Franklin is a city in Kentucky's Caves and Lakes region. In the mid-2000s, the community of Franklin was honored as one of the "50 Best Small Southern Towns."

Get in

18 miles south of Bowling Green, I-65 Exits 2 or 6. The nearest airport is Nashville International, 40 miles south on I-65 (off of I-40).

See

• 1 First United Methodist Church, 107 N College St, ☏ +1 270 586-5152. It's where June and Johnny Cash got married, yay! (updated Oct 2021)
• 2 Simpson County Historical Society and History Center, 207 N College St, ☏ +1 270 586-4228. Tu-F 9AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-2PM. Discover the history of Franklin and its surroundings here and visit the old jail and jailer's quarters across the street. (updated Oct 2021)
• 3 African American Heritage Center, 500 Jefferson St, ☏ +1 270 598-9986. M, W, F 9AM-11AM; Tu, Th 9AM-4PM. Tiny educational center about the African American history of the area. (updated Oct 2021)
• 4 Octagon Hall Civil War Museum, 6040 Bowling Green Rd, ☏ +1 270 266-1294. W-Sa 9AM-11:30AM, 1PM-3:30PM. Civil War museum in octagonal structure. $5. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

• Kenny Perry's Country Creek Golf Course, 1075 Kenny Perry Dr, ☏ +1 270 586-9373. I-65 Exit 2. Designed by PGA touring pro Kenny Perry, this par 72 public course is nestled in picturesque countryside. Practice range, pro shop, snack bar. 
• 1 Kentucky Downs Race Course, 5629 Nashville Rd, ☏ +1 270 586-7778. I-65 Exit. Open year-round for simulcast racing and dining. America's only turf track; features live thoroughbred racing in September.  

Events

• Red River Meeting and Rendezvous About 1.3 miles west of Schochoh +1 270 586-7632. Enjoy living history at the Red River Meeting House; celebrate the commemoration of the "Second Great Awakening" in America in the early 1800s, beginning in Logan Co., KY. Camp in a place of rare beauty and peace. Participate in a variety of camp activities including reenacting the time period of 1800 with period clothing, cooking over open fires, music, games, and traders with wares for sale. There will be church services, history lessons, exhibits, cemetery tours, and various demonstrations. This is a great place and time for children to learn and play. No camp fee; service animals only; no water or electric hookup for modern tents and campers. Firewood and water furnished.
• Franklin Car and Craft Show Fair and car show on Courthouse Square. Mid-September. +1 270 586-7609

Buy

• Bright's Antique World, 281 Steele Rd, ☏ +1 270 598-9901. M-Sa 9AM-8PM, Su 10AM-6PM. 150 booths, 25,000 sq. ft. of antiques; old kitchen furniture, china, & pottery; primitive & antique furniture; depression glass, old & new fenton; used books; vintage & estate jewelry; trade & postal cards, old toys; old hunting & fishing lures, pocket knives & tools. 
• Heritage Antique Mall, 111 W. Washington St, ☏ +1 270 586-3880. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM. 130 booths with 90 dealers; early primitive to Victorian furniture; jewelry; collectibles; glassware. 
• Strictly Country Antique Mall, 5945 Bowling Green Rd, ☏ +1 270 586-3978. M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 1PM-5PM. A series of outbuildings on a working farm; antiques from various periods and styles; furniture and accessories; advertising collectibles; kitchen items; primitives; gasoline and auto related items. 
• Violin in the Attic, 612 S Main St, ☏ +1 270 586-4305. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. Buy, sell, trade violins; lessons and repair; vintage jewelry; glassware, and some furniture. 

Eat

• Brickyard Cafe Franklin, 205 W. Cedar St, ☏ +1 270 586-9080. Fine Italian and Mediterranean dining. The building in which Brickyard Cafe is located dates back to the early 1900s. Early occupants were the Franklin Carriage Company and Hatter Hardware. The old hardware sign is now in the bar area. In the main dining room, an old horse-drawn buggy is suspended on the original manually operated lift platform, which transported buggies and carriages to the second and third floor workshops for repair. Franklin's rich local history is combined with the ambiance of cafes in the coastal cities along the Adriatic Sea, so sit back, relax and enjoy the Brickyard Cafe, where the past and present come together for excellent food and hometown hospitality. 
• Cracker Barrel, 155 Steele Rd, ☏ +1 270 598-8812. Country style cooking; Old Country Store has gifts galore. Rocking chairs on the front porch invite one to "set a spell" and enjoy the lovely flowers that surround the restaurant. 
• Franklin Steak House, 3898 Nashville Rd, ☏ +1 270 598-8028. Prime ribs; various steaks, b-b-q ribs, teriyaki chicken, catfish, salmon, shrimp. 
• Frosty Freeze, 433 S. Main St, ☏ +1 270 586-5365. Franklin's first fast food establishment: opened May 1956; features baby burgers, milk shakes, soft serve ice cream, especially an ice cream cone covered with a chocolate shell called the "Brown Derby" 
• Jim's Barbecue, 854 Harding Rd, ☏ +1 270 776-3131. Eat in or carryout; plate meals or by the pound barbecue; vegetables, desserts, cornbread available. 
• Sol Azteca, 4000 Nashville Rd, ☏ +1 270 598-7777. Authentic Mexican cuisine. Liquor by the drink. 
• Rackhouse, 4138 Bowling Green Rd, ☏ +1 270 586-4245. 
• Wildfire BBQ and Grill, 105 State St, ☏ +1 270 586-5227. Hickory Smoked pulled pork (cooked 16 hours); Smoked pork chops; catfish; ribs. 

