The Best Slot Car Tracks in 2024 that My Family Loves

We own a lot of slot car tracks, and we love a good race. We’re a bit of a competitive bunch. But it’s oh so much fun, and there’s plenty of excitement to be had. My family thrives on the passion and wholesome fun these races bring out.

I recommend them for every family who wants a fun activity that both kids and adults enjoy. However, before you jump on the bandwagon and rush out to get your kids a slot car race track, you should know what to look for. You don’t want to buy just the first track you come across. Rather, you need to understand what will work best for your family.

For example, if you’re looking for a basic set, I recommend the Carrera GO!!! 62521 Onto The Podium Slot Car Track Set. I bought a very similar set set for my family and I have to say that we love it. It wasn’t too expensive and completely performed the way we expected.

If you’re looking for a race track with an app, take a look at the Scalextric App Race Control Pro Platinum GT 1:32 ARC Digital Slot Track Set. This set will get you more features and customizations than any other track I know of. You can choose your race type, race conditions, acceleration graphs, and maximum power. Then, use the app to manage your race for maximum fun and excitement.

Below I’ll expand on these race tracks and tell you about other sets we own. I’ll also give you helpful hints on what to consider when looking for a good track, and how to choose the right one for your family. That way, once you’re ready to shop, whether that be online or in a store, you can easily find the model you’re looking for.

Note that most of these slot car race tracks come with 1:32 scale race cars, but you can also find them in 1:43 scale and 1:64 scale. The scale you get will depend solely on what your preferences are, whether you like the bigger race cars or smaller cars similar to the micro Scalextric slot cars.

If you like anything race car-related, you need a slot car track. That’s because slot car tracks can be a lot of fun. Not just for kids, but for the whole family.

As I said, my family loves a good slot car race.

We’re not simply racing a car to the finish line; we make a competition out of it. The goal is to see who can achieve the longest winning streak, and keep it, in a single setting. The winner takes all! And, by all, I mean they get to celebrate their victory for about five minutes until it’s time to clean up and get ready for bed.

But it’s like they say in the movies, “If you’re not first, you’re last.” That’s how the thinking goes around my household! While I’m relatively certain there are other families out there just as competitive as mine, I feel like we’re definitely cutthroat when it comes to our racing games. And, just in case you were wondering, my son is the reigning champion with the longest winning streak in our family.

Once you start racing, you’ll become hooked. Some have actually made a hobby out of this type of racing, tweaking and tuning their slot cars into pieces of art that can take on even the fastest of slot cars.

Not only is this type of racing fun, but there are other benefits to this type of racing for children. First of all, it gets them away from their video games and the television or laptop for a few hours. That’s a huge feat in itself! It also develops your child’s hand-eye coordination and risk-reward thinking, as well as other hands-on skills, like learning how to grip the controller and how much pressure to put on the trigger, when to let up to slow down or push harder to go faster.

What Should I Look for in Slot Car Tracks?

As promised, here are a few criteria to consider when choosing the best slot car track for your kids.

Consider the age of your racers

This is important to consider because most of these tracks are designed for ages eight and up. They do make slot car tracks for younger kids, but navigating the controller can be challenging for an adult, let alone six or seven-year-olds.

Decide where you’ll set up the track

You’ll want to decide where you’ll set up the track before you make your purchase. This will allow you to know if you have enough space for the track you’re wanting. Another good point is that you probably don’t want to set it up in the middle of the living room or dining room where it’s people might step on it, food might spill on it, or pet hair might trapped inside.

Determine how often your racers will be racing

Determining how often your racers will be racing kind of goes hand-in-hand with the last point. Even though most of these tracks don’t take long to set up or tear down, you don’t want to have to do it too often. This can wear out the tabs, causing them to loosen or break.

Read the product reviews

This is a big one for me. Read the product reviews. You can tell so much about a product by doing this. Parents are brutally honest. This is especially true if the product is damaged, doesn’t work, or just generally doesn’t live up to its hype. By reading reviews, you can also find out how the company handles complaints, whether the manufacturer was willing to honor any warranties or guarantees, and how the product rates overall.

Here’s How I’ve Determined the Best Slot Car Tracks

I’ve determined the best slot car tracks in several ways. First, I looked at my experience and those of other family members and friends. I compared the features to the price points and, of course, because I practice what I preach, I read the reviews. I did this by taking the time to look for any common issues or damage and, if there were any, how they were handled by the manufacturer. I also researched how the tracks rated compared to each other.

My Top Picks for the Best Slot Car Track of 2024

#1: Carrera GO!!! 62521 Onto the Podium Slot Car Track Set (Best Value)

Get the Carrera GO!!! 62521 Onto the Podium at Amazon

Carrera GO!!! 62521 Onto the Podium Electric Powered Slot Car Track Set is one of the best slot car tracks for the value. I’ve bought the very similar 62522 for for my family and I have to say that we love it. It wasn’t too expensive and completely performed the way we expected.

