Buffalo Trace Hours and When It’s Closed

Regular hours

The distillery opens at 9:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday. It closes at 5:00 p.m. every day. The parking lot is accessible starting at 8:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. This gives you a 15-minute or 60-minute buffer before the distillery itself opens, which is useful if you are arriving early to settle in before your tour.

Holiday closures

The distillery is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. If you are booking a Wednesday tour and the Wednesday falls on one of these holidays, that release will not happen. Plan around the holiday calendar if you have fixed travel dates.

Parking lot is limited

The parking lot has limited spaces. Arrive with time to spare, especially on weekends or during peak tourism seasons (spring and fall). The parking lot opens at 8:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

Opening hours are not the same as tour times

This is the thing that catches people out. The campus being open from 9 a.m. does not mean you can walk up and join a tour. Tours run to their own timetable and every seat is claimed in advance through the Wednesday reservation release. Turning up at opening time without a booking gets you the grounds, the gift shop and, on most days, the complimentary tasting — but not a tour. If that is your plan, read visiting without a tour first so you know what the day actually looks like.

What the hours mean for a day trip

A 5 p.m. close is earlier than most visitors expect, and it sets the shape of the whole day. Driving out from Louisville takes about an hour each way, so a morning tour slot leaves the afternoon free for a second distillery, while a late-afternoon slot effectively ends your day at the gate. From Lexington the run is only 42 minutes, which is why Lexington suits a later start. Guided full-day tours are built around these hours already — that is much of what you are paying them for.

Contact the distillery

Visitor centre: 800-654-8471. Gift shop: 502-696-5926. These numbers are for questions and requests, not for tour booking. Tours are booked only on buffalotracedistillery.com.

Frequently asked questions