By Cheri Sicard
Ever thought about camping at a racetrack? Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, might just change your mind about what a campground can be. It’s not just about the roar of engines; it’s a unique place that blends motorsports with art and nature.
In today’s video, the team from the Long Long Honeymoon gives us a tour of this unique racetrack camping experience.
Barber Motorsports Park is the vision of Mr. George Barber, who saw it as a park first, with a racetrack nestled inside. This European-style racecourse boasts more than 80 feet of elevation change and 17 switchback turns, challenging drivers and delighting spectators. But what truly sets Barber apart is its commitment to art and the environment. Throughout the grounds, Mr. Barber has placed art installations for visitors to discover.
Keep an eye out for giant spiders, dragonflies, Bigfoot, and even an inflatable cathedral! It’s an unexpected blend of high-speed action and whimsical art.
Don’t miss the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. It is known as the world’s largest private motorcycle collection. Inside, there is a treasure trove of cool cars, as well. This museum draws visitors from around the globe.
Why racetrack camping?
Why should RVers consider Barber Motorsports Park a worthwhile travel destination? Imagine waking up at the racetrack before anyone else arrives. It’s quiet, peaceful, and allows one to appreciate the park’s beauty before the races begin. Having an RV provides easy access to the track.
Barber Motorsports Park offers two distinct camping areas. Each delivers a unique experience based on location and price.
Hilltop camping area (premium)
The premium option is the Hilltop camping area. These campsites are larger and offer great views of the paddock area and racetrack. Site number one, a corner spot, features beautiful trees and an excellent view. However, these premium sites come at about twice the cost of the adjacent camping area.
Upper motorhome/camping parking (less expensive):
The less expensive alternative is the upper motorhome/camping parking area. It sits on a ridge off to the side. This area offers grass parking without hookups. Many sites still have nice views, with some overlooking turns on the course. This location provides easy access to the track.
Planning is essential. The Hilltop camping area requires reservations. The less expensive camping area operates on a first-come, first-served basis. To snag the best spots, especially in the more affordable area, early arrival is key.
For the latest rules and regulations, it’s best to visit the official Barber Motorsports Park website. During racing events, race tickets are required for camping. An additional ticket grants access to the paddock area. There you can get up close to the cars and crews.
Racetrack camping practicalities
None of the campsites at Barber Motorsports Park offers hookups. That means no water, power, or sewer connections. Alabama weather, especially in the spring, can be unpredictable. The upper motorhome area lacks tree coverage, so it can get hot. A generator and a SoftStartRV for air conditioning is essential during the summer months.
Despite the lack of hookups, Barber provides essential facilities. Campers can use the bathhouse with showers in the paddock area. Porta-toilets are available on-site. A honey wagon service is available to pump out RV tanks for a fee.
Getting around the park is easy, with several options available. Consider bringing an electric bike or scooter. They allow for quick travel around the hilly terrain. Bicycles are welcome in the camping areas. During racing events, trams run around the park’s perimeter. This makes it easy to get from one end to the other.
Campsite sizes vary between the two camping areas. In the upper motorhome lot, RV sites are 40 feet long and 20 feet wide. Tent sites measure 20 feet by 20 feet. The Hilltop RV area offers larger sites, measuring 50 feet by 25 feet, and is for RVs only.
Nearby attractions
Extend your trip with visits to nearby attractions. Car enthusiasts can check out the Mustang Museum and the Talladega Museum, about a 45-minute drive from Barber Motorsports Park.
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RVDT2649
Hands down the best place for race track camping is Laguna Seca near Monterey CA. Beautiful up in the hills with the track visible from most sights. For events they have dry sites. It is cool even in hot August, Prices on non event days are very reasonable particularly for California. It is a county park
Many race tracks have camping available year round. And very reasonably priced. But small local tracks might also allow camping during events for free. And some even will let you camp anytime if you ask. But there usually are no hook ups.
Our towable license plate cover says, “Ocean Breeze or Race Track Please.” We camp at local tracks during the summer here in Oregon & Washington State. We enjoy oval and drag racing. The Woodburn Drag strip allows trackside parking for a very small fee. No hook-ups but each event is 2.5 days and they allow generators until 9PM. So fun to set up and have racing just out the door 8AM till dusk. Most oval tracks don’t charge and camping is on the outside of the parking area. We have also stayed at some County RV parks in the area of racetracks that do have full hookup and spend extra days exploring local events and rockhounding. We have the coast only a few hours away for weekday camping.
Thank you for noting and summarizing the video, Cheri! Very interesting. I did not notice how old the video is (posted 11 days ago!?!), but a search of the Barber Motorsports Park website left more questions than answers. It indicated whoever was running the event at the park set camping rates, but they typically vary between $25 and $50/night. Also said that the two areas highlighted in the vidro are not always available. Lastly, said everyone has to be off the property by 7 PM Sunday nights. Seems a bit of a disconnect in some ways. Entirely off-subject trivia: she went to Auburn University and he to University of Alabama. Have a great day and safe travels!
We’ve camped on Hilltop at Barber for the last 7 years during the Indycar weekend during the mid-late April timeframe and absolutely love it. We love reconnecting with our Indycar ‘family’. The author is correct-Barber is gorgeous.