Plan your arrival. Select your dates below:
 Opening Night |
 Tuesday - Wednesday Parking |
 Thurby, Oaks, Derby 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 Once your parking pass is scanned at the entrance, it will be void and no longer valid for additional use that day.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 from Opening Night through Derby.
On Tuesday-Thursday of Derby Week, 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 and Derby, 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 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. ADA-accessible shuttles will transport guests to Churchill Downs.
Any cars left overnight are subject to being towed.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurby, parking at Cardinal Stadium will be free. After parking, guests can make the short walk to Churchill Downs. The stadium parking will open at 10:00 a.m. daily. There will NOT be shuttles from Cardinal Stadium to Churchill Downs on Tuesday, Wednesday, 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 Cardinal Stadium. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurby, Oaks and Derby, attendees WITHOUT a parking pass can park at Cardinal Stadium and make the short walk to Churchill Downs.
Beginning on Opening Night and continuing through Derby, pedestrians will be directed to cross Central Ave. at 3rd Street, 6th 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.
For guests requiring ADA-accessibility, our Central Ave. crossings at 3rd and 9th street are recommended.
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 Floyd Street and Taylor Boulevard will be closed to the public on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 and restricted on Thursday, May 2. 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, via the 6th Street bridge 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.
Instructions for neighborhood resident access during peak ingress and egress:
Access to the neighborhood surrounding Churchill Downs will be accessible on Oaks and Derby days via Dixie Highway (31W). Follow Dixie Highway northeast to 7th Street/Berry Blvd and over to Taylor Blvd. From Taylor, neighbors will have access to many side streets like Arcade, Carlisle, Brentwood and Whitney Ave.
During Derby Week, all employees and vendors will park in designated lots:
- Opening Night: Cardinal Stadium (Green Lots A through D)
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurby, Oaks and Derby: Kentucky Exposition Center accessed via Gate 1, 2, 4, or 6
Employees can also be dropped off at Cardinal Stadium or the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Employees must have their Derby Week credential or pass to access the parking lots on Thurby, Oaks or Derby.
Employee shuttles will be running on a continuous loop.
Employee lots will be operating the following hours:
- Opening Night (April 27): Open at 6:00 a.m. Shuttle service 6:00 a.m. to 2:45 a.m next day.
- Tuesday, April 30th: Open at 2:00 a.m. Shuttle service 2:00 a.m. to midnight next day.
- Wednesday, May 1: 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 Churchill Downs 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 (4/27).
Guests visiting the Kentucky Derby Museum who do not otherwise have a parking pass should park with other guests who do not have a parking pass. The shuttles transporting guests to Churchill Downs will drop guest off near the Kentucky Derby Museum.