Trace the footsteps of America’s 16th president along this 71.2-mile National Scenic Byway through the rolling hills of central Kentucky. The Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway connects Abraham Lincoln’s humble beginnings to the heart of Bluegrass Country, offering travelers a journey through both history and stunning pastoral landscapes.
Begin at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, where a symbolic cabin marks where Lincoln entered the world in 1809. The route winds through gentle farmland dotted with historic stone fences, grazing horses, and weathered tobacco barns that speak to Kentucky’s agricultural heritage. Along the way, explore Lincoln’s Boyhood Home at Knob Creek, where he spent formative childhood years.
The byway passes through charming small towns including Hodgenville, home to a bronze Lincoln statue in the town square, before climbing through scenic ridgelines offering expansive views of the Kentucky countryside. The journey concludes in historic Danville, site of Kentucky’s first constitution.
Spring and fall deliver the most spectacular drives, with dogwood blooms or fiery autumn foliage framing the roadway. Allow three to four hours to fully appreciate the stops along this route—longer if you want to linger at the historical sites that shaped a future president.