Bardstown

Bardstown is a city in the Kentucky Derby Region, located 40 miles southeast of Louisville. It is the county seat of Nelson County. It calls itself "The Most Beautiful Small Town in America" and it's certainly at least a contender.

Get in

By car

The main east-west route is the Bluegrass Parkway, bringing in traffic from Elizabethtown and I-65 South, 20 miles west. It also brings in Lexington traffic from the east. The two Bardstown exits are Exit 21 (US 31E) and Exit 25 (US 150). Nelson County also has exits off the parkway at Exit 10 (KY 52) to Boston and western Nelson County and Exit 34 (KY 55) to Bloomfield and eastern Nelson County.

Two roads arrive from Louisville. KY 245 (New Shepherdsville Road until it enters the city and becomes John Rowan Boulevard) funnels traffic from Exit 112 off of I-65 in Bullitt County. Although Route 245 goes through a fairly hilly area, the road is well-engineered with modest grades and no sharp curves. The other route is US 31E-150 which comes directly from Louisville. Before several miles were rerouted in the current century, the road was narrow and winding at spots. While it remains two lanes from Mount Washington until a couple of miles north of 245, it's now a noticeably less stressful drive that still offers nice views of the Nelson and Spencer County countryside.

By plane

General aviation

Get around

Other than the tour buses listed below under "Do," there is no public transportation of any use to visitors in Bardstown. The historic district is very walkable, otherwise you will need to drive or take a taxi.

See

Distilleries & Wineries
  • 🌍 Barton 1792 Distillery, 501 Cathedral Manor, ☏ +1 502 331-4879, toll-free: +1-866-239-4690, . Producers of 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. The distillery offers tours and a gift shop. Free. 
  • 🌍 Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center, 1311 Gilkey Run Rd., ☏ +1 502 337-1000. State-of-the-art visitor center is designed to provide the ultimate educational and entertainment experience. Tour a working rickhouse, see a movie and receive a tutored tasting in the "Taste of Heaven" barrel-shaped tasting room. 
  • 🌍 Maker's Mark Distillery, 3350 Burk's Springs Rd, Loretto, ☏ +1 270 865-2099. Enjoy the sounds and smells of this uniquely crafted small batch bourbon. Purchase a souvenir bottle and hand-dip it in Maker's signature red wax (must be 21 to purchase and dip). 
  • 🌍 Springhill Winery, 3205 Springfield Rd., Bloomfield (12 miles east of Bardstown), ☏ +1 502 252-9463, . Tour the winery cellar and experience winemaking, enjoy the historic display of Kentucky's wine heritage and browse the gift shop and tasting room. Stay overnight in the Victorian Plantation Manor. 
  • 🌍 Willett Distillery, 1869 Loretto Rd., ☏ +1 (502) 348-0899. Either the largest craft distillery or the smallest major distillery, depending on who you talk to. The tour still lets you see the whole whiskey making process, from the mash tubs to the pot still to the aging process. Beautiful setting. (updated Oct 2017)

Mansions and houses

Museums and memorials
  • 🌍 Civil War Museum of the Western Theatre, 310 E. Broadway, ☏ +1 502 349-0291. Located in Old Bardstown Village, it is one of the best Civil War museums in the US. It has many artifacts from Civil War battles throughout the region, focusing mainly on the war's imprint on western states. The museum houses a collection of photographs, uniforms, cannons, flags, battle wagons, medical equipment, weapons and personal items. The museum plays host to Civil War Living History Weekends throughout the year when encampment demonstrations recreate old times. Soldiers in period costumes will demonstrate skills such as cooking, musket, artillery and cavalry firing. 
  • 🌍 Kentucky Railway Museum, 136 S. Main St., New Haven (13 miles south of Bardstown), ☏ +1 502 549-5470, toll-free: +1-800-272-0152, . Bells, lights, and steam whistles abound at Kentucky's official railway museum. The 5,000-square-foot museum contains a collection of artifacts, tools and photos, which interpret the story of America's rail system. There is also a railroad gift shop filled with train memorabilia, or watch several train layouts in the model train facility. Take a ride through the scenic Rolling Fork River Valley, with a 1940s vintage dining car. The Railway Museum hosts a number of events, including murder mysteries, Halloween and Christmas events.AAA discount. 
  • Old Bardstown Village, Museum Row, 310 E. Broadway, ☏ +1 502 349-0291. The village is a recreation of a 1790 frontier community, home to settlers exploring the west. Eight original and authentic log cabins, each 150-200 years old, highlight a creek that runs through the grounds and supplies power to Brown's Grist Mill. Each cabin houses a different display, such as the history of Native Americans from the southwest and southeast, a recreated blacksmith shop, a wheelwrights shop, a still house and Captain Bean's Tavern. Demonstrations of flint knapping, arrowhead making, ancient spear throwing, ax making and ancient fire making.
  • Old County Jail, 111 W. Stephen Foster Ave, ☏ +1 502 348-5551, toll-free: +1-800-948-5551. Includes a tour of the original 1819 jail. All furnished with antiques and heirlooms. A chilling look at conditions in this jail that was in operation until 1987. 
  • 🌍 Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and the Bardstown Historical Museum, 114 N. 5th St, ☏ +1 502 348-2999, . An extensive collection of the liquor memorabilia of Oscar Getz and other distillers from the 1700s to today. On display are George Washington's mill stone, Prohibition prescriptions, a replica of Lincoln's Tavern in Illinois and Carrie Nation's hatchet. 
  • War Memorial of Mid-America, Museum Row, 202 E. Broadway, ☏ +1 502 349-0291. This memorial pays tribute to all those who served in order to uphold freedom during America's wars, and dedicated and devoted themselves to the cause. The exhibit concentrates on the role mid-Americans played in conflicts from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm, depicted through artifacts and graphics.
  • Wildlife & Natural History Museum, Museum Row, 310 E. Broadway, ☏ +1 502 349-0291. This museum boasts an exhibit of more than 100 life-sized animals, including an extensive display of these creatures in their natural habitat, and many varieties of fossils and minerals
  • Women in The Civil War Museum, Museum Row, 310 E. Broadway, ☏ +1 502 349-0291. In the historic Wright-Talbott House, this museum displays artifacts from Civil War-era women who served as homemakers, nurses and factory workers. It tells the stories of the women who even served on the battle lines as soldiers and spies. Elaborite, authentic dresses from the era are also on display.

