SportsIndianapolis, IN

Where to Stay for the 2027 Indianapolis 500

Race Day is Sunday, May 30, 2027. Carb Day is May 28. The 500 Festival Parade is May 29 downtown. Book Speedway for the track, downtown for the parade — not one generic Indianapolis hotel.

VenueIndianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway IN
Next EditionSunday, May 30, 2027 — 111th Running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (indianapolismotorspeedway.com)
DurationRace Day is Sunday; hotel demand runs from Grand Prix weekend through Memorial Day Monday

About Indy 500

The 111th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is Sunday, May 30, 2027 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th Street. The race is one day. The hotel problem is the Month of May: Open Test, the Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course, practice, qualifying, Carb Day, Legends Day, the downtown 500 Festival Parade, and Race Day with the Coors Light Snake Pit in Turn 3. Speedway hotels (Hampton, Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express west) are for track mornings. Downtown (JW, Conrad, Alexander, Hyatt, Omni Severin) is for the parade and the city. Nothing off-site is a walk to the bricks.

2027 The Event

What's happening

  • 111th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge — Sunday, May 30, 2027
  • Sonsio Grand Prix Race Day — Saturday, May 15, 2027 (IMS road course)

Also on the calendar

  • Indy 500 Open Test — Tuesday–Wednesday, May 4–5 (NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule)
  • IU Health 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Delta Dental 5K — Saturday, May 8 downtown (500festival.com)
  • Sonsio Grand Prix practice and qualifying — Friday, May 14
  • INDY NXT by Firestone — Saturday, May 15 with Grand Prix Race Day
  • Indy 500 Practice — weekdays May 18–21 and Monday, May 24
  • PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend — Saturday–Sunday, May 22–23
  • Miller Lite Carb Day — Friday, May 28 (final practice, Pit Stop Competition, concert)
  • Legends Day — Saturday, May 29 at IMS (full-field autographs, Public Drivers’ Meeting)
  • Lucas Oil 500 Festival Parade — Saturday, May 29 downtown; festivities 11:45 a.m., parade noon (500festival.com)
  • Coors Light Snake Pit — Race Day, Turn 3 (2027 lineup not posted at check)

Month of May 2027 dates are posted on indianapolismotorspeedway.com (future schedule) and 500festival.com. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES Phase One 2027 schedule lists Open Test May 4–5, Sonsio Grand Prix May 15, and the 500 on May 30, live on FOX. Green-flag time for 2027 was not listed on the IMS future-schedule page at check. Facts checked August 19, 2026.

Tickets

Confirm live on indianapolismotorspeedway.com — Race Day, Carb Day, qualifying, and Grand Prix are sold separately; children 15 and under free with an adult general-admission ticket per IMS

Where to get them: indianapolismotorspeedway.com — tickets, Bronze/Silver badges for practice days, Snake Pit; 500festival.com for parade and Mini-Marathon

A Race Day ticket is not a Carb Day ticket. Practice days use Bronze or Silver badges (not valid for Grand Prix or Race Day). Downtown parade tickets are a 500 Festival product, not IMS.

Hotel Booking Strategy

Best time to book6–9 months ahead for Speedway hotels on qualifying and race weekends; downtown for parade Saturday as soon as those dates are firm
Typical rate increaseRace weekend (May 28–31) is the steepest compression. Qualifying weekend (May 22–24) is next. Grand Prix weekend (May 14–16) and Mini weekend (May 7–9) are lighter but still not a normal May Tuesday.
  • Book Hampton or Courtyard Speedway if you will be at IMS for practice, qualifying, Carb Day, and the green flag
  • Book JW, Conrad, Hyatt, Alexander, or Omni if Saturday is the downtown parade and Sunday is a transfer
  • Do not assume one hotel covers Mini-Marathon (May 8), Grand Prix (May 15), qualifying (May 22–23), and race weekend — those are four different stays
  • Race weekend block: Friday May 28 through Monday May 31
  • Qualifying weekend block: Friday May 21 through Monday May 24
  • Grand Prix block: Friday May 14 through Sunday May 16
  • Treat TripSignal off-peak rates as planning anchors, not Carb Day quotes

Related booking guides

Hotels near Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaySpeedway hotel listDowntown hotel listIndy 500 hotel guideIndianapolis hotel signals
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Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Indianapolis 500?

Sunday, May 30, 2027 — the 111th Running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Posted on indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

What else happens that month?

Open Test May 4–5. Mini-Marathon May 8 downtown. Sonsio Grand Prix May 14–15. Practice May 18–21 and 24. Qualifying May 22–23. Carb Day May 28. Legends Day and the 500 Festival Parade May 29. Race Day and Snake Pit May 30.

Should I stay in Speedway or downtown?

Speedway if IMS mornings are the trip. Downtown if Saturday is the parade (noon, May 29) and you will transfer to the track on Sunday.

When should I book a hotel for the 2027 Indy 500?

Book 6–9 months ahead for May 22–23 and May 28–31. Do not reuse a Mini-Marathon or Grand Prix reservation for Race weekend — those are different stays.

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