Overview
Kentucky is known for horse ranches, bourbon distilleries, mountain caves and moonlighting, fried chicken, bluegrass music and the famous Kentucky Derby. Lexington is the center of horse breeding and many of the surrounding farms host free tours for visitors. General George Rogers Clark founded Louisville in 1778 as a military base from which to attack the British during the American Revolution. In addition to restored sights from that time, the city also offers modern architecture. Old Louisville invites you to stroll through its pretty streets. Kentucky has hundreds of lakes and rivers, underground caves, countless pastures of wealthy horse breeders, as well as less wealthy Appalachian mining towns. Reelfoot Lake, a lake in northwestern Kentucky, was formed when the Mississippi River flowed backwards during the 1812 New Madrid earthquake, greatly altering the geology of the entire region.
- Travelationary: Covers basic information about Kentucky geography and economy.
Getting there
Arrival by car
Greyhound connections exist in all major cities. More information from Greyhound (website: www.greyhound.com).
Note on arrival by car
Average bus travel times: Louisville – Chicago: 6 hours; Louisville – Cincinnati: 2 hrs; Louisville – Indianapolis: 2 hrs; Louisville – Nashville: 3 hrs 30; Louisville – St Louis: 6 hrs
Arrival by train
There are daily Amtrak services from Chicago to Louisville. Cities in the north of the state can be reached on the Chicago to Washington DC route, while trains on the Chicago to New Orleans route stop at Fulton in southwest Kentucky. Additional information from Amtrak (www.amtrak.com).
Passport and visa regulations
Entry with children
Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Contact addresses
Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau
401 West Main Street Ste. 104
US-40507 Lexington, Kentucky
United States
(859) 233.72.99 or (800) 848.39.59 (toll free within the US).
http://www.visitlex.com
http://www.visitlex.com Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau
One Riverfront Plaza, 401 West Main Street, Suite 2300
US-40202 Louisville, Kentucky
United States
(502) 584 21 21, (800) 626 56 46 (toll free within the US).
http://www.gotolouisville.com
http://www.gotolouisville.com Southern and Eastern Kentucky Tourism Development Association
2292 South Highway 27
US-42501 Somerset, Kentucky
United States
(606) 677 60 95 or (877) 86 87 73 59 (toll free within the US).
http://www.tourseky.com
http://www.tourseky.com Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau
One West River Center Blvd.
US-41011 Covington, Kentucky
United States
(859) 261 15 00.
http://www.nkycc.com
http://www.nkycc.com Kentucky Department of Tourism
500 Mero Street, Capital Plaza Tower, 22nd floor
US-40601 Frankfort, Kentucky
United States
(502) 564 49 30, (800) 225 87 47 (toll free within the US).
http://www.kentuckytourism.com
http://www.kentuckytourism.com Kentucky Tourism
c/o Ueding Sales Consulting
Eilendorfer Str. 20
D-50933 Cologne
Germany
(0221) 4236 25 08.
http://www.deep-south-usa.de
http://www.deep-south-usa.de
- Usaers: Provides a full list of major rivers and mountains in Kentucky.
Country data
Area (sq km)
104659
Population
4,467,673
Population density (per square km)
43
Population statistics year
2019
