If you are organizing a group trip to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, the question that always comes up is simple: how does everyone get there together without someone ending up lost on Cherry Avenue while the green flag drops? Getting 20, 30, or 50 fans from San Bernadino to the speedway in a single coordinated move is the difference between a race day that starts at Turn 1 and one that starts in a parking lot scramble on the I-10.

This guide covers everything a group organizer needs to know about the track, its history, the logistics of getting there from the Inland Empire, and how a charter bus out of San Bernadino handles the race-day approach. At Party Bus San Bernadino, we coordinate group transportation to Auto Club Speedway and across San Bernardino County — so the details below come from knowing this route, not from a brochure.

Address

9300 Cherry Ave, Fontana, CA 92335

From San Bernadino

~20 miles · ~25–35 min via I-10 W

Bus parking (historical)

Lot 7A — north of Gate 7, outside Turn 1

Track capacity

122,000 total · 68,000 grandstand seats

Nearest freeway exits

I-10 Cherry Ave or Etiwanda Ave · I-15 Fourth Street east

Current status

Closed for reconstruction — short track project ongoing

What Is Auto Club Speedway?

Auto Club Speedway, 9300 Cherry Ave, Fontana — about 20 miles west of San Bernadino via I-10, tucked into the heart of the Inland Empire.

Auto Club Speedway was Southern California's premier NASCAR destination for more than two decades. Built on the former Kaiser Steel Mill site in unincorporated San Bernardino County near Fontana, the track opened June 20, 1997, and became one of the fastest and most beloved superspeedways on the Cup Series calendar. The 2.0-mile D-shaped oval — with 14-degree banking in the turns and a capacity of 122,000 — hosted sold-out NASCAR weekends every February, drawing fans from across Southern California, the Inland Empire, and as far out as the desert.

The final race on the original 2-mile layout was the 2023 Pala Casino 400 on February 26, 2023, won by Kyle Busch in his first outing with Richard Childress Racing. Since then, the track has been closed for a planned transformation into a half-mile high-banked short track — an entirely new oval layout sometimes described as a hybrid between Bristol and Martinsville, built on the current pit lane and front stretch area. As of mid-2026, that timeline remains uncertain and no firm reopening date has been announced.

NASCAR moved its Southern California racing to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum while the Fontana project takes shape.

Here's why the speedway still belongs in this guide: when the new short track opens, it will draw the same Inland Empire fan base — plus an entirely new audience for close-quarters short-track racing — and the parking, drop-off, and approach logistics will matter just as much as they always did. This guide preserves the verified race-day layout from the track's operational years and walks through what group transportation from San Bernadino looks like both now and when the gates reopen.

Current Status: What's Happening at the Speedway

The original 2-mile oval is gone. Demolition of the track began in late 2023 after NASCAR sold the majority of the roughly 500-acre property to developers. NASCAR retained approximately 90 acres — the core of the front stretch and pit road area — for the short-track project.

Construction has been delayed by cost pressures and competing priorities; as of early 2026, no firm construction start date had been set and no opening window is publicly confirmed.

That means right now, Auto Club Speedway is not hosting NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, or Truck Series events. For Inland Empire fans hungry for motorsports action, the closest options are the NASCAR Clash at the LA Coliseum in Los Angeles and the Street Race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, which joins the 2026 schedule. Both are worth a charter bus from San Bernadino — the LA run is about 60 miles west on I-10, and the San Diego trip is roughly 95 miles south on I-15 — and both are exactly the kind of trips where having a bus handle the parking is a no-brainer.

When the Fontana short track does open, we'll update the logistics in this guide to reflect the new gate layout, bus parking assignments, and approach roads. Until then, the section below preserves the verified operational information from the track's NASCAR years — because the physical address, the freeway exits, and the general approach corridors won't change.

Getting There From San Bernadino: Routes & Drive Times

Auto Club Speedway sits about 20 miles west of downtown San Bernadino — a straightforward Inland Empire run that looks short on paper and can turn into a 45-minute crawl on race day. Here's the honest picture.

From… Approx. distance Normal drive time Race-day reality
Downtown San Bernadino ~20 miles 25–35 min 45–70 min; I-10 Cherry Ave exit backs up hard
Redlands / Loma Linda ~27 miles 30–40 min 50–75 min; same I-10 corridor
Ontario / Rancho Cucamonga ~12–18 miles 15–25 min 30–55 min; I-15 / Fourth Street approach affected
Riverside ~22 miles 25–35 min 45–65 min; SR-60 to I-15 or I-10
Los Angeles (Downtown) ~47 miles 50–70 min 90–120+ min on race day; the I-10 East backs up toward Pomona

The two main access points are the I-10 East via the Cherry Avenue or Etiwanda Avenue exits, and the I-15 South via Fourth Street east toward Cherry Avenue. Both converge in the same half-mile stretch of street before the speedway gates — which is exactly why both get gridlocked when 100,000-plus fans arrive within the same three-hour window. On NASCAR weekend mornings, Cherry Avenue itself slowed to a walking pace for the final mile.

A charter bus from San Bernadino doesn't make traffic disappear. What it does is take the navigation, the parking pass coordination, and the exit scramble completely off your plate. Your group settles in, the route gets taken care of, and everyone arrives at the same gate at the same time rather than trickling in from three different parking lots.

San Bernadino to Auto Club Speedway — roughly 20 miles via I-10 West to Cherry Ave. Race-day traffic on that final approach stretch is what makes the difference between arriving at the gate and sitting in a line.

Drop-Off and Bus Parking at Auto Club Speedway

Here's the logistics detail most group organizers don't find until they're already pulling into Fontana: buses, limousines, taxis, and other shuttling vehicles had their own dedicated staging area at Auto Club Speedway — Lot 7A, located just north of Gate 7 outside of Turn 1. That's not general parking. It's the commercial vehicle zone, separate from fan lots, and it's where a charter bus from San Bernadino would be directed.

The broader parking setup worked on a color-coded pass system. All parking was free on race day, but every vehicle entering the property on NASCAR Sunday needed the correct color-coded pass tied to its assigned gate. Parking gates opened approximately one hour before the admission gates.

Main entrances ran off San Bernardino Avenue, Etiwanda Avenue, and Whittram Avenue — with additional access points on Cherry Avenue itself. Gate 3, on the northeast corner of the property on Cherry Ave., was the route for infield RV camping.

The Lot 7A detail: when the speedway was operational, buses staged at Lot 7A, north of Gate 7 outside Turn 1 — not in the general fan lots. That separation is what kept 50 passengers from hiking across a full parking field to reach the grandstand entrance. When the new short track opens, confirm the bus lot assignment for your specific event date, as the redesigned property may use different lot designations.

One thing worth knowing before any future visit: the original fan guide at autoclubspeedway.com now redirects to NASCAR.com's California page, which means the historical logistics documents are no longer maintained online. When the short track opens, a new fan guide will be published. We always recommend verifying current bus parking zones and approach road conditions directly with the venue before your event date — and when you book with us, confirming those details is part of the process.

Race Day Transportation: Every Option Compared

Fontana isn't flush with alternatives when 100,000 fans converge on a single two-lane surface street. Here's an honest look at how the options stack up for a group coming from San Bernadino or the broader Inland Empire.

Option Arrive together? Parking handled? Best group size Notes
Charter bus / party bus Yes — one vehicle Yes — Lot 7A, coordinated 15–56 One pickup, one drop-off, one post-race pickup. No parking pass scramble.
Metrolink race-day special Only if on the same train Yes — drops at trackside platform Any size, but uncoordinated Race-day only; advance tickets required; tram from platform to gates
Everyone drives separate cars No — caravans split up No — each car needs its own pass 1–5 per vehicle Color-coded pass required; all parking free but gates are specific to your pass
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) No — multiple cars N/A 1–4 per car Surge pricing post-race; drop-off limited on Cherry Ave when streets get controlled

When the speedway was operating, Metrolink ran a dedicated race-day special on its San Bernadino Line — separate from regular weekend service — that stopped at a purpose-built platform near the back straightaway of the track. From the platform, fans boarded a free tram to the entrance gates. A $10 Weekend Day Pass covered the whole trip, and it was one of the better bargains in Southern California motorsports travel.

The catch: it was only available on NASCAR Cup race days, required advance ticket purchase from the circuit, and its pandemic-era service disruptions were never fully confirmed to have resumed before the track closed in 2023. For a group of 30 people, coordinating tickets and keeping everyone on the same departure from San Bernadino-Downtown, Covina, Montclair, or Rancho Cucamonga stations adds real coordination work. When the new short track reopens, watch for announcements on whether Metrolink restores the race-day special — if it does, it's a good option for small parties comfortable with a tram connection.

For larger groups where everyone needs to move together, a charter bus is still the cleaner call.

What Size Bus Does Your Group Need?

The right vehicle is the one that seats your whole crew comfortably and doesn't leave you paying for empty seats all the way to Fontana. Here's how the fleet breaks down for a speedway run.

Vehicle Typical capacity Gear / coolers Best for Key amenities
14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter van Up to ~14 Modest — small coolers, bags Small fan groups, VIP suite parties Premium leather, USB charging, tinted windows
Party bus (15–50 passengers) ~15–50 Onboard — lighter gear Fan groups who want the party to start on the 10 Built-in bar, LED lighting, Bluetooth sound, flat-panel TVs
15–35 passenger minibus ~15–35 Overhead plus underfloor Mid-size crews, corporate hospitality groups Climate control, plush reclining seats
40–56 passenger charter bus Up to 56 Excellent — deep undercarriage bays Large fan groups, club outings, employee appreciation events Reclining seats, climate control, WiFi, power outlets, onboard restroom, luggage bays

A 56-passenger charter bus is the workhorse for big fan groups — undercarriage bays swallow the folding chairs, the cooler, and the tailgate gear without a second thought, and an onboard restroom means no one's scrambling for a port-a-potty before the pace car comes out. For a crew that wants the race day energy to kick in the moment the bus leaves San Bernadino, a party bus with a built-in bar and sound system turns that 20-mile run down I-10 into part of the event. ADA-accessible vehicles are always available — let us know before your trip date and we'll set up the right vehicle.

Bus Rental Prices for a San Bernadino to Fontana Trip

There's no single sticker price, and any honest estimate depends on a few clear factors: your group size and the vehicle it calls for, the total hours reserved (including pre-race staging and post-race pickup), the date, and the mileage from your San Bernadino pickup to the speedway gates. A race-day rental is typically booked as a block of hours, not a flat per-trip rate.

For real ranges to anchor your planning: 14-passenger Sprinter limos and vans run $170–$344/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $204–$378/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $244–$414/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $294–$490/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour. The actual cost depends on how early your group wants to arrive, how long the bus stages while you're inside the track, and what time you're heading back.

Here's the math that settles most debates. One 56-passenger charter bus replaces roughly 14 cars. That's 14 separate parking-pass coordination headaches, 14 groups of people arriving at slightly different lots and gates, and at least a few people who have to skip the post-race beer because they're driving.

One bus, one flat rate split across the group, one pickup and drop-off. The per-person cost on a full bus to Fontana is usually lower than what each car would spend on gas round-trip. Call 840-268-3250 with your headcount and race date for an all-inclusive quote in under 30 seconds.

A Real Race-Day Example

To put numbers on it: a 40-person fan club from San Bernadino booked a 40-passenger party bus for a NASCAR Sunday. Pickup was at 8:30 AM from a centrally located parking lot in San Bernadino, heading west on I-10. The bus reached the Lot 7A staging area before the Cherry Avenue approach backed up, putting the group at the Turn 1 gate by 10:00 AM — two hours before the green flag.

Coolers and folding chairs rode in the undercarriage bays. After the checkered flag, the bus staged in Lot 7A and picked up the group at an agreed spot outside Gate 7 while the main lots were still gridlocked. 8-hour all-inclusive rental: $2,200 — about $55 per person, with the driving and the exit wait entirely off the table.

