Download GPX file for this article
37.815556-85.463056Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Bardstown is a city in the Kentucky Derby Region, located 40 miles southeast of Louisville. It is the county seat of Nelson County.

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. The road is narrow and winding at spots, but does offer nice views of the Nelson and Spencer County countryside.

By air

Samuels Field [1] (designated BRY) is located two miles southwest of Bardstown on US 62, Boston Road. The airport has a single paved runway 5000 feet by 75 feet, designated 02/20, with a 4000-foot parallel taxiway and a connecting taxiway to the aircraft parking apron. The runway is equipped with Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MARL), Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) and Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) all radio controlled at 122.80MHz. An Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) is also available on 119,925MHz or by phone at (502)348-1867. Land facilities consist of a 1600 square foot terminal and administration building, 2000 square yards of apron, a 10 unit T-Hangar, 3 conventional storage hangars, and auto parking. There is 100LL Avgas and Jet A fuel system with a 24 hour self serve credit card system.

Louisville International Airport [2] is located 40 miles northwest of Bardstown at the junction of I-65 and I-264. It is the closest airport with commercial passenger jet service. Airlines serving Louisville include American, Delta, Frontier, Midwest, Southwest, and United. It is also a major shipping hub for UPS.

By train

There is no Amtrak rail service in or near Bardstown. The closest Amtrak station is in Cincinnati, 150 miles away.

Get around

See

Distilleries & Wineries

Mansions & Houses

  • 4 Chapeze House, Kentucky's Home for Bourbon, 107 E. Stephen Foster Ave, ☏ +1 502 507-8338, toll-free: +1-800-704-4917. A historic Kentucky mansion located on the Courthouse circle. Hosts Kentucky bourbon and American whiskey tastings and the Kentucky Bourbon Cooking School. The proprietors are Kentucky Colonel Michael Masters, The Host of Kentucky and Margaret Sue Masters, The Kentucky Hostess. This famous couple has been featured on Food Network TV, The Travel Channel and The Fine Living Channel. 

Museums & Memorials

  • 7 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 en-campment demonstrations recreate old times. Soldiers in period costumes will demonstrate skills such as cooking, musket, artillery and calvery firing. 
  • 8 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 1940's 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, (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. 
  • War Memorial of Mid-America, Museum Row, 202 E. Broadway, (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, (502) 349-0291. This recently added 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, (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
  • 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. Carraige ride provides a slow-paced way to see the sites of Bardstown. Offers carraiges, buggies and a stagecoach to tour just about any size group. 
  • Heaven Hill Trolley, 1 Court Sq., (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.

Buy

  • ...at Mary's, 214 N. 3rd St. Custom framing, antiques, fine art. 
  • Barbara's, 109 W. Flaget Ave, ☏ +1 502 348-2519. Furniture, gifts, Vera Bradley. 
  • Barbie D's Gifts, 145 S. Main St, ☏ +1 502 549-7497. New Haven. Books, cards, pottery, angels, consignments and more. 
  • Bardstown Book Sellers, 129 N. 3rd St, ☏ +1 502 348-1256. Kentucky authors, religious gifts, quaility music, candles. 
  • Marshall's Jewelers, 106 N. 3rd St, ☏ +1 502 348-5723. Quality jewelry made to last. 
  • Plantation Furniture & Designs, 112 N. 3rd St, ☏ +1 502 348-3554. Distinctive home furnishings and design. 
  • Rooster Run General Store, 6515 New Shepherdsville Rd, ☏ +1 502 348-8753. Hwy. 245 (between Bardstown and I-65). Once upon a time a woman went looking for her husband at Evans' Beverage Depot (he was known to stop there and linger a bit after work most days). When the wife showed up at the depot, the husband took off rather quickly, causing the other men to laugh and one to remark "Look at that rooster run." Former owner Joe Evans knew a good thing when it knocked on his door, and put a running rooster on a ball cap and the giant Ozzie Frank, a.k.a. The Big Rooster, out in front of his store, and a local legend was born. Today, Rooster Run is known worldwide. It's still a good place to grab a bite to eat and visit with friends and neighbors, buy gas for your car, or purchase a Kentucky souvenir. The giant Ozzie Frank rooster was named after Evans' daughter's Cabbage Patch doll and a community bus driver named Frank. 
  • Santa's Haven, 208 N. 3rd St. Unusual home decor. 
  • Toddy's Liquors, 110 S. 4th St, ☏ +1 502 348-1444. Single barrel bourbons, miniture gift baskets,Maker's Mark Candy, Gethsemani Farms products. 

Eat

There is the usual selection of fast food national chains.

Delis

  • Bardstown Bowling Center, 1012 Commerce Blvd, ☏ +1 502 348-2003. 
  • Bardstown Express Food, 985 Bloomfield Rd, ☏ +1 502 348-0912. 
  • Boone's Butcher Shop, 100 Old Bloomfield Pk., +1 502 348-3668.
  • Busy Bee Chevron, 1411 N. 3rd St, ☏ +1 502 348-1411. 
  • Five Star Food Mart, 4 locations: 122 E. Stephen Foster Ave, 1855 New Haven Rd., 207 W. John Rowan Blvd., 610 Bloomfield Rd.
  • Keene's Depot 8 Old Bloomfield Pk., +1 502 348-3594. Began in 1946 as a local general store and grocery. Still offers some food items, notably country hams, but its main business is now guns and hunting supplies.
  • Parkway Mini Mart, 1545 New Haven Rd, ☏ +1 502 348-2049. 
  • Speedy Mart, 603 Bloomfield Rd, ☏ +1 502 348-3770. 
  • Thompson Food Mart, 2 locations: 509 W. Stephen Foster Ave., 706 N. 3rd St.
  • Walmart, 3795 E. John Rowan Blvd, ☏ +1 502 349-6007. 

Full Menu

Specialty Menu

Drink

Bars

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

  • Bourbon Bar at Old Talbott Tavern, 107 W. Stephen Foster Ave, ☏ +1 502 348-3494, toll-free: +1-800-482-8376. Very good selection of Bourbons, served by the flight or glass. 

Coffeehouses

  • Java Joint, 126 N. 3rd St, ☏ +1 502 350-0883. Cappuccinos, espressos, sandwiches, soups, desserts. 

Sleep

Bed & Breakfasts

Campgrounds

Hotels & 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. Nearby Elizabethtown 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, is 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.

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
Indianapolis ← Louisville ←  N  S  → Hodgenville → Glasgow
Paducah ← Elizabethtown ←  W  E  → Bloomfield → Georgetown
Vincennes ← Louisville ←  W  E  → Springfield → Danville



This city travel guide to Bardstown is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Bardstown&oldid=2890359"