Camping at Spa-Francorchamps for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix

Zach attended the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix for the first time, traveling alongside his brother and two cousins. The road trip through France and Belgium became part of the experience itself, building anticipation as the dense forestry, dramatic elevation changes, and historic Belgian towns rolled past before the circuit even came into view.

What followed was four days of rain, laughs, and thousands upon thousands of steps at one of the most social atmospheres in motorsports. For Zach, it was an unforgettable experience, one that he highly recommends so long as you’re prepared. You can find out why—and how to plan your own camping adventure—below. 

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Choosing your Campsite at Spa-Francorchamps

Camping at Spa is less about convenience and more about immersion. The circuit sits deep within the Ardennes Forest, and many fans choose to stay trackside rather than dealing with the long commutes. Thankfully, the circuit offers several camping areas, each with their own personality.

The Green Zone, located on the northeast corner of the track, near Les Combes, has a reputation for being the loudest and most chaotic section of the campsite network, known for its late-night parties, music, and festival atmosphere.

The Yellow Zone offers a slightly more relaxed experience while still keeping the social atmosphere Spa camping is known for. Advertised as a family-friendly zone and located closer to the main fan areas and La Source entrance, it strikes a balance between accessibility and courteous energy.

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If you want to see what Yellow Zone camping is like, head to 3:12 in the video below:

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Meanwhile, the Red Zone features the Young Village. This area fully leans into the festival atmosphere, catering specifically toward younger crowds and fans between the ages of 17-27 who are looking for an all-night social environment.

Across nearly every camp site, fans can choose between basic pitch-only camping, pre-pitched tents, or glamping-style setups complete with beds and electricity.

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Yellow Zone Living

Rather than booking directly through the circuit, Zach's group stayed with InTents GP, an independent campsite operator located within the Yellow Zone camping area. For Zach, the appeal came down to convenience and value. The campsite was within walking distance of the track and offered a more affordable option than many of the upgraded camping packages available around Spa.

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Zach’s Camping Setup

Opting for the pitch-only package, they brought and assembled their own tents upon arrival rather than paying extra for a pre-pitched or glamping accommodation. Their plot was located in a large grass camping field, with enough space to park their vehicle directly beside their tents. The simple setup allowed them to keep costs down while still having everything they needed for a four-day race weekend.

By Friday afternoon the campsite resembled a miniature town. Rows of tents stretched across muddy fields, while a central clubhouse bar and cafeteria tent became gathering points throughout the weekend. 

From the campsite, the group made the roughly 30-minute walk to the circuit each morning through the Yellow Entrance, joining streams of fans slowly hiking toward the track through the forest paths surrounding Spa.

While there was an equally long walk back to the campsite each day, one of the biggest advantages of camping for Zach came down to flexibility. Unlike hotel packages that often rely on strict shuttle schedules, the campsite allowed the group to move at their own pace and enjoy the atmosphere long after the on-track action ended.

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Home Base Atmosphere and Daily Life

This temporary trackside city quickly became a massive global melting pot. The environment at the campsite was highly social and inclusive, bringing together fans from different corners of the world—as far as New Zealand—for a weekend full of music, dancing, and elaborate  costumes ranging from full racing suits to dinosaur outfits. Zach even recalled an encounter on his walk back to the campsite with someone he jokingly referred to as a ‘Jenson Button not-so-lookalike’.

Despite the late-night antics and high energy at the central bar, a sense of mutual respect prevailed; the noise levels typically died down by one or two in the morning as people passed out ahead of the early morning trek to the circuit.

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Facilities and Food

Campsite facilities in this environment meant portable bathroom and shower trailers spread throughout the grounds, as well as water bottle refill stations nearby. Mornings often brought long shower lines as early as 6am, especially after rainy nights turned much of the campsite into a muddy landscape. Still, Zach noted that the hot water supply remained reliable despite hundreds of campers sharing the same facilities.

Food options were similarly practical. Cafeteria tents served hot meals including curries, pizzas, and breakfast items, typically costing between $17-$23 (€15-20). Campers are also more than welcome to bring snacks and food of their own choosing to save money while at the circuit.

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The Reality of Camping at Spa: Weather, Mud, and Car Parking

With campers permitted to arrive as early as Thursday, there’s one thing Spa camping guarantees, it’s that the weekend is a workout. Between the circuit’s natural elevation changes, the distance between trackside vantage points, and the walk back and forth from the campsites each day, Zach estimated the group averaged more than 30,000 steps a day.

Then, there was the weather. Zach emphasized packing for every weather situation. Torrential rain throughout the weekend transformed the grassy hills and campsites into thick fields of mud, making waterproof clothing a necessity. Ponchos quickly became lifesavers, while extra socks, backup pants, and warm layers became essential for the chilly evenings.

That unforgiving Belgian mud didn’t just affect walking conditions; it created a logistical nightmare when it was time to leave. Zach’s group hadn’t moved their Hyundai i20 all weekend, meaning that on Monday morning it required a team effort to finally push the hatchback free. They weren’t alone either, Zach noted most cars lacked the four-wheel drive to navigate the slick mud easily.

Despite the messy exit, staying until Monday morning was still the more effective tactical play. While some fans try to get out of there as soon as the checkered flag flies on Sunday, they quickly find themselves trapped in a gridlock.

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Is Camping Worth it? Final Verdict

Financially, Spa camping remains one of the more affordable and cost friendly ways to attend a Formula 1 race weekend. The basic pitch-only package costs approximately $107–$134 (£80–£100) per person, which secures a plot of land for your tent and vehicle. 

To put that into context alongside the grand prix itself, a three day General Admission (Bronze) ticket costs $320 (€275) in 2026..

Reflecting on the financial trade-off of camping versus commuting from a hotel or Airbnb in a nearby town, Zach summarized: “I think you just need to know what you’re getting yourself into when you do something like that. Like, it is cheap, but it’s cheap for a reason.”

Still, even with the mud, exhaustion, stuck cars, and unpredictable weather, Zach said he would choose the laid-back, highly social camping experience over a hotel again without any hesitation.

If you want to hear more from Zach from logistical tips to fantasy advice, you can regularly find him breaking down the latest F1 action and strategies on his F1 Fantasy Youtube Channel.

Want to know more about the Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix? Check out our other guides here! Or for guides and tickets for any F1 race, head to our Formula 1 hub.