Download Festival 2023: How to get to Donington Park - car parking, parking pass and shuttle bus

Tens of thoudsands of rock fans are set to descend on the East Midlands this week at Download Festival returns for its 20th anniversary.

With a sell-out crowd of more than 100,000 people expected and an additional day of music this year, festivalgoers are being warned to ignore their sat nav and follow road signs.

National Highways says it expects roads to be busier this year and more people will be heading to the festival site at Donington Park earlier when camping opens on Wednesday June 7.

Additional traffic officer patrols will be operation over the festival weekend to reduce congestion as much as possible for those heading to the festival.

National Highways Network Resilience Planner, Phil Shaw, said: “We expect the M1, A42, A50 and A38 to see significant increases in traffic over the festival period, particularly when everyone arrives on the Wednesday and again when they leave on Monday.

“If you are attending the Download Festival, when you get within a few miles follow the road signs and the instructions from the organisers rather than your sat nav as they will guide you on the correct route to the correct car park.”

Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for journeys, particularly those who are heading to East Midlands Airport, which is four miles west of junction 23a of the M1 and five miles from junction 24.

Car Park Pass

A car park pass is mandatory to use car park facilities at Download Festival and are now only available on site.

Passes can be bought for £30 which is payable by card only, as Download is a cashless festival.

Shuttle Bus

A shuttle bus will be in operation at Download throughout the festival weekend, with services running to and from the festival site from both East Midlands Parkway and Derby Railway Station.

On Wednesday June 7, when the festival camping site first opens, shuttle buses will run every 30 minutes from Derby to Download Festival between 8.30am and 9pm.

A complete shuttle bus timetable from Derby for the entire festival weekend can be found via the Download Festival website.

On Wednesday June 7, when the festival camping site first opens, shuttle buses will run every 60 minutes from East Midlands Parkway to Download Festival between 9am and 9.40pm.

A complete shuttle bus timetable from East Midlands Parkway for the entire festival weekend can be found via the Download Festival website.

For alternative travel arrangements and more information, visit bus operator Trentbarton’s website.

Drop Off and Pick Up Point

The drop-off and pick-up point area will be located insite the festival site’s transport hub. Road signs will direct drivers to this location at Download Festival.

Road Directions

Drivers attending Download Festival this year are urged to avoid using a sat nav and should not assume that any route taken in a previous year is correct, as this may have changed.

Motorists are being urged by festival organisers to follow road signs for Download Festival from the M1 motorway, or from the A38 and A42.