Mammoth Cave National Park, one of the most well-known tourist destinations and also one of the best day trips from Kentucky, was created to protect the cave system, which includes Mammoth Cave, as well as the lovely river valleys of the Green and Nolin rivers and a piece of the mountainous terrain of south-central Kentucky. With more than 400 miles of the system investigated and mapped, this is the longest recorded cave system in the world. The national park has no entrance fees. Camping and cave tours are paid services. There are many things to do in Kentucky, including cave tours, hiking, horseback riding, biking, picnics, camping in the backcountry, canoeing, fishing, and some of the most enjoyable driving. Campgrounds and hotels are available at Mammoth Cave National Park for overnight stays.

The cave has a rich and fascinating history that dates back to the time of the Native Americans in North America. As western European settlers arrived in the fledgling United States, the cave gained prominence as a tourist destination. But many people are unaware that some of the most significant explorers and guides to Mammoth Cave in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were African Americans. Mammoth Cave is now accessible through a variety of guided tours.

The goal of Mammoth Cave National Park is to provide and encourage public enjoyment, recreation, and understanding of the park's diverse forested, karst landscape, the Green and Nolin rivers, and extensive evidence of human history. It also aims to preserve, protect, interpret, and study the internationally recognized biological and geologic features and processes associated with the longest known cave system in the world.

Rating: 4.7 (9,807 Google reviews)

Established: July 1, 1941

Address: Kentucky, United States

Phone: +1 270-758-2180

UNESCO Site Id: 150

Website: https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

The majority of the 120 rooms and four suites at the Lake Barkley resort, which is close to Land Between the Lakes, have private balconies with lake views. By the late afternoon, rooms are available. Check-out of lodge rooms is at 11:00 a.m. local time. The park is open all year long and includes 13 bungalows. The campground, which is seasonally accessible, has 79 sites.

While dining, you can take in the stunning lakeside scenery. They use local meats and produce when they are available as part of the Kentucky Proud program, and the restaurant now offers Kentucky wine and spirits. Additionally, Cadiz, Kentucky's Lake Barkley State Resort Park offers a variety of outdoor activities and is the ideal venue for your upcoming event. Three miles from the lodge is a 4,600-foot paved, lit (pilot-controlled illumination on 123.0 MHz) airstrip. There is no aviation fuel available. Keep reading to explore more best day trips from Kentucky.

Things to do:

• Biking: There are seven miles of open mountain bike routes, and there are many more in the adjacent Land Between the Lakes.
• Golf: There is a pro shop, as well as rental riding carts, pull carts, and golf clubs. Weather permitting, the course is open all year.
• Racquetball: Located at the Fitness Center for lodge & cottage guests.
• Tennis: Enjoy a tennis match on one of two lighted courts near the lodge.
• Water Aerobics: Classes are offered at the Fitness Center. Call for times.

Rating: 4.3 ̣(1,354 Google reviews)

Address: 3500 State Park Rd, Cadiz, KY 42211, United States
Phone: +1 270-924-1131

Website: parks.ky.gov/cadiz/parks/resort/lake-barkley-state-resort-park

This rustic resort in Jenny Wiley State Resort Park is located on the shores of Dewey Lake and is 8 miles from the East Kentucky Science Center and 6 miles from StoneCrest Golf Course. Free Wi-Fi and TVs are provided in the normal rooms. Cozy cottages with one and two bedrooms feature living rooms and cooking facilities. Parking is uncharged. In addition to a low-key restaurant and a campsite, there is a marina, an outdoor pool, and all of these amenities. Tennis, horseback riding, and hiking are examples of outdoor pursuits.

Explore the 49-room May Lodge's secluded splendor as you gaze out over Dewey Lake and are surrounded by majestic pines and serene mountains. By the late afternoon, rooms are available. Check-out of lodge rooms is at 11:00 a.m. local time. They welcome animals! Pets are only allowed in a maximum of two per room or cabin. There are 18 cottages in the park.

For visitors, there are two campgrounds. a campsite featuring 121 sites, utility hookups, a dump station, and buildings with showers and restrooms. There are also boat-in campsites that can only be reached by water available. These locations are $10 per night (cash only). Call (606) 889-1790 for more details about the boat-in campground.

Things to Do:

• Beach: The Dewey Lagoon is a facility created through a joint effort by Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and the city of Prestonsburg. ($)
  
• Biking: Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and the city of Prestonsburg collaborated to develop the Sugarcamp Mountain Trail system, a multi-use (mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian) amenity.
  
• Birding: The Spring Warblers' migration is Jenny Wiley State Resort Park's biggest attraction. Several warblers, as well as numerous sightings of American Redstarts, Eastern Bluebirds, and Bald Eagles, will be added to your list.
  
• Boating, Canoeing, Elk Watching, Fishing, Hiking, Outdoor Theater, Picnicking, etc.
  

Rating 4.3 (1,129 Google reviews)

Address: 419 Jenny Wiley Dr, Prestonsburg, KY 41653, United States
Phone: +1 606-889-1790

Website; parks.ky.gov/prestonsburg/parks/resort/jenny-wiley-state-resort-park

Since Boone himself first set foot here in the late 1700s, the Red River Gorge has astonished tourists. It is tucked away in the verdant Daniel Boone National Forest. The biggest collection of sandstone arches east of the Rockies may be found in "The Red," which is currently frequently ranked among the best climbing and rappelling locations in the world. Bring your own equipment or work with a reputable local outfitter or guide to help you climb the walls.

The Red River Gorge is a unique, beautiful natural environment that draws several tourists every year. The attraction includes amazing rock formations including sandstone arches and high cliffs. The gorge is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts all year round for hiking, camping, canoeing, wildlife viewing, and other activities.

To appreciate Red River Gorge's natural beauty, you don't need to be a climber. Hiking paths that connect to some of the state's longest trail networks allow you to explore the unearthly landscape. You can also canoe or kayak down the Wild and Scenic Red River or take a leisurely drive along the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway. Consider booking a camper or cabin at Natural Bridge State Resort Park if you intend to stay the night.

Rating: 4.8 (586 Google reviews)
Address: Robbie Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380, United States

Phone: +1 606-663-8100

Website: fs.usda.gov/recarea/dbnf/recreation/recarea

Grand Rivers, Kentucky is a pleasant place where you may spend the day playing on land or spending it on the water. You can explore the sailboats at Lighthouse Landing, stroll through the stunning KY Dam Village State Resort Park, or indulge in some old-fashioned shopping (and a delicious dinner!) at Patti's 1880's Settlement.

Escape to Kentucky's most scenic resort and marina, Lighthouse Landing, which is tucked away on Kentucky Lake's beaches. Marina offers both yearly and daily rentals for 190 available spots. Customers who rent slips have access to city water, electricity with 20 or 30 amps, two bathrooms, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, and a self-service garbage pump-out. Facilities nearby have access to gas and fuel. Welcoming power and sail. On-site amenities include a sailing school, rental sailboats, and vacation villa sales.

This collection of waterfront cottages is a 9-minute walk from the Badgett Playhouse and is located next to the Grand Rivers Jetty and Walking Trail across the street from Kentucky Lake.

Casually furnished rooms come with microwaves, minifridges, cable TV, and DVD players. There is WiFi. Cottages in the woods include complete kitchens, patios with views of the water, charcoal BBQs, and picnic tables. Some cottages include whirlpool tubs, and many have gas log fires. A private gravel beach area with a fire pit, picnic tables, and a marina are available as amenities. There is also a deck, a BBQ grill, and a meeting area with a full kitchen.

Location: Grand Rivers, KY 42045, United States

You will explore one more suggestion in this list of the best day trips from Kentucky - Clermont Area. The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont Area, Kentucky, offers a full day of exploration and recreation. Enjoy woodland trails (and enormous carved creatures!) as you stroll around the lake and boardwalk. After that, you can visit the neighboring Jim Beam American Stillhouse to see one of the most well-known distilleries in the world. Tours are now suspended, but eighth-generation distiller Freddie Noe delivers a weekly online show that tells the tale of this legendary bourbon. Then proceed to Forest Edge Winery for a taste and a relaxing stop on the patio afterward.

Bernheim, Kentucky's official state arboretum, offers a visitor center with an open, airy design and the most recent "green" building methods, as well as a 16,000-acre animal refuge. Bernheim provides numerous possibilities to appreciate and learn about nature. It is full of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, such as the Forest Giants, canopy tree walk, scent and sound mazes, and new trails and walkways.

Location: Clermont, Kentucky, The U.S

In the rolling hills of central Kentucky, you can find Horse Country, where horses are treated like the character-packed gems they are. You can see horses in all stages of life there, from breeding and raising young ones at Claiborne Farm to finding new homes and retiring at New Vocations and Old Friends. Trackside at the Depot offers lunch in a renovated railroad depot with bourbon-inspired decor, offering a double meaning to a well-liked activity in Kentucky.

Owned by the Hancock Family, Claiborne has been a leading Thoroughbred farm for four generations. By appointment only, their customary stallion tours are offered at 10 am and 11 am and run roughly an hour. The guided tour covers the breeding shed, where six out of thirteen Triple Crown winners were produced, meeting some of our current stallions, and the famed cemetery, where the great Secretariat's grave is marked by a simple tombstone (1973 Triple Crown winner and considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time). There are a few additional unique tours available all year long, such as the shuttle trip, which from April to October covers the broodmare and foaling division.

