Which National to attend?

Lakewood. Budds Creek.

Best spectating and could also best fit the easy access vacation destination scenario.

Out this way Hangtown is a good one. Short, easy drive from Sacramento airport, lots of hotels, great viewing at the track and a chill vibe . 
Short drive to Lake Tahoe or the coast ( 1hr 30 from Sac to each ) to visit with the family outside the race. 
I always enjoy that race . 

Budds is always a great time. But it’s the closest to me. 

Ironman is the one I really want to make it to at some point. 

The viewing at budds is unreal. Air bnb is possible anywhere. dc close by which has plenty of touristy stuff to do. I believe there are some beach state parks that are driving distance as well. There’s water on either side that far down in Md.

This will be my first year attending Spring Creek so I am really happy for that!

I did Budds Creek back in '17, viewing was incredible, I would highly suggest.

P.S., it can be a scorcher, so come prepared, I was not 😂

I bought tickets for Budds Creek, since i will be visiting the area in August! First time i'm going over there, coming from Italy. Let me know if any of you will be there... also what are the best spots?

My favorite spots are top of the hill past the club house right next to the step down triple, and the whole island area between Big Gulp and the run up to Henry Hill. Both spots have huge oak trees to provide great shade and you can see the whole track pretty much from either spot. 

Bring way more water than you think you will need.

Southwick.

Easy flight into Hartford, CN. Lots of hotels, etc. 

It's as "Americana" as you can get: American Legion lodge; colonial era homes; small track area lots of shade and viewing options; lots of moto history...

P.S. Hangtown has the possibility of being really hot with no shade.

Came to say the same thing. Viewing at both of these tracks is really good and lots of other stuff to do outside of the track. If you haven't been to Red Bud it's a must, but there's not much to do outside of the track. I'd like to go to Millville someday. 

Southwick for sure. You’d think you were lost following the GPS to where the track actually is! 

Eh. Southwick viewing is horrible. Any good spots are stacked 4 deep with people, and can generally only see 1 or 2 turns at most.

Lakewood is a great race to travel to and you can make it way more than just the race. Track has great viewing and is only 20-30 minutes outside of Denver so easy flights and plenty of places to stay and eat. Red Rocks amphitheater is very close to the track, catch a Rockies game in downtown Denver, go to Trestle Bike Park and do some downhill riding, endless hiking, breweries, etc.

Ease of travel and airports, Lakewood is probably the easiest. But Budds Creek, Hangtown, Southwick and I think Pala are all pretty accessible. 

 I think Millville is the best to spectate, but forget about getting out in a hurry. 

and great crab restaurants ! 

Budds is great viewing. However, the title can be wrapped up and the temps can range into the Africa-hot. I'm not a big fan of the area around Budds either. For those reasons, I'd say Lakewood.

Steel City..

Wait, nvm.

Troy.

Shit, nvm.

High points fun. 

I’ve been to Pala, Hangtown and Budds Creek many times. Of these, I would suggest Hangtown because it’s the second race of the season and excitement will be higher than the season finale (usually). Sacramento can get hot af, though, but at least it’s a dry heat and not like Budds’ intense humidity.

Washougal for how unique it feels compared to anything else on the circuit. Fly right into Portland, rental cars are always expensive though...

Budds Creek, love being able to fly into DC and check out all the museums, solid viewing, good track.

Those are the two I'd recommend based on the list of rounds you've already been to.

I’ve only ever been to Hangtown and washougal. Washougal is great it’s just super crowded and can get crazy dusty on a hot day. Hangtown was cool but there’s no shade there and you can only walk around the perimeter of the track. 
 

Unadilla for the history. 

and it has been repeated in several responses about Hangtown, but our experience at Southwick was BRUTAL hot compared to expectations. 

Also - I live in central Texas, and Southwick "felt" hotter than Freestone on Labor Day.

We did Southwick, Spring Creek, and Washougal in a three week span in 2023. 

I'd definitely head back to Spring Creel and Washougal - they were really fun experiences. 

No hate comms on Southwick, just HOTTTTTT

Also cast my vote for southwick. It’s less than a 2 hour drive from Boston and the easiest track to drive into. Rent a car and make it a fun weekend going to the track and exploring the city.

I second hangtown.  Some of the best viewing of any national and lots of places to stay nearby.   Only downside is it can be downright hot and dry depending on the weather that year.  

Southlake is a little over an hour away, or Folsom lake is like 15 minutes from the track.  Plus lots of outdoors things to do up the 50 corridor.  

Hangtown is a great viewing track, lots to do nearby (including Speedway the Friday before in Auburn), but is more likely to run hot now with the date pushed into June.

Lakewood also is a good viewing track, enjoyed catching that one.

Washougal is terrific, not just setting and vibe, but also it's one of the tracks where the spectator fence is pretty close all the way around.  Visibility from any one place can be challenged, but you can move around the entire track throughout the day pretty easily.

I love Southwick and had been fortunate to miss the super hot/humid days the two times I made it, but was on the infield and it does look challenging for spectators at the fence line to track the whole circuit.  

Its on my list...if the cards fall just right.

Lol...anyone attending a national with family better know the limits.  They are all fantastic for us moto heads but they are also hot, dusty, loud and long.  Some folks ain't into that much.  My wife and kids only put up with it...not so much enjoyed it.

Thunder Valley is amazing but everything is an uphill slog.  No step for a stepper but you know your family.  Hangtown is viewable and fairly easy to get around...and the fans are groovy.

Ironman is about the most family friendly.  Lots of shade and plenty of port-o-pots.  Maybe a local could speak about other attractions.

Have fun.

And for the drive through upstate New York.

Having a beer at the American Legion is pretty cool. 

And, full disclosure, I've only been to Southwick like five times.

Only once to ride, thank goodness, that didn't go poorly, but it didn't go well.

But yeah, no, don't mean offense to the locals...

But no. It's pretty much last on the list.

Not easily accessed from other parts of the world, and the sightlines are really not great.

On the other coast, Washougal is something else... recommended... but more for the ambiance of the mountains and the Columbia River area. Not the best place to watch a race unfold.

Half the race, sure. Can't see the other. 

Lakewood and Budds deliver the ambiance, totally different, crisp mountain air vs. muggy brutal crucible of the arena type heat... and the view of nearly the entire track at either.

And yeah, as someone noted above, crabcakes. You know, at Budds. But it can be a hot mo fo. 

Agreed 100%.  Other than Red Bud, Lakewood is solid.  No shade though so plan accordingly with umbrellas in case its hot.