Hotels near Springs Preserve

The Springs Preserve occupies 180 acres around the artesian springs that gave Las Vegas its name, four miles west of the circuit at 333 South Valley View Boulevard. On the site are the Nevada State Museum, an eight-acre botanical garden, the Boomtown 1905 reconstruction, the WaterWorks Museum and several miles of trail. Adult admission for out-of-state visitors is $18.95 (about €16), children aged 3 to 17 pay $10.95 (about €9.40), and under-3s go free. Nevada residents pay $9.95 (about €8.50). Parking costs nothing.

Two things make it the right race-week choice. It opens Thursday to Monday, which covers all three days of running, and it closes at 16:00 with last entry at 15:00. In recent editions the circuit has gone hot in the mid-afternoon, so a 09:00 arrival here leaves you clear and back across Interstate 15 well before the first barriers swing shut.

The catch is that same closing time. Four hours covers the Nevada State Museum and the gardens, and not the trails as well. The Preserve is also shut Tuesday and Wednesday, so anyone flying in early for Wednesday setup should not count on it. Note too that it does not accept cash, which catches out visitors who have just landed.

Pro Tip: Book the 09:00 entry online for Friday 20 November, start in the Nevada State Museum while it is empty, and be back east of Interstate 15 by 13:30. Regional Transportation Commission Route 104 (Valley View) runs along South Valley View Boulevard past the entrance if you would rather not drive.