{ "tenant": "austin-f1", "route": "/austin-and-hill-country", "destination": { "slug": "austin-f1", "name": "United States Grand Prix", "destinationName": "Austin", "guideType": "race-travel", "destination": { "city": "Austin", "country": "United States", "region": "Texas", "coordinates": [ -97.6411, 30.1328 ], "timezone": "America/Chicago", "currency": "USD" }, "race": { "name": "United States Grand Prix", "circuitName": "Circuit of the Americas", "circuitType": "permanent-circuit", "governingSeries": "Formula One", "editorialRelationship": "independent-unofficial-guide", "year": 2026, "dateLabel": "23–25 October 2026", "dateConfidence": "confirmed", "dateNote": "F1 practice, qualifying and the Grand Prix run 23–25 October. Thursday 22 October activities have separate admission conditions.", "series": "Formula One", "relationship": "Independent, unofficial travel guide", "officialUrl": "https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2026/united-states", "lapLengthKm": 5.513, "laps": 56, "turns": 20 }, "edition": { "year": 2026, "status": "calendar-confirmed", "verificationRequired": true } }, "scope": "Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability.", "data": { "surface": { "id": "extended", "route": "/austin-and-hill-country", "eyebrow": "Austin F1 / Extra days", "title": "Austin and the Hill Country:", "emphasis": "three realistic extension days.", "lede": "Add South Austin and Driftwood, Lockhart, or Johnson City without crowding the three COTA days.", "heading": "Build one coherent day at a time.", "body": "Each plan has a clear anchor, a meal or second visit, a weather fallback and an arranged return to Austin. Exact venue and park pins appear with their individual guides; broad town-centre pins are not used.", "disclaimer": "Regional public transport is not presented as a race-week solution. Reserve park entry where required, check ordinary opening against your date and arrange both road journeys before leaving Austin.", "categories": [ "local-and-casual-dining", "adventure-active-and-sport", "cultural-districts", "landmarks-and-gardens" ], "briefings": [ { "id": "austin-local-area-days", "eyebrow": "Three extra-day plans", "title": "Choose one area, then leave room for the return", "facts": [ { "label": "South Austin and Driftwood", "value": "Start with the Wildflower Center, then continue to the original Salt Lick. Pre-purchase the garden and arrange a car or driver for both directions. Keep one driver alcohol-free. The Blanton is the city fallback if weather or transport makes the regional plan unsuitable." }, { "label": "Lockhart park and barbecue", "value": "Reserve Lockhart State Park, walk before the heat of the day and choose Black’s or Kreuz as the main meal. A second smokehouse works as a shared tasting stop, not another full lunch. Keep the Monday plan here: both restaurants and the park publish Monday opening." }, { "label": "Johnson City and the Hill Country", "value": "On Wednesday–Saturday, pair Science Mill with the nearby NPS visitor centre. Pedernales Falls is a separate outdoor anchor: reserve entry and replace part of the museum day rather than stacking all three visits." }, { "label": "Family and indoor fallback", "value": "Science Mill is the family-focused indoor option from Wednesday to Saturday. The Blanton is the central Austin fallback Tuesday–Sunday and is closed Monday. Check the selected date before cancelling a road plan." }, { "label": "Cars, drivers and alcohol", "value": "These extensions need a pre-booked car, rental vehicle or driver. Agree the pickup, final Austin drop-off and any waiting time in advance. Do not combine tasting or drinks with driving." }, { "label": "Protect the race weekend", "value": "Keep Friday–Sunday clear for COTA. Use Monday–Wednesday after the race for extensions, or add them before Thursday. Do not place a substantial regional day between a late concert return and an early circuit departure." } ], "note": "Opening hours are ordinary schedules, not a guarantee for every race-week date. 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days.*\n\nAdd South Austin and Driftwood, Lockhart, or Johnson City without crowding the three COTA days.\n\n[Back to the guide]()\n\nAustin F1 / Extra days\n\n### Build one coherent day at a time.\n\nEach plan has a clear anchor, a meal or second visit, a weather fallback and an arranged return to Austin. Exact venue and park pins appear with their individual guides; broad town-centre pins are not used.\n\nThree extra-day plans\n\n### Choose one area, then leave room for the return\n\nSouth Austin and Driftwood\n\nStart with the Wildflower Center, then continue to the original Salt Lick. Pre-purchase the garden and arrange a car or driver for both directions. Keep one driver alcohol-free. The Blanton is the city fallback if weather or transport makes the regional plan unsuitable.\n\nLockhart park and barbecue\n\nReserve Lockhart State Park, walk before the heat of the day and choose Black’s or Kreuz as the main meal. A second smokehouse works as a shared tasting stop, not another full lunch. Keep the Monday plan here: both restaurants and the park publish Monday opening.\n\nJohnson City and the Hill Country\n\nOn Wednesday–Saturday, pair Science Mill with the nearby NPS visitor centre. Pedernales Falls is a separate outdoor anchor: reserve entry and replace part of the museum day rather than stacking all three visits.\n\nFamily and indoor fallback\n\nScience Mill is the family-focused indoor option from Wednesday to Saturday. The Blanton is the central Austin fallback Tuesday–Sunday and is closed Monday. Check the selected date before cancelling a road plan.\n\nCars, drivers and alcohol\n\nThese extensions need a pre-booked car, rental vehicle or driver. Agree the pickup, final Austin drop-off and any waiting time in advance. Do not combine tasting or drinks with driving.\n\nProtect the race weekend\n\nKeep Friday–Sunday clear for COTA. Use Monday–Wednesday after the race for extensions, or add them before Thursday. Do not place a substantial regional day between a late concert return and an early circuit departure.\n\nOpening hours are ordinary schedules, not a guarantee for every race-week date. Reserve state-park entry, recheck alerts and confirm every regional return before departure.