The Open Road Travel

Best Places To Stop On A Road Trip From Nashville To Louisville

With a road trip from Nashville to Louisville taking just three hours, many people will do the drive in one go. However, with so much to see and do along the way, others will want to stretch the journey out, to ensure they enjoy every second of it. For anyone looking to do just that, the best place to stop on a road trip from Nashville to Louisville is Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Bowling Green, Kentucky

The 3^rd largest and 3^rd most populous city in Kentucky, Bowling Green offers a diverse array of attractions that cater to car enthusiasts, nature lovers, history buffs, and families alike.​ The location of Western Kentucky University, it is a city that boasts a vibrant, youthful buzz and atmosphere created by the many students who live here.

As the birthplace of the Corvette, Bowling Green is home to the National Corvette Museum, which is its most popular attraction and a place where visitors can explore exhibits dedicated to this iconic American sports car. The NCM Motorsports Park provides opportunities for high-speed experiences like go-karting and track events, and the GM Corvette Assembly Plant offers guided tours that let guests witness the manufacturing process first-hand.

Nature enthusiasts can explore Lost River Cave, which features Kentucky's only underground boat tour, as well as hiking trails and seasonal activities like a butterfly habitat. Chaney's Dairy Barn offers farm-fresh ice cream and a glimpse into dairy farming operations, Beech Bend Park combines a dragstrip, amusement park, and water park, providing fun for all ages, and the Historic RailPark & Train Museum offers interactive exhibits and vintage railcars that train enthusiasts and history buffs will love.

Add in Fountain Square Park in Downtown Bowling Green, with its local boutiques, eateries, and cultural venues like the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) and Riley's Bakery, and there truly is something in Bowling Green for everyone, no matter whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, southern Kentucky charm and hospitality, or a mix of them all.

Best Hotel To Stay At In Bowling Green – Hyatt Place Bowling Green

Hyatt Place Bowling Green is a beautiful, modern, pet-friendly hotel conveniently located on the Western Kentucky University campus and known for the rave reviews it gets about its friendly staff, making it an ideal choice for visitors attending university events or exploring the vibrant downtown area.



The hotel offers amenities like a seasonal outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and an on-site bar and café, while the spacious rooms all boast chic décor, comfortable linens and furniture, separate living areas, and complimentary Wi-Fi that is also present throughout the property. A free hot breakfast is served each day, and free parking in an adjacent garage adds convenience for those driving in. 

The Best Things To See On A Road Trip From Nashville To Louisville

Historic Mansker’s Station

​Historic Mansker’s Station in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, offers a captivating glimpse into 18th-century frontier life. Set in the expansive 200-acre Moss-Wright Park, this historical site features two prominent attractions, which include a reconstructed 1779 log fort and the Bowen Plantation House, the latter of which is recognized as the oldest brick residence in Middle Tennessee, having been built in 1787.

The log fort was established by frontiersman Kasper Mansker and served as a vital refuge for early settlers navigating the challenges of the American frontier. Visitors can explore the meticulously recreated structure and gain insights into the defensive strategies and daily routines of the era. The Bowen Plantation House is a Federal-style brick house built by Revolutionary War veteran Captain William Bowen that offers a window into the domestic life of a prosperous frontier family.​

Guided tours of both are available Monday through Friday, during which knowledgeable guides dressed in period attire lead visitors through the buildings and explain all there is to know about them and their history.

Franklin, Kentucky

Franklin, Kentucky, is a charming small town established in 1820 that blends Southern hospitality and charm with rich history and vibrant attractions, ensuring there is something on offer for everyone.

History buffs will love attractions like Octagon Hall Museum, an eight-sided antebellum home built in 1860 that served as a hospital during the Civil War and now houses Civil War artifacts and is known for its paranormal lore. Simpson County History Center & Old Jail offers insights into local history, with countless exhibits and tours of the historic jail on offer. The African American Heritage Center highlights the contributions and history of African Americans in the region, offering educational exhibits and programs.​

The Franklin Downtown Commercial District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and boasts a collection of historic buildings reflecting various architectural styles. This includes the Goodnight House, a Late Victorian residence built in 1893 that was home to U.S. Congressman Isaac Herschel Goodnight and now serves as the Chamber of Commerce.​ Art enthusiasts who enjoy this sort of thing can also visit the Gallery on the Square, which showcases local artists and hosts various cultural events.

Franklin is also a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, with the Dueling Grounds Distillery offering tastings of their signature Linkumpinch Bourbon and tours of their facility. Gamblers will be in their element too, as the Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs provides Vegas-style gaming, live horse racing in September, and dining options, while The Barrel Social Club Franklin is a prominent location for poker players.

Add in seasonal activities at locations like Ruby Branch Farms, which is home to Kentucky's largest sunflower maze, as well as pumpkin patches and tulip fields throughout the year, and Kenny Perry's Country Creek Golf Course, with its scenic and challenging 18-hole course, and there really is something for everyone.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is the 26^th oldest national park in the United States, having been founded on the 1^st of July 1941. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, it is home to the world's longest known cave system, with over 400 miles of explored passageways and new sections still being discovered. For context, it is larger than the 2^nd and 3^rd largest cave systems in the United States combined, those being Jewel Cave and Wind Cave, both of which are located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Visitors can choose from a variety of guided cave tours catering to different interests and fitness levels, with both short and long options ranging from easy walks through vast chambers to more challenging treks featuring narrow passages. Some tours are illuminated, while others require lanterns and provide an authentic spelunking experience.

Above ground, the park spans over 52,000 acres of rolling hills, dense forests, and the scenic Green and Nolin Rivers, which enables outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing, camping, fishing, or simply taking in the incredible variety of wildlife that lives in the park.

