City of Atascadero announces street closures for Cruisin’ Weekend
Vehicles of all varieties cruise up and down El Camino Real in the annual Hot El Camino Cruise Nite.
Hot El Camino Cruise Nite passes have sold out
– The City of Atascadero will close several streets for the 2026 Cruisin’ Weekend, which will include Hot El Camino Cruise Nite on Friday, Aug. 21, and Dancing in the Streets on Saturday, Aug. 22.
The 33rd annual Hot El Camino Cruise Nite will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday on a new closed and controlled route along El Camino Real from San Jacinto Avenue to Highway 41, also known as Morro Road.
Street closures will begin at 5 p.m., with the hard closure of the cruise route beginning at 5:30 p.m. No-parking restrictions will begin at 3 p.m.
Hard closures will include El Camino Real from Highway 41 to San Jacinto Avenue, West Mall from Palma Avenue to El Camino Real, and Traffic Way from Palma Avenue to El Camino Real.
Soft closures will include West Mall from the Atascadero Unified School District office to Palma Avenue for staging. Staff will reopen West Mall to Palma Avenue after all vehicles enter the route, while the section from Palma Avenue to El Camino Real will remain closed.
Palma Avenue from East Mall to Traffic Way will reopen after all vehicles enter the route. Entrada Avenue will close from El Camino Real to Palma Avenue. Traffic Way from Palma Avenue to Lewis Avenue will reopen after the cruise begins.
Westbound Olmeda Avenue from Traffic Way to West Mall, along the Fine Arts Academy, will close for staging until the cruise begins.
Drivers of preregistered vehicles will enter the staging area from Olmeda Avenue or West Mall. Vehicles will enter the cruise route at West Mall and Lewis Avenue. Cruise passes have sold out.
Parking and pedestrian access will be prohibited in the center median and bench areas along El Camino Real from Highway 41 to Rosario Avenue from 1 to 8:30 p.m.
The city will provide designated pedestrian crossings near Huckleberry’s, East Mall, and Traffic Way. The Tesla charging station at Mechanics Bank will close during the event.
Cruise participants must follow these rules:
- Display the cruise pass at all times.
- Follow general safety rules for the closed course.
- Obey all directions from police officers and event staff.
- Do not deliberately chirp, spin, or squeal tires.
- Do not pour liquid on the street for tire spinning or any other reason.
- Do not participate in speed exhibitions or contests or create excessive exhaust system noise.
- Make U-turns only at designated locations at the north and south ends of the cruise route.
- Do not throw items from vehicles.
- Use the designated route entrance when re-entering after leaving the route to allow a vehicle to cool down.
- Do not pass other vehicles or park in the center median.
- Pick up and drop off pedestrians only in designated areas.
- Keep headlights on.
- Do not bring trailers or motorcycles.
Police or event staff may escort violators from the cruise route. Violations may also result in citations, towing, vehicle impoundment, or arrest.
Dancing in the Streets will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Sunken Gardens area of downtown Atascadero. The event will feature community entertainment, four bands, and food and beverage vendors.
West Mall and East Mall will close between El Camino Real and Lewis Avenue from 12:30 p.m. to midnight. Palma Avenue will close between East Mall and the alley behind Amsterdam during the same period.
Parking will be prohibited along Sunken Gardens on El Camino Real between East Mall and West Mall.
For questions, call the Colony Park Community Center at (805) 470-3360. More information is available at VisitAtascadero.com/cruise.