\n\n[Save the seven-night Austin extension →]()[Compare every Austin and Hill Country visit →]()[Plan COTA transport separately →]()\n\nChoose your budget\n\nUsing your saved trip budget. Free and essential options can suit every tier.\n\n### Circuit of the Americas\n\nMap layers Find on map\n\n**Loading the map** Find your bearings in a moment.\n\nUnited States Grand Prix / Austin F1 / Extra days\n\n#### Austin and the Hill Country:\n\n1. 1\n\n **Terry Black’s Barbecue · Austin** Barton Springs Road\n2. 2\n\n **Franklin Barbecue** East 11th Street\n3. 3\n\n **The Salt Lick · Driftwood** Driftwood, Texas Hill Country\n4. 4\n\n **Barton Springs Pool** Zilker Park\n5. 5\n\n **Texas State Capitol** Capitol complex\n6. 6\n\n **Bullock Texas State History Museum** Capitol district\n7. 7\n\n **Congress Avenue Bridge · bat watching** Lady Bird Lake\n8. 8\n\n **Jo’s Coffee · Downtown** Downtown · Second Street\n9. 9\n\n **Veracruz All Natural · The LINE** Downtown · Congress Avenue\n10. 10\n\n **Bouldin Creek Cafe** South Austin · Bouldin Creek\n11. 11\n\n **Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center** Southwest Austin\n12. 12\n\n **Blanton Museum of Art** University of Texas\n13. 13\n\n **Black’s Barbecue · Lockhart** Downtown Lockhart\n14. 14\n\n **Kreuz Market · Lockhart** North Lockhart\n15. 15\n\n **Lockhart State Park** Southwest Lockhart\n16. 16\n\n **Science Mill · Johnson City** Johnson City\n17. 17\n\n **LBJ Visitor Center · Johnson City** Johnson City historic district\n18. 18\n\n **Pedernales Falls State Park** Texas Hill Country\n19. 19\n\n **Kemuri Tatsu-ya** East Austin · East 2nd Street\n\nPlaces to consider\n\n### 19 places and\n*planning leads.*\n\nRegional public transport is not presented as a race-week solution. Reserve park entry where required, check ordinary opening against your date and arrange both road journeys before leaving Austin.\n\n01\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Terry Black’s Barbecue · Austin\n\nShare brisket, ribs and sides, or book a separate pit-tour experience.\n\nBarton Springs Road\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n02\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Franklin Barbecue\n\nMake lunch the main event at Franklin, with time for the queue.\n\nEast 11th Street\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n03\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### The Salt Lick · Driftwood\n\nTake a free afternoon for barbecue at the original Driftwood restaurant.\n\nDriftwood, Texas Hill Country\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n04\n\nActive & outdoor breaks\n\n#### Barton Springs Pool\n\nSwim in the spring-fed pool during a free part of your Austin trip.\n\nZilker Park\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n05\n\nMuseums & heritage\n\n#### Texas State Capitol\n\nTake a free guided tour or explore the Capitol at your own pace.\n\nCapitol complex\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n06\n\nMuseums & heritage\n\n#### Bullock Texas State History Museum\n\nExplore Texas history indoors, with film screenings available separately.\n\nCapitol district\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n07\n\nLandmarks & outdoors\n\n#### Congress Avenue Bridge · bat watching\n\nEnjoy the waterfront and watch for bats, with modest expectations in late October.\n\nLady Bird Lake\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n08\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Jo’s Coffee · Downtown\n\nGet coffee and a cooked breakfast in the Second Street District before starting your day.\n\nDowntown · Second Street\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n09\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Veracruz All Natural · The LINE\n\nPick up tacos and fresh juice at The LINE’s Congress Avenue window or eat inside.\n\nDowntown · Congress Avenue\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n10\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Bouldin Creek Cafe\n\nMake room for a vegetarian or vegan meal and coffee on South 1st Street.\n\nSouth Austin · Bouldin Creek\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n11\n\nLandmarks & outdoors\n\n#### Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center\n\nWalk native-plant gardens and trails on a separate South Austin half-day.\n\nSouthwest Austin\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n12\n\nMuseums & heritage\n\n#### Blanton Museum of Art\n\nKeep an indoor Austin art visit ready for heat, rain or a shorter city day.\n\nUniversity of Texas\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n13\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Black’s Barbecue · Lockhart\n\nChoose the original Lockhart dining room for a flexible barbecue stop.\n\nDowntown Lockhart\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n14\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Kreuz Market · Lockhart\n\nTry a historic Lockhart market meal without turning the day into a rushed checklist.\n\nNorth Lockhart\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n15\n\nActive & outdoor breaks\n\n#### Lockhart State Park\n\nAdd a reserved park walk before barbecue on a full Lockhart day.\n\nSouthwest Lockhart\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n16\n\nMuseums & heritage\n\n#### Science Mill · Johnson City\n\nUse a hands-on indoor museum as the family anchor for a Johnson City day.\n\nJohnson City\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n17\n\nMuseums & heritage\n\n#### LBJ Visitor Center · Johnson City\n\nStart the Johnson City heritage visit with NPS orientation, exhibits and films.\n\nJohnson City historic district\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n18\n\nActive & outdoor breaks\n\n#### Pedernales Falls State Park\n\nReserve a Hill Country walking day with flash-flood and swimming limits understood.\n\nTexas Hill Country\n\n[Venue information ↗]()\n\n19\n\nLocal & casual dining\n\n#### Kemuri Tatsu-ya\n\nMix Japanese izakaya flavours with Texas smokehouse cooking in a relaxed East Austin evening.\n\nEast Austin · East 2nd Street\n\n[Venue information ↗]()" }