Stephen Foster 27 Jun 2026

When Churchill Downs was originally constructed, it sat on the outskirts of Louisville. Now that the city has grown, the venue sits in a more built-up area and, therefore, parking is either On-Site where possible or in surrounding neighbourhoods with appropriate granted access. 

• Free parking in the frontside parking lots off Kentucky Derby Drive (Green, Orange, Pink, Blue, and Turquoise) is offered to guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking may be chargeable during the Kentucky Derby meeting. There is also paid parking available in the Black, Red, White, and Brown lots)
• Offsite parking may also be available in the neighbourhoods surrounding the venue. Churchill Downs does not own all property or parking lots adjacent to the racetrack facility. Some private lot attendants may charge depending on the day. Pedestrians parking north of Churchill Downs will be able to cross Central Ave. at 3rd and 9th streets

• Taxis - use the Churchill Downs auto-court in front of the Barbaro Statue by the Kentucky Derby Museum. This is accessible via Central Ave. for both pickup and drop-off racedays
• Guest Drop-Offs & Ride Sharing Services (Uber, Lyft, etc.) - there is a designated guest drop-off point next to the Blue Lot off of Kentucky Derby Drive and Thornberry Avenue. This area may be accessed from Thornberry Ave. for both pickup and drop-off racedays. The Blue Lot has 16 numbered stalls for rideshare providers to wait for guests. No waiting is permitted in the VIP Gate auto-court
• Limousines - Xtreme Transportation is the preferred Limousine service of Churchill Downs. They offer a wide range of vehicles to meet your needs - from sedans to SUVs, vans, limousines, and buses. Contact info@xtremetransportation.com for information and pricing, or call directly at (812) 246-2235, or visit Xtreme Transportation

TARC is a public transportation provider in Louisville which operates bus routes. TARC runs to and from the racecourse. Please visit www.ridetarc.org for the latest route information.

Bus and shuttle parking will be available in the Pink Lot on racedays via the Thornberry Ave. entrance. Reserved bus and shuttle parking must be arranged in advance by contacting the Churchill Downs ticket office.

Although train tracks run through Louisville, there is no passenger station in the city.

There are bicycle racks outside Jim Patterson Stadium which is just a 1.2 km (14 min) walk from the racetrack.

Churchill Downs is located close to the University of Louisville meaning that there are plenty of shopping, entertainment, and dining options nearby. Cardinal Stadium is just a 1.8 km (22 min) walk from Churchill Downs for football fans while Jim Patterson Stadium is a 1.2 km (14 min) walk away for baseball fans. For those looking for some culture, the Speed Art Museum is a 2.7 km (32 min) walk away.