Trip Motivation
We’ve made many trips to Louisville from Nashville. Often times we try to meet up with friends, but sometimes we also just go because it’s a fun city. In February 2021, we took a quick trip because Nashville had rain in the forecast and we were still working on building up Hyatt nights.
We also took a more recent trip in August 2021 to meet up with friends who drove from Chicago. An easy trip with lots of fun activities
For more on Louisville activities and restaurants, see here.
3 Hour Road Trip: Nashville, TN to Louisville, KY
I always forget how close Louisville is compared to other close driving trips. Google maps says the driving time is 2 hrs 40 minutes. We’ve done the whole drive without stops and there’s also various options for Love’s Travel store stops or other attractions along the way. You’ll pass Mammoth Cave and Bowling Green, which could be options to add on to your itinerary. Note that there was a one hour time change for us. One of the great things about this trip is that it can be done over a weekend without having to take vacation days. We can leave Friday after work and come back Sunday afternoon. Our favorite kids activities for road trips include White boards, sticker books, craft pile, easy readers, snacks, snacks and more snacks. See more road trip tips here
Road Trip Stop Idea #1: Mammoth Caves
There are several tours, ranging from easy strolls to challenging crawls, each revealing the cave’s hidden marvels like glittering crystals, towering formations, and ancient fossils. There’s also a Junior Ranger Program where kids can earn a badge by completing activities that teach them about cave conservation and history.
Road Trip Stop Idea #2: Dinosaur World
Dinosaur World is a fun stop about an hour outside Nashville. Zoo membership reciprocal zoos gives you half-price admission.
- Life-size dinosaur replicas: Wander through a natural setting lined with over 100 realistic dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. They even roar and move!
- Interactive exhibits: Dig for fossils, pan for minerals, and explore the Dinosaur Discovery Museum with its collection of real fossils and bones.
- Play areas: Kids can let loose on the dino-themed playground and climbing structures.
- Gift shop: Pick up souvenirs like dino toys, books, and apparel.
- Additional activities: Sometimes, you’ll find special events like Reptile Day or dino-themed scavenger hunts.
AirBnb vs Hotel
For stays with just our family, we prefer hotels. There are tons of hotel choices throughout the city. We stayed at the Hyatt House Louisville-East about 20 minutes from downtown. It has a heated pool and a skyline chili next door! We really like the Hyatt House and Hyatt Place tier. They are usually more in the suburbs but come with a lot more space, better parking, and varied eating options. On a recent stay, we were upgraded to a delightful 1-bedroom room. We would definitely stay here again.
Another option we considered for other visits is the Hyatt Regency downtown. As these hotels are still missing out on their typical fill of conference go-ers due to Covid, the prices are still a little deflated from normal. There are suite options for a small additional fee (or for free if you have status) and the location is very convenient
On another recent trip, we stayed in an AirBnB in the Butchertown area with friends. The cost was cheap and it was good to have a centralized area to cook breakfast or hang out outside.
Activities in Louisville
To read more about what we did in Louisville, see here.
