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VIR
ALTON

Plan Your Visit

From where you are
to 944Fest

Where You're Headed

Southern Virginia, near the North Carolina line.

Virginia International Raceway is in Alton, Virginia, tucked into the southern part of the state, close to the North Carolina border. It's not on the way to anywhere in particular, which is part of the appeal. The drive in is mostly two-lane road through countryside.

1245 Pine Tree Road, Alton, VA 24520

Map It

If You're Driving

From most of the East Coast, it's a single tank.

From the Mid-atlantic

Washington, D.C.

~4 hrs

I-95 south, then west on 58. The last stretch is rural. Fuel up before the final hour.

From the Carolinas

Charlotte, NC

~3 hrs

North on I-85, then east. Quiet roads once you're off the interstate.

From the South

Atlanta, GA

~6 hrs

Straight up I-85 through the Carolinas, east on 58 at the end. Long day, easy directions.

From Florida

Jacksonville, FL

~8 hrs

I-95 north through Georgia and the Carolinas, then cut west into Virginia.

From the Northeast

New York City

~8 hrs

I-95 the whole way down, mostly autopilot until you cut west past Richmond. Plenty of Northeast plates in the paddock.

From the Midwest

Cleveland, OH

~8 hrs

The original 944Fest hometown. South through West Virginia, east into Virginia.

If You're Flying

Three airports. Pick your tradeoff.

Plenty of attendees fly in and rent a car for the weekend. A few rent something interesting. There is no wrong answer here.

GSO

Greensboro

~1.2 hrs

Closest of the three. Smaller airport, fewer direct flights, but the shortest drive once you land.

RDU

Raleigh-Durham

~1.7 hrs

More direct flights, especially from the Northeast and Midwest. Plenty of rental options.

RIC

Richmond

~2 hrs

Furthest of the three but a fine option from the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic.

If You're Trailering

Roll in heavy. Park easy.

Plenty of attendees trailer their cars in, especially HPDE drivers and people coming from far away. VIR has a trailer drop area where you can unhook and park your trailer separate from your camping or lodging spot.

If you're trailering, plan to arrive Thursday afternoon if you can. Setup is much easier in daylight, and you'll catch the Transaxle Lounge that evening.

  • → Enter through the main gate; trailer drop area is signed once you're inside.
  • → Plan a Thursday afternoon arrival. Daylight setup is much easier.
  • → Paddock garages bookable directly through VIR if you want a covered work area.

When You Arrive

First gate.
First tent.
Then breathe.

  1. 01

    the FRONT gate.

    Gates open Thursday at 5:30 PM. You'll be on the gate list if you're registered. Sign the waiver and come in.

  2. 02

    Sign in at The Gallery.

    Get your wristband, goodie bag, t-shirt, and the five door-prize raffle tickets that go in your bag.

  3. 03

    Drop your stuff.

    Camping spot, lodge room, villa, or trailer drop. Head to wherever you're sleeping and unload.

  4. 04

    Walk into the Lounge.

    Oak Tree Tavern. Open to every registrant, no ticket. Sit down, say what you brought, the rest takes care of itself.

Pre-Trip Checklist

Don't forget these.

  • ☐ Driver's license & registration confirmation
  • ☐ Helmet (Snell SA2015 or Newer) if doing HPDE
  • ☐ Long natural-fiber pants & closed-toe shoes for HPDE days
  • ☐ Tent + sleeping bag + warm layers (early September can swing cool overnight)
  • ☐ Folding camping chair
  • ☐ Camera, sunscreen, water, bugspray, the usual outdoor weekend kit
  • ☐ Leave the radar detector at home. They're illegal in Virginia, and the troopers on I-95 know it.

Got the route. Now lock in your spot.

Register for 944Fest 2026