8 Off-The-Grid Kentucky Towns To Visit In 2025

Kentucky means different things to different cultures: Kahten-ten-tah-teh ("land of tomorrow") to the Wyandot, Kain-tuck-ee ("head of the river") to the Shawnee, and “meadowland” to others. However, one shared truth that all in the Bluegrass State can attest to is the wealth of off-the-grid Kentucky towns to visit in 2025. From Berea’s artisan culture to Glasgow’s subterranean wonders, each of these destinations showcases the spirited and special nature of the Bluegrass State. Whether you are discovering Civil War landmarks, sipping world-class bourbon, or tracing the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, the many off-the-grid Kentucky towns to visit in 2025 are sure to leave a lasting impression for you, your friends, and your family.

Bardstown

Just under an hour from Louisville, Bardstown is a must-see destination for anyone interested in bourbon. Known popularly as the Bourbon Capital of the World, this Kentucky small town traces its spirited legacy back to the 18th century, when, according to tradition, Baptist minister Elijah Craig first aged whiskey in charred oak barrels. Today, more than 11 distilleries operate in and around Bardstown, including Barton 1792, Heaven Hill, and Willett. Visitors can get a taste of the town’s spirited culture during the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival each September. In addition to a sampling of fine spirits, you can marvel at the spirits of the past at the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, offering rare and vintage exhibits on bourbon’s evolution. After savoring your fill, you can appreciate marvelous performances such as The Stephen Foster Story, a long-running outdoor musical honoring the “father of American music.” To top it all off, you can go gallivanting and sojourning through the verdant regions of both the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. As night falls, you can take a bottle of bourbon with you at one of Bardstown’s overnight lodgings like Bourbon Manor Bed & Breakfast or the Old Bardstown Inn.

Berea

Celebrated as the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, Berea is a cultural and sophisticated haven for creativity adjacent to the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. The town’s vibrant arts scene is on full display at the Kentucky Artisan Center and in the many galleries and workshops dotting College Square and Old Town. Located along the historic Boone Trace, the path once used by Daniel Boone and Native Americans before him, Berea also encourages newcomers to connect with its natural surroundings, with several trails and treks to traverse in the nearby Pinnacles and towards the Kentucky River. With sweeping views of the Appalachian foothills surrounding Berea, visitors can also glean further insights and appreciations into local ecology and heritage at the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center. Whether you are exploring the Daniel Boone National Forest or shopping for handmade quilts and pottery, Berea balances artistry with adventure and allows you to stay comfortable with a number of fine establishments to stay overnight, among them the historic Boone Tavern Hotel or a cozy inn like the Red Roof Inn.

Danville

Danville, widely known as the “City of Firsts,” played a pivotal role in Kentucky’s path to statehood. Located just 37 miles south of Lexington, this historic town saw the creation of the first courthouse and the first US Post Office west of the Allegheny Mountains. Most notably, it hosted the first Constitutional Convention in 1792 that led to Kentucky becoming the 15th state. Danville is also home to a medical milestone: in 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed the first successful surgery to remove an ovarian tumor, earning him a place in medical history. Today, visitors can explore landmarks like Constitution Square where the Constitutional Convention took place, as well as the Perryville Battlefield, where one of Kentucky’s fiercest American Civil War battles took place. For a different kind of history, you can also visit the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a beautifully preserved communal society once home to the third-largest Shaker community in the US. With accommodations like the Hampton Inn and Comfort Suites to ensure your nighttime is a pleasant time, Danville thrives as a pleasing albeit off-the-grid town in the Bluegrass State.

Greenville

A peaceful abode in western Kentucky, Greenville is a small and fulfilling town full of quiet charm, outdoor recreation, and unexpected historical treasures. Only about two hours from Nashville, Greenville is an ideal escape into Kentucky’s rolling hills and forested parks, where visitors can enjoy scenic strolls around Lake Malone State Park or picnic and hike at Brizendine Brothers Nature Park. In the latter region, newcomers will be amazed and astounded to find whimsical wooden sculptures like one of Yogi Bear hidden among the trees. Perhaps the most striking and unusual landmark in Greenville is the town’s 9/11 Memorial, a 17-foot steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center, honoring those lost on that tragic day. Another historic highlight is the Lt. Ephraim Brank Memorial Trail, which pays tribute to a local hero of the War of 1812. Between arbitrary tidbits of history to exquisite and verdant landscapes surrounding the area, Greenville offers a tranquil setting with meaningful places, particularly the many cozy establishments you can spend your evenings at such as the Wickliffe House or CCI Express Inn.

