One weekend, all the fall foliage. Are you ready? Our weekend fall foliage trip through Kentucky covers about 400 miles and is designed to be spread out over 3 days and two nights, with suggested lodgings and dining along the way.
View the Google Map and customize your leaf peeping adventure!
Cynthiana
Best fall town in Kentucky? What this Northern Kentucky town prides itself for is its fall foliage.
From its cheeky skeletons inviting visitors downtown in September and October to practically every home featuring pumpkins, mums, skeletons, and other fall design, no town commemorates fall bigger than Cynthiana.
Red River Gorge
Next, we’re heading into the beauteous Daniel Boone National Forest, which is drop-dead stunning in the fall.
Red River Gorge is among the most beautiful places in the nation, and you can experience its splendour on the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, which we will enjoy on this journey.
This 46-mile scenic byway is one of many lovely drives you’ll ever take, and is a perfect method to take in the resplendence of Red River Gorge– without planning a larger trip! So sit back and enjoy the magnificent dashboard views.
Our last stop for Day 1 of this fall foliage trip in Kentucky is Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.
Cumberland Falls
We love Cumberland Falls, revering it as the single finest Kentucky State Park. Among the reasons for this praise is that it’s an ideal year-round destination, no matter the season. In the autumn?
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park handles an alluring superb splendor, making it the best place for a fall weekend getaway in Kentucky. So come and enjoy the eponymous falls– hailed as the Niagara of the South– from your space at the historical Dupont Lodge. Get some rest– you’ll need it for Day 2!
Bernheim Arboretum
We’re starting another day of impressive autumn experiences at one of our all-time preferred locations in Kentucky: Bernheim Arboretum.
Bernheim Arboretum is a favorite location all year, providing brand-new shades of splendor each season. At this wonderful arboretum, you can check out over 16,000 acres of natural charm, for a captivating escape in nature– specifically in the height of fall foliage. Relating to treks, the canopy walk is an easy, paved walk accessible for everyone, and puts visitors 75 feet high in the treetops!
Bardstown
We’re investing the rest of the day in gorgeous Bardstown, a friendly and walkable place at its most beautiful in the fall.
With lovely shops, historical points of interest, and loads of scenic charm, you’ll be swept off your feet by Bardstown!
Old Talbott Tavern
We advise reserving a table and space at the Old Talbott Tavern for dinner and the night’s accommodations.
The state’s oldest and most haunted restaurant, the Old Talbott Tavern is a total step back in time. Because the late 1700s, the Old Talbott Tavern has supplied shelter, nourishment, and spirits to the excellent folks of Bardstown, Kentucky. Oh, and did we discuss it might be haunted? So level up your fall experience with some ghost searching fun!
The final day of our fall foliage road trip brings us to Horse Country. Kentucky is known for its beautiful horses and the rolling blue pastures where they run and stroll.
Kentucky Horse Park
This magic is celebrated at one of Kentucky’s most iconic attractions, the Kentucky Horse Park. Found simply outside Lexington (but in a picturesque location that feels quite rural and remote), the Kentucky Horse Park is the perfect day journey location. We highly suggest a carriage flight or horseback trip of the park to absorb the autumnal colors!
Pisgah Pike and Old Frankfort Pike
Continuing through Horse Country, Pisgah Pike and Old Frankfort Pike is the most picturesque drive through Kentucky.
Simply outside Lexington, the path along Old Frankfort Pike and Pisgah Pike is a drive every Kentuckian should take. These stunning backroads in Kentucky permit chauffeurs to relax and enjoy the resplendence of this area.
And because every fantastic trip ends with a meal, break for a late lunch at Wallace Station. This beloved little eatery is housed in a structure noted on the National Register of Historic Places, built around the turn of the 20th century.
Wallace Station Deli and Bakery
And while the menu at this stunning little eatery is comprised of modest classics like hamburgers and sandwiches, the fare here is Top Chef level. A must-try, and tasty conclusion to this fantastic weekend roadway trip in Kentucky.