Follow in the footsteps of America’s 16th president along the Abraham Lincoln Heritage Highway, a 34-mile Kentucky State Scenic Byway that winds through the rolling hills and pastoral landscapes where Lincoln spent his formative childhood years. This route traces the heartland of central Kentucky, passing through gentle farmland, historic small towns, and sites connected to the Lincoln family’s early story.

Along the way, travelers will discover heritage markers, preserved homesteads, and quiet stretches of countryside that look remarkably unchanged since the early 1800s. The drive offers a contemplative journey through bluegrass meadows framed by split-rail fences, limestone outcroppings, and stands of hardwood forest. Small-town storefronts and local churches dot the route, lending an authentic sense of place that larger highways simply cannot match.

The byway is beautiful year-round, but fall brings spectacular foliage across the Kentucky hills, and spring carpets the roadsides with wildflowers. Summer offers the longest daylight hours for exploring side stops. Allow one to two hours for the drive itself, with extra time for pulling over at historical sites and scenic overlooks.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply love a quiet country drive, this byway delivers both story and scenery.

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