Melbourne Cup Parking

Parking options for the Melbourne Cup

Looking for Melbourne Cup parking? The 2026 Melbourne Cup runs on Tuesday 3 November at Flemington Racecourse, a public holiday across metropolitan Melbourne. Rather than trying to park at the course, First Parking gives you two CBD car park options built around the train and tram lines that run straight to the gates.

558 Little Bourke Street is the strongest option, with 300 Flinders Street available nearby. Every car park offers flat-rate parking, with discounted drive-up rates for Express members. Drive in, park and pay on exit.

First Parking car parks operate every day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with no changes to rates for Cup Day. Find your preferred location, then check car park access times, vehicle height restrictions and daily prices in advance.

Our featured car parks for Cup Day parking

558 Little Bourke Street

View Pricing

300 Flinders Street

View Pricing

Choose the car park that suits your route

558 Little Bourke Street is an easy walk to Southern Cross Station, where train services run directly to Flemington Racecourse on all Carnival race days. It’s also close to the Elizabeth Street tram corridor. Car park entry is located via Crombie Lane.

300 Flinders Street sits right by Flinders Street Station, one of the main departure points for special Cup Day rail services. It suits anyone starting their day from that end of the CBD. This car park offers a discounted early-bird rate for drivers arriving before 10 am, making it a good fit for many Melbourne Cup attendees.

Getting to Flemington Racecourse by public transport

The train is the easiest way to get to Flemington on Cup Day from First Parking car parks. Special services run direct to Flemington Racecourse Station from Flinders Street, Southern Cross and North Melbourne stations, with extra trains added to keep the line moving. 300 Flinders Street is less than 300m from Flinders Station, while 558 Little Bourke Street is just 450-500m from Southern Cross Station.

Trams are also an option. Route 57 departs from the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street, a short trip from either car park. It stops at Flemington Drive and Epsom Road, right near the racecourse’s main gates.

A myki card is needed for all public transport, so load yours with credit before you head out. Check Transport Victoria for current timetables and any changes on the day. If taking the Victorian public transport option, remember that alcohol is banned on the special Flemington race-day train services.

Race Day at Flemington: What to expect

Gates open at 9 am, with the first race at 10:45 am. The Melbourne Cup itself runs at 3 pm, and racing wraps up with the last race at around 5:15 pm. With the venue preparing to welcome more than 100,000 punters, traffic delays and expensive taxi fares heading away from the track are to be expected. Several train lines and tram routes will connect you straight back to your chosen First Parking car park.

Heading back to the city after sunset? Victoria Racing Club offers free cloakroom services for both the public and members. Check in a jacket when you arrive for a more comfortable trip back to your car.

Public parking and public areas at Flemington

Flemington has its own paid parking and public areas for general admission patrons on course, including a centre public car park entered via Smithfield Road at the Stables Drive entrance. However, availability is extremely limited and fills up fast to capacity in recent years, just after the 8:30 am opening time.

Some alternative parking near Flemington needs to be booked in advance. At First Parking, we don’t work that way. There’s no need to pre-book. Skip the stress this Melbourne Cup Carnival and park in the CBD instead. First Parking’s car parks are just a short train or tram trip from the gates.

Major event: Plan your Melbourne Cup parking

If you’re travelling in from interstate or overseas and have booked a hire car to get you to the CBD, our First Parking car parks also offer hotel parking rates. These flat-rate fees are per day, but include multiple entries and exits.

Express members get ticketless entry with licence plate recognition, automatic payment linked to a registered account and discounted drive-up rates. No matter your membership status, non-members can still use ticketed entry and pay by card at the pay station or exit gate.

Choose your preferred car park, arrive early and let public transport do the rest.

Explore First Parking Locations →