I imagine that a trip to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. If you are one of the many, then a trip to Louisville, Kentucky for the Run for the Roses will no doubt be an unforgettable experience.
I’m going to give you some tips that will help you plan your trip to the most famous racetrack in the world. If you aren’t a big horse bettor, then I recommend my beginner’s guide to betting the Derby so you will feel more comfortable at the betting window.
The gates will open at 9:00 am (ET) with post time for the first undercard race at 11:00 am (ET). Post time for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is approximately 6:57 pm (ET).
There will be signs that detail which items won’t be permitted into the racing facility (such as umbrellas, which are strictly prohibited). Be sure to review those before going in. All patrons are subject to magnetic wand scans and bag searches before entering the track.
It is also vital to note that all tickets are now fully digital. You must have your ticket loaded on the Churchill Downs app or Ticketmaster app to get through the gates. Make sure your phone is fully charged! General admission guests with infield tickets must enter through the Infield Gate, while frontside walkaround and reserved seating guests will enter through the Paddock or Clubhouse Gates.
No! There is no will call for the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks. Because all tickets are accessed digitally via your smartphone, Churchill Downs does not have a will-call booth and cannot re-issue lost or forgotten paper tickets. Make absolutely sure you have accessed and downloaded your tickets to your phone’s digital wallet before you arrive at the track to avoid cellular connectivity issues at the crowded gates.
Everyone that goes to the Kentucky Derby frontside needs to dress to impress, but keep in mind there are different levels of dress code (Track Casual, Smart Casual, and Business Casual) depending on your exact ticket.
Ladies typically wear pastel-colored suits, dresses, or bold separates. Hats are the biggest fashion trend at the Derby, so please, don’t go without one. High heels look nice, but you definitely want to pack a pair of comfortable shoes such as flats or flip-flops for your walk back to the car or shuttle.
Men traditionally wear sport suits, light-colored sport coats or navy sport coats, nice khakis or dress pants, light-colored shirts, and fashionable ties with matching accessories. Denim/jeans, shorts, tennis shoes, or any athletic apparel are strictly prohibited in premium areas like the Trophy Room, Turf Club, Finish Line Suites, Jockey Club Suites, Stakes Room, and Millionaire’s Row.
The infield is much less formal than the reserved seating areas. You can wear almost anything you want into the infield as the goal is to be comfortable. Recommended infield attire includes blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts, polo shirts, casual sundresses, and comfortable footwear. Because it typically rains at some point on the day of the Kentucky Derby, be sure to come prepared for it—grab a poncho or rain jacket because umbrellas are not allowed at Churchill Downs. Bring a layer of sunscreen and sunglasses if forecasts are calling for sunny weather.
Getting to the track requires some planning. All onsite parking at Churchill Downs is sold in advance. There are no drive-up parking sales on Derby Day, and passes are strictly vehicle-specific.
If you don’t have a pre-purchased parking pass, you have a few options:
And last but not least you want to make sure you win your bets while you are there. You can take a look at the latest odds and figure out who to take on your own. The easier option is to look at my free Derby predictions where I detail the horses that I like and why.