Heading to Thunder Over Louisville? Here's what to know about TARC routes to get home

Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal
Updated ·3 min read

Louisville's public bus system will again increase services in downtown Louisville this year for the Kentucky Derby Festival's annual Thunder Over Louisville.

The Transit Authority of River City expects to transport more than 10,000 people during Saturday's event. And as in past years, it has largely stuck with the same service plan to smoothly transport passengers in and out of the city's core.

To keep up with increased riders — Thunder Over Louisville has seen upward of 500,000 spectators in years past — TARC is again this year increasing service into downtown Louisville and designating five post-event boarding areas for Thunder Over Louisville, held this year on April 22. All routes on TARC will be will fare-free to provide convenient access to and from Thunder Over Louisville, thanks to TARC in partnership with Humana.

Here's what to know about TARC routes before heading to Thunder Over Louisville:

You may like: Heading downtown for Thunder Over Louisville? What to know in advance about parking

TARC's Thunder Over Louisville route plan

TARC is again increasing service into downtown Louisville and designating five post-event boarding areas for Thunder Over Louisville, held this year on April 22.
TARC is again increasing service into downtown Louisville and designating five post-event boarding areas for Thunder Over Louisville, held this year on April 22.

On the day of the fireworks, TARC will be adding 68 additional buses to accommodate the public. A shuttle service from Shawnee Park to Union Station will also run throughout the day to accommodate an expected increase of passengers heading downtown. While extra buses should allow the agency to transport more people quickly, the routes could face delays as police set up barricades for the 9:30 p.m. firework display

TARC is offering Fare-Free Service for the full day of Thunder Over Louisville, sponsored by Humana. Here's what to know about the routes:

Eastbound routes (boarding on Market, near Floyd)

  • No. 15: Market Street (to La Grange Road)

  • No. 19: Muhammad Ali Boulevard (to Oxmoor and Lyndon)

  • No. 31: Middletown

Eastbound routes (boarding on Liberty, near Floyd)

  • No. 17: Bardstown Road (to Fern Creek and Sebree)

  • No. 21: Chestnut  Street (to Bashford Avenue)

  • No. 23: Broadway (to Jeffersontown and Breckenridge Plaza)

  • No. 40: Taylorsville Road

You may like: 7 things you can or can't bring to Thunder Over Louisville 2023 at Waterfront Park

Westbound routes (boarding on Main, west of Ninth)

  • No. 15: Market Street (to Shawnee Park)

  • No. 18: Preston Highway (to Valley Station)

  • No. 19: Muhammad Ali Boulevard (to Park Duvall and Rockford Lane)

  • No. 21: Chestnut Street (to Shawnee Park)

  • No. 23: Broadway (to Shawnee Park)

  • No. 43: Portland/Poplar Level Road (to 32nd and Portland Loop)

Southbound routes (boarding on 6th near Chestnut)

  • No. 4: Fourth Street (to Iroquois Park and Southland Park)

  • No. 6: Sixth Street (via Central to Auburndale)

  • No. 63: Crums Lane (to West Pages Lane)

You may like: Here's how to watch, listen to Thunder Over Louisville on TV, the radio

Southbound routes (boarding on 1st at Muhammad Ali) 

  • No. 2: Second Street (to the airport and UPS)

  • No. 28: Preston Highway (to Okolona - Outer Loop Plaza)

  • No. 43: Portland/Poplar Level Road (to Fern Creek)

For more information, visit ridetarc.org or call 502-585-1234.

Reach Features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to get home from Thunder Over Louisville 2023: TARC routes to know