My son loves race cars. From his constantly growing Hot Wheels collection to watching Formula 1 races on TV, he can’t get enough of the speedy cars. We recently went to check out the Chicagoland Raceway in Westmont and had a blast racing the slot cars and Hot Wheels cars there!
The owner of Chicagoland Raceway, Mike Swiss, enjoyed racing slot cars as a kid and has been working with them as an adult for more than 40 years. He’s a National Champion professional slot car racer who built the tracks you will find at the Raceway.
Features of Chicagoland Raceway
Chicagoland Raceway features three slot car race tracks. The King Track is the biggest one, which we used. It features angled curves and turns for up to eight race cars. Mike had my kids choose the color cars they liked the most, set them on the track, and showed the kids how to use the controllers to race.
The Fiedler Flat Track also has turns, but the track is flat. The third track is a drag strip along one of the walls where two cars can race.
All the tracks have digital screens that track speed and the number of laps your car has taken. Mike is also able to adjust the power settings on each lane so your kids have an appropriate challenge.
Operating the cars is so simple; the controller has one trigger. Pull the trigger to make the car go and release it to stop the car. Kids as young as three years old can operate it!
Within the past year, Mike has also built a Hot Wheels racing track for up to four cars. There are plenty of Hot Wheels cars for kids to choose from there. Kids set their cars up at the top of the ramp, open the gate, and watch to see which one makes its way to the end of the track first. This was my two-year-old’s favorite part of our visit!
Food
There are reasonably priced snacks for sale at the Raceway, but you can also bring in your own food. There are tables set up to enjoy your snacks.
If you’d prefer to eat elsewhere, there are many food options along Ogden Avenue. The Raceway is located next door to Pizza Hut and is also close to Wingstop, Potbelly, and Zazzo’s Pizza (one of my family’s favorite pizza spots).
Bathrooms
There is a bathroom to use in the back of the space.
Hours
There are not set hours at the Raceway, because Mike is sometimes closed for parties or making trips to the Post Office for his mail-order slot car racing business. However, he lives very close to the Raceway and can usually accommodate visitors when he knows they are coming. He recommends calling ahead of time to see if the Raceway will be open. He is very responsive to calls or texts at (708) 203-8003.
Prices
The per-person cost to race is $6 for 20 minutes, $12 for 45 minutes, or $14 for 60 minutes. These rates were updated in July 2024 and are subject to change.
Recommended Ages
All ages can enjoy racing slot cars and Hot Wheels cars, but it is the most fun for ages four and up. The next time I go, I plan to bring some friends because the more cars that race at once, the more fun the kids have.
Best Days/Times To Go
We visited on a Tuesday morning and were the only people there. Mike shared that late mornings and early afternoons on weekdays are generally less crowded. On the weekends, especially during colder months, it gets busier.
It is best to call Mike to make sure he is open; he’s also happy to share the scoop about how crowded it is.
Accessibility
The facility is located just off the parking lot on Ogden and is wheelchair accessible. The main racing track is built low enough to be able to see the whole course from where the controls are, but Mike also has stools for kids to stand or sit on if they are not tall enough to see all of the racetrack.
Chicagoland Raceway
17 West Ogden Ave
Westmont, IL 60559
(708) 203-8003
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