Your Guide to Traveling During Kentucky Derby® Weekend
Posted by Julie Skaff on March 02, 2020
We get it - planning a bucket-list trip and all the trivial details can be overwhelming and time consuming. Don’t worry! Derby Experiences is here to help make your Kentucky Derby® weekend planning as pain-free as possible with our recommended transportation options.
Keep reading to find out our suggestions and decide which options work best for you and your Derby group!
Flights
Luckily, there are multiple airports in the Louisville region that are all excellent, popular airports to fly into for Derby weekend. The Louisville International Airport is the most convenient, but any of the airports listed below are within a 2-hour drive to Louisville and Churchill Downs®.
Louisville International Airport (SDF)
• 4 miles / 8-minute drive to Churchill Downs
Blue Grass Airport - Lexington (LEX)
• 73 miles / 1 hour 16-minute drive to Churchill Downs
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• 100 miles / 1 hour 34-minute drive to Churchill Downs
Indianapolis Airport Authority (IND)
• 118 miles / 1 hour 52-minute drive to Churchill Downs
Transportation | Airport to/from Louisville Accommodations
Taxi
One of the most accessible options to get from the airport to your Louisville accommodations is by taxi. Taxis are usually available outside of the terminal and you can hop right in!
Rideshare
Download a rideshare app, such as Uber or Lyft, onto your phone before you leave home. Upon arrival at the airport, enter your destination and meet your driver within minutes!
Note: cost will vary depending on pick up and drop off location & distance.
Private Airport Transfer
Derby Experiences has built strong relationships with local companies to deliver competitive transportation rates.
We can arrange your airport transfers from Louisville International Airport (SDF) or Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) for any size group. Please contact us for more information and rates.
Transportation | Louisville Accommodations to/from Churchill Downs
Round-trip Motor Coach Transportation from Derby Experiences Hotels
One-time round-trip transfers are available from select Derby Experiences hotels to the Kentucky Oaks® and Kentucky Derby races via motor coach. Derby Experiences Trip Directors are on-site and assigned to each hotel to make sure guests know how to get to and from the track.
Semi-Private Transportation
One-time round-trip transfers are available from Derby Experiences hotels in downtown Louisville to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks races via 14-person passenger vans. Service can be requested at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Return transportation begins after the main race each day. The drop off and pick-up location for the van is a short walk from the Paddock Gate at Churchill Downs.
Private Transportation
Derby Experiences has built strong relationships with local companies to deliver competitive rates for private group private transportation. We can arrange your transportation to and from Churchill Downs on the day of the races, or throughout the entire weekend.
Taxi/Rideshare
On Thurby, Oaks and Derby Day, taxis and rideshares will have a designated pickup and drop off location next to Wagner’s Pharmacy (3113 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40214), which is a 5-minute walk from the track.
Drive & Park
When driving to Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby weekend, it’s important to have a plan regarding where you will park your car. Attendees can park in the neighborhoods around Churchill Downs and walk to the entrance, but availability is not always guaranteed.
The best option to ensure you have parking spot is to purchase a parking pass in advance. Derby Experiences offers private parking in the Derby Experiences Lot, a private and secure parking lot conveniently located next to Churchill Downs.
Driving Directions to Churchill Downs
DRIVING FROM ST. LOUIS AND POINTS WEST
I-264 East (from I-64E - New Albany and St. Louis): Take Exit 9 - Taylor Blvd. Turn left traveling north on Taylor Blvd.
For Gate 10, turn right on Longfield Ave.
For Gate 17, turn right on Central Ave.
DRIVING FROM LEXINGTON AND POINTS EAST
I-264 West (from I-64W - Lexington): Take Exit 10 -Third St./Southern Pkwy. Turn right heading north on Third St. or Southern Pkwy. to Central Ave. Turn left on Central Ave.
For Gate 17, continue on Central Ave.
For Gate 10, turn left at Fourth St. and bear right passing the barns.
DRIVING FROM NASHVILLE AND POINTS SOUTH
I-65 North or from Airport (from Nashville): Take I-264 West (Watterson Expressway) to Exit 10 - Third St./Southern Pkwy. Turn right heading north on Third St. or Southern Pkwy. to Central Ave. Turn left on Central Ave.
For Gate 17, continue on Central Ave.
For Gate 10, turn left at Fourth St. and bear right passing the barns.
DRIVING FROM INDIANAPOLIS, DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE AND POINTS NORTH
I-65 South (from Indianapolis/Downtown Louisville): Take Exit 132 - Crittenden Drive (exit will veer to the right). Continue straight onto Crittenden Drive. Take first right at Central Ave. intersection. Continue straight on Central Ave. Churchill Downs is approximately 1.6 miles from expressway.
Let Derby Experiences help plan your Kentucky Oaks & Kentucky Derby Trip
Simplify your Kentucky Derby weekend planning by booking through Derby Experiences. We offer ticket packages, transportation options, hotel accommodations and much more to help create the ultimate bucket-list trip!