Quick Summary
- Race weekend: Saturday, Oct 17 and Sunday, Oct 18, 2026, with a NASCAR Mexico Series Chase race each day. The promoter’s free car display and driver autograph session is in Progreso on Thursday, Oct 15, 6–8 PM, and at Plaza Grande in central Mérida on Friday, Oct 16, 7–9 PM
- Track: Autódromo Yucatán “Emerson Fittipaldi”, Km 24 of the Mérida–Progreso highway (Hwy 261)
- Airport: Mérida International (MID), about 45 minutes by car from the track
- From the airport: airport taxi, ADO bus, four rental-car desks, or Uber, which says it serves MID
- Getting to the track: about 15 to 45 minutes by car from Mérida hotels and about 25 from Progreso’s seafront. The promoter hasn’t published parking, shuttle or public-transport details, but it lists three taxi lines with preferential access to the track. Plan on a car or a taxi
- Where to stay: Mérida for the city, Progreso for the beach. The promoter lists 31 partner hotels
- Tickets: MX$750 plus fees for both days, from The Hive Tickets (the authorized seller), its partner businesses in Mérida or the box office at the track
- Safety: Yucatán is one of two Mexican states the US State Department rates Level 1, its lowest advisory level
NASCAR Mexico in Yucatán: Travel Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | NASCAR Mexico Series Chase races 2 and 3: the “Aurora Networks – Ruckus Networks, Yucatán 120” on Sat, Oct 17 and the “Gran Premio Yucatán 200” on Sun, Oct 18, 2026 |
| Track | Autódromo Yucatán “Emerson Fittipaldi”, Km 24 of the Mérida–Progreso highway (Hwy 261), Progreso municipality |
| Nearest airport | Mérida International (MID), about 45 minutes by car from the track |
| Airport transport | Airport taxi and four rental-car desks on the lower floor; ADO bus ticket counter on the upper floor |
| Gates open | 10:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday, with activities until 8:00 PM, per the promoter’s Oct 11 public programme (NASCAR México earlier said 9:00 AM). Races start at 3:40 PM Saturday and 1:40 PM Sunday (local time), per its Oct 8 schedule |
| Drive to the track | About 45 minutes from Mérida’s historic center, 15 from north Mérida and 25 from Progreso’s Malecón, per Google Maps |
| Parking and shuttles | Not published by the promoter as of Oct 12, 2026. We checked its website and its Instagram. It does list three taxi lines with preferential access to the track (Oct 12) |
| Tickets | General grandstand MX$750 plus fees, valid both days; VIP box MX$5,000; a Hospitality ticket adds pit access |
| Paying at the track | Cashless: debit or credit card or Apple Pay. YOSHI reverse ATMs turn cash into a QR code, per the promoter (Oct 7, 2026) |
| Facts verified | October 2, 2026, against the promoter, NASCAR México, the ticket seller, the airport operator and Google Maps |
The NASCAR Mexico Series races in Yucatán for the first time on Oct 17–18, 2026, and it brings two Chase races instead of one. The track sits on the highway between Mérida, the state capital, and the beach town of Progreso, so this is a fly-in trip with a short drive at the end. This guide covers the airport, the ride to your hotel, getting to the track, where to stay and what the promoter hasn’t told fans yet.
Which airport do you fly into for the Gran Premio Yucatán 200?
Mérida International Airport (MID). It’s the closest airport to Autódromo Yucatán, about 45 minutes away by car. The airport is run by ASUR, the group that also runs Cancún’s airport.
We haven’t verified which US cities have nonstop flights to Mérida this October, so check your airline. US citizens need a passport to fly to Mexico and don’t need a visa for a tourist stay.
How do you get from Mérida airport to your hotel?
