Louisville BusinessDaily

How bad is traffic in Lousiville Kentucky during the Kentucky Derby?

My friend is going to be traveling through Louisville Kentucky May 3rd, and is concerned about increased traffic during the Kentucky Derby. He will be taking I64 from east to west, going through late morning/early afternoon. Can anyone give a heads up as to what he can expect/any faster routes to avoid the main area of the derby, from the map it looks like its right off I64? Thanks

Public Comments

1. Hello. Your friend should be okay on Derby day if he is actually staying on I-64. He may experience a slight delay, but nothing lengthy at all, and I doubt that will even happen. If he plans to get off the interstate and travel within Louisville... now that would be a different story. Happy and safe travels to your friend!
2. Traffic is ca-RAZY on Derby Day, but it's mostly on surface streets. Your friend should experience no problems at all. Churchill Downs is actually closer to I-65... and if your friend will be traveling late morning/early afternoon, that's really early in the day, so he won't even encounter the great rush of people leaving the track and heading to parties. So... no probs at all for you friend! Hopefully in years to come he or she (or you) can stop by for Derby - it's a really good time! Take care!
3. People arrive at Churchill Downs at different times on Derby Day, with traffic backups mostly confined to the Watterson Expressway (I-264) exits near the track and the surface streets from there to the track. Once the race is over, however, you have over 100,000 people wanting to leave the same place at the same time. There is also increased traffic on I-64 with horse owners returning to their farms towards Lexington and the Governor and his guests returning to Frankfort. If your friends stays on I-64 and does not take the I-264 downtown bypass, and if your friend is not driving through between 6pm and 8pm, he shouldn't have much of a traffic problem.
4. pretty fuckin bad