Indy 500 2027 runs May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tickets from $60, downtown hotels from $150/night, Carb Day tips and budgets from $800 — plan now.
Updated August 2026 · Dates, tickets and hotel zones verified against official sources.
Verified links from the event organizer — always buy tickets through official channels.
Estimated cost for a typical sports trip
Typical total spend per person, three ways to do this trip
$600-1,000 total weekend
GA infield or inexpensive grandstand, airport-area hotel, short-haul flights
$1,500-2,500 total weekend
Start/Finish grandstand, downtown hotel, Carb Day festivities
$4,000+ total weekend
suite or Pagoda seats, luxury hotel, full race-week program
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep MatchTrip free to use.
Where to buy, when sales open, what you'll pay, and how to avoid scams
IMS official website (indianapolismotorspeedway.com) — the only authorized seller for general admission, grandstand, and suite tickets.
Tickets for the following May go on sale right after each year's race, with prime seats like Tower Terrace and Start/Finish selling out months ahead of race week.
GA infield $60-150; grandstand reserved $150-800+ by location; suites and hospitality $1,000-3,000+ per person.
Buy only from IMS or its verified resale partner — counterfeit printouts appear every race weekend. Avoid parking-lot sellers and social-media listings requesting wire transfers; digital barcodes are scanned at the gate and duplicated passes simply fail to register.
What to expect when planning your trip
Indy 500 2027 runs May 30 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Tickets from $60, downtown hotels from $150/night, Carb Day tips and budgets from $800 — plan now. Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels takes place May 2027 in Indianapolis, USA. A typical trip including flights, hotels, and tickets is estimated at $800 – $3000.
Find accommodation near the event venue
Find the best hotels in Indianapolis for your sports trip. Compare prices and book your stay near the event.
Find Hotels in IndianapolisSome links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep MatchTrip free to use.
Choose the right ticket option for your budget and experience
Infield access, no reserved seat. Party atmosphere at Turn 3 "Snake Pit." Most affordable option at $60-150.
Reserved seating in dedicated stands. $150-800+ depending on location. Tower seats and Start/Finish line command premium pricing.
Premium indoor suites with food, drinks, and climate control. $1000-3000+ per person. Ideal for corporate groups.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep MatchTrip free to use.
Recommended neighborhoods for every budget
10-15 min drive to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Walkable to Lucas Oil Stadium, Canal Walk, and Mass Ave dining. Best for combining race weekend with city exploration.
Find Hotels in Downtown IndianapolisClosest to IMS, 5 min walk to gates. Limited hotel inventory, mostly budget chains. Book months ahead — rates spike race weekend.
Find Hotels in Speedway / 16th Street10 min from IND airport, 20 min to IMS. Reliable chain hotels at moderate rates. Good for short overnight stays.
Find Hotels in Airport Area (Plainfield)Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep MatchTrip free to use.
How to get to the venue and navigate the city
Indianapolis International (IND) is 15 min from downtown. Nonstop flights from most major US hubs.
IMS has on-site parking lots but traffic is severe on race day. Arrive before 9 AM for the 500, or use offsite lots with shuttle.
Free shuttle buses run from downtown hotels and the airport to IMS gates on race day. Allow 60-90 min total travel time due to traffic.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep MatchTrip free to use.
Airport arrivals, transit options, and match-day timing
Indianapolis International (IND) — 15 minutes from downtown and about 20 from the Speedway, with nonstops from most major US hubs.
IndyGo's Red Line serves the area, but race day belongs to the free event shuttles from downtown hotels and the airport to the IMS gates — allow 60-90 minutes door-to-gate.
Arrive before 9 AM for the noon start — 300,000 fans gridlock 16th Street. After the checkered flag, expect two-plus hours to exit lots, so linger for the post-race celebrations.
Discover tours, attractions, and unforgettable experiences near Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels.
Book ExperiencesSome links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep MatchTrip free to use.
How to make the most of your Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels trip — inside the gates and beyond
Gates open around 6 AM on Sunday and the ritual starts early: the singing of "Back Home Again in Indiana," the release of thousands of balloons over the front straight, and the rolling three-abreast start behind the pace car — a sight no other race replicates. Build in time to walk Gasoline Alley heritage displays and the Bombardier Pagoda plaza before settling into your seat for the noon green flag. Three-plus hours of racing later, the winner drinks milk in victory lane while the stands empty slowly — the most patient exit in motorsport.
Trackside concessions keep race-day prices honest — burgers, brats and tenderloin sandwiches under stadium-event pricing, and you can bring a sealed water bottle through most gates. Downtown is where Indianapolis eats well: St. Elmo Steak House's legendary shrimp cocktail (order the double), Mass Ave's restaurant row for anything from Neapolitan pizza to modern Midwestern, and City Market for quick daytime fuel. The Indiana pork tenderloin sandwich is the state's signature order — bigger than the plate.
Inside the oval between Turns 1 and 2 — race cars from every era, including the Marmon Wasp that won the first 500 in 1911, and decades of Borg-Warner trophies. Allow two hours; entry is timed on race week.
Downtown's walkable core — the Soldiers and Sailors Monument observation deck, then the three-mile Canal Walk past museums. The best non-race half-day in the city.
Pedal boats, the Indianapolis Zoo and green space along the river, a ten-minute walk from downtown hotels. Good for stretching legs between Carb Day and race Sunday.
3 days
The sweet spot is Friday-to-Monday: Carb Day (final practice plus the Pit Stop Challenge and a big concert) on Friday, Legends Day Saturday, and the race Sunday. Add a fourth day for the Speedway Museum and downtown, or fly out Tuesday morning when Monday airport crowds thin out.
Quick answers about attending Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels
Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels takes place May 2027 in Indianapolis.
Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels is held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in host cities including Indianapolis.
Tickets for Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels typically cost $60 – $1500.
Recommended places to stay include Downtown Indianapolis and Speedway / 16th Street.
The recommended way to get there is by Flight. Indianapolis International (IND) is 15 min from downtown. Nonstop flights from most major US hubs.
Downtown Indianapolis is the best base — free race-day shuttles to the Speedway, walkable dining on Mass Ave and the Canal Walk, and 10-15 minutes by car to the gates. The Speedway/16th Street area is closest but has limited hotel inventory that sells out months ahead, while airport-area Plainfield hotels suit short one-night stays.
Plan on a 3-day weekend: Carb Day with final practice and concerts on Friday, Legends Day festivities Saturday, and the race on Sunday. Racing purists add practice and qualifying weekend the week before, and a museum visit deserves an extra half-day.
IND airport is about 20 minutes from the Speedway and 15 from downtown. The simplest plan is to head downtown first, then use the free race-day shuttles from downtown hotels to the IMS gates — allow 60-90 minutes each way on race day due to traffic.
The IMS Museum inside the oval is the essential stop, plus Monument Circle, the Canal Walk, and White River State Park downtown. The 500 Festival Parade runs downtown on race-eve Saturday.
Last Updated: August 2026
Official sources for schedules, tickets and venue details
The official Indy 500 2027 Guide: IMS Tickets & Indianapolis Hotels website — schedules, news and event-day information.
indy500.com → Official ticketsThe primary official ticket seller — release dates, seat categories and face-value prices.
ims.com → Venue informationOfficial venue details — seating maps, transport options and visitor guidance.
ims.com →Always buy through official channels — tickets from unofficial sellers may be invalid, duplicated or overpriced.
Planning guides from MatchTrip
Compare prices across airlines and hotels. We may earn a small commission when you book through our links.