Gateway Kartplex
About Gateway Kartplex
Located in Madison, Illinois, just five minutes across the river from downtown St. Louis, Gateway Kartplex is the undisputed king of outdoor karting in the Midwest. Instead of being tucked away in an industrial park, this state-of-the-art facility is built right into the heart of the action—sitting inside the oval infield of World Wide Technology Raceway. Serving as a legitimate motorsport hub, Gateway Kartplex shuns the family-entertainment model in favor of raw, gas-powered racing. With a fleet of heavy-duty rental karts that can hit 55 mph on a challenging, half-mile professional road course, it is designed for serious thrill-seekers, corporate groups, and aspiring racers looking for an authentic, wind-in-your-helmet track experience.
Activities
Rental karting
Junior/cadet karting
Occasions
Stag & hen dos
Facilities
Parking
Cooked food
Kart shop
Private hire
Parties
Detailed guide
The Racing Experience
- The Track: A meticulously designed 0.55-mile outdoor asphalt road course. It features 11 highly technical turns, sweeping corners, and a massive 700-foot back straightaway that allows drivers to completely max out the engines before slamming on the brakes.
- The Karts: The public Arrive & Drive fleet utilizes premium Sodi GT5 rental karts powered by roaring Honda GX270cc gas engines. Each kart is rigidly tuned to the exact same specifications to ensure a perfectly level playing field, putting the lap times entirely in the hands of driver skill.
The Facilities & Motorsport Hub
- Leagues & Events: Beyond standard Arrive & Drive sessions, the venue hosts the public "iDrive" racing series, massive corporate team-building events, and specialty endurance races—including an annual 500-lap kart race on Memorial Day weekend.
- The Racing Ladder: This isn't just a rental track; it is a launchpad for professional racers. Gateway Kartplex is the home of the famous Ignite Karting series (partnered with Margay Racing).
- The Pro Shop: The facility features a full-service kart shop offering gear, spare parts, and mechanical services, alongside private garages for kart owners.
