Bristol Motor Speedway is about 45 minutes from Monarch Mountain Cabins in Elizabethton in ordinary traffic — close enough for a race day, far enough that you are not sleeping in a hotel parking-lot party. Two private cabins, each with a hot tub, sit on five wooded acres. After 500 laps at “the Last Great Colosseum,” that is the point.
The next NASCAR Cup date at Bristol is the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, September 19, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET). Support races that weekend include the Truck/ARCA programs on September 17 and the Food City 300 (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) on September 18. The spring Food City 500 (April 12, 2026) has already been run. Always re-check Bristol’s event calendar before you lock flights — support-race times move.
Drive time vs staying in Bristol
| Where | About from the cabins | Race-weekend note |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Motor Speedway | ~45 minutes in ordinary traffic | Plan on more after the checkered flag — Volunteer Parkway / 11E and lot exits back up |
| Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol | ~40 minutes | Night out, then a quiet cabin |
| Downtown Elizabethton | ~10 minutes | Groceries and breakfast without Bristol surge pricing |
| Johnson City | ~25 minutes | More restaurants if Bristol is slammed |
| TRI airport | ~45 minutes | Typical fly-in for race weekend |
On Cup Saturday, treat the drive like a stadium commute: leave earlier than Google says, screenshot your lot, and do not plan to “just pop back to the cabin between qualifying and the feature.” Come home after the race. The hot tub is the victory lane that does not require a credential.
Why a cabin instead of a Speedway-area hotel
- Hotels within a few miles of the track book out and jump in price on Cup weekends. The cabin is a real drive, not a hop down the street — budget about 45 minutes each way.
- You can cook breakfast for six in Cabin B instead of waiting on a lobby omelet bar
- Pets are welcome with a fee — most Bristol hotels are not that flexible
- Two cabins if two families split one race weekend
- Friday practice / Saturday night still works as a day trip from Elizabethton
If your group wants to walk to a fan zone and never start the car, stay in Bristol. If you want sleep and a soak, book here. More on the track itself: our Bristol Motor Speedway guide. Casino night: Hard Rock Bristol.
How to book a race weekend
Reserve the cabin as soon as you have tickets. Night Race weekends go first. Cabin A for two or three people; Cabin B for a family of four to six. Tell us if you are arriving late after a Friday night show — we will confirm check-in details by email.
Frequently asked questions
Is this walking distance to the Speedway?
No. Plan on about 45 minutes by car in ordinary traffic, and longer when Volunteer Parkway and the lot exits clog after the race.
Can we leave a trailer or extra car?
Ask when you book. There is private parking, but a long trailer needs a heads-up so we do not block the second cabin.
What is the next Cup race?
Bass Pro Shops Night Race, Saturday, September 19, 2026. Spring 2027 dates will post on Bristol’s site when NASCAR releases that schedule.
Also see: Roan Mountain · Watauga Lake · Blue Hole Falls · Laurel Fork Falls · Covered Bridge / downtown · Tweetsie Trail · Bristol Speedway · pet-friendly. Compare Cabin A and Cabin B.
Contact Us: