How Long Is Atlanta Motor Speedway? Track Length, Layout, and What It Means for Fans

If you live in the Atlanta area or you’re planning a trip down I‑75 for a race weekend, it helps to know exactly how long Atlanta Motor Speedway is and how that affects what you’ll see on track.

Atlanta Motor Speedway (often called AMS) is located at 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, GA 30228, about 25–30 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

The Official Length of Atlanta Motor Speedway

The primary racing surface at Atlanta Motor Speedway is:

• 1.54 miles long per lap

This is the measured length of the oval that NASCAR and other major series use for most events.

In racing terms, AMS is classified as a:

• 1.5‑mile intermediate oval (often rounded from 1.54 miles)

So when you hear a race referred to as a “400‑mile” race at Atlanta, that’s based on this 1.54‑mile lap distance.

How the Track Length Translates Into Laps

Here’s how the 1.54‑mile length works out for typical NASCAR‑style race distances at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

These numbers are rounded to keep things simple, but they give you a practical sense of how long you’ll be watching cars circle the track if you’re attending a race from Atlanta or nearby.

Track Layout: More Than Just the Length

While the length is officially 1.54 miles, the shape and banking of the track also matter for what you experience in the stands.

Key layout features

• Type: Quad‑oval (the frontstretch has a gentle “zig‑zag” shape rather than a straight line)
• Lap length:1.54 miles
• Number of turns: 4 main turns
• Steep banking: The corners are significantly banked, allowing for high speeds and close racing

For fans coming from Atlanta, this means you’ll typically see:

• Long green‑flag runs where cars stay at high speed for extended periods
• Pack racing and drafting, especially with recent updates to the track surface and design
• Multiple racing lines, depending on how drivers set up their cars

Has the Length of Atlanta Motor Speedway Changed Over Time?

Atlanta Motor Speedway has been reconfigured and repaved several times since it first opened in Hampton in the 1960s. The exact layout and measured length have changed slightly during that history.

However, for modern racing and for what you’ll see if you go today:

• The recognized and published length is 1.54 miles
• NASCAR and other major series use this 1.54‑mile figure to calculate race distances and lap counts

If you’re reading older racing history or talking with long‑time local fans in metro Atlanta, you may hear references to the “old configuration” or slightly different measurements, but current events are based on 1.54 miles per lap.

How Long Does a Lap Take at Atlanta Motor Speedway?

The time to complete one 1.54‑mile lap depends on:

• The type of car or series (NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, Trucks, smaller series, etc.)
• Whether it’s qualifying, race pace, or under caution
• Track conditions, such as temperature and rubber buildup

In general:

• Top‑level stock cars can complete a lap in well under a minute at full speed
• Under caution, laps take longer as the field slows and bunches up behind the pace car

For fans in Atlanta planning your day, this means that even in a 200–300 lap event, you’ll see constant action, with cars passing the grandstands very frequently.

How the Track Length Affects Your Experience as a Fan

Understanding that Atlanta Motor Speedway is 1.54 miles long helps you plan what your day will feel like when you’re heading down from Atlanta, College Park, Jonesboro, or anywhere else in the metro area.

Viewing and seating

On a 1.54‑mile quad‑oval:

• Frontstretch seats (near the start/finish line) give you a view of cars at very high speed and let you see pit road action.
• Seats higher up in the grandstands often allow you to see most or all of the 1.54‑mile loop, especially on clear days.
• Because the track isn’t as large as a superspeedway like Talladega, many fans feel closer to the action and can follow cars around much of the lap with the naked eye.

Race length and time commitment

For a race distance based on the 1.54‑mile lap, your overall time at the track will depend on:

• Number of laps (for example, around 260 laps for a ~400‑mile event)
• Cautions and red flags, which slow things down
• Pre‑race and post‑race activities, like driver introductions and concerts

If you’re coming from in-town Atlanta, it’s common to:

• Plan several hours for race time
• Add extra time for parking, traffic on US‑19/41, and getting in and out of the facility

Other Driving and Track Options at Atlanta Motor Speedway

While the main oval is 1.54 miles, the property also includes:

• Infield road course configurations used for certain events and driving experiences
• Smaller circuits and event spaces for non‑NASCAR activities

These alternative layouts may be shorter or differently configured than the 1.54‑mile oval. If you’re an Atlanta resident interested in track days, driving schools, or special events, the organization or event host typically lists:

• The configuration used
• The length of that specific course
• Approximate session lengths or lap counts

For anyone booking a driving experience from Atlanta, checking the course layout and length ahead of time helps you understand how much actual track time you’ll get.

Quick Facts for Atlanta Visitors and Locals

Here’s a compact reference if you just need the essential info:

• Facility name: Atlanta Motor Speedway
• Location: 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, GA 30228
• Distance from downtown Atlanta: Roughly 25–30 miles south, depending on your starting point
• Track type: 1.5‑mile‑class intermediate quad‑oval
• Official lap length:1.54 miles per lap
• Main use: NASCAR and other motorsports events, plus special events and driving experiences

Knowing that Atlanta Motor Speedway is 1.54 miles long gives you a clear sense of how races are structured, how many laps you’ll see, and what to expect when you make the trip from Atlanta out to Hampton for a race day or special event.