Miami has a strict clear bag policy — a clear plastic bag no larger than 12" × 6" × 12", or a small non-clear bag no bigger than 4.5" × 6.5". You can bring one of each. Your regular backpack won't make it past the gates.
The move most people land on: a clear stadium tote for your main stuff, plus a small crossbody for your phone and cards. Full bag policy — permitted items, what gets confiscated, and the check process →
Miami in early May sits around 87°F. With humidity factored in, it feels closer to 95–100°F. You are going to be outside for 8 to 10 hours. There's limited shade, the asphalt radiates heat, and the grandstands can feel like sitting in a slow oven.
You can bring in a factory-sealed plastic bottle up to 20 oz. That's one bottle. For a 10-hour day in the Miami heat, one bottle is not enough.
What actually works: bring an empty reusable bottle or a Camelbak. There are free cold water refill stations scattered around the venue, but the lines get long mid-day. The people who filled up early and often felt okay by lap 40. The people who relied on buying water inside were spending $6 a bottle and waiting in line during the moments they actually wanted to watch.
Race day will drain your battery faster than a normal day. You're running the F1 Live app, taking photos of every car that goes by, texting your friend in a different grandstand, and posting to Instagram despite telling yourself you wouldn't be that person.
Bring a power bank — a proper one, 10,000 mAh minimum. Also: screenshot your tickets before you leave the hotel. Cell service inside the venue can get congested during peak moments, and your ticket app loading at the gate is a specific kind of stress you don't need.
F1 cars are not loud in the "I should have brought earplugs" way. They are loud in the "I can feel this in my chest and I can't hear my friend standing next to me" way.
Foam earplugs are fine and weigh nothing. If you want to be comfortable and still hear people talk, ear defenders with a noise reduction rating around 25 dB let you keep a conversation while still protecting your hearing. Some people wear both on particularly loud sections of the track. These are people who have been before.
Every vendor inside the venue works on cards and contactless payment only. No cash accepted anywhere. Make sure you have a card — or Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Venmo — ready to go. If you're visiting from Canada, double-check your card doesn't have foreign transaction fees that'll quietly add 3% to every $14 beer.
Security will take them and you'll have to either toss them or walk back to your car:
If it rains — and afternoon showers in Miami in May are common — a light packable rain poncho fits inside your clear bag and doesn't get confiscated. An umbrella does.
The walk from parking or transit to your gate, and then around the venue, is significant. This is not a baseball stadium where you're at your seat in five minutes. Budget extra time in the morning, wear your most comfortable shoes, and do a full loop of the venue on Friday if you can — before race day — so you know where everything is. Your feet will thank you on Sunday.
The 2026 Miami Grand Prix runs May 1–3 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Bag Policy →
Exact bag sizes, what gets confiscated, the bag check process
What to Wear →
Fabric, footwear, and sun protection decisions
Getting There →
Brightline, rideshare, Tri-Rail, and parking lots
Parking →
Official lots, satellite parking, and pre-booking
First-Timer Guide →
The full overview of what to expect at your first Miami GP
Race Week Planner →
Hotels, transport logistics, and trip structure