The Kentucky Derby is truly a spectacle, even if you are not a big horse racing fan. It’s like the Super Bowl, where fans turn up for the entertainment and betting, only here, there are no halftime shows.

 

But most people don’t know that the Kentucky Derby is only part of the spectacle. Yes, many turn up only for the race, but there are still plenty of places to see around Louisville. So, think about that before booking your accommodation. You wouldn’t want to spend only one day at the racetrack and miss out on some local sightseeing.

 

In fact, you should book your hotel location based on sightseeing options, not Churchill Downs and the Derby. The Kentucky Derby can be the culmination point, but the days before and after are all about sightseeing.

 

Let’s start with some tips that will help you to plan everything for your trip.

Start With the City, Not the Track

Most people make the mistake of anchoring their entire trip around Churchill Downs. It should be the other way around. You’ll spend a few intense hours at the track, but you’ll spend days in Louisville.

So, the right way is to plan for the city first. Lock down where you’re staying, how you’ll get around, and which neighborhoods you actually enjoy being in. That way, you’ll pay lower premium prices, and you’ll avoid the Churchill Downs crowds. You should consider Downtown Louisville, NuLu, and the Highlands, but they all offer different vibes.

And don’t worry much about transportation. It’s usually cheap, and it’s not such a big place, so you can go from one corner of Louisville to the other in minutes.

Arrive Early or Stay Late (Ideally Both)

If you want to avoid the crowds and you don’t like a nervous breakdown, make sure you arrive a few days before the Derby and leave at least a day after. Most people make the same mistake of arriving on Friday and leaving Sunday morning, but the crowds are huge.

By arriving early, you’ll miss the crowds and stress and avoid those inflated prices a day before the event. So, a good plan is to arrive on Wednesday or Thursday and stay until Monday.

Plus, midweek in Louisville is calmer and far more enjoyable. And you’ll have time to sightsee and see all the important stuff.

Use the Oaks Day as a Soft Launch

If you are here for the racing, you wouldn’t want to miss Friday’s Kentucky Oaks, which is like a Kentucky Derby warmup.

It’s still high-quality racing with some of the fastest horses, and it is usually less crowded and more low-key.

Plus, attending the Kentucky Oaks will allow you to learn Churchill Downs’ layout, figure out transportation timing and betting, and get a feel for the crowd flow, just so you can find your way around on race day.

The Kentucky Oaks is a great test for your betting strategy on the main event. Here you can experience what it is like to bet on horse racing and how to analyze horses with potential. That way, when the main event comes, you’ll be much more comfortable placing a bet.

If you don’t know much about betting, it is a good idea to start with TwinSpires. They have online betting and provide special analysis of the main event. More on that on the link below: twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/

Balance One Big Day With Slower Experiences

Even though the Kentucky Derby race lasts around 2 minutes, it is still a whole-day spectacle. You’ll arrive at the racetrack in the morning and stay until late evening. So, don’t stack another major attraction the same day.

Instead, if you want to see something that requires more than 1-2 hours, give it a separate day. The only time you’ll have after the Kentucky Derby is to go to a local bar or grab some food.

In terms of full-day activities, it is a good idea to visit the Bourbon distilleries (outside the city), go for some riverside walks along the Ohio River, visit the Louisville zoo, or visit some of the local neighborhood dining spots for a no-stress vibe.

Don’t Overdo the Bourbon Trail

Yes, Kentucky is bourbon country. Yes, you should visit a distillery. But this doesn’t mean that you should visit every single one of them. It’s not worth it. They are very similar, and you’ll only waste time that can be used on better things.

So, pick one or two that fit your schedule and visit only them. You can also check out which are the best or oldest distilleries in Kentucky to make your choice easier.

Build in a “No Schedule” Window

This matters more than people think. You should leave at least half a day completely open with nothing planned.

Why? Well, you can use this time to explore neighborhoods, revisit somewhere you liked, or just recover, because Derby weekends are exhausting.

Transportation Planning Is Sightseeing Planning

On Derby weekend, transportation isn’t a detail. It defines your entire experience.

Traffic around Churchill Downs is brutal. Ride-shares surge. Streets close. Walking distances feel longer than expected.

If your sightseeing plans require crossing the city multiple times in one day, rethink them.

Cluster activities by area. Pick one neighborhood per day. Less time in cars means more time actually enjoying where you are.

Final Thoughts

Your Kentucky Derby trip isn’t about squeezing every single activity into two days. There are plenty of things to see in Louisville, which means that you shouldn’t focus only on the race. That is the highlight of your journey, not the entire story.