Staying at Our House

Our staff and volunteers strive to make your stay a little less stressful by providing as many of the comforts of home as possible. Each family is provided a clean room with fresh linens and a bathroom inside the room. Almost every evening, generous volunteers from our community prepare a home-cooked meal. There are four fully stocked kitchens in our House, and each floor has a living room, dining area, and laundry room.

Where is the House located?

• Our Ronald McDonald House is located at 550 S. 1st Street, Louisville, KY 40202, just a block and a half from Norton Children’s Hospital.
• From I-64 East and West – follow signs to merge onto I-65 South then follow the directions below.
• From I-65 South – take exit 136C and follow signs for Jefferson Street. Turn left onto 1st Street.
• From I-65 North – take exit 136B, go straight through the light at the bottom of the ramp, make a left onto Muhammad Ali, and then a left onto 1st Street.
• As you drive up 1st Street, which is a one-way street, the House will be on the right side of the street and our parking lot will be on the left side. Stay in the far left lane to access our parking lot – once you cross over Muhammad Ali we are about half way up the block. Go slow, as there is just a small sign for the parking lot.

Who Can Stay at our House?

• Families who have a child 21 years or younger currently receiving medical treatment at a Louisville-area hospital.
• Families must live outside of Jefferson County, KY and Clark or Floyd County, IN to be eligible to stay.
• Parents under the age of 18, unless married, will need to have an approved adult parent or guardian staying with them.

To Request a Room:

• You will need a referral from a doctor, nurse, or social worker to confirm the need for a room. You can be put on our waiting list no more than four days in advance of the night you need to check-in.
• We do not take reservations. Once you check-in, as long as you use the room on a nightly basis, you may have a room until your child is discharged. Therefore, we don’t know who will be checking out on a given day.
• You will need to call the day you need to check-in to see if a room is available for you.
• Unfortunately our House has been staying very full.  If we don’t have a room available, we will ask you to call back after 3pm to check again. If we cannot check you in that day, we will try to assist you in getting a discounted rate at a local hotel.

What Should You Know Before You Visit our House:

• Families stay free of charge at our Ronald McDonald House.  Each night, it costs Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana approximately $108 to house one family.  Guests are welcome to make a donation to support their stay, however, there is no requirement to do so.
• We do seek reimbursement for lodging expenses that are covered for families by their medical insurance (i.e. Medicaid). Please bring your insurance card with you to check-in so that our guest services staff can make a copy for billing purposes.
• Our House is a communal living environment so families share kitchens, living rooms, and laundry rooms. You are expected to keep your guest room tidy and to clean up after yourself in all common areas.
• You may have no more than 6 people per room, including babies.
• Your room will be ready with fresh bed linens and towels when you arrive. During your stay, it is your responsibility to wash these items.
• At check-out, we ask that you clean/prepare your room for the next incoming family. Check out is by 3pm.
• We have Internet access available in the 1st floor living room and wireless Internet access is available throughout the House.