Highest-rated free things to do in Kentucky, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in Kentucky, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Kentucky.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Kentucky using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Harland Sanders Cafe And Museum
- Rating: 4/5 (570 reviews)
- Address: 688 US Highway 25 West Corbin, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Newport on the Levee
- Rating: 4/5 (505 reviews)
- Address: 1 Levee Way Newport, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Daniel Boone National Forest
- Rating: 4.5/5 (104 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. The Parklands of Floyds Fork
- Rating: 5/5 (152 reviews)
- Address: 15712 Shelbyville Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Nada Tunnel
- Rating: 5/5 (85 reviews)
- Address: 20 Nada Tunnel Road Stanton, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. St Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
- Rating: 5/5 (169 reviews)
- Address: 1140 Madison Ave. Covington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Fourth Street Live!
- Rating: 4/5 (899 reviews)
- Address: 411 S. 4th St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. 21c Museum Hotel
- Rating: 4.5/5 (344 reviews)
- Address: 700 West Main St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Smothers Park
- Rating: 5/5 (543 reviews)
- Address: 199 West Veterans Blvd. Owensboro, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Purple People Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (313 reviews)
- Address: Newport, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Lexington Cemetery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (348 reviews)
- Address: 833 West Main St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Louisville Waterfront Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (518 reviews)
- Address: 129 River Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Casey Jones Distillery
- Rating: 5/5 (380 reviews)
- Address: 2815 Witty Lane Hopkinsville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. The Arboretum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (420 reviews)
- Address: 500 Alumni Drive Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Cherokee Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (321 reviews)
- Address: 745 Cochran Hill Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (708 reviews)
- Address: 2995 Lincoln Farm Road Hodgenville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Berea Pinnacles
- Rating: 5/5 (178 reviews)
- Address: Highway 21 Berea, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
- Rating: 4.5/5 (528 reviews)
- Address: Berea, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Purple Toad Winery
- Rating: 5/5 (391 reviews)
- Address: 4275 Old US Highway 45 South Paducah, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Limestone Branch Distillery
- Rating: 5/5 (516 reviews)
- Address: 1280 Veterans Memorial Hwy Lebanon, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (311 reviews)
- Address: 1100 North Dixie Ave. Elizabethtown, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Paducah Riverwalk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (390 reviews)
- Address: End of Historic District, along Water St. Paducah, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Red River Gorge Geological Area
- Rating: 4.5/5 (327 reviews)
- Address: 3451 Skybridge Road Winchester, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Floodwall Murals
- Rating: 4.5/5 (954 reviews)
- Address: Water St./Jefferson St. to Washington St. Paducah, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Cave Hill Cemetery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (765 reviews)
- Address: 701 Baxter Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Natural Bridge State Resort Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (812 reviews)
- Address: 2135 Natural Bridge Road Slade, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (611 reviews)
- Address: 91 Bartlett Park Road Middlesboro, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,400 reviews)
- Address: 7351 Highway 90 Corbin, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. The Big Four Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,977 reviews)
- Address: 1101 River Road Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,644 reviews)
- Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trce Frankfort, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
