Go kart racing for kids is really exciting and surprisingly safe. There are many indoor and outdoor tracks that cater to kids and have specific regulations for juniors to ensure a safe race. Whether you are planning a birthday party or just taking your kid racing, you can find a track suited for their age. Below I will share where to find a track for junior racers, answer some safety questions, talks cost of racing, and share my experience with the places that do go kart racing for kids near me.
Go Kart Racing Near Me – Find A Track
Use the map below to find “Go Kart Racing for Kids Near Me” and “Go Karts for Kids Near Me”.
Why Take Kids for Go Kart Racing
Kids love the idea of going fast and go kart racing is the closest thing thing they can do to emulate driving a car. Kart racing really gets their adrenaline up and creates a lot of excitement before, during, and after a race.
Similar to having your kids play in other sports, there is a lot to be learned from karting. They can learn to be competitive and yet have respect for other racers, learn to manage emotions under fun duress, and learn how to look at their past performances and improve going forward.
The Difference Between Indoor Tracks or Outdoor Track
Both track types are popular options. They will also have karts that feature bumpers around the course and strong frames with bumpers around the karts. This is all to protect your child when they are racing.
Indoor Go Kart Tracks
Indoor tracks tend to be smaller in size because of the limited space of the building framework. These tracks always have plastic or cushioned outside and inside track barriers that help soften an impact. At most places indoor karts have slower speeds. Some do have karts for kids that go over 50 mph, however since the track is so small, you just can;t logically ever hit those speeds. The advantage though is that at indoor track, you can race year round.
Outdoor Go Kart Tracks
Outdoor tracks are large and may even have elevation changes (hills). Some parts of the track will have barriers like plastic or tires, while other parts will have no barrier where the racer can run off into the grass. Barriers are always used if the track is located along a highway or an area that would be dangerous to ride a kart into. Many outdoor tracks have faster karts, but when it comes to kids racing, they have governors on them to limit the speed.
Where Can I Find Go Kart Racing for Kids Near Me?
Some of the best public karting courses are in the US and many of them have racing for kids. There are actually over 400 go kart tracks here in the states and even more when you consider the world. Not all places that feature racing for juniors are karting tracks though. The places with go kart racing for kids near me are hobby shops, laser tag venues, arcades, and miniature golf places. Then of course there are the actual karting venues like Autobahn Speedway and K1 Speed that feature kids racing. The even have go karting leagues for juniors
Is It Safe for Kids to Go Kart Race?
Karting is safe for kids when the rules and regulations are adhered by. For kids racing most venues have strict regulations about age of the child, height of the child, and weight of the child. Then they also feature special karts with extra bumpers and limited speed. Some tracks even add additional bumpers on the boundary of the course for added child safety.
Then of course for kids their are the safety regulations like helmets, seat belts, no loose clothing, and no open toes shoes. If you want to know what your local karting track does to protect junior racers you should call ahead and ask. Every track is a bit different and some do more then others.
For Kids Fitting The Helmet is Important
At a go kart track for kids they will give them a helmet for the race. Helmets are usually in sizes large, medium, and small. It is important that the helmets fits snug but comfortable. It needs to protect their head in the vent something happens. Also if the helmet is too loose it can come down over the eyes and cause them to get into an accident.
Do Kids Karts Have Bumpers?
Any track I have been to that offers kart racing for kids, the karts all have bumpers on them. These bumpers serve three purposes:
- To protect the driver in an accident
- Prevent another kart from running up on it (helps keep all four tires on the ground)
- To protect the go kart from other drivers (the karts are pretty expensive)
Do Go Karts for Kids Have Seat Belts?
There are different kinds of go karts. Some have seatbelts some do not. It depends on a few things:
- If the kart goes over a certain speed, a seatbelt is required
- The state the track is located in requires all karts to have seatbelts.
In most cases when there is a seatbelt it is in the style of a racing harness. That means it comes over each shoulder and connects to a lap belt. When a child gets in a kart with a seat belt a track official should always comes to check if the belt is properly connected and snug enough for safety.
Is There any Age, Height or Weight Limit for Kids to Race?
Age, height , and weight restrictions vary by venue. Some places are kids only and that is because their kart can’t safely secure someone over five feet tall. There usually aren’t weight restrictions, but certainly age and height are the limiters. Typically for kids racing I would say the age range is 6 to 12 years old and height under 5 feet.
How Much Does It Cost for Juniors to Go Kart
Each places charges different. Some go kart tracks for kids near me charge $10 for a 10 lap race. There is also places that charge $14 for a 12 lap race. Roughly you are looking at $1 to $1.50 per lap. Many tracks though offer deals where if you purchase a package of races you can save money. I typically buy packs of 8 races for about $100 and then me and my kids use them over the course of a few months.
Go Kart Racing for Kids Near Me Conclusion
Kids go kart racing is a ton of fun. Some tracks even track their lap times and data which gives them something to take home. You can find tracks that offer individual racing for juniors, but you can also consider renting one out for a birthday party. If you are unsure of any safety protocols or have concerns about age, weight, and height limitation, just call ahead. This is what I have learned from the tracks that offer go kart racing for kids near me.
