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Kentucky, United States

Bardstown

Give it a full day with a designated driver: two or three distillery tours and dinner downtown. We have mapped 3 sights, 2 places to eat and 4 bars & cafés here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Bardstown with friendsBrowse 9 places
Bardstown, Kentucky, United States
Places
9

3 See · 2 Eat · 4 Drink

Curated routes
1

Kentucky Bourbon Country

Best season
Apr – Oct

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

30°C / 87°F avg high

Coolest month
January

4°C / 40°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 138 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Bardstown

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Bardstown across Bardstown, Downtown and Court Square. 2 of them are free.

  • My Old Kentucky Home State Park in BardstownPhoto: Firthpond1700 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    My Old Kentucky Home State Park

    Federal Hill mansion linked to Stephen Foster's state song.

    • Bardstown
    • $
    • 75 min
    • Morning
  • Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in BardstownPhoto: Bedford at English Wikipedia · Public domain
    See

    Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History

    Free museum of whiskey artifacts, Prohibition and moonshine stills.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon
  • Bardstown Welcome Center in BardstownPhoto: Bardstown/Nelson County Tourist & Convention Commission · Google
    See

    Bardstown Welcome Center

    Court Square visitor center with bourbon trail maps, distillery tour advice and local event info.

    Tip Ask staff which distilleries need advance tour bookings.

    • Court Square
    • Free
    • 20 min
    • Morning

Eat

2 places to eat across Bardstown and Downtown, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Bardstown Bourbon Company in BardstownPhoto: Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar at the Bardstown Bourbon Company · Google
    Eat

    Bardstown Bourbon Company

    Modern distillery with a restaurant and big bourbon list.

    • Bardstown
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Lunch
  • Old Talbott Tavern in BardstownPhoto: Christopher L. Riley · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Old Talbott Tavern

    Stone tavern dating to 1779, serving Kentucky plates and bourbon.

    • Downtown
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner

Drink

4 bars & cafés across Bardstown, Loretto and Clermont for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in BardstownPhoto: Bourbon Heritage Center · Google
    Drink

    Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience

    Visitor center for Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig, Evan Williams) with tours and tastings.

    Tip Book tours online ahead.

    • Bardstown
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Willett Distillery in BardstownPhoto: Willett Distillery · Google
    Drink

    Willett Distillery

    Family distillery with a pot still shaped like its bottle and hilltop grounds.

    • Bardstown
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Maker's Mark Distillery in BardstownPhoto: Brian Fox · Google
    Drink

    Maker's Mark Distillery

    Distillery campus with red-wax dipping and Chihuly glass ceiling.

    Tip Book tours ahead; about 20 minutes south in Loretto.

    • Loretto
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Morning
  • Jim Beam American Stillhouse in BardstownPhoto: James B. Beam Distilling Co. · Google
    Drink

    Jim Beam American Stillhouse

    Jim Beam's Clermont distillery with tours and tastings.

    • Clermont
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

How to fit Bardstown into a trip

Bardstown is stop 2 of 3 on our Kentucky Bourbon Country route. Follow it as-is or lift Bardstown into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Bardstown month by month

Average daily highs run from 4°C / 40°F in January to 30°C / 87°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 138 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Bardstown weather and the best time to visit →

Near Bardstown

8 other destinations from our guides within about 250 km (155 mi), measured in a straight line.

Bardstown questions, answered

How many days do you need in Bardstown?

Our route notes suggest a full day in Bardstown. On our Kentucky Bourbon Country route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 12 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Bardstown best known for?

Give it a full day with a designated driver: two or three distillery tours and dinner downtown. Standouts on our list: My Old Kentucky Home State Park (Federal Hill mansion linked to Stephen Foster's state song); Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History (Free museum of whiskey artifacts, Prohibition and moonshine stills); Bardstown Welcome Center (Court Square visitor center with bourbon trail maps, distillery tour advice and local event info).

When is the best time to visit Bardstown?

Our Kentucky Bourbon Country route is best Apr – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (30°C / 87°F), the coolest in January (4°C / 40°F) and the most rain in May (about 138 mm).

What are the best things to do in Bardstown?

Start with My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and Bardstown Welcome Center. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 2 places to eat and 4 bars & cafés.

Where should a group eat in Bardstown?

Our picks: Bardstown Bourbon Company; Old Talbott Tavern (Downtown).

What is near Bardstown?

The closest destinations in our guides are The Highlands & Cherokee Park (about 52 km / 32 mi), Downtown Louisville & Waterfront (about 55 km / 34 mi) and Louisville (about 56 km / 35 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Bardstown with your crew

Open the Kentucky Bourbon Country route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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