Laguna Seca Racetrack and Campground

Since traveling is more challenging during the Coronavirus pandemic, we have been living and working at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area for over three months. This is our first workamping gig and we will write an article about that later. We share pictures and videos of this famous racetrack so you can see the different turns and elevation changes and hear the various cars that come here to race. Along with the beauty of this campground up in the hills near Monterey, CA. Don’t have time to read this now? Pin it for later!

WeatherTech Raceway

Per the WeatherTech Raceway website, “the original Laguna Seca Raceway was built in 1957 at a cost of $1.5 million raised from local businesses and individuals on part of the US Army’s Fort Ord (a maneuver area and field artillery target range) after the nearby Pebble Beach Road Races were abandoned for being too dangerous. In 1974, the property was deeded over to the Monterey County Parks Department. The entire facility is owned by Monterey County.”

Laguna Seca is an 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course. This racetrack is known for “The Corkscrew” which is officially Turns 8 and 8A. Per the WeatherTech Raceway website, “the Corkscrew is a one-of-a-kind turn in motorsports. Here’s what makes the hard-left, hard-right combination so spectacular: At the apex to Turn 8 (the lefthander and entry to The Corkscrew), the elevation change is a 12 percent drop. By the time a race car reaches the apex of Turn 8A (the righthander), the elevation is at its steepest – an 18 percent drop. The Corkscrew drops 59 feet between the entrance of Turn 8 to the exit of Turn 8A—the equivalent of a 5½ story drop—in only 450 feet of track length. From Turn 8 to Turn 9, the elevation falls 109 feet, or just over 10 stories.”

COVID-19 has changed life at the racetrack with major events canceled or rescheduled for the end of 2020, but racing has gone on through private track rentals and driving schools under strict COVID-19 regulations with no fans in the grandstands.

Laguna Seca Recreation Area

In addition to the racetrack, there is a campground with 164 active sites (93 partial hookups and 71 dry camping). During Premier Events an additional 188 overflow dry camping sites can be added around the racetrack. The views from the campground and the top of The Corkscrew are beautiful, with the top of The Corkscrew being one of my favorite places on the property. It is definitely a hike to get up there, but it is worth it. The weather is amazing, even beating San Diego weather most days this summer. The cool ocean breeze moves in and helps keep this area a little bit cooler compared to the surrounding areas.

Looking for something to do? Do you like car racing? How about camping? We recommend a visit to Laguna Seca. Check out the Track Calendar to see who will be on the racetrack. Book your campsite online and come enjoy the Monterey Peninsula. Don’t want to camp but visiting the area? For all Non-Premier Events, you can purchase a $5 Day Pass (good for up to four people in one vehicle) and watch the cars race around the racetrack from the comfort of your vehicle.

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