Otherwise, you can stop by a 136-acre Thoroughbred Retirement Farm to meet such sports legends as Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, Breeders' Cup Champions Alphabet Soup and Amazombie, and stakes winners Game On Dude and Ide. These champions coexist with scrappers like Fighting City Hall and Popcorn Deelites, whose sole claim to racing notoriety was their role as Seabiscuit in the movie.

Rating: 4.9 (68 Google reviews)

Address: 321 Merino St, Lexington, KY 40508, United States

Phone: +1 859-963-1004

Venturing around the creative and spunky town of Covington in the northern part of the Bluegrass State where design and style are abundant at the boutique-style Hotel Covington. On the Braxton Brewing Company rooftop's breezy green space, host your own Octoberfest. Then go down the street to Frida 602 and do your taste buds a favor. Be sure to feast your eyes on the nearby artwork in between courses; no detail has been overlooked.

The Hotel Covington stands as a testament to high stakes, high fashion, and high ambition. All 114 of the hotel's guest rooms, as well as its distinctive restaurants, cozy lounge areas, and outdoor courtyards, exude it. The Hotel Covington hums with style, character, and comfort thanks to its vintage accents and contemporary tailoring.

Otherwise, you can visit MainStrasse Village. This 19th-century German neighborhood, which has been designated as a national historic district, is a well-liked vacation spot for both tourists and locals because it offers a variety of excellent restaurants, beer and bourbon pubs, and live music options such as rooftop jazz, real Dixieland, and more. The village also offers a lot of well-known events throughout the year, in addition to gallery hops, holiday festivities, pub crawls, antique markets, and more. The Carroll Chimes Bell Tower, the Goose Girl Fountain, and numerous historical markers are located in the village. Online walking tour maps and free parking are both available.

Location: Covington, Louisiana

Visitors can enjoy the surrounding fall foliage with the help of the London and Laurel County Tourism and Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission. Any season is a terrific time to go boating, hiking, or picnicking at Laurel River Lake. With a bucket of chicken to go from Harland Sanders Café and Museum, explore the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail in the Daniel Boone National Forest and return to original Kentucky.

Laurel River Lake, which is surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest's pure beauty, is a popular vacation spot for many travelers each year. In addition to boating, fishing, skiing, and scuba diving in one of Kentucky's deepest and cleanest lakes, the tranquil coves and cliff-lined coastlines offer relaxation and peaceful reflection.

A permanent beach maintained by the Corps of Engineers at the spillway of the Laurel River Dam is an excellent location to spend a lazy afternoon. Scuba divers enjoy visiting Laurel River Lake because of the lake's crystal-clear water and underwater rock structure.

Location: Corbin, Kentucky, The U.S

Owensboro is a state in Western Kentucky famous for its parks and softball tournaments. However, there is a vast history that’s being missed by only looking at their parks and softball tournaments. The state is also famous for its cultural hotspots, particularly in the performing arts and music.

Owensboro is also the home to bluegrass music and some popular fun-filled concerts held in the city’s convention center. You can visit the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. A modern, interactive museum devoted to preserving and promoting the evolution of bluegrass music, as well as a Hall of Fame commemorating the greats of the genre. You should take a guided tour with instrument demos, view the rotating displays, hear music from the genre's beginnings to the newest artists, and attempt mixing your own bluegrass music. Experience the diversity of bluegrass music via fun and instructive experience. Attend ROMP in June to honor Bluegrass Music, which originated in Kentucky!

In addition, kids of all ages can enjoy the spectacular fountain performances, terrifying waterfalls, and splash area in Smothers Park, which is central to Owensboro's waterfront. One of Owensboro's most recognizable landmarks, the giant Sassafras tree, inspired the park's recently erected elevated walking area.

Location: Owensboro, Kentucky, The U.S

In Madison County, Kentucky, in the United States, there is a city with home rule status called Berea. The town is primarily renowned for its art festivals, historic buildings, and restaurants, and for being the location of the private liberal arts college Berea College. The town is primarily renowned for its art festivals, historic buildings, and restaurants, and for being the location of the private liberal arts college Berea College.

Otherwise, you can take The Berea Public Art Tour featuring a variety of attractions, including mythological animal sculptures, vividly painted hands, fountains, stained glass, and old-world architecture. Visit BereaPublicArt.com to hear artists and local historians explain the history of the artwork in their own words. In addition, you can see live art by going to one of the many artists' studios, where you are welcome to watch them at work, or by playing along with nearby musicians at a weekly jam session.

Location: Madison County, Kentucky, United States