Kentucky Travel Guide
Itineraries • Drive Times • Booking Tips
Build a Kentucky trip that blends caves, cliffs, bourbon, and horses—with Eastern Kentucky’s music and history front and center. Use these sample routes, drive-time cheats, and booking tips to stitch together a smooth itinerary. All pages are mobile-friendly and link to attraction details across the state.
Suggested Itineraries (3–5 Days)
Mix and match—each route pairs iconic stops with Eastern Kentucky highlights.
Mountains & Music (3 Days)
- Hatfield & McCoy Historic Feud Driving Tour → stories, cemeteries, and court sites.
- US 23 Country Music Highway Museum (Paintsville).
- The MAC (Prestonsburg) or Paramount Arts Center (Ashland) for an evening show.
- Scenic day at Breaks Interstate Park.
Caves & Cliffs (4 Days)
- Mammoth Cave National Park (tour + riverside hike).
- Cumberland Falls (aim for a moonbow window).
- Red River Gorge & Natural Bridge hiking/overlooks.
- Carter Caves (family-friendly cave tours).
Derby & Distilleries (3–4 Days)
- Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum (Louisville).
- Bourbon Trail (Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, etc.).
- Keeneland Race Course (Lexington; spring/fall meets).
- Optional: Louisville Mega Cavern underground zip tour.
Eastern Kentucky Loops (1–2 Days)
- One-day: Feud Tour → Country Music Highway Museum → MAC/Paramount show.
- Two-day: Add Breaks Interstate Park and First KFC (Corbin) en route to Cumberland Falls.
Drive Times Cheat‑Sheet
Approximate times in normal conditions:
| From → To | Approx. Time |
|---|---|
| Lexington → Red River Gorge | 1 hr 15 min |
| Lexington → Keeneland | 15–20 min |
| Louisville → Churchill Downs | 10–20 min |
| Louisville → Mammoth Cave | 1 hr 40 min |
| Corbin (First KFC) → Cumberland Falls | 30–35 min |
| Paintsville (US 23 Museum) → Prestonsburg (MAC) | 20–25 min |
| Prestonsburg → Breaks Interstate Park | 1 hr 15–30 min |
| Pikeville → Hatfield & McCoy Tour trailheads | 15–45 min (varies by stop) |
Practical Booking Tips
Cave Tours
Reserve popular tours at Mammoth Cave and Carter Caves, especially summer weekends and holidays.
Bourbon Trail
Many distilleries require timed reservations for tours/tastings; weekends book out. Consider weekday afternoons.
Horse Racing
Keeneland runs spring/fall meets; Churchill Downs has multiple race sessions—check calendars early.
Moonbow Timing
Cumberland Falls moonbows appear on clear nights around the full moon; clouds or high water can affect visibility.
Eastern Kentucky first:
Prioritize the Feud Tour, Breaks Interstate Park, US 23 Museum, The MAC, Paramount Arts Center, Carter Caves, and the First KFC when building your route. These are highlighted throughout this site for quick planning.
