Plan your arrival. Select your dates below:
• Pass Parking at Kentucky Exposition Center
 Opening Night, Tuesday & Wednesday Parking |
 Thurby, Oaks & Derby Parking |
 Kentucky Exposition Center Parking |
All attendees WITH reserved parking must display their hang tag parking pass on their vehicle’s dashboard at all times. Please be aware that your parking pass is for individual vehicle use only. Once your parking pass is scanned at the entrance, it will be void and no longer valid for additional use that day.
Please note that all parking onsite at Churchill Downs is reserved this year.
On Thurby (May 3), attendees can park for free at the KEC WITHOUT a parking pass. The KEC parking lots will open at 10:00 a.m and close at 10:00 p.m. Guests should enter the the KEC via gates 1, 2, 4 or 6. Shuttles will be running from the Kentucky Exposition Center to Churchill Downs and back on a continuous loop between 10:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Thurby.
On Oaks (May 4) and Derby (May 5), only attendees WITH reserved parking can park at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The KEC parking lot will open at 7:00 a.m. Guests should enter the the KEC via gates 1, 2, 4 or 6. On Oaks, shuttles will be running from the Kentucky Exposition Center to Churchill Downs and back on a continuous loop between 7:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. On Derby, shuttles will be running between 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.
Assistance will be available for individuals with disabilities. Guests with ADA placards will be directed to Lot N or Lot D at the Kentucky Exposition Center, where ADA-accessible shuttles will transport guests to Churchill Downs.
Any cars left overnight are subject to being towed.
There will NOT be shuttles from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to Churchill Downs on Thurby, Oaks and Derby. The walk from the stadium to the track is approximately 20 minutes. The stadium parking lot will open at 7:00 a.m. on Oaks and Derby.
Parking will still be available at the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, as in years past. On Oaks (May 4) and Derby (May 5), attendees WITHOUT a parking pass can park at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for $20 and make the short walk to Churchill Downs.
On Opening Night (April 28), Tuesday (May 1) and Wednesday (May 2), parking at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium will be free with complimentary shuttle service to Churchill Downs.
On Thurby (May 3), parking at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium will be free, but no shuttles will be running to Churchill Downs.
On Thurby, Oaks and Derby, pedestrians will only be permitted to cross Central Ave. at 3rd Street or 9th Street. No other crosswalks between these two streets will be available for pedestrian crossings due to shuttle bus traffic. Pedestrians may use the sidewalks along Central Ave. to access these designated crossings.
Throughout Derby Week, you are still welcome and encouraged to park in the neighborhoods surrounding Churchill Downs. Please be mindful to not block streets, driveways or fire hydrants.
Central Avenue between Crittenden Drive and Taylor Boulevard will be closed to the public on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 and restricted on Thursday, May 3. Please plan your route accordingly.
Please note, if you park north of Central Avenue Thursday through Saturday, pedestrians will only be permitted to cross Central Ave. at 3rd Street or 9th Street. No other crosswalks between these two streets will be available for pedestrian crossings due to shuttle bus traffic. Pedestrians may use the sidewalks along Central Ave. to access these designated crossings.
During Derby Week, all employees and vendors will park in designated lots:
- Opening Night, Tuesday and Wednesday: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium (Green Lots A through D)
- Thurby, Oaks and Derby: Kentucky Exposition Center accessed via Phillips Lane (Lots V and W, with overflow in Lot T)
Employees can also be dropped off at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium or the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Designated employee shuttles will be running on a continuous loop.
Employee lots will be operating the following hours:
- Opening Night (April 28): Open at 6:00 a.m. Shuttle service 6:00 a.m. to 2:45 a.m next day.
- Tuesday, May 1: Open at 2:00 a.m. Shuttle service 2:00 a.m. to midnight next day.
- Wednesday, May 2: Open at 2:00 a.m. Shuttle service 2:00 a.m. to midnight next day.
- Thurby: Open at 2:00 a.m. Shuttle service 2:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. next day.
- Oaks: Open at 2:00 a.m. Shuttle service 2:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. next day.
- Derby: Open at 2:00 a.m. Shuttle service 2:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. next day.
Employees & vendors should enter through the new Paddock Gate, located next to the shuttle drop off. The Paddock Gate will be open for employee access 24/7 beginning at 4am on Opening Day (4/28).