Racing in the Heat, Resting in Luxury: A Family Weekend at the Miami Grand Prix

The Miami Grand Prix in May is known for its electric atmosphere, vibrant hospitality, and one other constant: heat. For families with young children, especially a one-year-old, planning a race weekend here requires careful consideration of shade, seating, and air-conditioned escapes.

We’ve attended this race multiple times, and in 2024, we brought our toddler and experienced the best of Formula 1 Miami in a way that was not only enjoyable but incredibly comfortable — thanks to the right hospitality choice, a family-friendly hotel, and strategic planning.

Choosing the Right Hospitality: Turn 18 Suites & Club MIA

After researching multiple options, we chose Turn 18 Suites with Club MIA Hospitality, located in the Miami Dolphins training facility at the corner of the track. It offered the perfect blend of exclusivity, climate control, and racing immersion — ideal for families with children.

Inside the MIA hospitality center:

• Multiple seating areas with space to walk, crawl, or relax with a child — even during peak hours, it never felt crowded.

• Buffet-style breakfast, snacks, and dinner, with premium food from top Miami vendors.

• Coffee bars, finger foods, and full-service open bars throughout the day.

• Indoor air-conditioned areas with TV screens everywhere, so you never missed the action, even if the baby needed downtime.

• On-site race simulators, merchandise shops with little to no lines, and quiet corners to unwind.

The overall atmosphere felt private, premium, and unintimidating — a rare find for a major sporting event.

Grandstand Seating with Suite-Level Comfort

We had access to a top-level grandstand suite, with seating limited to around 30 people — creating a personal, exclusive environment. These suites included:

• Shaded tabletop seating with full views of three turns of the track

• Continuous service of hors d’oeuvres and small plates during on-track events

• Room to walk, stand, or let kids stretch without disrupting others

• Elevator access for strollers or carriers, eliminating the need for stairs

The best part? We could seamlessly move between the suite balcony and the indoor hospitality village, making it easy to cool off, feed the baby, or step away between races.

Race Format: Action Every Day

Unlike some other Grand Prix weekends, Miami includes a sprint format, meaning there's a major race or qualifying session every day — Friday through Sunday. That keeps the schedule engaging, but also means families should pace themselves and find moments to recharge away from the crowds. Having a calm space in the hospitality center made this effortless.

Hotel Stay: Mid-Beach at Eden Roc

We chose to stay in Mid-Beach at the Eden Roc Hotel, and it was the perfect fit for families:

• Three outdoor pools with shaded lounging areas

• Easy beach access within a 10-minute walk from our room

• On-site restaurants with both quick and full-service dining

• Quiet evenings, away from the high-energy party scene of South Beach

Though the track is located in Miami Gardens, roughly 45–60 minutes away, we opted for official shuttles. This eliminated the need for parking or bringing a car seat, and the ride was comfortable enough for a baby to nap en route.

Navigating the Venue with a Baby

Race organizers technically prohibit strollers, but every year, including 2024, we and many other families were allowed to bring them in. If for any reason strollers aren’t permitted, lockers are located at each entrance to securely store prohibited items.

Pro tip: Always bring your stroller. Worst case, you check it at the gate. Best case, you have it with you for the entire weekend — which is a game-changer when navigating long walking routes between entrances, hospitality zones, and merchandise stands.

Final Thoughts: A Surprisingly Seamless Weekend with a Toddler

The Miami Grand Prix may seem like a bold choice with a one-year-old, but it exceeded our expectations. With thoughtful planning, we enjoyed:

• A climate-controlled, crowd-free hospitality environment

• Suite-level seating with food, drinks, and space to roam

• A family-friendly hotel that blended beach time with restful nights

• Walkable access to trackside excitement without needing a car or car seat

For parents who want to stay immersed in the world of Formula 1 without putting their child’s comfort (or their own) at risk, Miami offers a compelling mix of luxury and logistics — especially when paired with the right hospitality and accommodations.

We go every year, and with each return, it becomes even more clear: family travel and Formula 1 can coexist beautifully when done right.