RVing To Saratoga Race Track In 2023

Racers rejoice! The summer season for Saratoga Springs Race Track is nearly upon us!

One of the oldest sporting venues in the United States, Saratoga Race Course opened in 1863 and to this day maintains a sense of gilded pride and character. Although less flashy than Churchill Downs to the South, Saratoga Springs is surrounded by rolling hills and a rich Revolutionary history as the turning point of the war itself. In 2022, the city is bustling, its lakeside is filled with boats and people, and its race track is a gas!

RVing to Saratoga Race Track is an amazing way to have the best of both worlds on a summer visit. With a number of amazing campgrounds less than 10 minutes away, you’ll have an immersive camping experience at night and be dressed to the nines with the best of them during the day!

RVnGO’s complete guide below outlines everything you need to know about RVing to Saratoga Race Track. We’ll break down RV resorts, ticket prices, and the schedule at Saratoga Race Course for summer 2022 so that the only thing you’ll have to worry about is placing your bets on time!

RV Resorts Near Saratoga Springs Race Track

Lee’s Park

Just seven minutes from downtown Saratoga is Lee’s Park, the closest RV resort to the track.

A relatively newer RV resort in the area, Lee’s Park is located right on the shores of Saratoga Lake. As such, one of its main attractions is its dock space on the marina and boating launches. Boats and pontoons are available for rent through Lee’s, or you can bring your own for an additional daily fee! Fishing, swimming, and water sports are all favored pastimes at the park.

In addition to its water access, Lee’s is perfectly situated at a five minute’s drive to the restaurants and shops of Saratoga Springs. 

Lee’s Park is pet friendly and supports full electric hookups.

Coldbrook Resort Campground

The second closest RV resort to Saratoga is Coldbrook Resort Campground, 11 minutes drive North. At Coldbrook, family friendly amenities are the main event. The extensive campgrounds feature ponds and waterways, a softball field, a heated swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, catch and release fishing, a community lounge/clubhouse, and so much more!

The campgrounds themselves offer over 200 RV spaces with some pull-thru sites. Individual campsites are equipped with picnic tables and firepits. Throughout the weekend/summer months, staff provides planned activities for children and families to make your stays extra special.

Coldbrook Resort is pet friendly and supports full electric hookups. 

Saratoga Escape Lodges and Resort

Twenty minutes North from the track, Saratoga Escape Lodges and Resort offers campsites on a first come first serve basis. With over 90 sites to choose from, you’ll have plenty of variety in your options, but for the major races we recommend arriving earlier to guarantee the best spot.

The family friendly resort has plenty of amenities to please everyone while you’re not at the track. Saratoga Escape features two swimming pools, a mini-golf course, and a private lake in its woodland setting. Kayak rentals for the lake are available through the campgrounds.

Saratoga Escape is pet friendly and supports full electric hookups. 

Whispering Pines Campsites & RV Park

Twenty minutes Northwest from Saratoga is the laid back, peaceful campgrounds of Whispering Pines Campsites & RV Park. Spread out beneath the pines themselves are 70 spacious RV sites that support full electric hookups. The majority of the campgrounds are set on forest earth, not grass.

Amenities at Whispering Pines include a swimming pool, country store for all your camping needs, showers/restroom facilities, and two ponds and a brook teeming with trout. The emphasis in Whispering Pines is on the immersive experience of being in nature, so aside from the store/swimming pool, you’ll find yourself in an authentic camping experience without high end glamping luxuries.

Whispering Pines is pet friendly and just eight miles out of town.

Saratoga Race Course Schedule For Summer 2022

The season begins at Saratoga on July 14, 2022. Each race day, with one major exception, begins with gates opening at 11:00am, with the first race of the day typically between 12:30 and 1:30pm.

Race days are from Wednesday-Sunday each week, with the bigger races falling on Saturdays.

There are two major racing days at Saratoga each year where the crowds, energy, and winning stakes are the biggest.

Whitney 

The first of the two major races is Whitney Day on the first weekend in August. To be specific, the Whitney Day for 2022 is Saturday, August 6th. The stakes for the Whitney race itself are $1,000,000 and the Longines Test sees $500,000.

The gates open at 11:00am, and the first race of the day is at 12:35pm. 

Travers 

The biggest race of the year at Saratoga is the Runhappy Travers. Travers Day itself is the last weekend in August, which for 2022 is Saturday, August 27th. The stakes for the Runhappy Travers are $1,250,000 and the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer are $750,000.

On Travers Day, gates open at 7:00am and the first race of the day is at 11:35am.

Things To Know Before You Go

Seating At Saratoga Race Track

There are three types of tickets that you can buy that come with reserved seating and one ticket for general admission that doesn’t.

Clubhouse tickets cost between $10 to $75 depending on the day and will grant you seating in a shaded area. If you’re worried about being in the sun for the majority of the day, these seats are the best bet for you.

Grandstand tickets range from $7 to $30 depending on the day. About half of the grandstand is shaded and the other half will be in the sun for a good portion of the day. To make sure you get a shaded seat, we recommend ordering ahead online so that you can pick your seats.

1863 Club is an exclusive three story clubhouse that’s entirely air conditioned and filled with incredible fine dining restaurants. Tickets for these tables start at $150 and come with private betting windows, drink service, and access to events like Brunch at the Rail.

Finally, there are General Admission tickets that cost $7 and will grant you access to the track but do not come with reserved seats. Popular among younger crowds is the array of benches closest to the track. Although there isn’t any reprieve from the sun here, what you’ll find instead is a carefree and hearty sense of camaraderie, of sitting as close to the track as possible for the pure thrill of it. 

For more information about how the ticket system works at Saratoga, click here.

BYOB

Okay— it’s not technically BYOB. At the gates, security will examine bags, purses, and coolers. However, you are 100% able to bring your own food and drinks so long as they aren’t stored in glass containers!

Saratoga Race Course is unique amongst sporting and betting venues in this regard. It’s an excellent way to save money so long as you don’t mind bringing a cooler along with you. Although you’ll definitely want to try some of the restaurants at the track and, if you’re legally able to do so, should definitely try the Saratoga Sunrise, we highly recommend bringing your own water and other food/refreshments so that you can use your freed up cash elsewhere.

Maybe, say, at the betting window?

Parking At Saratoga Race Course

There are multiple parking lots near the track with varying prices. If you’d prefer to park as close as possible, we recommend the following lots:

• Preferred Parking: $10 to $15
• Trackside: $15 to $20
• 1863 Club Lot: $20 to $25

However, Saratoga also has a General Parking lot near the track that’s absolutely free to park in regardless of events/days of the week. The free grass parking lot is located adjacent to Union Ave and receives complimentary shuttle service to the gates every 10 minutes. Otherwise, it’s a 15 minute walk to the track through lovely trees and past the stables.

 

What do you think about our expert’s guide to RVing to Saratoga Race Track this summer? Where will you go next?