Worth the Drive: Summer is unofficially here! 5 day trip ideas in and around Louisville (2024)

Summer is here and with school out for the year, parents are likely in need of activities to keep their children entertained. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and affordable options within a couple of hours of Louisville.

From scenic nature to shiny cars to thrilling roller coaster rides, there's something for everyone within a reasonable distance. Here are five places to keep in mind, perfect for a day trip from the Louisville area.

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Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay

937 Phillips Lane, Louisville

Distance from downtown Louisville: Around 4 miles or 10 minutes.

Kentucky Kingdom is an amusem*nt and water park in Louisville that doesn't require much of a drive for locals.

The amusem*nt park features a variety of rides from family-friendly to thrilling rollercoasters. There are also water rides, wave pools and other features at the Hurricane Bay water park. Ticket prices vary by ticket type, day of the week and frequency of visits. General admission tickets for one day range from $29.99 to $49.99. Season passes are also available.

Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay are open to the public for the season.

Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay: When does Kentucky Kingdom open in 2024? How much do tickets cost? Rides? What to know

Mammoth Cave National Park

1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave

Distance from downtown Louisville: Around 90 miles, or an hour and a half.

Mammoth Cave National Park, located in south central Kentucky, spans more than 52,000 acres and is home to the world's longest cave system, according to the National Park Service. A variety of experiences are offered, including cave tours, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking. There are also three camp sites located on the grounds, as well as a designated section for backpackers.

Several tours are available ranging in distance from 0.25 miles to 2.5 miles, taking anywhere up to three and a half hours. Two crawling tours are also available for visitors starting at age 10 and over, but special equipment is required.

You can view a full list of available tours here.

French Lick

Distance from downtown Louisville: Around 80 miles, or an hour and a half.

French Lick, located in Southern Indiana, is home to the French Lick West Baden Museum and the French Lick Scenic Railway.

The museum, established in 2007 as a pop-up before finding its current location in 2014, discusses the history of the circus, and the town's involvement in the renowned Hagenbeck-Wallace circus diorama, featured at the museum.

"Today, we continue to tell the incredible histories of our towns through impressive exhibits, interactive experiences, and first-person stories," according to the museum's website.

General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, $6 for children 6-12 and free for 5 and under.

At the French Lick Scenic Railway, visitors can "experience harking back to a time when rail travel was the primary means of long distance travel," according to the organization's website. Operated by the Indiana Railway Museum, the Scenic Railway spans 25 miles from French Lick to Jasper.

Those who climb aboard for a ride will travel along the edges of Hoosier National Forest and through one of the state's longest railroad tunnels. Various family events and 21+ events are offered, and a Polar Express train ride is also offered during the holiday season beginning in November. Ticket prices vary throughout the year.

At the French Lick Resort, visitors will have easy access to the French Lick Casino and countless other activities like horseback riding, archery, pickleball, indoor and outdoor swimming and more.

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National Corvette Museum

350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green

Distance from downtown Louisville: Around 110 miles or close to two hours.

Ranked second on USA TODAY's 2024 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for best car attraction is Kentucky's National Corvette Museum.

According to the museum's mission, they hope "to educate worldwide audiences on the evolution of the Corvette — America’s Sports Car — through collection, preservation, and celebration of its legacy." The museum also had a sinkhole swallow eight cars around 10 years ago, the last of which waspulled in March 2014, as previously reported byThe Courier Journal.

Ticket prices fluctuate by dates, times and add-ons. Available add-ons include a guided tour and a Corvette racing simulator.

Natural Bridge State Park

2135 Natural Bridge Road, Slade

Distance from downtown Louisville: About 135 miles, or two hours and 15 minutes.

The Natural Bridge State Park is home to Kentucky's natural bridge, formed from natural sandstone over millions of years, spanning 78 feet and wavering 65 feet in the air. Located near the Red River Gorge Geological Area and the Daniel Boone National Forest, visitors can hike around 2.5 miles out and back to see the Natural Bridge or use the skylift.

Visitors can also participate in activities at the Natural Bridge State Resort Park like canoeing and kayaking, available from Memorial Day through Labor Day, fishing at Mill Creek Lake or playing a game of miniature golf. Also close by are the Red River Gorge Zipline Tours.