Here are some features that make it such a great buy.

Realistic Cars

The battery-operated Lamborghini Huracan GT3 #98 and Mercedes-AMG GT3, MANN-FILTER Team HTP #47 1:43 scale cars that come with this track are pretty realistic looking. Your children will love not only the look of these cars but how fast they travel. These slot cars reach scale speeds of up to 370 miles per hour.

Awesome Track Features

The features of this slot car racing set are amazing. It comes with 28.22 feet of track length and is ready to race straight out of the box. With long straightaways, banked curves, a junction, and a chicane, this slot track will surely provide hours of excitement for your children.

Head-to-Head Action

The head-to-head action means this could be a great group activity. Invite your children’s friends and family members to play for an all-out good time.

Customizable

Your children can customize these track pieces with the use of expansion sets, accessories, and a wide selection of additional cars. They’ll be able to create new and challenging races each time.

Ready to Race

Everything your children need to have a blast with this race track comes in one box. From the cars, hand controllers, and track pieces, your kids will be ready to go as soon as the box arrives.

Reviews

The reviews for the Carrera GO!!! 62522 Victory Lane Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set are excellent. Parents agree that this product is fun, exciting, and worth the money. Children of all ages will love the excitement this track set provides.

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#2: Scalextric App Race Control Pro Platinum GT 1:32 ARC Digital Slot Track Set (Best Premium)

Get the Scalextric App Race Control Pro Platinum at Amazon

Are you wanting to purchase the best slot racing system out there? If you’re not worried about the price tag, consider the Scalextric App Race Control Pro Platinum GT 1:32 ARC Digital Slot Race Track Set. This digital setup lets you use an app for more features and customizable upgrades than any other track on this list.

Allows up to 6 Racers

Unlike the Carrera GO!!! 62522 Victory Lane Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set, the Scalextric App Race Control Pro Platinum GT 1:32 scale ARC Digital Slot Race Track Set allows up to six racers for added fun and excitement. The set comes with four cars, but more can be purchased separately.

Cool Cars

This slot car track set features the coolest cars, including the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, the Ford Mustang GT4, the Mercedes-AMG GT3, and the Bentley Continental GT3 race cars. Your kids will love racing with these.

Free App for Additional Features

Download the free ARC app and connect your phone or tablet to the ARC powerbase to unlock additional features and have more control over your races. Your kids will be able to customize their racing experience. They can choose from a variety of weather conditions as well as see their tire wear, fuel usage, and brakes, and get post-race statistics.

Wireless Controllers

This slot car race track comes with wireless controllers. These controllers contain a rumble pack that will let the racer know if your car needs to pit or if the weather changes.

Ability to Modify Cars

Watch as your kids modify their 1:32 scale cars from one of the five preconfigured acceleration graphs. This gives them the ability to set the maximum power of their car to suit their particular racing style.

Reviews

Reviewers for these slot car tracks say this is the most fun they’ve had in years. They were able to get their children away from their video games for a few hours for some great family fun. These products are awesome for kids who love their devices. Kids can combine their technology with this slot car track and have a blast racing.

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#3: Carrera GO!!! 62476 Disney Pixar Cars Slot Car Track Set (Best for Disney Pixar Fans)

Get the Carrera GO!!! 62476 Disney Pixar Cars at Amazon

Do you have a Disney Pixar fan? Do they love Lightning McQueen and the other Cars characters? If so, this is the slot car track for them. That’s because this track set features Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm as rivals.

My two-year-old grandson has this track and absolutely loves it. He and his dad spend hours playing with this track.

Over Six Feet of Track

This electric slot car set comes with over six feet of track. The track set comes with a loop, curves, and straightaways. It even has Cars-themed guardrails. Your children will have a blast battling to the finish line with this track.

Fast Scale Speeds

Like the Carrera GO!!! 62522 Victory Lane Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set, this slot car track features 1:43 scale cars that can reach scale speeds of up to 370 miles per hour.

Lightning McQueen vs. Jackson Storm

As I’ve mentioned above, this slot car set features Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm. Watch your children battle it out with these two rivals, and see who makes it to the finish line first.

Turbo Boost

The controllers come with a turbo boost that gives your children’s slot car a burst of speed on demand to make the action even more thrilling.

Customizable

Also similar to the Carrera GO!!! 62522 Victory Lane Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set, your children can customize and expand this slot car race track with the use of expansion sets and track pieces, accessories, and a selection of additional cars. Your children will never get bored with the new, challenging race setups.

All in One Box

This slot car track set is also race-ready. It includes all the necessary track pieces, cars, and hand controllers. All you have to do is set it up, and it’s good to go.

This is a great slot car set for children of all ages. It’s fun and exciting. The best part about this product is that it provides hours of fun for the whole family.

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#4: Hot Wheels Super Speed Blastway Dual Track' (Best Low Cost)

Get the Hot Wheels Super Speed Blastway Dual Track at Amazon

If you’re looking for the best slot car tracks but don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is a great slot car track that won’t break the bank. It’s perfect if your children are already fans of Hot Wheels and have an existing track. They can connect these two tracks for an amazing race experience.

My son loved these slot car tracks when he was younger. He used to spend hours in his playroom expanding his tracks, reconfiguring them, and then racing his sister. This is definitely worth it, and here’s why:

Slam Launchers

This slot car racing set comes with two racer-activated slam launchers to get the race started. Your children can slam the launcher and watch their cars take off down the track.

Side-by-Side Action

This slot car track provides thrilling side-by-side racing action. Your children will spend hours racing each other.

Lap Counters

This comes with pop-off characters in the grandstands that are activated by each lap the cars complete around the track. What a fun way to keep track of laps!

Checkered Flag

You never have to worry about who won. The checkered flag will reveal the ultimate racing champion.

Connects to Other Track Sets

Comparable to the Carrera GO!!! slot car tracks, this Hot Wheels slot car track set comes with track pieces that can connect to other Hot Wheel track sets for even more excitement. Your children can customize and build the race track of their dreams.

Parents love these products because they’re customizable and allow their children to be creative while playing. It also comes with two racing cars but can be used by any Hot Wheels car.

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#5: Scalextric Super Karts (Best for Go Kart Fans)

Get the Scalextric Super Karts at Amazon

For my family, this is an impressive slot racing set. We’re a go-kart racing family, so I may be a bit partial, but this is a great track set and lots of fun.

So if your kid is a fan of go-karts, the Scalextric Super Karts will be perfect for them. That’s because this slot car set comes with two go-karts that look like the real thing and over 15 feet of track length.

Fast Speeds

These 1:32 scale go-karts will reach scale speeds of 300 miles per hour. They’re a bit slower than some of the other models on this list but will still provide tons of fun for racing hobbyists and go-kart fans.

Digital Plug Ready

These slot car racing sets are digital plug-ready for when you’re ready to upgrade from analog to digital racing.

Magnatraction

The sticky tires and magnatraction help these racing go-karts stay on the track at speed.

Comes with a Power Supply

This slot car track set comes with its own power system that plugs into the wall for convenience and ease.

Ready to Go

Like the Carrera GO!!! 62522 Victory Lane Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set and the Carrera GO!!! 62476 Disney Pixar Cars Speed Challenge Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set, these slot car sets come ready to go. These have everything from track pieces and cars to hand controllers and a power bank.

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#6: Scalextric C1368T 24 Hr Le Mans Sports Cars Slot Car Analog 1:32 Race Track Set (Best Sport Cars)

Get the Scalextric C1368T 24 Hr Le Mans Sports Cars at Amazon

Personally, I like this one for its different layout options and magnatraction feature that holds the car to the track.

The Scalextric C1368T 24 Hr Le Mans Sports Cars Slot Car Analog 1:32 Race Track Set is set to resemble the real-life 24 hour Le Mans racing that just about any automobile fans can get behind. See if you can race your 1:32 scale car to the finish line before the next racer does.

Great for All Levels

The race controllers for this track set have a four-position selector switch. This switch allows the racer to choose slow or fast speed settings. This makes it great for all skill sets; beginners can play it safe and go slow until they get the hang of it, while an advanced racer can crank it up to full speed for more challenging races.

Lap Counter

Similar to the Hot Wheels Super Speed Blastway Dual Track Racing, this slot car track comes with a lap counter. While this counter doesn’t include a crowd jumping out of the grandstands, it adds an extra dimension to help make slot racing even more fun.

Four Layout Options

These race tracks include over 16 feet of track. Your kids can configure four different layout options. They will love the variety, and it can all be done in just minutes.

Magnatraction

Like the Scalextric Super Karts, these slot car tracks feature magnatraction to hold the racing cars to the track when they’re going at speed.

Battery Pack

Also like the Scalextric Super Karts, this slot car track set comes with a power system that plugs into the wall, so there’s no need to have to mess with buying extra batteries.

Race Ready

Similar to the other slot car track sets on this list, this one also comes ready to race with everything you need all in one box, including cars, track pieces, and a power bank.

Parents and kids alike are very pleased with this product, saying it’s the ultimate slot car race track.

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How Do Slot Cars Work?

Slot cars are scaled electric cars that have an electric motor. They’re controlled with a speed controller that allows the racer to make the car go faster or slower depending on how hard they squeeze the trigger. These slot cars race on a slot car track that is either plastic or has a routed track. The name of the game is to get from start to finish without crashing, flying off the track, or stalling.

