Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Ctr Local area

Start your day with biscuits at Biscuit Love in Nashville, then hit I-65 North toward Kentucky. Bowling Green makes a great stop—tour the National Corvette Museum or cool off in Lost River Cave. If you're hungry, Chaney's Dairy Barn has killer ice cream. As you approach Louisville, take a detour through Bardstown (aka the Bourbon Capital of the World) for a tasting or distillery tour. By the time you reach Louisville, you’ll be craving a Hot Brown and maybe a second glass of bourbon.

Fuel up with a hearty breakfast at Ann Sather in Chicago (yes, get the cinnamon rolls), then head south on I-65. Stop in Lafayette, Indiana to stretch your legs along the Wabash River or grab a coffee at Fuel Coffee Shop. In Indianapolis, explore Bottleworks District for lunch—an old Coca-Cola factory turned food hall. Don’t miss a pit stop in Columbus, IN for cool mid-century architecture. Roll into Louisville ready for your first Old Fashioned and a stroll along Whiskey Row.

Grab gooey butter cake or a Slinger breakfast in St. Louis before heading east on I-64. Stretch your legs at Cahokia Mounds or snap a photo at the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, IL. In Evansville, IN, stroll along the Ohio Riverfront or eat lunch at Bru Burger Bar. As you near Louisville, keep an eye out for rolling farmland, horse pastures, and bourbon trail signs. Finish the journey with dinner in NuLu and a stroll across the Big Four Bridge.

This short but scenic drive is perfect for a spontaneous getaway. Grab a bagel from The Bagelry in Cincy and hit I-71 south. Make a pit stop in Carrollton or La Grange, where trains literally run through the center of town. If you’re up for a slightly longer detour, Rabbit Hash, KY, is a weird and wonderful general store town with a dog as mayor. Once in Louisville, reward yourself with bourbon slushies and fried chicken from Royals Hot Chicken.

Cruise I-65 South after a brunch at Milktooth in Indy. Take a break in Columbus, IN, to see one of the country’s best collections of modern architecture, or grab a coffee at Lucabe Coffee Co. For a quirky detour, check out Zaharako’s, an old-fashioned soda fountain. You’ll arrive in Louisville just in time to sip a mint julep and explore Old Louisville’s charming Victorian homes.