Tips for Visiting Auto Club Speedway

Whether you're planning ahead for when the new short track opens or brushing up on race-day knowledge, a few things have stayed consistent across the speedway's operational history:

  • All vehicle entry on NASCAR Sunday requires a color-coded pass matched to your gate. Free parking does not mean open-lot parking — every vehicle at every gate needs its pre-assigned pass. Buses use Lot 7A at Gate 7.
  • Parking gates open approximately one hour before admission gates. Arriving before parking opens helps, but it creates a staging situation on Cherry Avenue — build extra time into your schedule on race morning.
  • Tailgating is permitted within your designated spot only. You may not spread into the roadway or take up adjacent spaces. For a bus group, the luggage bays are your tailgate gear vehicle.
  • Entrances run off San Bernadino Ave, Etiwanda Ave, Whittram Ave, and Cherry Ave. Your gate assignment dictates your approach road — knowing the right one before you arrive avoids being stuck in the wrong lane half a mile from the entrance.
  • Gate 3 on Cherry Ave (northeast corner) is the RV infield route — not for charter buses. Stay on the Lot 7A route.
  • Check the official venue page before any event. With the track in a transition period, logistics for any future events should be confirmed directly with the speedway. We recommend the official Auto Club Speedway site for the most current information.

Groups That Make This Trip

Race weekends at Auto Club Speedway drew every kind of Inland Empire fan group, and the same group types will be back the moment the new track opens. A few we handle regularly:

  • Fan clubs and supporter groups: NASCAR fan clubs out of San Bernadino, Redlands, and Riverside often book a full charter bus so the pre-race energy builds on the way there — built-in bar, sound system, and everyone already in race mode before they hit the gate.
  • Corporate hospitality groups: Companies moving employees or clients to suite and club seating, where showing up together and on schedule matters more than finding the cheapest parking spot.
  • Family reunions and birthday groups: A NASCAR weekend works perfectly as a milestone event — one bus keeps three generations together from pickup to grandstand.
  • Church and community organizations: Fontana draws a strong Inland Empire community audience for special events; a charter bus from San Bernadino cuts out the multi-car carpooling negotiation entirely.
  • School and youth groups: Track days and educational motorsports events at the facility have a long history in the region. A charter bus with onboard climate control and overhead storage is the practical choice for a school trip where kids and gear need to move together.

Inland Empire Racing You Can Book Now

While Auto Club Speedway finishes its transformation, the Inland Empire's motorsports appetite doesn't have to wait. A few nearby venues worth a charter bus from San Bernadino:

  • LA Coliseum — NASCAR Clash: About 60 miles west on I-10, the temporary quarter-mile oval inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum hosts the NASCAR Clash each February. Short-track oval racing in an 80,000-seat college football stadium — and the parking in South LA is exactly the kind of situation where a bus that drops you at the gate earns its money.
  • Irwindale Event Center: About 35 miles west on I-10, the half-mile oval in the San Gabriel Valley hosts NASCAR weekly racing and special events. Closer to home, lighter traffic than Fontana, still a great reason to roll up in a full party bus.
  • Naval Base Coronado Street Race (2026): NASCAR's new San Diego street circuit joins the 2026 schedule. At about 95 miles south on I-15 through Riverside and Temecula, it's a longer haul but a historic event — the kind of trip where a charter bus with an onboard restroom is genuinely appreciated.

Call 840-268-3250 to discuss any of these trips. We coordinate group transportation across San Bernardino County and the broader Inland Empire — if there's a race you want to get your group to, we can build the route.

Booking Your San Bernadino to Fontana Charter

Booking is straightforward. Have a few pieces of information ready and we can build a quote fast:

  1. Trip date and event: For future Auto Club Speedway events, also confirm the event type — NASCAR Cup, short-track racing, concerts, and track-day events may have different bus parking zones and gate assignments.
  2. Group size: This determines the right vehicle. Never pay for seats you don't need.
  3. Pickup location in San Bernadino (or elsewhere in the Inland Empire): We can do hotel pickups, residential areas, centralized parking lots — wherever works best for your group to assemble.
  4. How long you need the bus: A race day is typically 7–9 hours from first pickup to last drop-off, including pre-race time and the post-race exit wait.

One booking note: when the new short track opens, expect demand to spike immediately. A new venue format drawing the entire Southern California motorsports audience — plus a national NASCAR television audience rediscovering the Fontana market — will fill the Inland Empire vehicle inventory fast for opening events. If you're planning a group trip for the first season, locking in early is the move.

Call 840-268-3250 as soon as you have a date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does a charter bus drop off at Auto Club Speedway?

When the speedway was operational, charter buses, limos, and shuttles were directed to Lot 7A, located just north of Gate 7 outside of Turn 1. That's the commercial vehicle zone — separate from general fan parking — which put the group at Gate 7 without a cross-lot walk. When the new short track opens and events resume, bus staging zones should be confirmed with the venue, as the redesigned property may use updated lot designations.

We verify the current drop-off assignment for each event when you book.

How far is Auto Club Speedway from San Bernadino?

About 20 miles west of downtown San Bernadino, primarily via I-10 West to the Cherry Avenue or Etiwanda Avenue exits. In normal conditions the drive runs 25–35 minutes. On NASCAR race mornings, plan for 45–70 minutes from the I-10 as the Cherry Avenue approach backs up toward Fontana well before gates open.

Is parking free at Auto Club Speedway?

It was, historically — all general fan parking at the speedway was free on race day. The catch was that every vehicle needed a color-coded parking pass pre-assigned to a specific gate. You couldn't pull up and choose a lot.

Passes were issued through ticket purchases or separately through the speedway. Bus parking in Lot 7A followed the same pre-arrangement process. When events resume at the new track, confirm current parking policies directly with the venue, as the redesigned property may update these procedures.

How much does it cost to rent a bus from San Bernadino to Auto Club Speedway?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, the number of hours reserved, and the date. For a full race day, a 40–56 passenger charter bus typically runs $150–$300/hour, and party buses run $204–$490/hour depending on capacity. A typical 8-hour race-day rental for a 40-person group all-inclusive runs roughly $1,800–$2,400 — about $45–$60 per person once you split it across the group.

Call 840-268-3250 with your headcount and date for a precise all-inclusive quote in under 30 seconds.

Is Auto Club Speedway currently open?

No — the original 2-mile oval closed after the February 26, 2023 NASCAR Cup race. The property is in transition: NASCAR sold roughly 80% of the land to developers and retained about 90 acres for a planned half-mile short track. As of mid-2026, construction had not yet begun and no reopening date is confirmed.

Check the official Auto Club Speedway site for the latest status.

Will Metrolink run race-day trains to the new track?

Metrolink ran a dedicated race-day special to the speedway's trackside platform when the original oval was operating, stopping through stations including San Bernadino-Downtown, Covina, Montclair, and Rancho Cucamonga. Whether that service resumes for the new short track hasn't been announced. Watch the Metrolink website for updates when events are scheduled.

For large groups that need to move together and on a fixed schedule, a charter bus remains the simpler call regardless of Metrolink availability.

Can a party bus from San Bernadino get us to the track and back?

Yes — that's exactly the kind of trip a San Bernadino party bus or charter bus handles. Pickup at your location, west on I-10 to Fontana, drop-off at the bus staging area, staging during the race, and pickup after the final lap while the fan lots are still gridlocked. Your group gets there together and leaves together.

Call 840-268-3250 to arrange the run.

Do you serve other Inland Empire areas besides San Bernadino?

Yes. We coordinate group transportation across San Bernardino County and the surrounding Inland Empire, including Redlands, Loma Linda, Rialto, Colton, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, and beyond. If your group needs a pickup in a nearby city, that can be worked into the itinerary.

Tell us your headcount and pickup location when you call.

Book Your Auto Club Speedway Charter Bus Today

The perfect race-day ride from San Bernadino is one call away. Whether you're planning a group trip for when the new Fontana short track opens, coordinating a fan club outing to the LA Coliseum NASCAR Clash, or organizing any other Inland Empire motorsports event, Party Bus San Bernadino runs a full fleet of charter buses, minibuses, party buses, and Sprinter vans — and we get your group to the gate while everyone else is still hunting for parking on Cherry Avenue. Call 840-268-3250 any time for an all-inclusive quote, or use our online tool for instant availability.

Sources & Last Verified

Transportation logistics, parking, and venue status for Auto Club Speedway change as the short-track reconstruction project develops. Details in this guide reflect the venue's operational configuration from its NASCAR years and publicly available information verified in June 2026. Confirm current event schedules, bus parking assignments, and gate procedures against official sources before any trip.