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The Kentucky Derby

First Saturday in May · Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville International (SDF) is about two miles from Churchill Downs, and on Derby weekend its ramp is the first in the area to fill. The 153rd Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 1, 2027.

Dates.

  • 2027The 153rd Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Oaks is Friday, April 30.

Airports.

  • SDFLouisville Muhammad Ali International, about two miles from Churchill Downs
  • LOUBowman Field, a smaller Louisville airport northeast of SDF
  • JVYClark Regional, across the Ohio River in Indiana, north of Louisville
  • LEXBlue Grass Airport in Lexington, about 65 miles east, directly across from Keeneland

Derby week procedures

The FAA publishes special air traffic procedures for Louisville International (SDF), Bowman Field (LOU), and Clark Regional (JVY) for Derby week. It expects heavy demand from Wednesday through Sunday morning and can delay arrivals when traffic runs over capacity.

Parking at SDF

SDF is closest to Churchill Downs, and during Derby week the airport uses a taxiway for long-term parking. The FAA procedures ask smaller propeller aircraft to use Bowman Field or Clark Regional instead. In some years, aircraft that arrived after parking filled could only drop passengers off and leave.

Lexington and Keeneland

Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington is about an hour and a half by road from Churchill Downs, and it’s the alternate when Louisville parking is full. Choosing it trades a longer drive on race day for a place to park, and we’ll lay out both airports with the drive times before you book. LEX sits directly across from Keeneland, which runs its own race meets in April and October.

Oaks and Derby

The Kentucky Oaks runs on Friday, the day before the Derby, so decide early whether you’re arriving for both. Parking at SDF is limited, and a spot reserved in March is far easier to find than one requested in Derby week.

Aireall isn’t affiliated with this event or its organizers, and we don’t sell tickets or passes.

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