Everyone like a good doughnut every now and then (or all the time). Of course these sweet pastries make the perfect breakfast, especially when paired with a hot cup of coffee, but they're a welcome treat any time of day. We created this trail that hits a few of the best and most popular doughnut shops in Kentucky. We wanted to keep this trail a reasonable distance that you could complete it in one or two days, so it features 8 bakeries around Louisville, Lexington, and northern Kentucky that are out of this world.
Below is a customizable map that you can adjust to fit your journey. We arranged it in a loop that begins and ends in Louisville, but click here to change it so it is more convenient for you.
This trail includes about 4.5 hours of drive time, so you could complete this in a day if you made sure to start early so that you make it to all the places before they close in the afternoon. Or you could make an overnight pit stop and stretch the trail over two days.
1. Nord's Bakery, Louisville
This bakery in the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville is one of the favorite places in the city to go for a doughnut. They are probably best known for their maple bacon doughnut, which is a long John covered with maple icing, and a strip of bacon on top. Nord's Bakery is located at 2118 S. Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40217.
2. Hi-Five Doughnuts, Louisville
Hi-Five Doughnuts started as a food truck, but now has a storefront and is Louisville's first female-owned and operated doughnut shop. You can order your doughnut however you like, with any variety of glazes and toppings. They also have some pretty interesting doughnuts that you won't find at many other bakeries, such as the Kentucky Fried Buttermilk Chicken Doughnut. Hi-Five Doughnuts is located at 1011 E. Main Street, Louisville, KY 40206.
3. Pink-in-a-Blanket Doughnuts, Florence
Now we say goodbye to Louisville until the end of our trip, and head up north toward Cincinnati. Our next stop is at Pink-in-a-Blanket in Florence. This place has a variety of fresh doughnuts and other pastries, but if you're on a little bit too much of a sugar high, try the food item that the store is named after. The Pink-in-a-Blanket is a smoked sausage with cheddar cheese wrapped in fresh dough. Pink-in-a-Blanket is located at 7220 Burlington Pike, Florence, KY 41042.
4. Spalding's Bakery, Lexington
Now we head south to Lexington to Spalding's Bakery, which is truly a Lexington gem. It's been around since 1929, and still has that old-school feel. Get all your classic favorites here, ranging from cake doughnuts to sticky buns. Spalding's Bakery is located at 760 Winchester Road, Lexington, KY 40505.
5. North Lime Coffee & Donuts, Lexington
Our second Lexington stop takes us to this funky and eclectic shop. They have your favorites like classic glazed and cinnamon sugar, as well as a variety of daily specials that are more creative. North Lime is located at 575 North Limestone, Lexington, KY 40508. They also have another shop in Lexington at 3101 Clays Mill Road, and soon they will be opening their newest shop in the Old Louisville neighborhood at 701 W. Ormsby Avenue.
6. Poppy's Bakery, Frankfort
This bakery in Kentucky's capital city has a huge selection of doughnuts, as well as the best cakes, pies, and cookies in town. They even have a drive-thru window so you can pick up your order in a hurry. Poppy's Bakery is located at 865 Wilkinson Blvd #A, Frankfort, KY 40601.
7. Doughdaddy's, Versailles
Of course the speciality at Doughdaddy's is doughnuts, with over 60 different varieties to choose from, but they offer so much more. They offer a wide variety of food items from local vendors, such as Ale-8-One soft drinks, Kenny's Farmhouse Cheese, and Nana's Beer Cheese. Doughdaddy's is located at 3325 Lexington Road, Versailles, KY 40383.
8. Sugar and Spice Donut Shop, Louisville
The last stop takes us back to Louisville, this time to the outskirts of the city. Sugar and Spice has been around for more than 30 years, and has a huge variety that ranges from classics like plain glazed and chocolate Long Johns, to more adventurous kinds like chocolate Oreo cheesecake and banana cream pie. Sugar and Spice is located at 5613 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40291.
Who wants a doughnut now? This sounds like the most delicious food trail ever!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!