ASUR lists these ground-transport services inside the terminal. It doesn’t publish fares, so ask the price before you ride.
| Option | Where to find it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Airport taxi | Lower floor of the terminal | The airport’s own ground-transport service. ASUR doesn’t list fares |
| ADO bus | Ticket counter on the upper floor | ASUR doesn’t list the routes. Check ADO for where the airport buses stop |
| Rental car | Europcar, National, Executive and Hertz desks on the lower floor | The most practical choice for the track. Mexican liability insurance is mandatory on rentals |
| Uber | In the app | Uber says it runs in Mérida around the clock and offers MID airport pickups and dropoffs |
How do you get to Autódromo Yucatán on race day?
By car. The track is at Km 24 of the Mérida–Progreso highway (Hwy 261), between the two towns and closer to Progreso. The promoter’s FAQ page links a Google Maps pin for the track, and Google Maps reaches that pin by leaving the highway and driving about 4 km (2.5 miles) east on local roads. So the gate isn’t at the roadside.
Here is how long the drive takes from the places fans are most likely to stay.
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Mérida historic center (Plaza Grande) | 34 km (21 miles) | 46 minutes |
| Mérida, Paseo de Montejo (Monumento a la Patria) | 29 km (18 miles) | 37 minutes |
| North Mérida (Tecnohotel Mérida Norte, Km 11 of the highway) | 18 km (11 miles) | 15 minutes |
| Progreso, Malecón | 16 km (10 miles) | 24 minutes |
| Mérida airport (MID) | 40 km (25 miles) | 38 minutes |
These are Google Maps driving estimates to the promoter’s pin, checked early on the afternoon of Friday, Oct 2, 2026. Allow more time on race mornings, when everyone is heading to the same turnoff.
Is there a bus? Autoprogreso buses run between Mérida and Progreso all day. Yucatán news site POSTA reported in July 2026 that they leave the terminal on Calle 62, between Calles 65 and 67 in central Mérida, every 15 minutes, that the terminal is open from 6 AM to 10 PM, and that a one-way ticket costs MX$28. We haven’t confirmed where those buses stop along the highway, and the gate is still about 4 km from it. Don’t count on the bus unless the promoter announces a connection.
What’s still missing. As of Oct 12, 2026, the promoter hasn’t published anything about parking at the track, shuttles from Mérida or Progreso, or public transport to the gate. We checked its website and its Instagram account, @gp.yucatan. We’ll add those details here when it does.
Taxis with preferential access. On Oct 12, 2026 the promoter posted three taxi lines, all from the Frente Único de Trabajadores del Volante (FUTV) drivers’ union, with preferential access to the track: Central de Taxis 999 924 6058, Radio Taxi 999 495 0348 and Mi Taxi 999 441 7070. Call and say “Voy al Gran Premio Yucatán 200”. The promoter didn’t publish fares, so ask the price before you ride, and book your ride back too.
Our advice: plan on a car. Rent one at the airport, or book a taxi or app ride and settle how you’re getting back before you leave your hotel, because the track sits out in the countryside between the two towns. NASCAR México says the gates open to the public at 9:00 AM on both days.
Should you stay in Mérida or Progreso?
Either works. The track lies between them.
- Mérida is the bigger base, with a colonial center, a well-known food scene and Maya sites within day-trip range. It’s also where the airport is.
- Progreso is the beach option, and it hosts Thursday’s free car display and driver autograph session on the Malecón.
The promoter publishes a list of partner hotels. On Oct 2, 2026 it had 31: 23 in Mérida, five in Progreso, two in nearby Chelem and one in Izamal. One of the Mérida hotels, Tecnohotel Mérida Norte, gives its address as Km 11 of the same Mérida–Progreso highway the track is on, about 15 minutes from the track by Google Maps. The list gives contact details but no prices, and we haven’t checked rates or availability.
Staying at a partner hotel can also save you money on tickets. The promoter said on Instagram on Sept 30 that guests of its partner hotels can use the code HOTELES for a ticket discount, while the discounted tickets last. It didn’t say how big the discount is.
What does the race weekend look like?
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 15, 6–8 PM | Free NASCAR car display and driver autograph session on the Malecón de Progreso, next to the “Progreso” letters |
| Fri, Oct 16, 7–9 PM | Free NASCAR car display and driver autograph session at Plaza Grande, central Mérida |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Practice, qualifying and race 1, the “Aurora Networks – Ruckus Networks, Yucatán 120” (the make-up for the rained-out Monterrey round), then the awards ceremony |
| Sun, Oct 18 | Race 2, the “Gran Premio Yucatán 200” and the Chase semifinal, plus NASCAR Challenge Series and Trucks México races |
The promoter’s public programme, posted Oct 11, says the gates open at 10:00 AM on both Saturday and Sunday and that activities run until 8:00 PM; NASCAR México’s earlier announcement said 9:00 AM. The programme also lists Trucks México Series support races (a sprint race at 2:00 PM Saturday and a race at 11:30 AM Sunday) and a fan-zone show after each NASCAR race. NASCAR México’s Oct 8 schedule has the Yucatán 120 at 3:40 PM on Saturday and the Gran Premio Yucatán 200 at 1:40 PM on Sunday, with Sunday’s warm-up at 8:20 AM (local time). The Gran Premio Yucatán 200 race page lists every session, converted to US time zones.
Correction, Oct 11, 2026: this page said the NASCAR car display in Progreso was on Friday, Oct 16, the date a local news report gave in September. The promoter, Gran Premio Yucatán, now lists it on Thursday, Oct 15, 6–8 PM, on the Malecón de Progreso, with a driver autograph session, and says it is free.
Our suggestion: land in Mérida by Thursday afternoon if you want to catch the car display in Progreso, by Friday afternoon for the one at Plaza Grande in Mérida, or by Friday for the races alone, and fly home on Monday, Oct 19. NASCAR México schedules Sunday’s race to end around 3:20 PM, but any delay pushes that later, so a Sunday-night flight is still a gamble. That makes it a three- or four-night trip.
What do tickets cost, and where do you buy them?
A general grandstand ticket costs MX$750 plus fees, about US$39 at 19 pesos to the dollar. It covers both days and puts you on the main straight, with access to the fan zone. It doesn’t include the pits, the paddock or the VIP areas. A VIP box seat costs MX$5,000 and includes food, drinks and a screen showing the broadcast. For the pits, the promoter sells a Hospitality ticket that includes pit access, but its price isn’t published: The Hive Tickets, the authorized seller, lists only the general grandstand and the VIP box.
Bring a card: the promoter says the whole event is cashless, with debit and credit cards and Apple Pay taken everywhere. Cash still works if you load it first at one of the YOSHI reverse ATMs on site, which give you a QR code to pay with.
One child aged 6 or under gets in free with each adult holding a paid general grandstand ticket.
The promoter says The Hive Tickets is the only authorized seller and that it isn’t responsible for tickets bought anywhere else. Since Sept 30 it has also sold tickets in person at six partner businesses in Mérida, listed on its site. On Oct 14 the promoter added that tickets are also sold at the box office (taquillas) at Autódromo Yucatán.
What can you bring into Autódromo Yucatán?
The promoter published its list on Oct 14, 2026. Food and drinks can’t come in, so plan to buy at the track, where payment is cashless (see above).
You can bring:
- Your ticket, with its QR code downloaded to your phone
- A phone and a portable battery
- A cap or hat, sunglasses and non-flammable sunscreen
- Ear protection, especially for children
- Essential personal medication
- A card and cash for purchases
- Umbrellas
You can’t bring:
- Food or drinks
- Coolers
- Portable chairs or stools
- Weapons or sharp objects
- Illegal substances
- Glass bottles or containers
- Fireworks, flares or explosives
- Drones
- Speakers or devices that disturb other spectators
- Anything that could be thrown as a projectile
- Professional cameras or equipment without authorization
Is Yucatán safe for race fans?