Mammoth Cave Hotel is available for guests who want to make an overnight stay, while the Mammoth Cave Visitor Center serves as the tourist hub of the park. It features information, exhibits, tour departures, educational displays about the cave's geology and history, and amenities like restrooms and a gift shop.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Elizabethtown, Kentucky, or "Etown" as it is known locally, offers a delightful mix of historical charm, outdoor recreation, and family-friendly attractions. Its downtown area is steeped in history, and visitors can enjoy self-guided walking tours past landmarks like the Brown-Pusey House, a restored 19th-century mansion, the Hardin County History Museum, which showcases artifacts from the region's past, and even a Civil War-era cannonball embedded in a downtown building.​

Nature enthusiasts will appreciate Freeman Lake Park, a 170-acre recreational area offering fishing, kayaking, and scenic walking trails, as well as the Lincoln Heritage House, which provides insights into early Kentucky life. Throw in attractions like trampoline parks, climbing walls, and axe-throwing venues, and Elizabethtown offers a variety of experiences to enrich the Kentucky journey of travellers of all tastes and interests.

​Fort Knox

Fort Knox is a prominent U.S. Army installation, renowned for its military significance and the infamous U.S. Bullion Depository associated with America's gold reserves.​ While tours of the vault are not offered without a permit, visitors can drive past and see this historic location while learning about its history and construction in the visitor center.

There are also some other attractions located in its vicinity that many guests may enjoy. Located just outside Fort Knox is the General George Patton Museum of Leadership, which offers an in-depth look into the life and legacy of General George S. Patton Jr. The museum features a vast collection of artifacts, including Patton's personal items, military vehicles, and exhibits highlighting leadership and military history.

There is then also the Kentucky Museum of American Pocketknives, which showcases a unique collection that includes the world's largest pocketknife, and Nature enthusiasts might enjoy a visit to Tioga Falls, a scenic waterfall located nearby.

​Jim Beam Distillery

The Jim Beam Distillery is the official distillery of the James B. Beam Distilling Co., the biggest and most popular brand of bourbon in the world. One of the most iconic stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it offers visitors an immersive experience into the world of bourbon-making, steeped in over two centuries of family tradition.​

The flagship "Beam Made Bourbon" tour provides a comprehensive 90-minute journey through the distillery's operations. Guests witness the entire bourbon production process, from grain selection and mashing to fermentation, distillation, and aging, before the tour culminates in a guided tasting at the American Outpost, where visitors can sample a variety of Jim Beam's renowned bourbons.

Dedicated Jim Beam fans even have some specialized experiences to choose from instead. This includes tours of the Fred B. Noe Distillery, a modern facility on-site which focuses on small-batch and experimental bourbons, or the "Tasting & Storytelling Experience" that delves into the Beam family's rich history and the evolution of their bourbon-making legacy.​



Visitors can also dine at The Kitchen Table, the distillery's on-site restaurant, which overlooks the scenic Bernheim Forest and offers a menu infused with bourbon flavors and features Southern-inspired dishes crafted by renowned chefs.

Bardstown, Kentucky

For those who feel a trip to the Jim Beam Distillery isn’t enough, you also have Bardstown, Kentucky, located nearby, which is affectionately known as the "Bourbon Capital of the World”. Featuring 11 unique distilleries within a 16-mile radius of Court Square, establishments like Lux Row Distillers, Willett Distilling Company, Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, and Bardstown Bourbon Company offer plenty of opportunities for visitors to partake in guided tours, tastings, and even bottling their own bourbon.

The annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival even celebrates the town's heritage with tastings, music, and cultural festivities, drawing visitors from around the globe.

Beyond bourbon, Bardstown is a picturesque town that offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and southern charm for visitors to enjoy. It boasts nearly 200 historic buildings and has been recognized as one of America's most beautiful small towns. The "My Old Kentucky Home" State Park features the Federal Hill mansion, which inspired the state song. The Civil War Museum of the Western Theater provides insights into the region's role during the conflict, and the Jailer's Inn Bed and Breakfast even offers accommodations in a former jail.

With Local eateries like The Rickhouse and Scout & Scholar Brewery serving up southern classics and craft brews, and the "My Old Kentucky Dinner Train" giving visitors the chance to enjoy gourmet meals aboard vintage railcars as they traverse the scenic Kentucky countryside, visitors can also get a true feeling of Kentucky’s culinary scene.

Shepherdsville, Kentucky

Shepherdsville, Kentucky, is a small city that offers a blend of family-friendly attractions, natural beauty, and local charm, making it an appealing stop for travelers exploring the Bluegrass State.​ Its biggest claim to fame is being the home of Kart Kountry, which features the world's largest go-kart track, as well as bumper boats, batting cages, miniature golf, and a sizable arcade.

Shepherdsville is also part of the Wine, Whiskey & Ale Trail, which features local establishments like Wight-Meyer Vineyard & Winery and Forest Edge Winery, where visitors can sample regional wines in scenic settings. The town also hosts events such as the annual Wine, Whiskey & Ale Fest, which celebrates local craft beverages with tastings and live entertainment.

Other attractions include the nearby Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, a 16,000-acre preserve featuring over 40 miles of hiking trails, a canopy tree walk, various gardens, and seasonal events and educational programs. There is also the 2,035-acre Knobs State Forest and Wildlife Management Area, and even an extremely popular flea market.



Conclusion

That concludes our guide to the perfect road trip from Nashville to Louisville. All that’s left to do now is start getting everything booked, so you can look forward to experiencing it all for yourself.