When to Go

Peak Season: May to September

The busy season kicks off with the annual Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May and continues through September. Temperatures hover in the 70s and 80s, but the area’s high humidity can make it feel considerably hotter.

Off Season: December to February

Winters are chilly and damp, and though average highs are in the 40s, cold snaps, with highs in the teens, occur nearly every year.

Shoulder Season: October to November; March to April

Kentucky is at its most beautiful in spring and fall, with bounties of wildflowers in the former and colorful foliage during the latter. These are also the most comfortable seasons for seeing the state.