Which National to visit, and race next year?

I’d have to agree with Washougal, that’d probably be at the top of my list, personally

Thunder Valley, obviously

Does Unadilla have their am day on the pro track? 

If so that would be my choice.

Unadilla!

Because Colorado

Southwick!  Unsure if they have an am day. 

shoug would be cool!

Used to be on a separate track, and was a 2 day event (first motos friday / second moto sunday). It was a shiz show, no transponders, ect. For somebody who's familiar with how well red bud runs dilla would suck. I think this year they're running open practice friday/sunday maybe rather than racing? They opened the pro track up to am racing again outside of rewind back during covid. 

Will say from a spectator prospective its a great track to watch. Southwick sucks for viewing. 

No, Southwick haven’t done an am day before the national in a decade unfortunately.

Dang. I think OP has ridden the tracks that look the most fun to ride. Maybe Budds next? Pala and hangtown don’t look very fun imo. Colorado maybe but with anything close to national prep - no thanks. Dilla could be cool but again the dirt looks eh at best. 

^Yep. Budds Creek would be my next choice. That or Unadilla. Don't bother with California unless and until they bring Glen Helen back into the series. 

I biased because I go every year, but I agree on Washougal. The vibe is great. Camp at the track for sure. Go swimming in the river after your motos. I love the am day format. A full practice on Wednesday afternoon. Moto 1 on Thursday. Moto 2 on Friday. Really nice if you are racing more than one class. Also, bonus is head into Portland for the Thursday Night MX race at PIR. Bonus moto!!

Hot as hell, no trees, right next to multiple freeways. No thanks

To be fair I said because Colorado

Local track. I get it! I’ve only been to Washougal but I think Millville and Unadilla would be top of my list 

100% Washougal. I race Millville regularly, been to Red Bud many times, and Thunder Valley once.  Washougal has been a bucket list track to visit for my dad and myself for years and we finally made the trip this year for his 70th birthday. It was one of the coolest places I’ve ever been and the dirtbikes were a bonus. I’d go back in a heart beat. We plan on hitting Unadilla next year too. 

A bit shaky because I’ve only been to half the circuit but I’d say you have to see Washougal, that place is an experience

The am track is on another property , the track is janky.  I would pick  Millville not sure why the #,s are down.  125 class, 125 jr, 250 c is big maybe a couple others.  The vet classes are small & Sunday smaller under 10 in 50+.  Aztalan sun same day had 21 in 50+ .  Red Bud vet race is bigger gates than am day. 

Washougal hands down. Plan extra days to see some of western Washington and the Columbia River Gorge area. It's amazingly beautiful out there.

come to budds , the hills , Henry hill , the big gulp jump & u can see 70% of the track from multiple sides of the hills 

It’s beautiful I,ve been all ovr the state . Hhg drilled under the Columbia River near Wenatchee,  Long View under bunch of swamp land filled with Mt St Helens material, i5 & a big mountain.  I don’t like some of the rds that follow the river & the mtns are hard on a vehicle.   I think upstate Ny. I87 Lake Placid area & up to Quebec is the most scenic area of America.  Where Millville is was Wi. Land the boarder was moved to the Ms River . 2 mi wide in areas follow 61 the scenery is great & you’ll see a crap ton of bald eagles .  🦅 Wi. Rapids is 1 of many beautiful areas in Wi. Awesome sand riding , lakes , gas stations hv people in swimsuits it’s a summer vacation vibe.  

NESC always races the weekend before the Southwick Natl., you could always hit that, go to Marthas Vineyard or Nantucket for the week, and then the Natl., that would be a great visit to New England!

Get some people together & hit Dyracuse in Wi. Rapids . Sunday the old man at sign up said Indiana people ride there , they said it beats the badlands. IL. Mn. Riders too . Groomed on mon or tues .  Vacation area with lakes , rivers.  700 aces deep sand trails threw the woods , hills, ama main track , sx track jumps not hard , 3-4 yr old track not deep sand, trails for side by sides, ama hillclimb. This weekend is Xmas,Mi. Track everyone raves about the sandy loam & fun layout . Fri practice race sat, sun race.  IL. Mn. Canadian riders raced it.  McNeil from iL. Won 125 class last yr . He won sun am day at redbud , 3rd 4th in a moto at LL other  fast 125 riders .  Xmas decorating camp sites .  A few Millville rounds to race yet . Red Bud vet race is a big event that’s close to you.  

Why the high point disappointment?

x2 ?

Budd's is a super fun track and I highly recommend it. I haven't raced their am day in 25yrs though and back then it was packed with squids and they did 80 rider motos (two gates).  Complete mayhem!  

Washougal is a great destination. Very pretty area and close to Portland, OR.  Its about 25 minutes (no traffic) from the airport to the track, so thats easy if you fly.  But getting in and out of the track on Saturday can be rough depending on what time you show up...They also have a super solid amateur program, and the weather is usually really good that time of year. I think you can get there early, like Tuesday or weds before the event and set up camp under the trees. Its a really cool vibe up there.  If you do go, make sure you also check the Thursday night PIR race as well, as it is a right of passage before the national.

Unadilla is awesome, and they are playing around with the format on the amateur program - mostly because they got a such a massive crowd. It used to be on the "U2" track which was the secondary track in the back, but then last year (2024) they stopped that and just had camping only, and had the amateur race a few weeks before the national. Now this year they have amateur practice on the big track and thats it. I think its like Friday and Sunday, but check with the track directly.  I think the practice program should be really good if the weather is good, and alot more manageable. I do not know specifics on how much riding is given or what the cost is... 

Budds Creek is awesome. And unlike RedBud or Millville, not super packed. It can be really hot. Get some Maryland Crab Cakes at Cap'n Billy's...and the amateur program at Budds is pretty solid and not packed. They even have a fun night time SX track on the infield of the adjacent Stock Car dirt track.  That was a thing a long time ago but it went away, however they have been doing it again the past few years and it looked fun.  Not sure if they are doing it again in 2025. For the Saturday national, Budds Creek is probably the best "viewing" track in the USA. I would say you can see about 70% or or more of the track from most spots.  Its also very close to Washington DC, so you can access airports and touristy stuff there.  Its a really neat place, it just seems that Moto is not that big in that part of the country. 

As for Cali, maybe just hit Hangtown, that place is pretty cool. But bring sunscreen...The Dirt Diggers have a solid amateur program and the weather is usually perfect. You could come out early and ride the tracks in Marysville, which is sort of a thing (Those tracks are Riverfront, E Street and MMX, they are all in the same spot and maybe 35 mins North of Hangtown).  

Millville is probably one of the most under rated nationals out there...sounds like you already figured that out.

Southwick is too small for amateur program, so that's a fly in and fly out deal, its a cool track, but small. Fly into Bradly Airport, its close to the track. The atmosphere at Southwick is pretty special. Get a beer at the American Legion in between moto's. It is a bar that is like 35' from the track. 

I think that covers the tracks you have not already been to!