Break out the oversized hats and prep the Mint Juleps! The annual Kentucky Derby is here, and while you might already know how you’re spending the weekend (Raceday is Saturday, May 3, 2025), we have some tips on enjoying the festivities without breaking the bank.
Whether you’ve secured your tickets way in advance to root for your Thoroughbred picks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, or you’re still hunting for the epic watch party outside the city, let us guide you on affordable ways to partake in the fun.
We spoke with travel experts, Louisville locals, and some of the most devoted Kentucky Derby fans to discover budget-friendly rentals, dining, attractions, and happenings so you won’t miss a second of the most anticipated racing event of the year.
The Kentucky Derby is a bucket list affair for many people, but you don’t have to miss out completely when trying to avoid the steep hotel prices and venue eats (and we don’t want you to), which is why we did the research so you can relish in the Derby fun without worrying about the expenses. Imagining hearing the iconic sound of the Call to the Post as the horses take their places and the races begin!
Budget-Friendly Lodging
Like any major big-city event, hotel rooms near the racecourse often book up fast, and the rates can be out of visitors’ price range. However, this doesn’t mean you must cancel your plans of attending the Derby altogether. There are other options that are lighter on the wallet and ensure you have a safe place to sleep after the festivities.
Note: many of the experts we spoke to recommend booking your trip months ahead of time for better rates and availability, but these are still great options late in the game or when planning for next year’s Derby.
Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago, a vacation rentals and property management company, suggests expanding your search beyond the hotels in the immediate area due to them filling up quickly and likely being pricey. Instead, he urges patrons to look into short-term rentals or for lodging further away from the venue, trading a slightly longer commute for affordable accommodations.
Former travel executive Rich Kingly echoes the thought, advising Derby-goers to consider staying in nearby Clarksville, Indiana (about a 15-minute drive), where hotel rates are considerably lower than in downtown Louisville. He also suggests checking Airbnb for rentals in quieter areas like Iroquois Park in Louisville, which is about a 15-minute drive from the racetrack.
Marketing expert and Managing Director at SEO Gold Coast, Sean Clancy, also points out that hotels outside of downtown Louisville, particularly near the Standiford Field airport, often offer favorable deals, and by utilizing public transportation and ride-sharing apps, you won’t need to splurge on parking!
For travel expert Emily Dreilich, Airbnbs are the way to go, as she’s come across some priced at only $100 per night during her past stays in the Louisville area. Like the others, she recommends booking in surrounding neighborhoods and mentioned St. Matthews or Crescent Hill, Kentucky, which are pleasant locations with lower-priced rentals a short commute from Churchill Downs (about 20 minutes away).
Another option shared by travel expert and CEO of FreeTour.com, Alexandra Dubakova, is to scour websites like LouisvilleDerbyHomeRental.com, where Louisville locals list their homes or spare rooms for rent to help out Derby attendees and make some extra cash. Additionally, she encourages visitors to take advantage of hotels’ free shuttle services to save on parking fees and to consider pairing up with other Derby enthusiasts to split group suites, which hotels like the Staybridge Louisville Expo Center in Louisville offer.
Affordable Dining
The cost of food adds up, especially if you’re buying treats at the racetrack. In March, the Courier Journal shared the savory menu at the venue for the Kentucky Derby, which includes unique Southern-style dishes like slow-cooked beef tips with Kentucky peppercorn sauce (yeah, our mouths are watering too). While we won’t stray you away from indulging in these delicious Raceday meals paired perfectly with the Derby’s traditional Mint Juleps, we will point out that your options aren’t limited to the stadium offerings if you’re on a budget.
Dreilich recommends hitting up local diners like Wagner’s Pharmacy, walking distance from the track and packed with horseracing history and classic eats that won’t cost you an arm and a leg like the infield vendors. Meanwhile, Clancy suggests checking out town favorites like Jack Fry’s or The Silver Dollar, in which he boasts that the “prices are reasonable” and the “food is top-notch.” Kingly adds that the Village Market Food Hall on Brent St. has a solid food selection, with many of the options ranging from $10 to $20.
Dubakova particularly enjoys dining at the Germantown eateries, as the town hosts mini culinary festivals throughout Derby Week. Some spots like Four Pegs Beer Lounge and The Post have considerably cheaper fare than you’d get at the racetrack, and they include Kentucky staples like open-faced hot browns and bourbon-glazed wings, she says.
Derby Watch Parties
Watching the Derby from inside the Churchill Downs might be a stretch for your wallet, depending on what type of experience you’d want. General admission standing-room-only tickets are currently starting at $366 — a $100 increase from ticket prices in April, according to USA Today, and even that might’ve been hefty for some. Big spenders might shell out the $135,000 for a private suite or the $721 reserved seating price for the ultimate Kentucky Derby experience, but it isn’t necessary for those who just want to enjoy the race without burning a hole in their pockets.
Event tickets can be purchased on the Kentucky Derby’s official website. (Warning: some are sold out or have waitlists in the days ahead of Raceday.) If you’re open to other ways to watch the race, consider watching from lively Louisville spots like Fourth Street Live! or Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, which Dreilich points out throws Derby watch parties with live entertainment and themed drinks. Other spots Clancy recommends are sports bars, which usually offer views of the race on a big screen and a comfortable atmosphere to watch with other Derby fanatics.
If you’re looking to be outside and bask in the Louisville sun, a Derby Day Garden Party is being held in Paristown, where you can watch the races live under the Christy’s Garden pavilion, place bets, and treat yourself to signature cocktails. General admission tickets are $30 and are available on their website.
Other places Kingly recommends to tune into the race are Keeneland, a sports facility in Lexington, which has a $10 entrance fee to watch on a big screen in their picnic area, and Bluegrass Brewing Company in downtown Louisville, which has plenty of TVs and $5 beers.
Traveling Around the City
As we mentioned, using taxis and ride-sharing services is ideal during Derby weekend, as they’ll help you avoid the hassle of looking for and paying for parking. For out-of-towners who are unable to get to Louisville until hours before Raceday, there are still affordable flights coming into Standiford Field Airport, leaving you enough time to get to your chosen venue to watch.
Ayoub Hissar, Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at FlightHub, a popular flight booking site, tells us that tickets are as low as $125 for patrons traveling from Tampa, Florida, and $455 from Los Angeles, California, as of May 1.
He suggests using an online travel agency that handles cost comparisons across various airlines to assist in booking your trip. Hissar also notes that some agencies will set you up with packages to help you find the most cost-effective hotels and car rentals.
Preparing for Raceday
Enjoying the Kentucky Derby doesn’t mean wringing your bank account dry. There are many options to immerse yourself in all the fun things happening in the city while keeping expenses minimal. We backed these experts’ findings through extensive research to provide you with the best advice for an affordable Derby weekend. And even if you aren’t venturing to Louisville for the Derby this year, save these tips for the 2026 season, and you’ll be better prepared for the costs ahead.