How much will a trip to the 2023 Kentucky Derby cost you? See eye poppin’ ticket prices

Meredith Howard
·2 min read

As the 149th Kentucky Derby approaches this weekend, some fans may be hoping to snag a last-minute ticket and hotel room to take part in the celebration.

Ticket prices at Churchill Downs in Louisville vary greatly depending on the site, date of purchase and whether you’re looking for a premium option. One third-party site was selling general admission tickets for less than $100 Monday, and you could luck out and spend less than $300 on a hotel room.

Here’s what to know if you’re making last-minute Derby plans.

How much are tickets to Churchill Downs?

General admission tickets were available on StubHub starting at $75 each as of Tuesday. Sitting in the final turn section will run you $266 before fees, and infield tickets are going for $484.

For those looking for unlimited food and drink options, you could sit in Section 227, Row B for $621. Or, for access to a private VIP lounge, in-seat wait service and unlimited food and drinks, be prepared to shell out $3,149.

Here are more ticket prices from StubHub, current as of Tuesday:

  • General admission: $75, $76, $82

  • Section 116K, Row 8: $1,466

  • Homestretch Club, Row C (unlimited food and drinks): $895

  • Homestretch Club, Row T (unlimited food and drinks): $995

  • Matt Winns Steakhouse section: $8,278

Last-minute hotel bookings around Louisville

Many hotels are sold out through their direct sites, and prices are steep for the rooms that are left. A room at The Brown Hotel for a May 6 check-in and a May 7 check-out was going for $1,980 Monday, before taxes and fees.

Extended Stay America Select Suites Louisville South had two rooms available at $185 before taxes and fees on third-party site Expedia as of Monday morning.

The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites in Hillview, just south of Louisville, had one room left for $221 including taxes and fees, from Expedia.

Here are more hotel options available on Expedia as of Monday for May 6 to May 7:

  • Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville Old Henry: Five rooms left at $695 with taxes and fees

  • Red Carpet Inn – Louisville: $203 with taxes and fees

  • Red Roof Inn Louisville Fair and Expo: $527 with taxes and fees

  • Extended Stay America Suites Louisville Dutchman: $296 with taxes and fees

  • Homewood Suites by Hilton Louisville-East: $533 with taxes and fees

Travel and other Derby expenses

Along with ticket and hotel costs, most Derby attendees will also be paying for gas or flight tickets. Airline ticket prices are up 25% from last year, CNBC reports.

Gas prices are down 17.4% across the U.S. from March 2022, however, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Food prices are still high though, with an 8.8% increase for restaurant meals and an 8.4% hike for groceries.

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