Long Beach Transit offers an AquaLink boat ride that takes you to the Grand Prix. The water taxi costs $5 and will take you from Alamitos Bay Landing, near the Grand Prix, to Rainbow Harbor Aquarium Dock 4.

The ride is about 40 minutes either way.

The first boat leaves Alamitos Bay at 8:45 a.m., and the last boat leaves the Aquarium Dock around 7 p.m. For more information on the AquaLink schedule or parking near Alamitos Bay Landing, visit the LB Transit website.

Grand Prix riders: There is an official Uber, taxi, and Lyft drop-off point on First Street between Elm Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard.

For those who are feeling sporty, there are several Long Beach Bike Share pick-up locations throughout the city, as well as near the Grand Prix. Pay-as-you-go riders can ride for $7 per hour. Pre-payers get three hours for just $21. Find a bike near you at longbeachbikeshare.com.

Parking

Before you leave home, make sure to check Southern California News Group for information on Grand Prix-related road closures.

Parking is available on-site at the Grand Prix, but it’s limited.

The Grand Prix website offers one-day and 3-day parking passes on the west side of Shoreline Drive. Take the Broadway exit and turn left onto Magnolia Avenue. Turn right onto Ocean, then right again on Ocean until you reach Golden Shore. Take a right on Golden Shore and continue to Shoreline Drive.

Three-day parking passes cost $50; one-day parking passes cost $20.

Parking is also available at the Pike Outlets, but only as part of a 3-day package. These passes are $60 and can be purchased on the Grand Prix website.

The parking lot is located between Ocean Boulevard and Chestnut Avenue. Take the Broadway exit and follow Magnolia. Follow the signs for the park. Turn left onto Magnolia, then turn right onto Ocean.

Watching the races

The gates to the Grand Prix are open each morning at 7:30 a.m. The areas that you can access will depend largely on what type of ticket you hold.

The general admission tickets do not include reserved seating at the grandstands that are scattered around the perimeter. However, there is an area for GA viewers located between the Pike Outlets Hotel and the Hyatt Regency.

GA tickets allow attendees to enjoy other entertainment, such as the Fiesta Saturday concert with Los Angeles DJ Boombox Cartel and the Kings of Chaos concert on Saturday night.

There will be the usual Grand Prix concourse attractions, including a lifestyle expo at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and a fun zone for families. Foodies can also expect to find a wide variety of food options.

On race days, those who have reserved seats will receive more information on which grandstands to visit. The Grand Prix website, gplb.com, has a map of the event.

What to Eat

Foodies have a wide range of choices.

The Food Truck Village is one of the best. It is located near Shoreline Village behind Grandstand 31. You can find the best food on wheels in Southern California, including Cousins Maine Lobsters, Heritage LA Food Trucks, SeoulmatesLA, and the Deli Doctor.

You can also find Bistro Row to the east and opposite the NTT IndyCar Series Paddock. This offers many other options for food and seating.

King Taco is a Mexican favorite fast food restaurant that will be located in three locations at the Grand Prix. One place is on Vendor Row, another one is behind Grandstands 25 and 24, and the third is near the Acura Bridge, which is next to Grandstand 29.

The WhistlePig Sugar Shack will offer a variety of cocktails made with PiggyBack Bourbon, Rye, and barrel-aged Maple Syrup. It is located in the Promenade area, near turns 7 and 8.

Modelo will have two pop-up sports bars at the Grand Prix – one in Marina Park, behind Grandstand 31, and the other near the Long Beach Convention Center.

Pike Outlets offers a wide variety of food, including Gladstone’s Shrimp Co. and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

The circuit will be stocked with Pepsi and NOS energy drinks, as well as Aquafina and Long Beach Water Department’s Quench Buggy – a mobile refilling station for water – to keep attendees hydrated.

The race between the races

Marina Park offers a relaxing, rejuvenating, and enjoyable moment away from all the excitement of the race.

The Lifestyle Expo is also open to Grand Prix attendees at the Convention Center. The event will include more than 100 displays of automotive, home, and recreation products, as well as travel, entertainment, and travel-related items.

The expo also hosts the NTT IndyCar Series Fan Experience, as well as paddocks for the Historic Formula 1, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, and Stadium SUPER Trucks Series — where fans will be able to watch technical inspections on various vehicles.

The expo will also feature autograph sessions with drivers from different series.

The Family Fun Zone also has inflatables, rock climbing walls, bungee jumping, and electric-powered cars.

Rentable swan boats are also available on-site for those who wish to tour Rainbow Lagoon near Turn 6 Hotel and Hyatt Long Beach Hotel.

What you should bring and what not to bring

Grand Prix can be loud! Bring earplugs if you plan to be near the circuit.

Wear layers of comfortable clothing to be prepared for both hot and cold temperatures. It is highly recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes.

There are a few things that you cannot do at the Grand Prix, such as:

Glass bottles and cans of alcohol

Weapons (knives, guns, mace, stun guns).

Large umbrellas, lawn chairs, step stools, ladders, and folding stadium seats.

Bikes, skateboards, hoverboards, skates, and rollerblades.

Powered scooters, bikes, and other vehicles.

Hand-drawn wagons.

Fireworks.

Pets are not allowed (except for service animals).

Banners and signs

Ice chests that are larger than 14 inches.

Drones and RC aircraft.

Plan ahead

The Grand Prix is a three-day event that has a lot to offer. But to make the most of it, you should plan.

The Grand Prix organizers have created a mobile application that will help participants keep track of weekend events and plan their preferred events.

Both Apple’s App Store and Google Play offer the app. Grand Prix attendees will be able to create their personalized schedules, find nearby food and drink options, and access a map.