10 days in Kentucky Itinerary

Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville, is best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby.

Bring the kids along to Louisville Mega Cavern and Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle). You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Cave Hill Cemetery and Old Bardstown Village Civil War Museum. Change things up with these side-trips from Louisville: Bardstown (Barton 1792 Distillery & Willett Distilling Company). Next up on the itinerary: see the interesting displays at Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, sample the fine beverages at Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, try your luck at Churchill Downs, and admire the masterpieces at 21c Museum Hotel.

For other places to visit, ratings, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Louisville trip itinerary planning tool.

Paducah to Louisville is an approximately 4-hour car ride. You can also fly; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Central Standard Time (CST) to Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 1 hour. In June, daytime highs in Louisville are 86°F, while nighttime lows are 67°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Tue) early enough to travel to Slade.

On the 24th (Wed), look for all kinds of wild species at Nada Tunnel, stroll through Auxier Ridge Trail #204, then immerse yourself in nature at Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and finally get your game on at Red River Outdoors (Cabins - Guiding - Outfitter).

For where to stay, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, read our Slade day trip site.

You can drive from Louisville to Slade in 2 hours. Traveling from Louisville in June, things will get a bit cooler in Slade: highs are around 81°F and lows about 62°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Wed) so you can travel to Middlesboro.

Middlesboro is a home rule-class city in Bell County, Kentucky, United States. Kick off your visit on the 25th (Thu): take a peaceful walk through Pine Mountain State Resort Park and then explore the striking landscape of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

For ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, use the Middlesboro trip tool.

Traveling by car from Slade to Middlesboro takes 2.5 hours. Traveling from Slade to Middlesboro, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. Expect a daytime high around 84°F in June, and nighttime lows around 62°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Thu) so you can travel to Cave City.

Originally intended as a resort city to serve the Mammoth Cave attraction, Cave City has taken on a life of its own.

Explore hidden gems such as Dinosaur World and Fat Man's Misery. Attractions like Diamond Caverns and Onyx Cave make great kid-friendly stops. Step out of Cave City to go to Cub Run and see Cub Run Cave, which is approximately 38 minutes away. The adventure continues: get interesting insight from Tours, explore the fascinating underground world of Mammoth Cave, trek along Tall Man's Misery, and surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour.

To see more things to do, where to stay, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Cave City trip site.

Drive from Middlesboro to Cave City in 3.5 hours. In June, daily temperatures in Cave City can reach 84°F, while at night they dip to 64°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 29th (Mon) to allow time to drive back home.