There’s a lot of culture and charm spread across the Bluegrass State. Discover the best small towns to visit in Kentucky and a guide of what to check out.
Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green may be more widely known, but there are over 400 incorporated cities, towns, and villages in Kentucky. If you’ve visited all of them, congratulations on being an exceptional explorer of the Bluegrass State.
It’s more likely that many of these small towns in Kentucky have flown under the radar. Whether you’re planning a road trip or just looking for a weekend getaway, these compact communities offer plenty of unique activities, wholesome culture, and fantastic memories.
Here are 10 wonderful small towns to visit in Kentucky, listed in alphabetical order.
1. Bardstown
Bardstown is the Bourbon Capital of the World, sporting 11 distilleries within 16 miles of its Court Square center of town. Rand McNally and USA Today have also named it “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America,” so there’s clearly a reputation to uphold. While heading down the Bourbon trail to sip on an old-fashioned or Manhattan is a top attraction, teetotalers can have lots of fun, as well.
My Old Kentucky Home, which takes its name from the classic Stephen Foster song, is a gorgeous 18th-century mansion (and if you do need more bourbon, the home offers a mint julep masterclass). Bardstown’s Historic District features several more impressive architectural works and a cobblestone path that was built in 1785, just nine years after the United States became a country.
2. Berea
Berea is Kentucky’s Folk Arts & Crafts Capital, which makes it a must-see for any art enthusiast. Visitors can pop in on studio artists at work, shop the collections of professionals and Berea College student crafts, and explore the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen Galleries and Craft School.
Prefer a little fresh air? Go kayaking at Owsley Fork or head to The Pinnacles, which is near Daniel Boone National Forest and offers one of the best hikes in the state. In the fall, Berea hosts the annual Spoonbread Festival, a three-day extravaganza of local culture, artisans, carnival games, and endless amounts of warm, delicious spoonbread.
3. Clermont
Just a 20-minute drive from Bardstown and 30 minutes south of Louisville, Clermont is home to Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a stunning 16,000 acres of forestland, trails, and playgrounds. The area’s highlight is the Canopy Tree Walk, which gives visitors an aerial view of the scenery. Should you need a break from nature, swing by the Jim Beam Distillery, which has been selling bourbon across seven generations since 1795.
4. Elkton
What other town has a logo featuring a proud elk? Elkton’s Commercial Historic District is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places—the town’s official walking tour features about 30 points of interest, including historical homes, businesses, and birthplaces. On the fourth Saturday of April through August, Elkton also hosts the Cruise-In on the Square. This family-friendly event features vintage cars, antiques, and local food. It’s a hot way to see some classic hot rods.
5. Harrodsburg
In 1934, then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt traveled to Harrodsburg to dedicate the Pioneer Memorial. The memorial christened Harrodsburg as “the first permanent settlement of the West.” The city has amassed plenty of history since 1774, which it celebrates with several cool events throughout the year.
Pioneer Days includes live music, a 5K, and a car show; the Kentucky Heritage Jazz Festival is a Kentucky-fied version of Mardi Gras; and the Harvest Festival is a fantastic fall event with hayrides, pumpkin painting, axe throwing, plus some of the best honey, jams, and bread in the state.
6. La Grange
If you choo-choo-choose to be entertained by trains, it’s hard to beat La Grange. The town features the CSX freight rail line, a street-running mainline track on Main Street, where multiple trains travel in both directions throughout the day. Naturally, there’s a La Grange Railroad Museum to visit, too.
Throughout the year, La Grange hosts several hopping events, including the Chocolate Crawl, Trackside Tunes, and a pair of spooktacular October happenings: The Spirits of La Grange Ghost Tour and Halloween Main-ia trick-or-treating.
7. Lancaster
Lancaster only has a total area of 1.9 square miles, but it packs a lot of charm into a little space. The Wherritt House Gift Shop, tucked inside the Garrard Arts Center, is a way to support the community while picking up a lovely souvenir of art, crafts, or tea (either for you or a loved one).
The annual Rural Heritage Tobacco Festival is an eclectic mix of entertainment, from parades and live music to a carnival, a circus, and hot-air balloon rides. There are even wrestling matches that take place on the steps of the town’s courthouse.
8. Maysville
With the most delightful website search bar on this entire list, Maysville is a wondrous historic river community. The town is tucked in between Lexington and Cincinnati, OH, about an hour away from both. It’s the site of the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, the oldest Kentucky state-chartered historical organization in continuous existence—and the location of a super cool miniatures collection.
Maysville was also a pivotal stop for enslaved people traveling along the Underground Railroad, and the city hosts a Black history walking tour that dives into the important people and sites of the era. Finally, there are eight covered bridges scattered throughout the town, which make for a scenic driving tour.
9. Paducah
Quilt fans, celebrate: Paducah is your town. Quilt City USA is home to the National Quilt Museum, a wide variety of quilt and fabric shops and specialty machine dealers, and AQS QuiltWeek, one of the nation’s most prestigious quilting events. Pull the wool from over your eyes, and you’ll see several other attractions here.
Be sure to stop by the Paducah Railroad Museum, the River Discovery Center, the Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum, and the William Clark Market House Museum, which has been standing for nearly 60 years. Movie buffs may also recognize Paducah as the setting for “In Country,” a 1989 film starring Emily Lloyd, Bruce Willis, and Joan Allen.
10. Versailles
Who says you have to fly to France to enjoy Versailles? This Kentucky town pronounces its name differently—ver-SAILS as opposed to ver-SIGH—and was inspired by Marquis de Lafayette. At the time of its founding in 1792 (just 22 days after Kentucky earned its statehood), the land of Versailles was technically owned by an infant, Hezekiah Briscoe. Adults are now in charge, but Versailles has plenty for all ages to enjoy. The town hosts multiple thoroughbred horse farms and is home to the Woodford Reserve Distillery and the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum.
