Empty Leg Flights for Preakness Stakes
59 flights available from $115 — Baltimore, MD
Available flights for Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes runs the third Saturday of May at Pimlico Race Course in northwest Baltimore, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. It's the second leg of American thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, and when a Derby winner arrives with a Triple Crown attempt on the line, Preakness attendance and private aviation demand both spike sharply.
In a normal year, Preakness draws around 130,000 spectators and far less private aviation traffic than the Kentucky Derby. The Baltimore setting -- a working urban city without Louisville's dedicated horse industry hospitality infrastructure -- means the corporate entertainment layer is thinner. But the Triple Crown chase effect is significant: in years when a horse wins the Derby and targets the Triple Crown, the Preakness draws private aviation traffic comparable to the Derby itself, with operators flying groups who couldn't get to Louisville suddenly booking Baltimore.
The private aviation catchment for Preakness skews heavily toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. New York, Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston are the primary origin markets. Horses from Florida create some Florida-based aviation traffic, as farm owners and connections fly up from Ocala and Palm Beach. The international thoroughbred community -- particularly from Ireland and the UK -- sends representatives, though commercial transatlantic travel is more common at Preakness than at the Derby.
Where to land for Preakness Stakes
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (KBWI) is the primary gateway for Preakness private aviation. Million Air operates the main FBO on the west side of the field and handles all aircraft sizes. KBWI is about 15 miles from Pimlico Race Course, roughly a 25-minute drive without traffic. The airport's size means runway and ramp capacity are rarely the constraint; FBO reservations and ground transport are the planning variables.
Martin State Airport (KMTN) sits 10 miles east of Baltimore and about 12 miles from Pimlico. It's a smaller airport -- two runways, limited FBO services -- primarily used for cargo and smaller aircraft. It's less convenient than KBWI for most private jet operations but can work for light jets when KBWI FBO ramp space is spoken for.
Reagan National (KDCA) and Dulles (KIAD) in Washington DC are 40-45 miles from Pimlico -- about 60 minutes in normal traffic. Both are options for aircraft already positioned in the DC area or for Washington-based attendees, though the added drive time makes them secondary choices for Baltimore-specific race travel.
Parking and ground transport planning matter more than airport selection for Preakness. Traffic around Pimlico on race day is significant, and infield traffic patterns differ from grandstand access. Pre-arranged car service with a driver who knows the Pimlico area is worth coordinating through the FBO rather than relying on app-based services on race day.
When to book empty legs for Preakness Stakes
Empty legs toward Baltimore start appearing the week before the race. The Thursday and Friday before the Preakness are the peak positioning days, as operators fly in corporate groups for the Friday Preakness Black-Eyed Susan Stakes card and the weekend hospitality circuit.
The Triple Crown chase variable is worth tracking. When a Derby winner arrives at Pimlico, the late booking surge for the following week can be significant. Operators who planned a quiet Preakness weekend find themselves fully booked, and repositioning legs disappear. Monitor the Derby result (first Saturday of May) and act quickly if a Triple Crown attempt appears likely.
Post-race Sunday and Monday produce the main outbound empty leg window. Operators who held aircraft in Baltimore through race day need to reposition quickly for the following week. Sunday evening and Monday morning Preakness-outbound legs to New York, Philadelphia, and the Southeast appear at below-market rates.
Mid-Atlantic weather in May is variable. Morning fog at KBWI occasionally delays early departures. Check conditions before committing to a same-day outbound immediately following the race, particularly for morning flights east.
What it costs to fly private to Preakness Stakes
Current empty legs arriving near Baltimore, MD range from $1,800 to $11,700, with an average around $6,065. By aircraft size: midsize jets at $2,876-$11,700, heavy jets at $2,223, light jets at $1,800.
Among the routes with current inventory: from Pinellas Park, FL at $10,800-$11,700; from Cleveland, OH at $6,990; from Hanover, VA at $1,800. These prices change as operators update their schedules, so the specific routes and rates shift from week to week.
Of the 55 active legs in our system heading toward this area, 6 have published prices. The rest require contacting the operator for a quote. Empty legs without a listed price are often negotiable, especially closer to the departure date.
Get alerts for Preakness Stakes
Create a free account and set up alerts. We'll notify you the moment a matching empty leg appears.
Create Free Alerts