3 Days in Louisville: An Affordable Family Road Trip Itinerary

If you’re looking for affordable family travel content, you might have stumbled upon smoretimetogether on Instagram. Creators Matt and Kim travel the nation with their son, sharing travel itineraries and affordable family vacation ideas. 

The family recently visited the Bluegrass State on a road trip to Louisville. Check out their itinerary to inspire your next Kentucky visit. 

Day 1: 

First, check in at The Grady Hotel. Located in the Market District, this downtown Louisville hotel is just blocks from the Ohio River and some of the city's biggest attractions. It’s the perfect place to rest up during your Bluegrass adventure. 

Then, head to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Learn the history behind the world-famous bat of the Big Leagues on a guided factory tour. The Bat Vault holds more than 3,000 bats used by legends of the game, like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Willie Mays. At the end of your tour, you’ll get to take home your very own souvenir mini-bat for free. 

Head over to Main Street for lunch, where you can fill up on Italian subs, artisan pizzas, Mediterranean pastas and calzones at Luigi’s. 

Next, pull on your lab coat and explore the Kentucky Science Center. This family-friendly museum is filled with hands-on exhibits exploring chemistry, biology, physics and more. In “Who Forted: A Building Experience,” kids can design and build their own forts, while the “Construction Zone” lets families get hands-on with real-world building materials and construction tools. Show off your creative side in “Makerplace” or discover more about Earth’s atmosphere and environments in “The World Around Us.” 

For dinner, get a taste of the Bayou at Lou Lou On Market. From crab cakes and oysters on the half shell to jambalaya and Creole seafood fettuccine, dig into your favorite New Orleans-style fare in Louisville’s NuLu district. Add a scoop of peanut butter cup or bourbon pecan fudge ice cream from Ehrler’s Ice Cream for dessert. 

Day 2

Start your day with breakfast at Butchertown Grocery Bakery. Go for a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit or, if you’re really hungry, the danwich features bacon, sausage, eggs, American cheese, waffle fries and chive aioli piled between two danishes.  

Once you’ve fueled up, go on an adventure through Jefferson Memorial Forest. A tribute to local veterans, this woodland area is the perfect nature escape. Here, you’ll find hiking, camping, fishing and more. 

After you’ve worked up a sweat (and an appetite), sit down for a hearty meal from Hauck’s Corner. Start with poutine or smoked-brisket egg rolls. Then, sink your teeth into a double cheeseburger with a side of steak fries or onion rings. If you’ve got room for dessert, top it all off with the Double Stuf’d Dream deep-fried Oreos. 

If you’re up for some thrills, Louisville Mega Cavern is a must. Delve beneath the city for an underground zip line and challenge course. Go for an adrenaline-pumping adventure on a two-and-a-half-hour tour with Mega Ziplines. Glide along six zip lines as neon lights and music fill the caverns on this glow-in-the-dark course. Or traverse 76 aerial challenges on the Mega Quest ropes course. For a more laid-back experience, try the guided Mega Tram or Mega Walking tours to learn more about the cavern’s history and geology.  

Reward yourself with a round of local craft beer at Against The Grain Brewery and Public House, from the Loo-A-Vhul hazy pale ale to Sol Mate citrus wheat ale. Add a patty melt, pulled-pork sandwich or burger and an order of loaded fries to go with it. 

Then, head over to Louisville Slugger Field to catch a Louisville Bats game. The Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds plays 72 home games from late March/early April through September. 

Day 3:

You can’t head home without another delicious Louisville meal to round out your trip. Fill up on scratch-made biscuit sandwiches, pancakes, omelets, biscuit-style French toast and your favorite coffee drinks at Biscuit Belly before you hit the road.