Mario Kart 64 has 16 courses in its base game.
Released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996, Mario Kart 64 organizes its racing content into four cups, each containing four courses. The 16-track lineup includes new locations such as Kalimari Desert, Yoshi Valley, and Rainbow Road, along with recurring themes like Mario Raceway and Bowser Castle.
In Grand Prix mode, players race through each cup in sequence, with results across all four races determining the trophy winner. The game also supports Time Trials and multiplayer Versus racing on the course roster. The 16 courses are the base game's standard tracks; battle arenas are separate gameplay locations and are not included in that total.
A common mix-up comes from later entries adding substantially larger rosters through retro cups, downloadable content, or updates. Mario Kart 64 itself has four cups and 16 race courses, not 12, 20, or 8.