Looking for some of the best day trips to take in Louisville this summer? Look no further! Listed below are nine amazing locations to visit this season that will make your summer memorable. Pack up the car and get ready to take some of the very best day trips in Lousiville, Kentucky. Let’s go!

1. Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge, Kentucky 40387, USA
Flickr / Heather Spaulding
Located about two hours away in Stanton, Red River Gorge is one of the most beautiful locations to visit if you're a fan of hiking. Reaching the summit of the hike and finding this incredible view filled with green valleys and endless trees is so satisfying. Relax with friends and family and have lunch on a cliff overlooking the Gorge on this perfect summer day trip.

Red River Gorge is located at Robbie Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY, 40380.
2. Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA
Flickr / Adrian Moy
Located just an hour and twenty minutes away, Mammoth Cave National Park is a great place to avoid the heat on an unbearably hot day. Follow your guide group through the dark cave passages and learn about the underground environment that exists here. There are lots of above-ground adventures to be had here, too!

Mammoth Cave National Park is located at Mammoth Cave, KY, 42259.
3. Holiday World
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, 452 E Christmas Blvd, Santa Claus, IN 47579, USA
Yelp / Katie I.
Holiday World is only about an hour and twenty minutes away in Santa Clause, Indiana. It has both roller coasters and water rides in the potion called Splashin' Safari. This is a great day trip for those who love amusement parks. Also, Santa Claus, Indiana, might just be the most delightful town ever!

Holiday World is located at 452 E Christmas Blvd, Santa Claus, IN, 47579.
4. Laurel River Lake
Laurel River Lake, Kentucky, USA
Flickr / LouisvilleUSACE, Michal McAbee
Laurel River Lake is about a two and a half hour drive away. It is actually a reservoir that was built in 1977, but there's a beautiful public beach with water that is surprisingly clear, making for the perfect lake to cool down in this summer. It's like a taste of the Caribbean, right here in Kentucky!

Laurel River Lake is located at 1433 Laurel Lake Road, London, KY, 40741.

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5. Cumberland Falls
Cumberland Falls Drive, Cumberland Falls Dr, Georgia 30132, USA
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park/Facebook
Cumberland Falls is an amazing natural landmark of the state that every Kentuckian must visit. It is located two hours and forty-five minutes away, but the view is spectacular. The entire state park is well-worth exploring, and there's even another amazing waterfall just a stone's throw from the headlining falls!

Cumberland Falls is located at 7351 Hwy 90, Corbin, KY, 40701.
6. Kentucky Down Under
Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, 3700 L and North Turnpike Road, at Exit 58, I-65, Horse Cave, KY 42749, USA
Yelp / Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo
Spend the day with adorable Australian animals at Kentucky Down Under! Located about an hour and a half away, this zoo is the best day trip for animal lovers to take.

Kentucky Down Under is located at 3700 L and N Turnpike Rd, Horse Cave, KY, 42749.
7. Newport Aquarium
Newport Aquarium, 1 Levee Wy, Newport, KY 41071, USA
Yelp / Cesilee M.
Located an hour and a half away, Newport Aquarium is the best and closest aquarium to visit from Louisville. Take a walk across a bridge directly overlooking a shark tank on the Shark Bridge!

The Newport Aquarium is located at 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, KY, 41071.
8. Kings Island
Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH 45040, USA
Yelp / Mark L.
A Cincinnati favorite, Kings Island offers some of the best roller coasters around for summer thrill seekers. Their riders are some of the fastest and tallest around.

Kings Island is located at 6300 Kings Island Dr, Mason, OH, 45040.
9. Lost River Cave
Lost River Cave, 2818 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA
Flickr / Peter Rivera
The south-central region of Kentucky doesn't get a ton of love, but within this distinctively flat and expansive region, untold wonder awaits. Lost River Cave is a seven-mile underground water system that flows from the Lost River outside of the cave. Their boat tours are incredible and the location is only an hour and 45 minutes away.

Lost River Cave is located at Lost River Cave, 2818 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY, 42101.

Have you visited all of these locations? Comment on Facebook or below to let us know which was your favorite, and what you think are the best day trips in Louisville. And if you liked this article, check out this one about Kentucky day trips to take by train.

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More to Explore

Best Day Trips In Louisville

Sarah M. | April 21, 2022

What are some fun road trips to take near Louisville?

Here in Louisville, we are well positioned to explore pretty much every part of the Bluegrass State, and there are some truly fun places we can go. If you don't feel like traveling out of the city, the Louisville Slugger Museum is a marvelous place to go and explore... and visit the world's largest baseball bat *and* glove (of course)! Over in Lexington, the Kentucky Horse Park is a total must-visit, as it's both a beautiful park where you can watch horse shows and take a horseback ride, as well as a living history museum dedicated to all things horses in the Bluegrass. You can even camp overnight at the Kentucky Horse Park!

Are there any family-friendly road trips near Louisville?

Between our beautiful parks and world-class attractions, there’s no shortage of epic fun to be had in the Bluegrass State, and if you're looking for a family-friendly road trip this summer, we've designed the perfect family friendly road trip which leads to some of the most whimsical attractions, themed restaurants, and incredible parks in Kentucky. One of our favorite destinations? This new nature playscape! Bernheim Arboretum's Playcosystem is an epic 10-acre natural playground that is *the* kid-friendly place to be in the Bluegrass, with nature-inspired play structures, interactive equipment, and lots of rolling hills and open spaces for kids to run wild and free. Another highlight of this road trip is Progress Park, an incredible Airstream glampground just outside Louisville. Choose from several different glamped-up vintage trailers, which include all the comforts of home, plus fun features like outdoor picnic tables and on-site kayaks for the kids to use.

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