Often, when the weekend rolls around, it comes with an irresistible urge to get out of town. What better way is there to get out of town than to go on a spontaneous weekend road trip through Kentucky? I love meandering down small Kentucky roads, stumbling upon hidden gems and invigorating adventures.
We've put together a unique and adventurous weekend road trip that starts in Lexington and makes a clockwise loop to end nearby in Winchester. The road trip is 159 miles and takes about three hours and 45 minutes without stopping.
We recommend you spread out the drive over a weekend to leave plenty of time to experience each stop. Of course, you can start and end your weekend road trip at any point along the loop.
Wendt's Wildlife Adventure - Carlisle
Wendt's Wildlife Adventure, 3740 Maysville Rd, Carlisle, KY 40311, USA
Visitors can see and learn about many animals at Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure. The family-owned zoo is home to more than 30 animals, including capybaras, zebras, red kangaroos, two-toed sloths, and camels. In addition to a creek, playground, picnic area, and gift shop, visitors can check out Daniel Boone's last Kentucky home on the property.
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Leigha's Lunch Box - Sharpsburg
Leigha's Lunch Box, 4965 KY-11, Sharpsburg, KY 40374, USA
Leigha’s Lunch Box is a charming local restaurant serving pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The kid's menu offers hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, and chicken nuggets. Diners can order food online and eat in or take out!
Cave Run Lake is an 8,200-acre lake south of Morehead, Kentucky. Visitors can swim, boat, fish, hike, and picnic at the lake. There are also campgrounds with beaches to enjoy. Doesn't it look beautiful?
This country market has everything customers want in a high-quality hometown market, including delicious food and fantastic customer service. The store sells fresh produce, plants, homemade bread, and desserts. If you're hungry, pick up a sandwich or wrap; the locals rave about them!
Red River Museum - Clay City
Red River Museum, 27-29 8th St, Clay City, KY 40312, USA
At the Red River Museum, visitors can learn about the history of the Appalachian region and the Red River. The museum holds many antiques and artifacts, making it worth a stop on a nearby road trip. The helpful staff enjoy sharing information about eastern Kentucky.
Abettor Brewing Company - Winchester
Abettor Brewing Company, 128 N Highland St, Winchester, KY 40391, USA
Abettor Brewing Company opened in 2019 and serves a variety of delicious beers on tap. The brewery has pool tables and a pinball machine for visitors to enjoy with their drinks. It also frequently hosts events, like trivia and open mic nights.
The road trip ends in Winchester, where if you’re willing to stay awhile, there is quite a bit to see and do. The Engine House serves pizza in a 19th-century horse-drawn fire station. Legacy Grove Park, a 30-acre public park with fantastic playscapes and trails, is also in Winchester.
We think this road trip has the right amount of variety with stops at a zoo, lake, museum, restaurant, country store, and brewery.
Have you stopped at any of the places on our spontaneous weekend road trip through Kentucky? Where do you like to go on road trips?
Snacks are an essential part of any road trip. Before you take off in the car, peruse our list of the best road trip snacks.
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