October 23-25, 2026. Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is 15 miles southeast of downtown Austin. The official race shuttle picks up at Waterloo Park, a 10-minute walk from Hotel Van Zandt’s front door. You skip the rideshare surge, skip the parking lot crawl, and land back on Rainey Street while the rest of the crowd is still sitting in traffic. Brass Poppy, the hotel’s neighborhood cocktail lounge, is open. Geraldine’s, the in-house restaurant, has a table with your name on it. Book the room before someone else does.
From the Hotel to the Track
The Formula 1 US Grand Prix runs at Circuit of the Americas, 15 miles southeast of downtown Austin. The official race shuttle boards at Waterloo Park on Red River Street, a 10-minute walk from Hotel Van Zandt, and travels in dedicated bus lanes that bypass regular race-day traffic. On race day, rideshare apps drop passengers at the McAngus overflow lot, a 40-minute walk from the main venue entrance, not at the COTA Blvd main gate. The shuttle skips all of that. Get out early, and Rainey Street will still be going when you get back.
Explore the Neighborhood
Race day doesn’t end at the checkered flag. It moves two blocks over. Fans still replaying the race fill the patios, string lights glow in the oak trees, and the crowd stays out later than a normal Friday. You don’t need a car, a reservation, or a plan. Just walk downstairs. Hotel Van Zandt sits inside all of it, close enough that the neighborhood becomes part of your stay instead of a separate outing.
Settle Into Your Space
Your room faces Austin’s downtown skyline, sheer curtains diffusing soft light against the dark concrete and brick facade. Mark Zeff’s design carries rough-around-the-edges sophistication throughout: mid-century leather seating, Edison-bulb lighting, and teal curtains that frame the view by day and glow warm by night. Suites include a soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and a dedicated workspace, everything you need to reset before the next day at COTA.
Mornings on the Pool Deck
Race-day mornings belong to the rooftop pool, eight stories above Rainey Street with a clear line to Austin’s downtown skyline. Turquoise water, cabana daybeds, and a swim-up bar pouring jalapeño cocktails and Baja Fish Tacos under the October sun. The pool stays open year-round, heated through the fall. A few lengths before the gates open will set you up well for a day trackside.
Discuss the Day Over Dinner
Geraldine’s, the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant just off the lobby, delivers Modern Mexican Cuisine with Southern Influence. A barrel-vaulted ceiling strung with Edison bulbs sets the scene, with live music running Thursday through Sunday nights, 9:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Order the famed guinea fowl, or go straight for wagyu beef cheek braised in mole negro, or the Scallop Crudo on aguachile verde. Reserve your table early: race weekend fills up fast.
For Pre- and Post-Race Drinks
Brass Poppy sits in the lobby: art nouveau-inspired, red-lit, curated vinyl stacked on the shelves and well-made cocktails on every table. The ‘Little Red Corvette’ runs Teremana blanco through clarified Jägermeister with cherry and lime, or try the ‘Hotel Room Service’, Espolòn blanco tequila with strawberry, hot honey, and orange liqueur. Pull up a chair for a game of chess. Drink in the moment.
Bar Hours
Monday–Thursday: 12 PM–12 AM
Friday: 12 PM–1 AM
Saturday: 3 PM–1 AM
Sunday: 3 PM–11 PM
Two Texan Showdowns. One Address.
Texas plays Ole Miss in college football at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 24. It’s the first time the two teams have met in Austin as SEC (Southeastern Conference) rivals. Kickoff time isn’t set yet: the SEC confirms start times for high-profile games only six days out, so it could land at noon or under the lights. Stretch your trip into a four-day run instead: Thursday for practice, Friday for qualifying, Saturday for the Longhorns (the University of Texas football team), Sunday for the race. The Stay in the Groove multi-night package is built for exactly this kind of stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
The official COTA shuttle runs from Waterloo Park on Red River Street, about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It travels in dedicated bus lanes that skip regular race-day traffic both ways. On race day, rideshare apps are routed to the McAngus overflow lot rather than the main COTA Blvd entrance, which means a longer walk and a longer wait. The shuttle avoids both.
COTA is 15 miles southeast of downtown Austin. Off-peak you’re looking at 25-40 minutes by car; budget more time on race day.
Yes. The pool deck runs year-round and is heated through the cooler months, so October is no problem.
Stay in the Groove is Hotel Van Zandt’s multi-night offer. Contact reservations for F1-weekend availability and current pricing.
Yes, and you’ll want one booked early. F1 weekend is one of the busiest stretches of the year in Austin, so reserve your table at Geraldine’s well before you arrive.