Glasgow

Named after its counterpart in Scotland, the town of Glasgow is a welcoming village in south-central Kentucky that is as beautiful and alluring as the capital city of Glasgow across the Atlantic Ocean. As a former key Union stronghold during the American Civil War, Glasgow houses the remnants of Fort Williams, an idyllic and historic destination where visitors can walk the grounds of this former military post. Those interested in even earlier history can explore artifacts left by Kentucky’s indigenous Native American peoples at the Prehistoric Jewel Site Complex. However, the true crown jewel of Glasgow’s attractions is just outside town: Mammoth Cave National Park. As the world’s longest cave system, it offers guided tours through massive limestone chambers, underground rivers, and glittering formations. Recognized as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve, Mammoth Cave is a desirable and delightful site for adventurers and nature lovers. After a day of exploring above and below ground, you can unwind in one of Glasgow’s historic stays, such as the elegant 1852 Hall Place Bed & Breakfast.

Hodgenville

Approximately 12 miles away from Elizabethtown, Hodgenville is best known as the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln. At the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, visitors can see a symbolic log cabin housed inside a neoclassical memorial marking the site of Lincoln’s birth. The Lincoln Museum in downtown Hodgenville, meanwhile, provides further insight into his life through engaging exhibits and lifelike dioramas. Strolling along the banks of the Nolin River, you can imagine young Abraham Lincoln’s early days spent in Kentucky’s pastoral landscape. For an even deeper connection into one of America’s most famous presidents, you can visit the Knob Creek Farm and Sinking Spring Farm, two sites where Lincoln lived as a child. Likewise, you can also go traipsing through Pearman Forest and fishing at spots like Salem Lake. With its strong historical ties and natural beauty, Hodgenville is a patriotic and peaceful getaway with local lodgings like Lincoln Lodge to make sure your nights and days are warm and accommodating.

Maysville

Set along the banks of the Ohio River and just an hour away from Lexington, Maysville is a pristine and vibrant riverside town for those who adore and admire covered bridges, the so-called “Timbered Tunnels.” During the 19th century, the town played a vital role in the Underground Railroad, with Reverend John Rankin providing shelter to escaping slaves. You can learn more about this chapter of history at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, which features thousands of artifacts, dioramas, and local lore. Not far from town, the Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park offers a look at frontier history through preserved cabins and museum exhibits. Maysville is also the hometown of singer Rosemary Clooney, and fans can visit her museum housed in a historic home in nearby Augusta. However you wish to go about in this lovely and lavishing small town on the banks of the Ohio River, you ought to remember to seek out rooms and accommodations in places like the French Quarter Inn or Lee House.

Harrodsburg

As Kentucky’s oldest permanent European American settlement, Harrodsburg is brimming with pioneering history and frontier enchantments for all to see. Ever since it was founded in the year 1774, the town has invited visitors to explore Old Fort Harrod State Park, a replica of the original settlement where Daniel Boone once lived. The park also features the Lincoln Marriage Temple, which houses the cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s parents wed from when the Lincoln family relocated to Harrodsburg from nearby Springfield. Other historical sites include the George Rogers Clark Memorial, honoring the American Revolutionary War leader, and the Old Mud Meeting House, one of the oldest Dutch Reformed churches in the South. Visitors can also admire the Morgan Row Houses, the state’s oldest brick row homes. Nestled in Kentucky’s Bluegrass region near the Salt River, Harrodsburg is a scenic and splendid small town just a short distance from Danville.

You might have heard about Kentucky Fried Chicken originating from the Bluegrass State, but you have yet to know and admire the many off-the-grid Kentucky towns to visit in 2025. As scrumptious and delicious as a KFC meal, these charming destinations offer more than just comfort food as each one provides a plethora of scenic trails, rich craftsmanship, and smooth sips of bourbon for your exquisite appetites. Whether you are sampling spirits in Bardstown or admiring artisan handiwork in Berea, the many off-the-grid Kentucky small towns are worthwhile destinations to visit in 2025, regardless of their location in the Appalachian foothills or in winding river valleys that compose the Bluegrass State.