7 Best Small Towns In Kentucky For A Crowd-Free Summer

According to a report from the Kentucky Department of Tourism, the state welcomed around 80 million visitors in 2024, which is nearly twice the population of Canada! While that is great news for the economy, it also means some places, particularly the larger cities, may feel a bit crowded. If you are hoping to see some of the state’s most impressive lakes, caves, and waterfalls with fewer crowds this summer, these seven towns should be on your radar.

Grand Rivers

Grand Rivers couldn’t have a more water-centric location, sitting right between both Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Naturally, water-based recreation is popular in town, with many people heading to places like Moss Creek for a swim. This day-use area has all the amenities you will need for a day on the beach, including a swimming and beach area, picnic tables, grills, and a large parking lot.

Boating is another favorite pastime in the summer, with travelers able to rent wake boats, jet skis, and tri-toons from Lake Legend Boat and Jet Ski Rental, a local agency. Hoping to spend the night near the water? You will love Green Turtle Bay Resort, which sits near the shores of Lake Barkley, offering condo rentals, pools, a day spa, restaurants, and more.

Harrodsburg

As the oldest town in Kentucky, Harrodsburg should be on the itinerary of every history lover this summer. Travelers can start their history-filled vacation at Old Fort Harrod State Park, home to a full-scale replica fort from 1774, the state’s oldest cemetery, and a well-adorned mansion museum, among other historical landmarks.

In August, the state park hosts the annual Pioneer Days. Celebrating the town’s heritage, this festival offers all kinds of fun, commemorative activities, including live music, a car show, and more than 100 food and shopping vendors. After exploring the fort or attending the festival, head over to Herrington Lake to cool off. This 2,335-acre lake is also the deepest in Kentucky and is popular for boating, fishing, and camping.

Cave City

A lake vacation is one way to beat the heat, but going underground is another. You can do so in Cave City, the perfect gateway to Mammoth Cave National Park. This national park is home to the world’s largest cave system, with more than 400 miles of known passageways. Travelers can explore it by reserving a guided tour. Just make sure to book early, as spots are limited!

Several private caves are also nearby as an alternative to Mammoth. Crystal Onyx Cave is a great option, just a five-minute drive from downtown and filled with impressively diverse rock formations. After a day of spelunking, head back up to the surface to Dinosaur World, a fun, family-friendly park packed with hundreds of life-size recreations of dinosaurs.

Corbin

While Corbin offers a variety of activities, it is perhaps best known for its proximity to Cumberland Falls. Often called the “Niagara of the South,” these falls feature a 125-foot-wide curtain of water that plunges into a boulder-strewn gorge. Travelers looking to get out on the area’s rivers can book an excursion with Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort, a local outfitter offering whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and tubing trips, some of which bring you right up close to the falls.

If you plan your visit to Corbin for August, you will be just in time for the NIBROC Festival! This event has been taking place for 73 years and features several days of carnival rides, live entertainment, food, and crafts.

Cumberland

Situated within the gorgeous mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, Cumberland is the perfect vacation destination for those seeking a quiet and relaxing mountain getaway. Kingdom Come State Park is one of the town’s highlights, sitting at an elevation of about 2,700 feet and offering hiking and biking trails, eight overlooks, and a 3.5-acre mountain lake.

After a morning of hiking, hungry travelers can head back into town to Emma's Southern Style Cooking Restaurant, a beloved local cafe that serves southern classics like chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, and deep-fried catfish. Just a five-minute drive from town, you will also find the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum, which exhibits a variety of coal-related artifacts that portray what life was like in the area’s coal camps.

Berea

Known as the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, Berea’s art scene is one of the best in the state. The Kentucky Artisan Center is a wonderful place to view some of this art, a 25,000 square foot facility that houses a variety of artwork from local artisans, special exhibits and events, and delicious Kentucky cuisine.

Toward the end of summer, on the second Sunday in September, the town hosts the annual Berea Craft Fest, welcoming around 100 artists to showcase and celebrate their work. While in town, consider spending an afternoon hiking the Pinnacles in the Berea College Forest, which was previously listed as one of the best hikes in the state by Outside Magazine.

London

Skip the European crowds this summer and see what Kentucky’s own London has to offer! Just a short drive from town, travelers can explore the Daniel Boone National Forest, where the London District spans over 208,000 acres of rivers, lakes, natural arches, waterfalls, and miles of hiking trails.

Within the national forest, travelers will also find Laurel River Lake, a quiet spot popular for fishing, boating, scuba diving, and swimming. To conclude your adventurous day, grab dinner at Local Honey, a farm-to-table style restaurant that serves fresh soups, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, pasta, and much more.

Kentucky’s tourism industry may be breaking records, but that does not mean you have to get caught in its crowds. These seven towns are excellent examples, many of which are home to just a few thousand residents, but each contains an incredible array of attractions. Towns like Cave City, with a population of just 2,400, are home to major attractions like Mammoth Cave, while others, such as Grand Rivers, offer not just one, but two lakes! Regardless of the town that interests you for your vacation, rest assured that you are about to have a memorable summer.