With the Las Vegas Grand Prix returning November 19–21, visitors are already booking tickets, hotels and restaurants. However, a Las Vegas transportation expert says many are overlooking the part most likely to disrupt their weekend – how they will move between them.
The official 100 Days to Race Day celebration takes place at Grand Prix Plaza on August 15, while single-day ticket sales begin this week. As visitors start constructing their race-weekend itineraries, one Las Vegas transportation expert says they should plan how they will move around the city before adding more reservations.
“The biggest mistake happens months before anyone reaches Las Vegas,” says JJ Bell, Vice President of Presidential Limousine and a longtime Las Vegas local. “People build an itinerary using ordinary travel times, then assume they will figure out transportation when they arrive. During race week, that can leave a whole group standing at the wrong hotel entrance while a dinner reservation or ticketed event is getting closer.”
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Because the event takes place on a street circuit, the race affects roads visitors would ordinarily use to travel along and across the Strip. Organizers advise attendees to allow ample time for closures and detours and have created a dedicated 2026 transportation portal for updated guidance.
Bell identifies five mistakes visitors should avoid.
1. Trusting an ordinary Strip travel estimate
A journey that appears short on a map may involve restrictions, detours and heavy pedestrian traffic.
“Do not plan around the time the same trip takes on a normal Thursday,” Bell says. “During F1 week, the route available matters more than the mileage.”
2. Using only the hotel name as a pickup point
Large Strip resorts have multiple entrances, and the most familiar driveway may not be accessible from the expected direction.
“‘Meet at the hotel’ is not specific enough,” Bell explains. “Confirm the exact entrance or designated pickup area and send it to everyone in the group. A driver and passenger can both be at the same resort and still be nowhere near each other.”
3. Booking events back-to-back
A tightly packed schedule leaves little room for security lines, crowds, changed walking routes or delayed pickups.
Bell recommends protecting the event the group cares about most. “If the race is the reason you came, do not gamble your arrival on a dinner ending exactly on time.”
4. Letting the group choose a pickup point at the last minute
Group chats become confusing when several people suggest different exits after an event.
“Choose one decision-maker and one meeting point before everyone separates,” Bell advises. “Ten people sending live locations is usually less helpful than one clear instruction.”
5. Treating transportation as an afterthought
Visitors should confirm arrangements, passenger numbers and pickup details before race week, then check official updates as the event approaches.
“Your transport plan should be part of the itinerary, not a note underneath it,” Bell says. “Las Vegas knows how to handle major events, but visitors still need to give themselves room to adapt. The goal is to remember the race, not the hour spent trying to find the rest of the group.”
Official routes and access instructions may change, so travelers should monitor the event’s transportation portal and app closer to November. Are you heading to the Las Vegas F1? Hopefully this makes it that bit easier!