Drink

The city of Franklin is referred to as "moist", allowing alcohol sales only by the drink in larger restaurants (seating at least 100). The rest of Simpson County is completely dry.

Sleep

Campground

• Dad's Bluegrass Campground, 2889 Scottsville Rd, ☏ +1 270 253-5191. RV, tent, and cabin sites with shower and laundry available. 

Hotels & motels

• Baymont by Wyndham Franklin, 162 Anand Dr (I-65 at Exit 2), ☏ +1 270-253-1499. 52 rooms; smoking/non-smoking; continental breakfast, outdoor pool; iron and board; hairdryer; coffee in room; cable TV with HBO; high speed internet; free local calls. 
• Red Roof Inn, 2805 Scottsville Rd (I-65 at Exit 6 KY 100), ☏ +1 270 586-8885. 40 rooms: smoking/non-smoking; truck parking; Handicapped accessible; pets allowed; some rooms have microwave and refrigerator; coffee in the lounge; cable TV with HBO. 
• Quality Inn, 3794 Nashville Rd (I-65 at Exit 2 US 31W), ☏ +1 270 586-6100, toll-free: +1-800-228-5150. 55 rooms; smoking/non-smoking; handicapped rooms; continental breakfast; outdoor pool; coffeemaker; microwave and refrigerator; iron/board; cable TV with HBO; small pets allowed. 
• Days Inn, 103 Trotter Ln (I-65 at Exit 6 KY 100), ☏ +1 270 598-0163, toll-free: +1-800-329-7446. 58 rooms; 10 smoking 48 nonsmoking; 3 handicapped/wheel chair rooms, continental breakfast; coffeemaker; cable tv; fax service, free local calls and newspaper; hairdryer; some rooms with microwave and refrigerator; outdoor pool; wireless high speed internet; pets allowed; rv/truck parking; restaurant nearby; credit cards accepted; AARP, AAA, corp., and govt. discounts. 
• Econo Lodge, 3894 Nashville Rd (I-65 at Exit 2 US 31W), ☏ +1 270 586-3291. 49 rooms; smoking/non-smoking; handicapped/wheel chair rooms; continental breakfast; outdoor pool; coffeemaker; microwave/refrigerator; cable tv; small pets allowed; free local calls. 
• Hampton Inn, 4010 Nashville Rd (I-65 at Exit 2 US 31W), ☏ +1 270 598-8001, toll-free: +1-800-HAMPTON (4267866). 72 rooms; smoking/non-smoking; Handicapped accessible; hot breakfast or on the go breakfast in a bag; meeting room for small group; fitness center; outdoor pool;coffee maker; iron/board; wireless high speed internet connection; complimentary local newspaper. 
• Kentucky Motel, 715 N. Main St (Approx. 1 mile north of courthouse square), ☏ +1 270 586-4486. 20 rooms; smoking/non-smoking; some have a microwave and refrigerator; HBO; B-B-Q grills. There is coffee and juice in the office. Weekly rates available. 
• Super 8, 3811 Nashville Rd (I-65 at Exit 2 US 31W), ☏ +1 270 586-5090. 48 rooms; smoking/non-smoking; some handicapped accessible; continental breakfast; cable TV with HBO and Cinemax pets allowed for fee; hair dryer; iron/board; outdoor pool; coffee maker; microwave/refrigerator; high speed internet connection 

Connect

• Simpson County Tourism Commission 81 Steele Rd, PO Box 737, Franklin, 42135 +1 270 586-3040 or +1-866-531-2040. At I-65 off Exit 2 (US 31W).

By phone

Most telephone numbers in Franklin consist of +1 270 plus a seven-digit number, but the region is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with +1 364 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 270 before these if no area code is indicated.

Go next

• Mammoth Cave National Park
• Bowling Green
• Nashville

Routes through Franklin

Louisville ← Bowling Green ←

N  S

→ White House → Nashville