Excitement is being built as the Sea Otter Classic returns to Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. After all, what could be better than attending the largest cycling festival in the world? What’s more, there are nearly double the number of vendors coming this year than ever. If you need further convincing, you can check out cool bikes and gear and maybe even win a few things! And by all means, you won’t have to wear a mask this year. Check out what’s happening this year at the 2022 Sea Otter Classic in Monterey!
Sea Otter Classic
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy.
Monterey, CA 93940
www.seaotterclassic.com
Dates: April 7-10, 2022
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $25 for a 1-day Festival Pass and $70 for a 4-day Festival Pass. You can purchase a single-day Festival Pass online or on-site. You can also purchase the 4-day Festival Pass online. However, the 4-day passes will not be available on-site. There is free admission for children 12 years old and under.
Sea Otter Club Passes
If you want the VIP Experience, 1- and 4-day VIP passes are available online and onsite. Among the amenities you can enjoy with a Sea Otter Club pass are complimentary breakfast and lunch. If that’s not enough, you can also enjoy complimentary beer and wine with your meal. Of course, you can also enjoy upscale seating at the Sea Otter Club.
How To Get To WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
If driving from Monterey, take Highway 1 to Highway 68 toward Salinas. Follow Highway 68 (Monterey-Salinas Highway) until you see the signs for the Sea Otter Classic. You will turn left onto A Road, then follow road markers to lead you to the entrance. The distance from Highways 1 and 68 intersection to Laguna Seca is 8.5 miles. If you’re coming from Santa Cruz, take Highway 1 to Highway 68. On the other hand, if you’re coming from Salinas, take Highway 68 to the festival.
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Parking
There is no fee for general parking to the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. As you enter the festival grounds, you will be directed to the dirt parking lot on Wolf Hill. However, reviewing the festival map before you arrive is a good idea. You will better know where to park and choose between free and paid parking. Free shuttle buses will transport you from Wolf Hill parking to the entrance.
Reserved Parking
Reserved parking passes may still be available if you prefer to park closer to the festival. Reserved parking is $50 per day, and you can make a reservation online. You go to the Will Call window to obtain your reserved parking pass. You will see the Will Call location off South Boundary Road. Please note that reserved parking passes are limited and may sell out. You should check with the official Sea Otter Classic website for updated information on reserved parking.
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Things To Do At The 2022 Sea Otter Classic
Check Out The Gear
The Sea Otter Classic bike expo is one of the first spots to check out. After all, with more than 900 brands, it’s the world’s largest. Besides, you can see the latest bikes, accessories, and innovative new technology. Practically every major bike brand will be on hand. Moreover, you can get free stuff, get autographs from elite riders, and enter raffles.
Ride A Demo Bike
At the Expo, you can demo bikes from many retailers. At this time, 26 vendors are offering demos. Moreover, this includes all bike types, whether Ebikes, hybrids, MTBs, mountains, or roads. Notably, there are familiar brands like Diamondback, Giant, and Specialized. That’s not to mention other brands like Electric Bike Company, Liv Cycling, Pinarello and Ridley. Whatever your bike preference, you’ll likely be able to demo it.
Enter A Raffle
In addition to free samples from vendors, you can enter to win some very cool stuff! Again, you should check the festival map and schedule to see what’s happening. For instance, on Thursday, you can enter to win a 2022 Mac 6 Race X.T. from Pivot Bikes! You must visit the Mountain Bike Action booth at M1 in the green zone to enter. Entries are accepted until noon on Saturday, April 9. American Classic hosts another grand raffle. This established retailer will raffle one pair of high-performance tires daily. Seriously though, there are many other opportunities. Visit the schedule to see what’s on the day(s) you visit.
Attend A Bike Clinic
You can attend one or more bike clinics of the Sea Otter Classic daily. For instance, there is a Pro Mechanic Bearing R&R Clinic on Thursday. Hosted by Enduro Bearings, this one-hour clinic will feature a demonstration by pro mechanics. If you can’t make it on Thursday, Enduro Bearings has additional clinics on Friday and Saturday. Also available are daily 30-minute clinics offered by master mechanics from Park Tool.
Watch A Bike Race
What’s attending the world’s largest bike festival without seeing at least one bike race? Or perhaps you have already entered into one or more events? Whatever the case, you will have several opportunities to see a racing event. Just check out the race schedule to see what’s happening. And by all means, these events are not restricted to elite cyclists. Indeed, it’s open to all ages and levels of ability.
Try The Food!
After all that cycling and walking, you will get hungry at the Sea Otter Classic. If that’s the case, you will have not one, not two, but three food courts on site. For one thing, you can enjoy gourmet carnival-like foods like chicken kebabs from Sonoma Teriyaki. Also on hand are Whiting’s Foods from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Lugano Swiss Bistro. Get some Sierra Nevada beer from any food court, especially at the Beer Garden!
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Visit The Sea Otter Carnival
At the Sea Otter Classic, there is something for all ages. This is especially true for kids with plenty of fun things to do. For instance, the Sea Otter Carnival is where kids can enjoy carnival games, stunt shows, and more. Kid-friendly spots like the Woom Kids’ Zone and Little Bellas also exist. Younger kids will enjoy the Sea Otter Egg Hunt, held daily at 10 a.m. at the Kids’ Zone.
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About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget and Radio.com. He earned a media fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.
Randy’s Background In Cycling
Before a career in travel writing, Randy was a USA Cycling coach, USA Triathlon Level II Coach, NASM personal trainer, and ASCA swim coach. He is a U.S. Army veteran and had basic training at the former Fort Ord Army base, just a few miles from Laguna Seca.