Sports
  • Bluegrass Speedway, ☏ +1 502 349-1241. US 31E South at Bluegrass Parkway. A high banked, half-mile clay oval track featuring four divisions of racing weekly: Late Models, Open-wheeled Modifieds, Bluegrass Sportsman and Street Stock Sportsman. 

Do

Festivals & events
  • Antique Show & Sale Late March-Early April
  • Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sampler Late April
  • Kentucky Elk & Outdoor Fest: Second Saturday of May at Kentucky Gun Company (see "Buy" below); first held in 2023. While it's a paid-admission event, the ticket includes entry into multiple drawings for various guns and outdoor supplies. The event is a fundraiser for youth outdoors education. Many hunting-related companies have booths. Most notably, Kentucky's annual drawing for permits to hunt elk is held here, with the results announced live at the festival.
  • Bourbon Open Golf Tournament Mid May
  • Summer Band Concert Series Fridays June-Labor Day
  • Wine & Cheese Tasting Early June
  • Stephen Foster-The Musical June-August
  • Moonlight Big Band Concert Late June
  • Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Mid September 
  • Bardstown Arts, Crafts and Antiques Fair Mid October
  • Flint Knapping Old Barstown Village Mid October
  • Christmas 'Round Bardstown Thanksgiving-Christmas
  • My Old Kentucky Home Candlelight Tour Late November-Early December
  • Candlelight Tour of Homes Early December

Golf

Bardstown is a golf lover's dream with numerous championship courses in the area, each offering 18 holes of play:

Tours
  • Around The Town Carriage, 223 N. 3rd St, ☏ +1 502 348-0331. Carriage ride provides a slow-paced way to see the sites of Bardstown. Offers carriages, buggies and a stagecoach to tour just about any size group. 
  • Heaven Hill Trolley, 1 Court Sq., ☏ +1 502 510-0012. Tour history in style with an introductory tour of Bardstown's many attractions including the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center. 
  • Horizon Hoppers Adventure Services, ☏ +1 502 507-9364. Bardstown/Nelson County Airport-US 62 West. Find out why the sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning. Full service adventure outfitter, including chartered flights, hiking, camping and sightseeing tours. 
  • Walking tour ☏ +1 502 348-4877 or ☏ +1-800-638-4877. Based at the Welcome Center, 1 Court Sq. Self-guided tours of downtown Bardstown with maps available.
  • My Old Kentucky Dinner Train

Buy

Eat

There is the usual selection of fast food national chains.

Delis

Full Menu

Specialty menu

Drink

Bars

The Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown and Nelson County are wet.

Sleep

Bed & Breakfasts

Campgrounds

Hotels and motels

Go next
  • Louisville, 40 miles northwest of Bardstown , is Kentucky's largest city and home to Churchill Downs, site of the Kentucky Derby and Derby Museum. The city also offers museums to Louisville Slugger baseball bats and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
  • Hardin County, 20 miles west, contains Fort Knox, an army base containing the US Gold Bullion and Patton Museum. The county seat of Elizabethtown, just to the south, houses the Schmitts Coca Cola Museum. It is also the setting of the Orlando Bloom/Kirsten Dunst movie "Elizabethtown"
  • Hodgenville, 20 miles to the southwest, was the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site houses a replica of the log cabin Lincoln was born in.
  • Lexington, 50 miles to the east, is the horse capital of the world. Yearling sales, where horses are sold for millions of dollars, takes place at Keeneland Race Course, where racing is held in April and October. Home of the University of Kentucky
  • Frankfort, 55 miles northeast, is the state capital of Kentucky.
  • Boating interests are available at Taylorsville Lake State Park, 20 miles northeast of Bardstown. The lake also offers plenty of fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. Tanglewood Golf Course offers 18 holes of championship golf.
Routes through Bardstown
Louisville ← Mount Washington ←  N  S  → Hodgenville → Glasgow
Paducah ← Elizabethtown ←  W  E  → Bloomfield → Georgetown
Louisville ← Mount Washington ←  W  E  → Springfield → Danville


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