How to Find Parking for the Melbourne Cup

The 2024 Melbourne Cup is upon us and, as a major event that draws crowds from all over, anyone thinking to participate and plan to drive to the venue needs to prepare well. As one would expect from “the race that stops a nation”, thousands of attendees flocking to the scene means that finding a parking space at Flemington Racecourse is more challenging than usual.

But you can still minimise stress and enjoy this historic horse racing event to the fullest. Start things off on the right foot with our tips on what to expect on the day of the event and some Melbourne Cup parking and public transport options.

What to expect at the Melbourne Cup

Is it your first time to participate in the Melbourne Cup? Don’t get too overwhelmed amidst the bustling atmosphere even if it’s your first time attending this annual event

While not an official holiday in Australia, the Melbourne Cup is celebrated as a de facto holiday in Victoria. While the 164-year-old event is a thoroughbred horse race at its core, over a hundred thousand Aussie and foreign spectators also participate in other exciting activities at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. This includes dozens of races before and after the main event, culinary delights and soirées, and a chic fashion display – from classic to eclectic.

This means that you can expect a large volume of attendees at the Flemington Racecourse, as well as a great deal of competition when it comes to securing accessible parking options at the venue.

This is why both first-time and veteran attendees need to thoroughly plan their transportation to the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup parking options

Driving to the Flemington Racecourse may usually be convenient because there’s free public parking available at the premises, but parking spaces are usually limited during peak days – and the Melbourne Cup is the epitome of peak days.

On-site parking at Flemington Racecourse

You can try your luck at the centre car park, which opens at 8:30 A.M., by entering Epsom Road and going onto Flemington Drive. Just know that parking slots are limited so, unless you arrive incredibly early to get a spot, you’re better off parking off-site.

The Victoria Racing Club also offers limited public parking at the showgrounds for $30 per day, accessible via Gate 5 at Lang’s Road.

Off-site parking

There are a good number of free and paid parking spaces available outside of Flemington Racecourse, but you might have to walk a good 10-15 minutes to get to the venue.

There are commercially operated parking garages within a 3-kilometer radius of the racecourse which allows daily parking for a flat rate ranging from $15 to $30. You can also find cheaper on-street parking closer to the venue, but most of them are metered or have time limits.

Changes in local parking regulations

You can expect some changes to local traffic and parking regulations during the Melbourne Cup because the City of Melbourne suspends some parking restrictions during public holidays.

The city government, if specific days of the week are stated on a parking sign, then the restriction will not apply on a public holiday. For example, a parking sign that says “2P Meter, Mon-Fri, 7am-10pm”, means you can park along that area for free and without a time limit because it indicates a Monday to Friday schedule.

However, if a sign only indicates “2P Meter, 7am-10pm” or “Permit Zone, Area 1a Resident, 7am-11pm”, don’t expect an exemption if you park there and get fined.

Book Melbourne Cup parking space in advance with Parkhound

Are you looking for last-minute parking for the Melbourne Cup? If you really want to avoid parking stress, book a space with Parkhound.

Parkhound offers a variety of on- and off-street parking spaces across Australia at affordable rates. It’s really easy to search and book a parking space too! Simply head on to Parkhound, type in the location you’re searching a parking for (e.g., Flemington Racecourse), inclusive dates, and choose between daily or monthly parking, and it will provide an appropriate listing according to your conditions.

Once you’ve made your choice, you can communicate directly with the host to know more about the space before reserving the parking spot. Afterwards, you can quickly book your preferred space if it’s still available.

You can also book a monthly parking space with Parkhound so it’s a great option for longer holidays, such as a summer getaway at Brighton Beach or  Bondi Beach.

Public Transport Alternatives

Don’t panic yet even if you can’t find parking close to the venue. There are several to choose from if you think about the Melbourne Cup venue accessibility: Bus, tram, train, taxi, rideshare, and even shuttle services.

• Metropolitan buses: Both Routes 404 and 472 buses make their way to the Flemington Racecourse.
  • Route 404 bus: From Footscray or Moonee Ponds up to Smithfield Road.
  • Route 472 bus: From Williamstown, Foostcray or Moonee Ponds to Fisher Parade.
• Train: Trains operate at regular intervals between Flemington Racecourse and South Cross Train Station, and is only about a 15-minute trip.
• Tram: Catch the No. 57 West Maribyrnong tram from the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders streets, and get off at stop No. 30 (Flemington Drive).
• Taxi: Taxis operate regularly throughout the carnival.
• Rideshare: Rideshare is a viable option for arrivals since drop-off points are available from all three entrances. However, there is only one pick-up point for rideshare, and that is near The Birdcage pedestrian overpass.
• Shuttle services: Free shuttle services are provided from 8:00 AM to 3:00 P.M. You can take either of the two shuttles:
  • Footscray shuttle: Stationed outside Hill gate going to Footscray station
  • Crown shuttle: Stationed outside Phar Lap entrance going to the CBD at Crown Casino.

Finally, consider our little race day parking advice if you still want to drive to the Melbourne Cup Carnival: you can always park your car a little farther and walk or take other forms of public transportation.

Enjoy Melbourne Cup!

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