Every April, cyclists from around the world descend on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the Sea Otter Classic. In 2027 it runs Thursday, April 15, through Sunday, April 18.
What happens at Sea Otter
- Racing in almost every discipline: road, mountain bike, gravel, and more, with courses on the raceway and the trails of the surrounding hills.
- Group rides and fun rides for amateurs, alongside the pro fields.
- A huge expo, where brands show their newest bikes and gear, with demo rides.
Planning your trip
- Riders: early bird pricing runs through December 8, 2026. Check seaotterclassic.com (https://www.seaotterclassic.com/) for categories and registration.
- Spectators: check the official site for expo hours and daily schedules.
- The festival is outdoors in the hills. Bring sun protection, water, and a warm layer for late afternoon.
Getting there from North Fremont Street
El Castell Hotel is about 17 minutes from the raceway, out Highway 68. Traffic builds on festival mornings, so leave early and allow extra time for parking.
After a day at the track
- Head downtown for dinner on Alvarado Street, about five minutes from the hotel.
- Rest your legs with an easy evening walk on the Coastal Recreation Trail at Monterey State Beach.
Staying at El Castell Hotel
El Castell Hotel is boutique-style lodging on North Fremont Street near Highway 1. Rooms and suites have free Wi-Fi, a microwave, a refrigerator, and a Keurig coffee maker, handy for early race mornings. Book direct at elcastellhotel.com.
Mountain biking at Fort Ord during the 2017 Sea Otter Classic. Historical photograph; not a photograph of the 2027 event. Photo: Sea Otter Classic 2017 (34275562474) by Eric Morgan/BLM, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain: U.S. federal government work (Bureau of Land Management) - public domain in the U.S. (17 U.S.C. 105). Uploaded original unchanged; website renditions may be resized, cropped and converted in format.
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