Evansville IN to Louisville KY: Drive time, distance & best stops
The distance from Evansville IN to Louisville KY by car is 119 miles, with a 1h52m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Evansville to Louisville drive are Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, the Winzerwald Winery and the Indiana Caverns.
Finding the best things to do between Evansville and Louisville
The drive from Evansville IN to Louisville KY takes you from southern Indiana to the biggest city in Kentucky.
Evansville, Indiana, is on the Ohio River, and has a few appealing riverside parks. The major attractions, however, are the Children’s Museum of Evansville and Mesker Park Zoo. Less exciting, but more historically important, is the Angel Mounds State Historic Site. Between 1000 and 1450 AD, this was home to a thriving Mississippian culture, and 12 earthen ceremonial mounds can be seen at the site.
Louisville is the biggest city in Kentucky, and has a strong range of attractions to enjoy. The Louisville Mega Cavern has underground zipline tours, the Churchill Downs race track hosts America’s most famous horse race – the Kentucky Derby – and the Louisville Slugger Factory makes the world’s most famous baseball bats. You can take factory tours and there’s a museum attached.
Good Louisville experiences include Old Louisville ghost tours, the Kentucky Derby Museum and a tasting tour of multiple bourbon distilleries. The food and history tours are also worth checking out.
Top Louisville accommodation choices include the history-drenched Brown Hotel and the art-packed 21C Museum Hotel.
Why you should visit the Kentucky Derby Museum
The Kentucky Derby Museum isn’t just about the nation’s top horse race – it’s about the phenomenon that surrounds it. Museum entry tickets include the chance to see the trophies, learn the backstories of famous winners and watch an immersive theater screening. Best of all, they also include a walking tour of the Churchill Downs Racetrack. Find out more here.
David Whitley, author of Best3Stops.
Evansville to Louisville distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Evansville to Louisville is 119 miles. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 52 minutes. The quickest route heads up the I-69, then east along the I-64.
The best stops to add to an Evansville to Louisville road trip itinerary are Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, the Winzerwald Winery and the Indiana Caverns.
Evansville to Louisville drive: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
In the wonderfully-named settlement of Santa Claus, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is a combined theme park and water park. Wooden rollercoasters are something of a speciality here, with the Raven, the Legend and – in particular – the Voyage combining thrills with old-fashioned charm. There are also three water coasters. Overnight stays are available if you want to maximise your time.
Best stops between Evansville and Louisville: Winzerwald Winery
Indiana isn’t exactly known for its wine-making, but the Winzerwald Winery in Bristow is determined to re-educate. There’s a strong German flavour to both the property and the wines. Emphasis is on varietals such as Riesling and Petit Meunier, but there are also German-style spiced and herbed wines. There’s a restaurant on site serving flatbreads, pretzels and more.
Evansville to Louisville road trip attractions: Indiana Caverns
The Indiana Caverns in Croydon, Indiana, offers a cave tour with a couple of twists. The first is that fossilised animal bones from the Ice Age are on display as you go through. The second is that there’s a boat ride along the underground river inside the cave.
A wider attraction has been built around the caverns, too. Here, you can try your hand at gemstone mining, go on a zipline or take on the escape rooms.
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