This Incredible Flower Road Trip Through Kentucky Is The Ultimate Spring Adventure
By Will Suphan|Published April 17, 2024
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Will Suphan
Author
Will has been living in Arizona off and on for 30+ years in the Phoenix Metro and Tucson areas. He has traveled all over the state as well as having lived all over the Southwest. He's been writing for OnlyInYourState for one year and has previously written for Digital Journal. Will has a passion for travel and writing and combining the two is what he loves most. He loves solo international travel and has been to Thailand, France, Japan, and Cambodia.
When spring arrives and the trees once again become lush, the wildlife comes out of hibernation, and the meadows become tapestries of color as wildflowers in Kentucky start to bloom, it’s such a lovely sight and is part of what makes our Bluegrass State so beautiful. If you want to see some of the best places, check out this Kentucky flower road trip where you can fill your eyes with the natural beauty of our state. It runs at almost exactly five hours of driving time, but you’ll want to make a weekend of it so you can take your time at each delightful destination.
Our journey begins in Henderson, Kentucky, at John James Audubon State Park which is the starting point of three trails that are lined with stunning wildflowers every spring. The Woodpecker Trail, KY Coffee Tree Trail, and the Wilderness Lake Trail. The Wilderness Lake Trail is the most verdant of them and starting your hike from a castle will make you feel like you’ve entered a fairy tale.
Next on our trip is Jefferson Memorial Forest where you can wander through 6,600 acres of hiking trails with tons of wildlife, beautiful trees, and wildflowers that bloom from spring through summer providing a long season of stellar blooms which attract flitting butterflies and delicate hummingbirds, making for an invigorating time in nature.
This family-run flower farm is a feast for the senses. Lavender is so soothing to see and smell and you can soak it all in at Lavender In Bloom. It also has a wide variety of tulips and taking a stroll in this bucolic farmland is one of the best spring experiences you can have in Kentucky. You can even pick your own! With 11 varieties of lavender and thousands of tulip bulbs, you’re in for a real treat!
If you want to see as many varieties of flowers as you can in one place, then the Arboretum Loop Trail at the University of Kentucky is the perfect place. With well-groomed trails and wide swaths of freely growing wildflowers, you’ll have a cornucopia of colors and scents on this trail. If you live in Lexington, it’s a wonderful way to see all the wildflowers you like without leaving town. Take your time on this stroll and bring a camera because you’ll want to take lots of pictures.
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary truly is a sanctuary where you can see some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in Kentucky. During April and May, the trails here are bursting with flowers and it’s a favorite palace for photographers. Please keep in mind to stick to the trails to ensure the preservation of these fantastic flowers and the rest of the protected flora and fauna here. The beauty and serenity of this place will fill you with peace.
Sometimes the most splendid things can be found at the most unexpected places. While Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill is a very popular historical attraction, did you know it’s also one of the best places to see wildflowers in Kentucky? It has its own preserve and miles of trails and fields where you can see spring blossoms galore! It’s such a great feeling to see history and nature preserved together in one place. It’s one of those places that truly fills us with Kentucky pride.
Have you ever been to any of the places on this Kentucky flower road trip? What are your favorite places to view wildflowers in Kentucky? Let us know in the comments. If you want to see more of this wonderful state, check out these magnificent road trips in Kentucky:
