Before the party can begin at the Kentucky Derby, the nightmare of parking inevitably ensues. Beware if you haven’t planned parking ahead, because most reasonably close parking within the Churchill Downs property is sold in advance and reserved. Parking passes for the 2014 Derby are sold out.
Because mint juleps are a quintessential element of the Kentucky Derby, taxi lines may be long; the official cab company of Churchill Downs is Yellow Cab. The new taxi-depot is located next to Wagner’s Pharmacy at 4th street and Central Avenue. Seconds from the infield entrance and a minute walk to gates 1-17, the taxi depot is the spot to be picked up and dropped off for Derby.
For those that are parking at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and the Kentucky Exposition Center, the Churchill Downs bus depot provides transportation located immediately outside of Gate 1 of Churchill Downs.
Parking at Papa John’s stadium costs $15, and parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center costs $8. Round-trip shuttle prices include $15 from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, $20 from downtown Louisville, and $15 from the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center.
For information on road closures during Oaks and Derby, click here.
For information on how to get home from Derby, click here.