2027 Travel
Sunday, May 23, 2027
The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown, run three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, on Sunday, May 23, 2027 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. A package covers reserved seating or admission, a Baltimore hotel for the weekend, and race-day transport to Pimlico. Pricing is quoted; airfare is not included.
Pimlico, Baltimore
The Preakness runs three weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and it is where a Triple Crown bid lives or dies.
If the horse that won the Derby shows up at Old Hilltop and wins again, the whole sport holds its breath for the Belmont two weeks later. That stakes-on-top-of-stakes drama is what makes the Preakness the most charged of the three legs, and it is why fans build a trip around a race that lasts under two minutes.
Around it sits a full Maryland weekend: the black-eyed Susans, the infield party the locals call InfieldFest, and a Baltimore that turns out for its biggest day. A quick planning note for 2027: Pimlico is in the middle of a full rebuild, so the 2027 running is expected back in Baltimore but with temporary grandstand structures, and the race moves to a Sunday for the first time: Sunday, May 23, 2027. We track both and tell you straight.
At a glance
How it works
Tell us the event, your group, and what you want out of the trip. No checkout, no pressure.
We match you to the right package and seating, hold the rooms, and tell you honestly what it takes.
Tickets, hotel, and transfers are handled. You show up and enjoy the event.
Packages
Reserved seating with the race in view, or the full hospitality experience. Both include a Baltimore hotel and race-day transport.
Baltimore hotel · Baltimore, near the Inner Harbor
Priced on your call quoted to your group and dates
The core trip: a real seat with a view of the race, not the infield party.
Ask about this packageUpgraded Baltimore hotel · Baltimore
Priced on your call quoted to your group and dates
For the full Maryland day, table service and all. Priced to the tier and your group.
Ask about this packagePrices are per person from the current published rate and are confirmed on your call. Airfare is not included. Final pricing depends on occupancy, hotel, and seating tier.
The fine print, up front
The weekend
Fly into BWI, settle into your hotel, and take in the Inner Harbor. The city is already in Preakness mode by the time you land.
The Preakness undercard day at Pimlico, headlined by the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for fillies. A lighter, cheaper day at the track and a smart way to learn the layout before Sunday.
Included: Track hospitality on premium tiers
The second jewel of the Triple Crown. A full card builds to the Preakness itself, and if a Derby winner is in the field, the whole day carries the weight of a Crown still alive.
Included: Hospitality on premium tiers
A relaxed morning and home, or an extra night for Baltimore and the Chesapeake.
Where you sit changes the day
The same lesson as the Derby applies: the infield is the party, the grandstand and clubhouse are where you actually watch the race.
Reserved seats along the stretch with a real view of the racing. The sensible entry point for anyone who came to watch.
Elevated, closer to the finish, and generally with more cover and comfort than the open grandstand.
Down near the rail and the winner's circle, the closest you get to the horses on the biggest day.
Table service, food and beverage, and a base for the day. The comfortable way to spend eight hours at the track.
InfieldFest is the young, loud party in the middle of the track. Like the Derby infield, the view of the actual race is limited, so come for the scene, not the finish line.
Planning
Pimlico is undergoing a full reconstruction that will not be structurally complete until 2028. The 2027 Preakness is expected back in Baltimore but with temporary grandstand infrastructure, and the Maryland Jockey Club has moved the race to Sunday, May 23, 2027, with Black-Eyed Susan Day on Saturday, May 22. Build your plans on Baltimore over that weekend, and let us confirm the exact date as it locks.
Date confirmed as of October 2026; structures subject to change.
If you want the party, the infield is the cheapest way in and the biggest scene. If you want to watch the Preakness, buy reserved grandstand or clubhouse. It is the single most common mistake at any Triple Crown race, and it is easy to avoid.
Fly into Baltimore/Washington International (BWI). Pimlico sits in northwest Baltimore, and race-day traffic and parking are heavy, which is why the included transport earns its place.
Early, and earlier still if a Triple Crown looks possible. The moment a Derby winner points toward Pimlico, demand and prices jump. Locking the hotel and a seat ahead of that is how you stay in control.
Make a trip of it
FAQ
Yes, if the horse that wins the 2027 Kentucky Derby runs and wins the Preakness three weeks later, the Belmont two weeks after that would be for the Triple Crown. That possibility is exactly what makes a Preakness trip worth booking early.
Not well. Like the Derby, the Pimlico infield is a general-admission party in the middle of the track, and the view of the actual racing is limited. If you want to watch the Preakness, buy reserved grandstand or clubhouse seating.
No. The full reconstruction runs into 2028. The 2027 running is expected in Baltimore but with temporary grandstand structures. We confirm the exact setup as it is announced.
Sunday, May 23, 2027, three weeks after the Derby. The Maryland Jockey Club moved it from the traditional third Saturday of May to give horses more rest, so Black-Eyed Susan Day is Saturday, May 22.
Fly into BWI and let the package handle race-day transport. Pimlico is in northwest Baltimore and the roads around it are heavy on Preakness day.
You reserve your package with a per-person deposit and pay the balance on a set schedule, with final payment typically due 60 days before departure. Deposits and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable, so we recommend travel insurance to protect what you pay. Your booking is transacted by a licensed tour operator whose full written terms govern your trip, and no payment is taken through this website. The full terms are on our legal and disclosures page.
Yes. Package prices are quoted per person and depend on how many people share a room, so solo travelers and couples are quoted accordingly. Tell us your group and we will price it honestly.
Yes. We handle private groups, typically parties of eight or more, with dedicated coordination for the tickets, hotel, and logistics so everyone travels together smoothly.
Yes. We are a registered seller of travel, California CST 2155818-70 and Florida ST43282, a service of Early and Away Travel, LLC. Your booking is fulfilled by a licensed tour operator, and we earn a commission when you book.
Deposits and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable, and event tickets and hotel-only reservations are final once booked. If you cancel, any amount already paid cannot be refunded, which is why we strongly recommend travel insurance. If an event is postponed or cancelled, you receive updated tickets or a credit only to the extent the ticket or hotel vendor refunds the operator. The full terms are on our legal and disclosures page and are provided to you in writing before you book.
Go deeper
Our Derby seating guide explains the infield-versus-reserved trade-off that applies at every Triple Crown race. Or see the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. And read the Triple Crown explained.
Why book with us
California CST 2155818-70 and Florida ST43282. A licensed agency, not a marketplace.
You talk to a person who has done this, not a call center or a checkout form.
Your booking is handled by a licensed tour operator, with clear deposit and payment terms on your call.
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Ask about Preakness StakesPreakness Stakes® and Black-Eyed Susan® are registered trademarks of the Maryland Jockey Club. Sports Travel Zone is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with the Maryland Jockey Club, Pimlico Race Course, or their sponsors. Trademarked terms are used solely for descriptive purposes.