Grand Prix Motorsports Park, adjacent to Pacific Raceways in Kent. Portland International Raceway, roughly three hours south near Portland, is outside this guide's two-hour radius but remains the nearest major venue beyond it for anyone planning a longer trip.
9 venues listed across 6 categories. Venues with a full RaceTrackWorld guide are linked.
Road courses in Seattle
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Raceways | Kent (Lake Morton-Berrydale) | 30 min | 2.25 mi | Washington's marquee multi-use facility since 1960: a 2.25-mile, 10-turn road course, NHRA-sanctioned quarter-mile drag strip, half-mile kart track, and motocross track, home to the NHRA Northwest Nationals. |
| The Ridge Motorsports Park | Shelton | 1 h 15 min | 2.47 mi | 2.47-mile, 16-turn road course near Shelton with over 300 feet of elevation change per lap, opened in 2012 and used for club racing, driver training, and sanctioned car and motorcycle events. |
Ovals and speedways in Seattle
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Speedway | Monroe | 40 min | 0.625 mi | "Super Speedway of the West," a 5/8-mile paved oval hosting a full NASCAR-sanctioned weekly season plus CARS Tour and ARCA West events through summer. |
| South Sound Speedway | Rochester | 1 h | 0.375 mi | 3/8-mile asphalt oval with a figure-8 course near Olympia running a nine-class weekly program from Super Late Models to Bandoleros. |
Drag strips in Seattle
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton Raceway | Bremerton | 55 min | 0.125 mi | NHRA Division 6-affiliated eighth-mile strip built on a former Bremerton National Airport runway, run by the Handler's Racing Association with a full bracket-racing season; distinct from the much larger motorsports park proposed nearby. |
Dirt tracks in Seattle
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skagit Speedway | Alger | 1 h 5 min | 0.3 mi | 3/10-mile clay oval established in 1954 and considered the heart of Pacific Northwest sprint car racing; hosts 410 and 360 sprints, midgets, and the annual Dirt Cup. |
| Grays Harbor Raceway | Elma | 1 h 40 min | 0.375 mi | 3/8-mile clay oval at the Grays Harbor County fairgrounds running World of Outlaws-affiliated sprint car and stock car programs. |
Karting in Seattle
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Grand Prix Motorsports Park (PGP) | Kent | 30 min | — | Outdoor kart circuit adjoining Pacific Raceways offering arrive-and-drive rentals on Italian-built karts alongside regional kart club racing. |
Closed and historic in Seattle
| Venue | Town | Drive | Length | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton Motorsports Park / Circuit of the NorthwestDormant | Bremerton (Port of Bremerton Industrial Park) | 55 min | — | Long-planned $300 million-plus road course, drag strip, and karting complex on Port of Bremerton land; the Port has approved repeated one-year lease extensions to Circuit of the Northwest, with construction now targeted for 2027 at the earliest and no track yet built. |
Major race weekends in Seattle
| Event | Venue | When | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHRA Northwest Nationals | Pacific Raceways | August | NHRA |
| World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series | Skagit Speedway | Varies | Sprint car / dirt |
| SOVREN vintage racing weekends | Pacific Raceways | Varies | Vintage |
Track days and driving experiences in Seattle
Pacific Raceways runs a regular calendar of SCCA and NASA HPDE and club-racing days on its 2.25-mile road course, about 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. The Ridge Motorsports Park, roughly 75-90 minutes southwest near Shelton, is the region's newer purpose-built circuit and hosts club racing, motorcycle track days and manufacturer events on its rolling 2.47-mile layout. Pacific Grand Prix in Kent offers sprint karting for beginners through licensed racers. Budget $200-$400 for a full HPDE day at either circuit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest race track to Seattle?+
Pacific Raceways in Kent, about 30 minutes southeast of downtown Seattle, is the closest road course and drag strip.
Is Portland International Raceway within driving distance of Seattle?+
It's about a 2.5-3 hour drive, just beyond this guide's 2-hour radius — a viable day trip but not a quick one.
Where can I watch dirt track racing near Seattle?+
Skagit Speedway (sprint cars, about an hour north) and Evergreen Speedway in Monroe both run regular dirt programs within an hour of the city.
Are there horse tracks near Seattle?+
Emerald Downs in Auburn is a thoroughbred horse-racing track, not a motorsport venue, and isn't covered in this guide.
Where can I go karting near Seattle?+
Pacific Grand Prix Motorsports Park in Kent, next to Pacific Raceways, runs club sprint karting for a range of skill levels.
Venue list checked against 5 sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.
Track guides within 120 miles of Seattle
Pacific Raceways
Address: 31001 144th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98042 USA Website: http://pacificraceways.com Email: [email protected] Phone Number: (+1)253-639-5927 Hotels ...
The Ridge Motorsports Park
Address: 1060 W Eells Hill Rd., Shelton WA 98584 USA Website: http://www.ridgemotorsportspark.com/ Email: [email protected] Phone Number: (+)1360427...