The beauty of visiting and staying in Danville during a trip to Kentucky is that – along with things to see and do here – there is so much you can also experience within a short drive in most any direction. That might include visiting some of the state’s bourbon distilleries, enjoying the many outdoor recreation opportunities that you can find nearby or simply spending time at various attractions like Shaker Village and The Ark Encounter.
Here are some of the bigger attractions that are relatively close to Danville:
Shaker Village (13 miles away)
Just 20 minutes north of Danville you’ll find Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, a 3000-acre landmark destination that was home to the third largest Shaker community in the United States between 1805 and 1910.
You can explore, dine and shop at Shaker Village, where you can learn remarkable stories, tour original Shaker buildings, visit animals on their working farm, hike 40 miles of trails, then have breakfast, lunch or dinner at The Trustees’ Table. Find out more by clicking here.
Red River Gorge (85 miles away)
If you are an outdoor enthusiast, Red River Gorge is probably on your list of places to visit in Kentucky. You’ll find numerous opportunities for hiking and climbing at the gorge, along with ziplining and the Gorge Underground, where you can kayak in an underground cavern.
Find out more by clicking here.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail (varying distances)
With upwards of 100 distilleries across the state, Kentucky is legendary for its bourbon. You can experience much of that along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, where you can participate in tours and tastings at a number of those distilleries.
Danville’s Wilderness Trail Distillery is part of the bourbon trail and the new Luca Mariano Distillery will also have a visitors experience. Near Danville, you can find many other distilleries to explore, from the storied Wild Turkey and Four Roses distilleries in Lawrenceburg, to Limestone Branch in Lebanon, to Buffalo Trace in Frankfort.
Learn more by clicking here.
Cumberland Fall (86 miles away)
Known as the “Niagara of the South,” the 125-foot curtain of water falling into a boulder-strewn gorge is dramatic day or night. And during a full moon you can see the moonbow, a phenomenon not found anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere.
Find out more by clicking here.
The Ark Encounter (91 miles away)
The Ark Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. It spans 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high and is located in Grant County in Williamstown, halfway between Cincinnati and Lexington, right off I-75.
Find out more by clicking here.
Lakes (varying distances)
Kentucky has numerous lakes to enjoy, including several that are close to Danville. Herrington Lake is the closest, with access points just outside of Danville city limits. This 2,335-acre lake is great for fishing, boating and other water sports. Learn more by clicking here.
An hour to the south of Danville is Lake Cumberland, the “House Boat Capital of the World,” with more than 65,000 acres of water and 1,255 miles of shoreline. Learn more by clicking here.
Cedar Creek Lake, less than 30 minutes from Danville, just past Stanford, is Kentucky’s newest lake. It was impounded in 2002 and is approximately 792 acres in size. There are three boat ramps at the lake and a fishing pier. Learn more by clicking here.
Lake Liberty, an 88-acre lake 30 minutes south of Danville, is a great place to canoe, kayak, and fish. Motorized boats and swimming aren’t allowed, so the lake is a peaceful place to escape and reconnect with nature. Learn more by clicking here.
Taylorsville Lake, an hour northwest of Danville, offer opportunities for boating and fishing, hiking and biking, birding and camping. Learn more by clicking here.
The Kentucky River, which flows from Beattyville in eastern Kentucky all the way to the Ohio River in Carrollton, has many access points close to Danville. And if you like to paddle, learn more here about the beautiful Kentucky River Palisades by clicking here.
Visiti Lexington (36 miles away)
(Kentucky Horse Park), thoroughbred horse farm tours, visit historic properties like the Mary Todd Lincoln House and the Waveland State Historic Site, or stop in at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. Learn more by clicking here.