The US State Department rates Yucatán state Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions”, in its Mexico advisory issued May 29, 2026. Only Yucatán and neighboring Campeche get that rating. Most of Mexico’s other race destinations are Level 2. Our guide to attending a race in Mexico safely covers the precautions that apply everywhere.
FAQ
Can you bring an umbrella, food or a cooler to the Yucatán NASCAR race?
An umbrella, yes; food, drinks and coolers, no. The promoter’s Oct 14 list of what you can bring includes umbrellas, a cap or hat, sunglasses, non-flammable sunscreen, ear protection (especially for children), a portable battery, essential personal medication, and a card and cash. It bans food or drinks, coolers, portable chairs or stools, glass, drones, speakers, fireworks, weapons and professional cameras without authorization.
What airport is closest to Autódromo Yucatán?
Mérida International Airport (MID), about 45 minutes from the track by car.
Is there parking or a shuttle at Autódromo Yucatán for the NASCAR race?
The promoter hasn’t published parking, shuttle or public-transport details as of Oct 12, 2026, on its website or in its Instagram posts. Plan on a rental car, a taxi or an app ride, and arrange your trip back in advance. On Oct 12 the promoter posted three taxi lines with preferential access to the track: Central de Taxis 999 924 6058, Radio Taxi 999 495 0348 and Mi Taxi 999 441 7070 (say “Voy al Gran Premio Yucatán 200”).
How far is Autódromo Yucatán from Mérida and Progreso?
By Google Maps, the track is 34 km (21 miles) and about 45 minutes by car from Mérida’s historic center, 18 km (11 miles) and about 15 minutes from the north edge of Mérida, and 16 km (10 miles) and about 25 minutes from Progreso’s Malecón.
Can you take a bus to Autódromo Yucatán?
Not that we can confirm. Autoprogreso buses run between Mérida and Progreso all day, but we haven’t confirmed where they stop along the highway, and the track gate is about 4 km off it. The promoter hasn’t announced a shuttle.
Can you use Uber in Mérida?
Yes. Uber says it operates in Mérida 24 hours a day and offers pickups and dropoffs at Mérida airport. We haven’t confirmed how easy it is to get a ride back from the track after a race.
Is it better to stay in Mérida or Progreso for the NASCAR race?
Mérida suits most visitors: it has the airport, more hotels and more to do. Pick Progreso if you want the beach and Thursday’s car display on your doorstep. The track is on the highway between the two.
Yucatán Race Trip Planner
Sources: Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – what you can and can’t bring (Oct 14, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – tickets at the track box office (Oct 14, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – taxis with preferential access (Oct 12, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – public programme (Oct 11, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – Mérida fan event (Oct 11, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – Progreso fan event (Oct 10, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – cashless venue (Oct 7, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram – Hospitality ticket (Oct 8, 2026) · NASCAR México – Yucatán race-weekend schedule (Oct 8, 2026) · Gran Premio Yucatán · Gran Premio Yucatán – FAQ · Gran Premio Yucatán – Where to stay · Gran Premio Yucatán – Ticket sale points · Gran Premio Yucatán on Instagram · Google Maps – the promoter’s pin for the track · POSTA – Mérida to Progreso by bus · NASCAR México – Yucatán doubleheader · The Hive Tickets · ASUR – Mérida airport ground transportation · Uber – Mérida · RacingCircuits.info – Autódromo Yucatán · Yucatán al Instante · US State Department – Mexico Travel Advisory · NASCAR México on Instagram – race names (Oct 5, 2026). Facts verified October 2026; Progreso fan event updated October 11, 2026; Mérida fan event, gate time and public programme added October 12, 2026.
Cite this page: Race.mx, “NASCAR Mexico in Yucatán: Getting There & Where to Stay (2026)”, race.mx/nascar-mexico-yucatan-travel-guide/ (updated ).