Most of the sets on this list come with at least one speed controller. The only exception is the Hot Wheels Super Speed Blastway Dual Track Racing, which comes with a slam launcher.

How Do I Make The Cars Stay On Track?

There are several good ways to keep your slot cars on the slot track. The first is practice. As they say, “Practice means perfect.” This applies to slot car racing as well. The more you practice how to handle your controller and slot car, the better you will be and the less likely you’ll go off the track.

Another way to keep your slot car on the race track is to keep your slot car clean. Take the top off of the car to inspect its various parts. Look for anything that might need repairs. In particular, inspect its pickup shoes. You want to make sure that everything is in good working order.

Finally, stick to one or two slot cars. This way you will know without a doubt what you’re working with and won’t have to wonder about a particular slot cars’ performance.

Can I Make Them Go Faster? How?

Yes, you can make these slot cars go faster. There are a few different ways you can go about this.

When you’re cleaning your slot car, look for areas that can be upgraded. You can upgrade the shell, electric motor, braids, gears or gear sets, magnets, and more. It is up to you to decide if and what to adjust to make your slot car faster.

Burn-in the motor. While this can be done by simply running the slot car around the race track a few times, it can also be done using water. You’ll want to do this by removing the shell and attaching the braids to the power source. Next, submerge the car in a bowl of water, where you’ll run it for about 20 minutes. During this time, change the voltage from the lowest to the top speed. Hold the speed at slow, then medium, and then high for five minutes at each level. Once you’ve done this, run the slot car at the same speed you plan on racing it at while still in the water. Take it out of the water and completely dry it. Make sure you get all of the water out of each crevice. It’s recommended to use a spray lube on the motor, a door-opener lube for the gears, and a light lube for the axles and bushings.

Are All Carrera Tracks Compatible?

The short answer here is no. Unfortunately, they’re not all compatible. However, if you’re wanting to extend your car tracks, you can always purchase additional extension packs.

Are All Scalextric Tracks Compatible?

The good news here is that, yes, the new Scalextric slot car sets are compatible with the old slot tracks.

Do Scalextric Cars Work on Carrera Tracks and Vice Versa?

Here’s some more good news for the slot car enthusiast. Scalextric cars can be upgraded to work on Carrera tracks and Carrera cars can run on Scalextric tracks. This can make your racing system so much more fun and exciting.

Verdict: Your Best Slot Car Track 

As promised, here is Cliff’s Notes version of my top picks from above, as well as a quick reminder of why they’re my top picks.

If you want the best value on a slot car track, choose the Carrera GO!!! 62522 Victory Lane Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set. This is the best slot car track because of its realistic-looking race cars and awesome track features for some great head-to-head action.

If you’re wanting to spend the extra money and get the best of the best slot car track, choose the Scalextric App Race Control Pro Platinum GT 1:32 ARC Digital Slot Race Track Set. This is the best slot car track for up to six racers and can be used with your smartphone or tablet for the full digital experience.

If you’re looking for a slot car track for Disney Pixar fans, choose the Carrera GO!!! 62476 Disney Pixar Cars Speed Challenge Electric Powered Slot Car Racing Kids Toy Race Track Set'. This is slot car track allows your children to race Cars rivals Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm to the finish line.

If you want to want a slot car track but don’t want to spend a ton of money, choose the Hot Wheels Super Speed Blastway Dual Track Racing. This is the best slot car track that won’t devastate your wallet. This slot car track features slam launchers and its lap counter is in the fun form of characters in the grandstand.

If you’re wanting a slot car track for go-kart fans, choose the Scalextric Super Karts. This slot car set comes digital plug-ready and features magnatraction and fast speeds for thrilling excitement every time.

If you’re looking for a slot car track that has the best sports cars, choose the Scalextric C1368T 24 Hr Le Mans Sports Cars Slot Car Analog 1:32 Race Track Set. Not only is it the best track for Le Mans fans, but it’s also great for all levels of racers, has a lap counter, and comes with four different layout options.

Whether you choose a Carrera, a Scalextric, or even a Hot Wheels slot car track, your kids are all but guaranteed to have a great time. It’s fun to make it a competition and see who can keep their winning streaks going or who can go the fastest around a corner or a chicane without flipping their slot car off the track.

Remember when purchasing your slot car tracks to read the reviews. This will give you plenty of information to help guide you in making a sound buying decision. Consider the different prices of the slot car tracks you’re looking at, as well as any features you may want your slot cars or tracks to have. Be sure to determine if the tracks will require batteries or if they come with their own power source. Keep in mind that most of the controllers will require AA batteries at some point. It’s a good rule of thumb to have them on hand, just in case.

Regardless of which of the tracks you ultimately purchase, just remember this is good, old-fashioned fun and a great way to get the whole family involved. It doesn’t need to be crazy competitive. Just sit back, grab a controller, and race that car to the finish line!